ldotm
David Wagner Terrier
Posts: 2,890 
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Post by ldotm on Jul 31, 2019 17:10:00 GMT 1
Been a few ramblings on various threads, about if people are content with the squad and where they think we'll finish. Thought I'd consolidate it on to one thread - If no more changes occur, are you disappointed, satisfied, delighted etc. with the current squad? In addition, for a bit of fun, if you had to stick 100 quid on where Town will finish, what would you predict?
I have been asked this from my non-supporting colleagues & friends over the past week - me personally, I really don't know what to expect (which is part of the excitement). As it stands, we've kept hold of some players I'd have been adamant we would've lost, signed shrewdly but nobody to turn heads e.g. a Cavaleiro type, have players that we have no idea what to expect at this level (Diakhaby, Mbenza) and despite what seems on the face of it a great pre-season, still a manager that has yet to prove competitively what he's about and is relatively an unknown quantity.
On paper, we have without a doubt a team that can be top 6, but it's always a big task rejuvenating a squad who were so low on confidence & evidently some players who didn't warm to the new manager. Hence, why we could be promoted automatically or still be bottom half - a lot of unknown factors. That being said, the morale and cohesion looks to be back in place and that has been integral to our success in the former years.
Like a few on here, I personally would play Kongolo at CB - frightening partnership of him & Schindler at this level. Then I think we lack two quality fullbacks and would ideally bring in a RB & LB. We've lost Smith, Flo just doesn't do it for me and then Bockhorn I think would be a solid back-up for both fullbacks (too early to judge, but would be surprised if he sets the league alight). Therefore, if Kongolo gets injured we are lacking a solid LB and haven't replaced Lowe. So they're two positions I'd like to bring in, whether that's loans or permanents - think that'd fill me with more confidence of top 6 if we could sort that.
Wingers is also a strange one. As I alluded to - Diakhaby & Mbenza could be immense at this level - they're very raw and obviously have talent to demand us to bring them in at PL level. But will they do it consistently at this level? Pritch very capable of doing it in the champ, but is he an out and out winger? VLP we all know his strengths and his weaknesses and so on.
CM's - Hogg, Mooy, Bacuna with Brown, O'Brien, Daly as back up - very happy with that.
Grant & Grabara two places I'm also pleased with.
So, after a bit of waffling - the icing on the cake for me would be a few more fullbacks and then save some of the Billing, Zanka & Smith money to go after a quality winger in January, if we are challenging and the wingers haven't contributed as effectively as we'd want, like the last few years.
Prediction - 8th.
Fire away ladies & gentlemen, let's hear your thoughts less than a week away.
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Post by Nickhudds.UTT on Jul 31, 2019 17:31:22 GMT 1
Imho
Flo is nowhere near good enough, too lightweight.
We cant just rely on Grant for all the goals so we need another striker.
Very hard to predict indeed.
If we can score from other players Then maybe 6 th, if not then i fear about 12 th.
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Macduff
Andy Booth Terrier
I've got a Gibson without a case but I cant get that even tanned look on my face.
Posts: 3,925
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Post by Macduff on Jul 31, 2019 17:39:41 GMT 1
No prediction just hope the football will be more fun to watch than last season. DATM should really be left alone in the close season (proper news apart) and the sooner the actual footy starts the better, although I did enjoy the "storm" the (obviously) spoof shirts created.
UTT
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Post by Million Dollar Babies on Jul 31, 2019 18:13:47 GMT 1
3rd - Lose in Semi Finals to Brentford
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Post by The King's Head 1230 on Jul 31, 2019 18:22:17 GMT 1
1st Fulham
2nd Hudds
3rd Cardiff
4th Leeds
5th Bristol City
6th Forest
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Post by mightytj on Jul 31, 2019 18:23:20 GMT 1
Champions and that’s not a joke!
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Post by Bassingham Terrier on Jul 31, 2019 18:36:09 GMT 1
Top ten, but outside top six.
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Post by PellonTerrier on Jul 31, 2019 18:38:56 GMT 1
Top 3
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Post by sykeylad on Jul 31, 2019 18:44:36 GMT 1
Champions!
But of course it might not go that way.
Lets see how Jaden Brown does before writing him off.
Flo will be fine at this level I feel.
Mounie to come good.
Bacuna, Grant, Reece Brown, Mbenza, Diakhaby & Mooy to rip it up.
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Post by Captainslapper on Jul 31, 2019 19:02:48 GMT 1
Was talking about this to a Town fan at work.
Basically i have no idea and neither did he..
We could really struggle and be faffing about near the bottom group or we could be in the top 3 all season.
Think with the squad as it currently stands, we need to keep Grant fit to have any chance of success.
