Brighton Yellow 0 Posted July 14, 2010 Why the devil not? It would be foolish of anyone to claim that one team will definately perform better than another. On paper at least if the squads performs to thier abilities and luch etc goes our way when required then we can win the league. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grantroederdisaster 0 Posted July 14, 2010 Don''t know about that but we certainly have a squad capable of challenging if everything goes to plan! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barclaybred 0 Posted July 14, 2010 Im happier with this seasons squad,and quality of pre season purchases,than any other time in the championship! .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
First Wizard 0 Posted July 14, 2010 Top two again, bookmark it and make it happen.........again.[Y][ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ncfc2010 0 Posted July 14, 2010 I think we r getting abit ahead of ourselves here!!!But then again il be the first to eat my words if we do!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brighton Yellow 0 Posted July 14, 2010 My main point is that on paper we can beat them all without danger. In reality of course we could be the worst City team ever and Lambert will have to escape the city due to his insane decisions and rubbish purchases etc. Lets all hope for the best as I for one got used to singing ''we are top of the league'' etc. p.s. I'' m loving the look of the German training camp! compare that to previous pre seasons in Scotland... Nice one Paul! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mello Yello 2,265 Posted July 14, 2010 We certainly do seem to be assembling a squad that will hold their own and give a real good account of themselves in the Championship.....I don''t think we''ll win as many away games as last season, but if the squad show effort and commitment, produce and express a bit of flair and excitement and are battling till the final whistle, I''ll certainly be more than happy with that.....Play-offs for us I think...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
city-till-i-die 7 Posted July 14, 2010 [quote user="Mello Yello"]We certainly do seem to be assembling a squad that will hold their own and give a real good account of themselves in the Championship.....I don''t think we''ll win as many away games as last season, but if the squad show effort and commitment, produce and express a bit of flair and excitement and are battling till the final whistle, I''ll certainly be more than happy with that.....Play-offs for us I think...... [/quote][Y] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brendo 0 Posted July 14, 2010 I''d be delighted with top 6. Yes, top two is possible, but I think the real contenders are Burnley + Forest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canary02 IV 0 Posted July 14, 2010 The key to success in any league is consistency (of both form and personnel selection), luck with injuries and momentum.We''ve assembled a squad capable of competing at the top end of the league but if Wes and Holty were to clatter each other in training tomorrow and be out for the season, god forbid, mid table would be a real achievement, regardless of how good we are on paper. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barclaybred 0 Posted July 14, 2010 [quote user="Brendo "]I''d be delighted with top 6. Yes, top two is possible, but I think the real contenders are Burnley + Forest. [/quote]After reading and re reading all these posts,in case i am pulled up for missing someones point,i think the opinion of most posters concerning, where we will finish this year,has probably been the most optimistic for ages! .. Though very few are predicting top 2,a top half seems in the words of Lawrenson "doable" by quite a few (Maybe more than half or even POSSIBLY 2/3!!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marvin the martian 0 Posted July 14, 2010 Don''t want to be a party pooper but I thnk some people are underestimating some of the teams we are about to be playing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DOGGER 0 Posted July 14, 2010 [quote user="Brendo "]I''d be delighted with top 6. Yes, top two is possible, but I think the real contenders are Burnley + Forest. [/quote]........and M''boro Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
InLambertWeTrust! 0 Posted July 14, 2010 We still need a good quality right full back IMO. R.Martin is good back up but as a starter? Erm... no thanks.If Lambo judges him to be good enough then I am with him all the way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davness 0 Posted July 14, 2010 [quote user="Brighton Yellow"]Lets all hope for the best as I for one got used to singing ''we are top of the league'' [/quote]Well anything other than defeat on the opening day and you can do that for certain. If we win we''re top on points, if we draw we''re top on alphabetical order! Untill Saturday at 5 anyway... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boyo 0 Posted July 14, 2010 I think everyone is getting a bit carried away. Yes we have got a good squad but lets remember not loads of these have got lots of Championship experience. E.g. R.Martin, Whitbread (?), Crofts, K.Smith, Fox, C.Martin, Jackson. I can see us being mid-table and in my eyes that would be good and I would be happy with that but lots of people wouldn''t and I really don''t want people to start moaning at the team or Lambert for having a season of consolidation. The Championship is wide open which means that we can beat anyone but lets not forget anyone can also beat us when we least expect it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bovril 214 Posted July 14, 2010 for me were like Swindon last year pre season...a squad capable of winning any game, expected top-halve finish but with a push could make the play-offs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
