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Stubbo 9:18 Tue Jul 16
Could this be another of 'those' season's?

The ones where the established order get roughed up a bit.

You have:

- inexperience at the helm and no signings at Chelsea, with the best player in the league leaving them
- the wheels already showing signs of coming off at Man Utd end of last season with seemingly Cardiff's sacked ex manager at the helm and the Pogba circus unresolved, players running amok on social media and the star striker wanting out
- Arsenal stuck in park, with little evidence of progress and increasingly restless natives fearing maybe Emery is not the answer, and the club Captain and only decent centre back gone AWOL
- The introduction of VAR
- Us with a top manager in their second season, a seemingly stable squad gradually being injected with youth and (hopefully) a proper, talented striker well suited to the league
- Seemingly no great shakes taking place at the other midtable sides

Not calling anything silly like Champions League, but certainly a strong push for top 6 seems possible, with things not this disrupted at the top of the league since Leicester won the title.

Krap not Pu 7:17 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

love to be optimistic...because it's true that top two are already nailed on but rest a lot closer than they have been for a fair few years .....unfortunately as at this moment we still have the likes of Sanchez, Hernandez, Obiang, Cresswell ,Zabaletta , Reid , Ogbonna and Snodgrass still vying for a start...hmmmmm

BRANDED 3:16 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

I think lots of teams will improve. We are still in the mid mix. However, if we avoid injuries and get the system right we could be a challenge to most teams and hopefully pull off great scalps.

arsene york-hunt 3:13 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

I don't understand the question - one of this season's what?

Wils 2:55 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

Bet365 have the irons at 12/1 for top 6 finish.

Got to be worth a cheeky pony.

Stubbo 1:15 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

14/1 at Hills for a Top 6 finish. Had a nibble on that.

crystal falace 12:53 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

Also those mentioning Wolves, i think they're going to come back down to earth this season unless they sign a fair number of squad players.

They basically had no injuries at all last season and had a pretty much unchanged team, that surely cant happen again especially when you factor in all the Europa league games, and behind their starting 11 im not sure they have much strength in depth

RBshorty 12:51 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

Ain’t been this confident going into a season. Since we signed David Kelly.!

crystal falace 12:36 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

West ham currently 12/1 to finish top 6, 66/1 top 4 and 6/5 top half on bet 365 for those interested

ironsofcanada 12:29 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

I still think we need a more defensively sound set of fullbacks or at least another dedicated defensive midfield destroyer to grind out points against certain sides.

But we should improve, have a lot goals in us and be fun to watch.

Eerie Descent 12:25 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

Yep, no doubt you were all the same posters on the identical thread last summer, saying we could break into the top 4, 4 games in and the debate was if we'd stay up.

We're 2 inevitablw injuries away from our 1st choice midfield being Sanchez and Obiang. Lets just see ehat hapoens.

diehardhammer 11:00 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

i was thinking along the very same lines in regards to top 6

trying to keep feet on the ground in preparation for the inevitable silly long injury list, i really hope im wrong though

Sniper 9:41 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

Fair comment around the big clubs - Liverpool and Man City are now what Man U and arsenal were 20 years ago.

Honestly think chelsea have appointee lampard because they know they’re fucked next season without hazard and frank will have patience from the fans that a big name manager wouldn’t . If you took hazard away front them last season they would have struggled. This season won’t be any different

Man U haven’t really done anything to improve for this season yet. I don’t see maguire having the same impact van dijk did at Liverpool - they could end up spending massively over the odds on someone who won’t necessarily be the cure for their problems.

Arsenal are similar - with koscielney being anyway now too they need heavy investment in their defence which the owners just don’t seem fussed about

However the likes of Everton and Leicester will be there or thereabouts next season - we need a good run of no injuries and hope the new boys settle and there is definitely a shout for top 6. Top 4 would be luck and incredible form - you only have to look at the payet season to realise just how consistent and lethal you have to be to maintain momentum for a top four finish. Even ballsing up two of our last three games dropped us to 7th

I’m looking forward to it all though

Far East Hammer 9:07 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

Darby_ 12:35 Wed Jul 17

You beat me to that comment.

I fear that this will be one of those seasons where:
(1) It could be ours for the taking (Top 6 anyway)
(2) We'll have a handful of injuries but to key players, leaving us without sufficient depth - most likely in the form of not having a first or even second choice striker available

Knowing West Ham it could be worse still - Fabianski getting a kick in the head when going in for a save...

Mike Oxsaw 8:44 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

Not sure we've yet got enough strength in depth for a serious assault on the top 6, but a long cup run or two looks on the cards.

Manuel 6:41 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

The 'top 6' has now become a 2 and a 4 with L'pool and City pulling away. We do have a chance of nicking 5th or 6th if we stay clear of injuries and have a bit of luck, but still a long shot for me. Chelsea are gonna miss Hazard big time.

Fifth Column 12:58 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

I don't necessarily think we'll finish much higher this season but I'm confident we'll be more consistent and get more points... but also think those above us will do the same and there will be a bigger gap between top 9 or 10 and others beneath than there was this season.

Hermit Road 12:46 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

This is the way we should be thinking. The second tier of teams are strengthening and 3 do the top lot are either standing still or falling back. Chelsea losing Hazard is massive along with the embargo and an unproven, obese manager. Man U are flailing around and will be looking for a new manager by Christmas, and Arsenal are a mess. Trouble for us is, Everton and Leicester are spending too.

I’m cautiously optimistic, we brought in a lot last year who would have bedded in by now and have added quality rather than quantity this year. It actually feels for once that we might have a strategy. That’s novel.

Darby_ 12:35 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

Usually when people get excited about a season like this we go on have a disappointing season.

High expectations are the kiss of death with us.

White Pony 12:32 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

ba-doom-tish

gph 12:28 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

"Smelling of Roses"? No wonder he's fat. Bet he has a go at the Quality Street too.

Eerie Descent 12:26 Wed Jul 17
Re: Could this be another of 'those' season's?

We had exactly the same sort of threads before the start of last season, and it was the usual mob finishing in the top 6, as it will be again.

Logic says if it's anyone who will struggle it will be Chelsea, as they can't sign anyone, haven't really got a striker of note, and have just lost the best player ever to play for them, who has kept them going single handed for a few years. BUT... you just know that cunt will come out smelling of roses.

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