Better teams we wont catch this season (in no particular order)

City, Gooners, Yarnited, Barcodes, Villains, Seagulls, 

Potentially better teams - Bin Dippers , Spuds 

That leaves 7 downwards imo up for grabs, so Im going with lucky # 7 and Europa Conf League next year (? )

Higher than 12th 🤣

I've been having this discussion/argument with my Sons for the last couple of months now but I'm going for 5th-8th and maybe a decent cup run.  We have the makings of a good squad and with a good manager now in place, who knows 🫰

If we get Caicedo I think 5th or 6th is a reasonable expectation for this reboot. New Manager, New players with little experience. If we show some kind of progression on the pitch I'll be happy.

Still think 4th

I still say 2nd place is available if we hit the ground running and breed confidence into our players. 

In the past few years we’ve seen teams come from nowhere the season before to challenge for the top spot, Arsenal last season, Leicester of course, then Liverpool 18/19, Spuds 16/17.

It wouldn’t be that much of a shock if we did it this season, although i don’t see us beating city, we have 36 other games we can win.

A lot will depend on Jackson up front, especially with Nkunku unavailable. He has looked mighty promising in the friendlies but they are friendlies. He remains a relative novice. The harsh realities of the PL, and PL defences, await. Fingers crossed.

42 minutes ago, coco said:

I still say 2nd place is available if we hit the ground running and breed confidence into our players. 

In the past few years we’ve seen teams come from nowhere the season before to challenge for the top spot, Arsenal last season, Leicester of course, then Liverpool 18/19, Spuds 16/17.

It wouldn’t be that much of a shock if we did it this season, although i don’t see us beating city, we have 36 other games we can win.

I think the opposite, I feel we can win a one off game vs City (even last season we could/should have won the league cup and home league game) it's their ability to drum up a 10/11 winning streak in their sleep that would be tough for anyone to match.

In terms of CL qualification I think our only saving grace this season will be if the leading pack doesn't break away (which going by preseason looks a possibility) and we can put a decent run together. Conversely however I still think we may struggle to break away and be part of the relegation scrap (with all the change and inexperience are we really any better than Fulham/Brighton/Nottm Forest?)

Edited August 5, 20232 yr by the special one

45 minutes ago, Argo said:

I think the opposite, I feel we can win a one off game vs City (even last season we could/should have won the league cup and home league game) it's their ability to drum up a 10/11 winning streak in their sleep that would be tough for anyone to match.

I mean we wont beat city over 38 games, we can win one off games, but i don’t care if we lose both those city games, as long as we are dominating the rest. Our problem under Potter was being incapable of dominating even the bottom clubs, but this is a new team and manager with new styles of play and my point is we could do well and shock a lot of people on here.

5th or 6th with Caicedo, 8th otherwise.

5th.

Pretty optimistic that Pochettino will have a positive impact early on, and we'll be far better side tactically than we have been recently. We'll be inconsistent and have moments of frustration, but I think there will be enough improvement and progress to keep the fans excited.

Also think a lighter schedule will work in our favour. I can see Newcastle falling away with a heavier schedule.

If Spurs lose Kane, then they won't get close to top 4. Think City win it again with Arsenal and Liverpool being their biggest challengers.

Edited August 8, 20232 yr by Jezz

The West Ham game is low-key crucial.

Liverpool at home could be lost even in our best season's but we really need to go to London Stadium and show a clear superiority that our non top 6 struggles are a thing of last season.

Annoying they seem to be getting their sh*t sorted just in time for us though. As sh*t as Maguire and McTominay are at top 6 level they're very good recruits for Moyes' sh*thouse/underdog tactics. Facing those two and Alvarez playing under low block tactics is going to be tough.

Would take Europa League if you offered it now. Jesus, never thought I'd say that

Losing Nkunku blows a huge hole in our chances this season.

I mean we have performed well this preseason even without Nkunku, and he'll be back in January. 

Certain players need to be stepping up though. Cough Sterling Cough

22 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I mean we have performed well this preseason even without Nkunku, and he'll be back in January. 

Certain players need to be stepping up though. Cough Sterling Cough

Yeah right lol. Is on Carney and Casadei to take that number 10 role and make it work.

25 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Losing Nkunku blows a huge hole in our chances this season.

Depends what our realistic targets were. I'd say it makes top 4 unrealistic for sure, but that always felt a bit ambitious. Top 8 still feels reasonable. We have a young squad built for long term improvement, rather than immediate success.

Now that Nkunku is out I'd say 5th/6th

With or without Nkunku top 4/5 should be bare minimum requirement.

That being said, I won't want Pochettino sacked if he fails if the underlying metrics are pointing to sustainable progression, but unfortunately I feel I'd be in the minority on that one.

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Losing Nkunku blows a huge hole in our chances this season.

I never really believed our chances much anyway. Pre season was good, but it's pre season, it doesn't mean much outside of fitness. My main reason for not expecting much was our lack of experience and clear weaknesses in midfield. Without Caicedo, top 4 is a tough ask, even with Nkunku. If you don't have the right midfield, you can't control a football match. You would just be hoping the attackers can out score the opposition.

Injuries are clearly going to kill us again though. Fofana and Nkunku already out for long periods, Chalobah is injured, Madueke and Badiashile have had no pre-season. It's already bad and the season hasn't even started yet.

We're also facing investigations from the Premier League which we will either be heavily fined for or receive a points deduction. It's different to the case with City because we already admitted to it all to UEFA a few weeks back, we were heavily fined for it, so it's not like things would be drawn out like they are with City.

With all of the money we have spent, we really can't spend any time out of the Champions League, that is the risks these new owners have taken. No other club is spending money like we are, so I don't see how it won't come back to haunt us. So much sh*t has happened in the past 2 years with the club, it's hard to feel optimistic that things will change when bad things just keep happening.

4 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Yeah right lol. Is on Carney and Casadei to take that number 10 role and make it work.

Casadei hasn't been allocated a shirt number, so I guess the club want him to play every week, which is more likely on loan somewhere.

I think the "number 10" role as it stands is now on Carney and Conor.

2 hours ago, Argo said:

With or without Nkunku top 4/5 should be bare minimum requirement.

That being said, I won't want Pochettino sacked if he fails if the underlying metrics are pointing to sustainable progression, but unfortunately I feel I'd be in the minority on that one.

Potential points deduction would be a factor too. If that does happen top 4 looks highly improbably.

46 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Casadei hasn't been allocated a shirt number, so I guess the club want him to play every week, which is more likely on loan somewhere.

I think the "number 10" role as it stands is now on Carney and Conor.

Conor, Caicedo and Enzo makes for a great work rate in that midfield. Though people like Younes will be bit*hing about Conors lack of technique and goals every week.

Wonder how Enzo would do as a 10?

@Argohow would your man Enzo do as our 10?

21 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Conor, Caicedo and Enzo makes for a great work rate in that midfield. Though people like Younes will be bit*hing about Conors lack of technique and goals every week.

Wonder how Enzo would do as a 10?

@Argohow would your man Enzo do as our 10?

Would be a total waste.

I mean, he 'can' play there but would totally waste his abilities to dictate play from deeper positions.

For me even him being an 8 would be not ideal, a 6 with a box to box midfielder covering the ground.