The European Dividend

[GrandOldTeam]

So you want more than 10th but think we should be targeting 55 points.

Which was 11th last season.

10th would “probably be seen as progress” because it would be progress.

We finished 13th last season, 15th the season before and 17th before that. So 10th would be quite clear progress.

12th, level on points with 11th in terms of points won though.

We've got to be aiming for higher than that - even Moyes was talking Europe.

 

[Rita_Poon]

We got 48 points in a season we were sentenced to relegation by the PL. To not expect 55 points in a season like this when we have good players and 10 of our opponents in the PL are bogged down with two games per week is entirely reasonable.

This season isn't that season. Try again.

 

[Titus Bramble]

We should expect improvement though mate, bar Grealish and KDH - none on our new signing have really contributed much yet, they will surely improve as the year goes on and contribute more.

Oh I know, I was being a bit cheeky with my final comment based on who started this thread...

I don't think a top half finish and being on the coat tails of those in the European places until the last few weeks of the season is out of the question this season. A 55 point season is probably about right for that.

 

[davek]

So you want more than 10th but think we should be targeting 55 points.

Which was 11th last season.

10th would “probably be seen as progress” because it would be progress.

We finished 13th last season, 15th the season before and 17th before that. So 10th would be quite clear progress.

No, I said we should easily be getting that.

 

[Joey66]

It's definitely an opportunity, it's part of the reason I was so disappointed to exit the league cup so meekly.

We fell off a cliff when we qualified for Europe under Koeman - much like Nottingham Forest.



Injury crisis?

We've been fortunate. Even now, in the league, only Man Utd have less players out than us (2 - Branthwaite and Patterson).

As for mid table, we've finished there the last few seasons - after a record club spend in the summer, I'm hoping top half.

Let's see, but so far only Grealish has excelled- the other signings apart from KDH seem to be a concern injury wise or talent wise - plus our record biggest signing can't start a full game I reiterate the big injury to Branthwaite is a massive blow for us!

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Let's see, but so far only Grealish has excelled- the other signings apart from KDH seem to be a concern injury wise or talent wise - plus our record biggest signing can't start a full game I reiterate the big injury to Branthwaite is a massive blow for us!

All that said, consider in Dyches full season we earned enough points with a much worse side and chaos off the pitch to finish 12th.

After a woeful start to last season, which Moyes recovered really well - we still finished 13th.

So to me - considering the money we've spent and the squad we have - we've got to be at least aiming for Europe. Which is the next step up from midtable. The manager was right with saying that before a ball was kicked.

 

[Saint Domingo]

I fought against all comers for Moyes on here in his first spell. Then spent about 3 years arguing with Dave about Martinez. The reason being that I thought Moyes worked absolute miracles in his first spell, taking us from the bottom of the league to regular European contenders on a sell to buy transfer policy. I still remember at his last game people complaining because we ‘only’ won by two goals and it was a ‘typical’ Moyes home win (how we’d wish for those in the years that followed)

I defended Dyche to the hilt because of the conditions he had to work in whilst people were asking him for attractive football and season on season progression whilst he sold his better players and loaned Jack Harrison

If Moyes was working under those same conditions now, I’d die on a hill for him. I half expected that this season I’d have to defend Moyes against people who expected top 4 and battering top 6 teams away from home on their own patch etc.

Instead some people are talking about expected losses?!!! Mid 40 points would be acceptable? Need stability? Can’t expect to beat Liverpool or City. This team that gained 48 points twice in a row just had 100 million pounds poured into it!! Our wide players are Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye whilst Tyler Dibling Alcaraz and Merlin Rohl don’t even make our starting 11!

Add in Dave’s European observation and the weakness of certain teams this season then absolutely I think we should be pushing on upwards from 48 points. This is a squad that should be finishing top half and mid 50s in my opinion.

 

[Rita_Poon]

Aim should be 30 by New Year if we have an ambition for Europe this season and we absolutely should.

Dec will separate the men from the boys.

