Revised season expectations

[ThurmastonFox]

Ok. Three games in. We’ve had misinformed WhatsApp messages, a midfield maestro not get his big move, toddler tantrums from a defender (allegedly) and currently sit in the bottom three. So 8% into the season what would make you happy in May….

[Sampson]

Still can't see us getting dragged into a genuine relegation battle and think we'll just have a pretty mediocre season overall in the league without being in danger.

 

I'd ultimately like to see us prioritise the cups this season, especially given our kind opening draws in the League Cup so far.

[fox_up_north]

Depends what you define as "success". Avoiding relegation, for an established, cup-winning club with a first team that can compete in top 10, should not be considered a success. It's the absolute bare minimum.

 

Top 10 would be a success. 14th-10th would be alright. 

[StarkFox]

New signings in next few days.

 

Rodgers to leave by Christmas.

 

New manager bounce.

 

Decent FA Cup run.

 

14th-10th place finish. 
 

An actual Rebuild next Summer.

[Happy Fox]

New manager and positive attacking football philosophy no more possession for possession sake.

[Guest Lako42]

Can't defend, can't create chances from open play. 

 

Relegation fight

[Tielemans63]

I'll be honest, for a long time I mocked people who said we'd be in a relegation battle as being overly dramatic. However, I'm beginning to think that might be where we're at. Look at the facts:

 

- Club captain gone replaced by Championship-standard GK

 

- Best CB off to Chelsea, bar an aging Evans, the rest are frankly awful 

 

- We struggle to create chances and when we do, we're crap at converting them. Our XG is a total joke.

 

- We concede 2 goals every week, and have done so more or less every week for the past year

 

- The manager seems to have lost the players, doesn't appear to really want to be here but we can't afford to replace him.

 

That's a lot of the ingredients for a relegation. I'd gladly take midtable obscurity and rebuild starting next summer at this point.

Edited 27 August 2022 by Tielemans63

[Sampson]

3 minutes ago, Tielemans63 said:

 

 

- We struggle to create chances and when we do, we're crap at converting them 

This one isn't true though, our conversion rate is well above xG, as it has been throughout Rodgers' tenure and we're still scoring plenty of goals. I don't have much qualms with our attack, an attack with Vardy, Maddison and Barnes in it will always score goals, even when lacking good service.

 

It's our horrendous defence that is the issue.

Edited 27 August 2022 by Sampson

[Tuna]

No options above mid table in the poll, say sit all!

[turlo]

Mid table finish and not blowing the Fofana money on more overpaid dross will be a good outcome at this point. Getting a creative RW in that improves our starting 11 and a decent CB that's not a massive drop of from Fofana will be key. 

[StanSP]

We'll win the League Cup and finish 9th.

[lgfualol]

40 points is my hope if there are no changes with the squad and management.

[sylofox]

43 minutes ago, Sampson said:

 

 

It's our horrendous defence that is the issue.

Its Rodgers piss poor borefest tactics that's the problem.

 

He wants them to play out from the back. Sideways backwards football. Then we get in trouble.

 

But he never changes the way we play.

[Sampson]

Just now, sylofox said:

Its Rodgers piss poor borefest tactics that's the problem.

 

He wants them to play out from the back. Sideways backwards football. Then we get in trouble.

 

But he never changes the way we play.

Yes and no. Of course that’s a big issue but looking at our defence and goalkeeper on paper and I don’t have any confidence that another manager could suddenly make Ward or Amartey look like Premier League footballers in a different style of play.

[Matt]

11 minutes ago, Sampson said:

Yes and no. Of course that’s a big issue but looking at our defence and goalkeeper on paper and I don’t have any confidence that another manager could suddenly make Ward or Amartey look like Premier League footballers in a different style of play.

Soyuncu could and would be effective in a different style.

 

But as usual Rodgers has froze him out and he's not willing to change on his way.

 

(Say it quietly) I dare say even Vestergaard could be better in a conducive style that is more suited to him, which makes his signing and the belief Rodgers overruled the recruitment staff to sign him - he was never going to work in Rodgers 'philosphy' of 'how to play football'. Bizarre.

 

Edited 27 August 2022 by Matt

[sylofox]

2 minutes ago, Sampson said:

Yes and no. Of course that’s a big issue but looking at our defence and goalkeeper on paper and I don’t have any confidence that another manager could suddenly make Ward or Amartey look like Premier League footballers in a different style of play.

You play to your strengths and this borefest shite is not playing to our defenders strengths.

 

So a different manager could be the answer. Instead of giving Rodgers millions to waste again.

 

Oh and Rodgers I don't like having a big squad as players get unhappy.

 

But we have nearly a starting 11 he will let rot and players he's bought in to.

 

The blokes full of shite, was found out at Liverpool and Celtic and they warned us.

[Leicester_Loyal]

Mid-table would be fantastic, would snap your hand off for 15th as it stands, 1 season less on Rodgers contract, more money in the coffers and more big wage contracts expiring.

[Babylon]

Having lost Ricardo and Fofana and Kasper since the last predictions. I’m revising down massively unfortunately. I’ll be happy to just not be in a relegation fight. The negativity that Rodgers is helping perpetuate daily is swirling around the whole club. 

[coolhandfox]

Think this is a little pointless until the window closes.

[Alf Bentley]

- Avoid relegation: even losing a couple of 1st teamers, this squad should be at least mid-table but the apparent low morale & mental weakness downgrades my expectations

- New manager: Having seemed so promising a year or two ago, Rodgers now seems to be a major part of the problem re. morale, mental strength, squad balance & tactics

- Decent FA Cup run: We need something to cheer us up; winning a trophy is probably beyond us, but we still have enough quality to win a few big games & go on a cup run

- Other - the start of squad transition: A couple of good signings, assuming Fofana, possibly Tielemans & some squad players leave....leading the way to more good signings next summer, with finances hopefully straighter... 

[Buzzell]

A top 10 finish would be a very good season for us.

[The Doctor]

We've been turning in relegation standard performances for months, reliant entirely on Maddison to make something out of nothing and the manager has no idea how to change that, or worse won't. Survival under this gimp would be a success 

[AyewJoking]

Beat Derbys worst ever points tally

[Guest Mickyblueeyes]

We have a team making basic mistakes that would expect of team down near the bottom. 
 

We have a manager who can’t inspire his side.

 

We have players who want out.

 

We lack any real leadership on or off the pitch. 
 

Avoiding relegation would be a good season.

[MPH]

target has to be top ten finish and a cup win