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Post by Big Ern on Jul 31, 2019 19:11:32 GMT 1
Another trip to Wembley beckons! Top 6
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Post by Baby-face Frankenstein on Jul 31, 2019 19:12:56 GMT 1
There's every reason to be positive for the forthcoming season. For me, it was important that we didn't have to replace too many players from last season, so I looked at the side that started against Manchester United at home only 3 months ago, and find it incredible that all but 3 of that 11 could be starting against Derby County on Monday night.
Pre-season has shown that the shattered self-confidence has been extensively repaired, and it could be argued we are sending a better team out on to the pitch than the one that drew 1-1 with Utd - a side that was gunning for the Champions League in that game.
It's a long, hard slog of a season though, so - as things stand at the moment - I think we may come up short as regards quality in depth. So it would be 3rd in the table for me (behind Fulham and Cardiff City).
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Post by sapphireblue on Jul 31, 2019 19:16:05 GMT 1
I really don't get the attraction of Cardiff (in oh so many ways)
In Otium speak, I would be laying them.
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Post by Christ in Shades (art) on Jul 31, 2019 19:19:47 GMT 1
Was talking about this to a Town fan at work. Basically i have no idea and neither did he.. We could really struggle and be faffing about near the bottom group or we could be in the top 3 all season. Think with the squad as it currently stands, we need to keep Grant fit to have any chance of success. That's a big worry for me, Grant, anything happens to him we'll struggle for goals, although outside him think we'll struggle for goals full stop. There is a lot of onus on him to get 20 plus. I'm not convinced by the 433 formation, I don't think the players are good enough but if we can gather momentum and make a good start we could do well but I'd say higher mid table. |
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Post by Bojaj Horseman on Jul 31, 2019 19:22:08 GMT 1
Fulham are going to be this season's Stoke I reckon. Defence was their major issue last season, and they've not signed a single defender, despite having 3 on loan last season. Scott Parker has less managerial pedigree than Siewert, but pundits are considering neither of these issues as factors because they know who Parker is, and they know Knockeart, Cairney, Sessegnon and Mitrovic are good at Championship level.
Town could be anywhere. The ingredients are there to get promoted after being written off by all (again). A bad start and we might end up in relegation trouble. I think in reality it'll be inconsistent, playing at both levels at various points. Some players we expect to step up will go missing, some we're not expecting much of will be better than expected. To be honest I don't care where we finish, as long as I can enjoy watching Town again, and it's in the top 21.
FWIW
Automatic- Bristol City, Stoke City
Promoted through playoffs- Cardiff
Other playoff places- Leeds, Brentford, Preston
Relegated- Charlton, Reading, Millwall
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Post by townrwe on Jul 31, 2019 19:24:03 GMT 1
Think we could be champions.... but also think we could end up in an uninspiring 12th.... Depends on the start we get and the momentum we can build.
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Post by Million Dollar Babies on Jul 31, 2019 19:25:28 GMT 1
I really don't get the attraction of Cardiff (in oh so many ways) In Otium speak, I would be laying them. It's just because it is Warnock. You're half way there with him in charge |
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Post by drumriggend on Jul 31, 2019 19:42:47 GMT 1
Promoted by easter..
Champions..
Grant 26 goals..
Mooy championship player of the season..
Back where we belong..
Probably..
👍
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Post by portugalterrier on Jul 31, 2019 19:44:48 GMT 1
Don’t think any team will walk away with it, think there will be 6/8 teams who will win more than they lose , however a bit like the Premier League all points will be “golden” and draws not to be sniffed at.
Hope we will be there or thereabouts at Xmas .
Top 6 for me , Leeds, Fulham, Brentford, Cardiff, Town, Stoke.
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Post by terriertim on Jul 31, 2019 20:03:02 GMT 1
For me depends on the first 5 games - if they can shake off that losing mentality they had last season then it could be very interesting. Old saying "anyone can beat anyone" in this league. So much more exciting than the PL to be honest. The "troublemakers" have all departed now (Zanka not included) and from what I have seen the team spirit is on then up. Nice blend of old and young players and should we get off to a flyer that will become a "winning" mentality which will spred throughout the dressing room and in turn out to the terraces.
What we dont want is a bad start.....that will be difficult to recover from
my prediction is ....Honestly I dont know - if we are basing it on Cardiff and Fulham then we should be right up there conssidering what we did against them last season.......and Leeds.....well extra spice could mean all 6 points there.
Hopefully w will be in it right up to the final day......and the woes of lasy season will be a distant memory
In my dreams - Champions......but a Schindler penalty at Wembly to beat the Dirites would be a big wish as well.....just imagine "double hero" !