26mjw 0 Posted July 14, 2010 "we now have a squad capable of winning the league"First post: "it would be foolish to say one team will finish above another"Hmm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brendo 0 Posted July 14, 2010 [quote user="Dogger "][quote user="Brendo "]I''d be delighted with top 6. Yes, top two is possible, but I think the real contenders are Burnley + Forest. [/quote]........and M''boro[/quote]True. Can''t see anyone else winning this league. The likes of Leicester, Cardiff + Sheff Utd are all also good, but no other teams really have much of a better team or a manager than us I think. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blurboy1980 36 Posted July 14, 2010 It starts with the No 1...depending on how well he plays not sure he has been a number 1 ever for a full season. Lets hope he can be just as good as Fraser...If he turns into a Theo which I do not think we will be in for a long year..On Paper the team looks great lets just hope Ruddy can do well but I see top 6. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocky Rocastle 0 Posted July 14, 2010 You lot are nuts!!! Lets be realistic....Top half would be a good season and then allow us to kick on next year.Why oh why must some people heap pressure on the team and have unrealistic expectations....For those that think we will get into top 2 please WAKE UP....Our journey back into the prem is a marathon not a sprint!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BobbyLo 0 Posted July 14, 2010 Good post from Boyo. Too many fickle changing of opinions in football (some wouldsay that''s the beauty of it though!) But I believe we still need anotherchoice at right back, an out and out right winger (Dannny Green?) and aback up for Holt. I know it doesn''t fit Lamberts demographic, but atarget man with champs experience (and thus potentially older) would becracking.I''m impressed with the signings so far and certainly thinkwe can compete for a top 6 place, however football has a funny way ofkicking you while you''re down. As long as the belief and confidence isthere from the very start we''ll be ok. I''m certainly not judging anyoneuntil we are about 10-15 games in! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boyo 0 Posted July 14, 2010 [quote user="Rocky Rocastle"]You lot are nuts!!! Lets be realistic....Top half would be a good season and then allow us to kick on next year.Why oh why must some people heap pressure on the team and have unrealistic expectations....For those that think we will get into top 2 please WAKE UP....Our journey back into the prem is a marathon not a sprint!!![/quote][Y][Y][Y] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Smudger 0 Posted July 14, 2010 [quote user="Boyo''"][quote user="Rocky Rocastle"]You lot are nuts!!! Lets be realistic....Top half would be a good season and then allow us to kick on next year.Why oh why must some people heap pressure on the team and have unrealistic expectations....For those that think we will get into top 2 please WAKE UP....Our journey back into the prem is a marathon not a sprint!!![/quote]Why is it?Name two squads that are better than ours is shaping up to be (with another couple of good signings added to it) and list there players so we can compare like for like.There are no outstanding teams in the Championship and if the board and Lambert can just push the boat out a little further then I think many of you could be very pleasantly surprised! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Smudger 0 Posted July 14, 2010 [quote user="Rocky Rocastle"]You lot are nuts!!! Lets be realistic....Top half would be a good season and then allow us to kick on next year.Why oh why must some people heap pressure on the team and have unrealistic expectations....For those that think we will get into top 2 please WAKE UP....Our journey back into the prem is a marathon not a sprint!!![/quote]Why is it nuts to suggest that we could push for a top two spot this season?Name two squads that are better than ours is shaping up to be (with another couple of good signings added to it) and list there players so we can compare like for like.There are no outstanding teams in the Championship and if the board and Lambert can just push the boat out a little further then I think many of you could be very pleasantly surprised! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newyorkcanary 14 Posted July 14, 2010 OK, I am pleased with the recent signings and I also believe we are a mid-table team that can possibly make a run. The big question I believe is one few are mentioning. We are assuming that Ruddy and/or Rudd/Steer are actually capable in this League. Last year we had a rock in between the posts, an absolute brick wall. If our Keepers step up this year and can do the same then we will have a good chance of finishing quite high in the table. But to be honest our keepers are largely unproven. And while Ruddy comes highly recommended, he''s never played in this league before and many are assuming he will be a Forster-clone. To me, that''s where our success lives or dies. Lambert has built a solid team that can score goals. But can we defend? An unproven GK and only 3 real CBs on the books? Lets see what happens... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newyorkcanary 14 Posted July 15, 2010 I should mention that I am only saying 3 CBs as Lambert has made it clear Askou is surplus to requirements, so I''m not counting him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trent Canary 0 Posted July 15, 2010 We are capable of winning the play-offs, there are few teams that stand out. However I dare say we are capable of being near the relegation zone, there are few teams who look overly poor.All I can say is I really hope you lot arent moaning and grumbling if we end up around mid-table; The last thing we need is to go back to some of the scenes from a few years back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alysha 0 Posted July 15, 2010 [quote user="newyorkcanary"]OK, I am pleased with the recent signings and I also believe we are a mid-table team that can possibly make a run. The big question I believe is one few are mentioning. We are assuming that Ruddy and/or Rudd/Steer are actually capable in this League. Last year we had a rock in between the posts, an absolute brick wall. If our Keepers step up this year and can do the same then we will have a good chance of finishing quite high in the table. But to be honest our keepers are largely unproven. And while Ruddy comes highly recommended, he''s never played in this league before and many are assuming he will be a Forster-clone. To me, that''s where our success lives or dies. Lambert has built a solid team that can score goals. But can we defend? An unproven GK and only 3 real CBs on the books? Lets see what happens...[/quote]Surely Ruddy is more proven than Forster, it is just that we have personally witnessed what Forster is capable of, whereas Ruddy has more expereince than Forster - just elsewhere Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shaun Tilly Lace 0 Posted July 15, 2010 [quote user="Brighton Yellow"]My main point is that on paper we can beat them all without danger. In reality of course we could be the worst City team ever and Lambert will have to escape the city due to his insane decisions and rubbish purchases etc. Lets all hope for the best as I for one got used to singing ''we are top of the league'' etc. p.s. I'' m loving the look of the German training camp! compare that to previous pre seasons in Scotland... Nice one Paul![/quote]We don''t play on paper, unfortunately. There are so many things that can happen throughout a season to take you off course. Having said that, I shall be disappointed if we finish outside the top six, but I think to predict a top two place at this stage is rather counting your chickens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites