Where do we really expect to be ?

[Dave]

Half way through another PL season and some of us are expecting to compete for top 4 and higher, some want a trophy and would be happy with 10th/11th.
But considering our budget, our squad quality and depth compared to Liverpool, Chelsea, City, and Arsenal....where do we really expect to be ?? Villa, Newcastle, Forest and Brighton are now serious contenders for European spots, as a result of long term planning and clever recruitment...something i think we've been lacking for too long now...

So WHERE are WE ? Realistically ?

Are we always destined to be the entertaining outsider ? The long shot with maybe the chance of a cup ? Is that just it under Levy ? Is that our ceiling ?

 

[The Cryptkeeper]

With these injuries and our relative squad age we are going well enough in my opinion.

I’m here for the long haul. It’s a project rebuild and we have the best project manager in the business.

I still think we’ll win the Europa League and that gets us back dining at the top table. I also think one of the domestic cups is gettable.

Next season will see us improve massively given a good summer window and even luck with injuries.

Right now, we are ok. Things are nowhere near as bad as they seem.

 

[Style And Glory]

I agree with Crypty's ^^^ assessment.

Only one club has scored more goals.
Only two clubs have allowed fewer goals.

So how do we account for 7 loses & sitting mid-table?

We're a very young squad that will only get better with time.
There's so much potential both within the squad & the coaching staff.
I'm all for Ange's philosophy which makes it a great watch especially when we are clicking.
Even when we're not, it's been better than what the previous 3 managers produced.
It is far from complete but the structure is there & it is down to getting a few more pieces in order to create what we lack: quality depth.

 

[Yid]

Realistically a top half finish would be good... I don't think that's enough for Ange to keep his job though...

Injuries, young players and Anges stubborn tactics will loose us points that could drop us into Europa again...

The club needs to learn and change...

Fuck Levy.

 

[Dave]

If we do finish outside the EL places, I sincerely hope Ange doesn't lose his job. That's my whole point really to this thread.
Although, yes, Ange has shown some nievity in terms of game management, no doubt. And that HAS cost us. But my point is Levy has had 14 managers come and go...most of which have been top gaffers, some not so much. And only one has won anything.
Top managers out there do not want to work with the Dark Lord so I say we hang on to Ange for dear life and hope he's given the tools to try and get it right.
We only get the players that the other clubs don't want most of the time so I think we're in danger of Ange just going "Fuck this" and walking....and then what ?
There has to be time given and 2 more windows imo...otherwise, what's the point.

 

[Havocc]

We are only 5 points off the top 4. Considering the amount of injuries we have, its amazing we are still in touching distance.

If we were 10th, and looking at 10-15 points I would be worried. We are still fighting on all fronts playing the best football in years.

So for me, being close to the top 6 and being in all cup competitions is where we should be and are.

Also, our +17 goal difference will be huge at the end of the season

 

[BrooklynYid]

We are exactly where Levy wants us to be--generating income like crazy while still fielding a reasonably competitive team on a mid-table budget. I don't see any of that changing any time soon. They only way we'll ever challenge is if we hit big on a number of signing, like we did under Poch. Or if the club is sold to someone with ambition. Otherwise, I think this is it. YAY!

 

[J.spurs]

If we do finish outside the EL places, I sincerely hope Ange doesn't lose his job. That's my whole point really to this thread.
Although, yes, Ange has shown some nievity in terms of game management, no doubt. And that HAS cost us. But my point is Levy has had 14 managers come and go...most of which have been top gaffers, some not so much. And only one has won anything.
Top managers out there do not want to work with the Dark Lord so I say we hang on to Ange for dear life and hope he's given the tools to try and get it right.
We only get the players that the other clubs don't want most of the time so I think we're in danger of Ange just going "Fuck this" and walking....and then what ?
There has to be time given and 2 more windows imo...otherwise, what's the point.

This pretty much sums up what I think. I'm patient with the manager, who's not really had enough time, and impatient with the ownership. Ange sometimes shoots himself in the foot in my opinion but bottom line is that we're one of the richest clubs in the world (eighth I believe),and as he said before the Saints game, we're pulling kids out of school to have enough players on the bench.

With that said I'm not militantly Levy out (though I might be if I was stumping up tons of cash for tickets each week) because a lot of the alternatives that would come sniffing around are unacceptable. It doesn't matter anyway because I think ENIC aren't selling this cash cow any time soon. So this manager looks like the sort that might be able to sort to give us some good times without the kind of spending we see from other clubs. And as we've said for a while now, when we're on, it's can be stunning to watch.

 

[Ted the Yid]

I don't think top 4 is gonna happen which is fine but cups are winnable, particularly the Europa. But "the club" (Levy and his honchos) need to readdress the top 4 at all costs mentality and allow Ange and the team to concentrate on winning cups.

Europa gets us a trophy and also CL football (probably) so win that and everyone is happy.

The squad as we know is thin in certain areas and that will probably undo any chance of winning a trophy whilst we continue to pick up these injuries.

So I expect us to finish about 8th and not win anything but I'm hopeful that Ange's determination might see us lift the Europa in a glory glory night in Bilbao.

 

[SpiderSpurs]

I expect (this season) top 7 and either the EL Cup or FA Cup. would prefer both.