11 more league games takes us to Dec 30th. We have 11 points so far. Hopefully mr masters point nabbing knobheeds don't come a knocking.
I'd probably be disappointed by only 19 points from 11 more games. 5 at home, thus 6 aways. It's not a terrible run, toughest home game arsenal, toughest away historically man utd or chelsea, but this season, definitely chelsea. Aptly, in light of the past 48 hours, the side we face this season twice first is dycheys notts forest. I'm rooting for Porto this evening. 5 wins 4 draws 2 losses is the 19 points. That'd be the halfway point of the season.

 

[Saint Domingo]

11 points from 8 so far, continue that and we're on track to get 52/53 points this season. So, we're there or thereabouts on track for that 55 point level.

So, therefore, shouldn't be any complaints of our current position right?

Yep I think we’re on target for the year 1 target at the moment. Home form has been good, if we could unlock some of the away results we had last season we could do very well.

 

[Rita_Poon]

There is a hierarchy to that mate, the RS, City, Arsenal wont blink with their squad sizes but be more difficult for the likes of Spurs, Palace, Villa and Newcastle for sure.

The other thing we should look to is our new signings will progress and contribute more as the year goes on in my opinion as they adjust.

I'm going to be disappointed if we dont get Europe this season - that's my aim and i think its possible, ill be disappointed elsewise.

What as i see as potentially undoing it is being light or poorly balanced in central midfield and the criminal situation at full back - teams have now targeted our full backs to get results and got joy at doing it, its going to be like that all season.

ACON is going to hammer a lot of sides this winter/spring.

 

[Joey66]

All that said, consider in Dyches full season we earned enough points with a much worse side and chaos off the pitch to finish 12th.

After a woeful start to last season, which Moyes recovered really well - we still finished 13th.

So to me - considering the money we've spent and the squad we have - we've got to be at least aiming for Europe. Which is the next step up from midtable. The manager was right with saying that before a ball was kicked.

Only time will tell if DM fetched in the right quality players in Barry to me is an enigma at high costs too...

 

[Rita_Poon]

There’s just no way the Freidkins put 100 mill into the team and accept standing still. It has to be an uplift on 48 points, and a decent one. I think mid 50s is the par, Kinnear basically said it was top ten and hopefully a cup run this season. He referenced Newcastle and Palace, teams that turned themselves around quickly to shoot back up the table.

The world has changed from Kenwright and Moshiri as soon as the takeover went though. The context of absurd chaos that was there has now gone. No more points deductions, sell to profit transfer policy, or buy now pay later players. This lot sacked a Roma legend after a handful of games, if targets aren’t me they won’t be sentimental.

They will want good progression this season and they will want to kick on again the next season.

Oil tankers don't turn on a dime.

 

[Neiler]

11 more league games takes us to Dec 30th. We have 11 points so far. Hopefully mr masters point nabbing knobheeds don't come a knocking.
I'd probably be disappointed by only 19 points from 11 more games. 5 at home, thus 6 aways. It's not a terrible run, toughest home game arsenal, toughest away historically man utd or chelsea, but this season, definitely chelsea. Aptly, in light of the past 48 hours, the side we face this season twice first is dycheys notts forest. I'm rooting for Porto this evening. 5 wins 4 draws 2 losses is the 19 points. That'd be the halfway point of the season.

That's my thinking mate, Dec will come thick and fast, there will be injuries and suspensions and the AFCON to that throws other variables into the risk - we have a bigger squad now to manage that, so we want some of the newer lads to start contributing before that and if we can get Jarrad back well good!

You can see how a point against the Arsenals and Chelsea are a good point if you have a wider objective. We owe Utd one.

 

[Joey66]

There’s just no way the Freidkins put 100 mill into the team and accept standing still. It has to be an uplift on 48 points, and a decent one. I think mid 50s is the par, Kinnear basically said it was top ten and hopefully a cup run this season. He referenced Newcastle and Palace, teams that turned themselves around quickly to shoot back up the table.

The world has changed from Kenwright and Moshiri as soon as the takeover went though. The context of absurd chaos that was there has now gone. No more points deductions, sell to profit transfer policy, or buy now pay later players. This lot sacked a Roma legend after a handful of games, if targets aren’t me they won’t be sentimental.

They will want good progression this season and they will want to kick on again the next season.

In short they will not suffer fools if you look at Roma that confirms that theory...

 

[Saint Domingo]

Oil tankers don't turn on a dime.

They don’t, but equally 100 million plus isn’t a dime.