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Post by Baby Ate My Eight Ball on Jul 31, 2019 20:05:45 GMT 1
Our preseason has gone a lot better than I thought it would, in terms of players retained and results & performances.
A good start is pivotal for confidence given what happened last year, could have really done with a could of easy games first up. Too reliant on Grant and the wingers are a bit of an unknown quantity but providing no-one else leaves the spine of the team is one of the best in the division.
Feels like anything could happen, particularly as we have a young squad. Should be an exciting season as well actually be looking to attack and score goals.
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crux
Jimmy Glazzard Terrier
[M0:0]
Posts: 4,119
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Post by crux on Jul 31, 2019 20:16:46 GMT 1
Town will be anywhere from 1st down to about 15th - assuming we get off to a reasonable start and win a couple of games early on.
I did think that Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds (unfortunately) would be the teams to beat. However, Warnock announcing his retirement at the end of the season could take the edge off Cardiff. Plus Leeds and Bristol tend to fade as the season goes on.
As with a few other posters, I don't really get the 'hype' for Fulham. Rookie manager, questionable defence and massive pressure from the owners to go straight back up. If they don't get off to a good start, they could struggle until they sack the manager.
Stoke should be better this season and Brentford will probably do OK. Not sure WBA have improved and there's lots of new managers, including Middlesbrough and T'owls.
1st Town 🤞
2nd Stoke
Playoffs Cardiff
Relegated Charlton, Luton, T'owls 🤞
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Post by portugalterrier on Jul 31, 2019 20:17:50 GMT 1
Our midfield of Mooy, Hogg and Bacuna are certainly in the top 3 in this division, just need to get the defence tight then all we need is 30 one goal victory’s .
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Post by galpharm2400 on Jul 31, 2019 20:32:21 GMT 1
More joy than last year and one or two decisions more going our way.
The rest will be wait and see.🛐
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Post by Christ in Shades (art) on Jul 31, 2019 20:48:33 GMT 1
More joy than last year and one or two decisions more going our way. The rest will be wait and see.🛐 Got a new phone Galp? I note the heavy use of emoticons of late. |
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Post by HuddsTerrier on Jul 31, 2019 20:53:56 GMT 1
I can’t see past Cardiff for the title - their manager and squad is built for this league, they’ll be horrible to play and will be able to grind out 46 games
We have a squad that cost £100m to assemble. Provided we keep mooy; Schindler and kongolo we should expect to finish top six - otherwise players are stealing their big wages
However my worry is that our summer business has been unbalanced
We sold/ released three full backs (Loewe, smith and durn) and only signed an unproven right back who has only played regional German football - we look threadbare in that position and no one way can Flo and kongolo (who is wasted IMO at left back) be expected to play 46 games
I also think we look a centre midfielder short
If we can do a little more business in the next week I’ll be a lot more confident
I’d hate to come up just short because we didn’t have the depth needed in a couple of positions
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Post by turbo2 on Jul 31, 2019 21:06:00 GMT 1
Massively depends on who we keep when the transfer window closes
Mooy grant the two main ones for me
Could be a good season if they stay
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Post by ruggedivy on Jul 31, 2019 21:23:06 GMT 1
Very difficult one to predict!
At lot has been mentioned about the players but, it’s been proven over the last few seasons that the manager is often the main factor in teams getting out of this division.
I would be disappointed regardless if we finished outside the Top 10. Jan’s ability to out smart the opposition will be critical for us to finish higher than 10th!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2019 21:30:55 GMT 1
I can’t recall looking forward to a season with as much genuine hope of success !
The last two seasons have been looked forward to but with a sense of foreboding.
Seasons in the championship before that were the usual hope but knowing we’re up against it.
We will have the best keeper in the Championship, bar none.
3/4 of the defence is solid as a rock, the other 1/4 could well surprise people.
Midfield is well stocked with quality IMO, but I still think Mooy is a gonner so hopefully said replacement is ready to come in.
Wide men and two strikers are all capable of doing serious damage at this level. MBenza and Diakhaby both full of confidence against zMontpellier and will leave full backs on their arses. There are goals in MBenza, scored a good few in France and was not afraid to pull the trigger on sight last season - remember the good effort at home to Spurs?
And finally, lets give Jan a real chance. He’s had a load of crap to deal with as well as covering many of the duties Rebbe/HOF would have been responsible for last season.
I’m sticking my neck out for Autos. 😁
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Post by 4 head on Jul 31, 2019 21:34:14 GMT 1
For me, slightly disappointed with our business in the transfer market so far. Might change though now we've sold Billing and Zanka looks like he is on his way.
Would sign a LB and backup striker as priority.
Think we will finish 9th.
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