Expectations for 2011
Monday, July 5, 2010 at 3:39PM Pre-season has officially began, and I'd hazard a guess chairman and manager are looking at one or two targets, presumably not the ones that are publicly stating they do not want to join us. Hype might be something Man City are tagged with because of the money they continue to spend (on quality players) but let's not pretend that we - THFC - are not just a little bit under pressure for the season ahead. Harry might do his best to deflect attention but there is no doubt that having finished 4th, we'll have to aim for more of the same once again, so to not end up a footnote in the history of the Prem as that team that finished 4th then didn't do much after that.
So, what of expectations?
Work Ethic
We finished 4th. We've got to the next stage, and we got there through sheer hard graft and belief. Qualities that we have lacked in the past, but now have in abundance. We need to not just continue this ethic but must better it, simply because the teams around us will no doubt believe they are not far off from where we sat at the close of last season. City, Villa, probably Everton too and quite obviously Liverpool - all of them will be looking to improve. Can't be resting on the past - which is exactly what last season is (be it a lovely warm glowing past). No cigars please.
Champions League
Simply this: Get into the group stages. Would be gut wrenching to miss out. I'm not suggesting once there we have any specific set of expectations, rather just get into the group stages and enjoy the experience - without fear. We'll be up against seasoned clubs with plenty of CL experience. Let's lose our cherry in style, under the floodlights, pushing the ball around the park with a bit of swagger. It's important, mainly because if our players get a taste of it - the proper stuff - they'll want it again the following season. If we get into the groups, I'd be made up to get out of them but I'm not exactly getting all delusions of grandeur about things. One step at a time.
4th Spot
We might be about to witness a new dawn in the Prem where teams 'share' 4th spot and possibly even 3rd. A gangbang with only one or two achieving the fabled moneyshot. We need to be looking at 4th as the priority. The longer you spend within the top 4 the easier it should get with each passing season, mainly because guaranteed CL football increases stature and thus increases the likelihood of players NOT rejecting you because you're not part of the elite.
Players
It's simple. Our best players need to stay and can't be sold off and to do this they have to perform well - the whole team does - because if they do then there's not that much of a reason for them to want to bugger off, not if we are progressing well. Selling key players only leads to more transitions and more reconstruction work. It's best avoided, but the irony is, its the very same players who need to work their magic for it all to come together. Also, yoof players, it's about time some of these youngsters make an impact. i.e. Bostock. Far too often, we fail to see any of the potential materialise leaving us frustrated. Possible reasons? We over-rate the kids we have. Not that Bostock is one of ours (signed from Palace, not academy). As for the academy players, probably asking too much to see them this season. But there's promise there. We need a new home bred hero.
The FA Cup
No reason why we can't have another cup run. Our squad is big and bad (good) enough to deal with the fixture list. Not so much the Carling Cup though (ooh, look at us getting all big billy bollocks, you've changed man, you've changed).
That will do for now. Oh, and the moon on a stick. If available.
More on individual players later in the week.
Reader Comments (16)
CL is more important for me. We need to do well, otherwise, what is the point of finishing 4th exactly?
Our season will be decided after the qualifying round for the Champs League, if we don't pass that hurdle expect a flurry of offers for our best players before the transfer window ends, and we'll be up shit creek without a paddle.
Huddlestone. I want him to continue his evolution. No need to be looking at the likes of Joe Cole. We have the players no point replacing them or causing disharmony by bringing in players for the sake of it.
And Modric - more goals PLEASE.
Failure to get into the group stages would probably, knowing Spurs, be cataclysmic.
Fourth for me. It's not so much about the prize of champions league football but more so the consistency achieved of finishing in the top 4 which will lead to a sustained challenge and a possible title challenge. Every club aspiring to be successful has to look at finishing 4th every season and you can only do so by being able to challenge for the title. Arsenal and Liverpool will improve so 4th spot might not be enough for the stable of sides we and City and Villa currently fall under.
Jep is right , the pellets will hit the fan if we fail to qualify ... And the season will start in bad circumstances , pressure, tabloid stories about women , cigars , nightclubs ...
But i am certain we wont' bottle it and take that place in the money league
first team line up for 2012 (as predicted in 200X)
button
ziegler - defendi - dervite - ifil
taarabt - bostock - halfredsson - ghaly
pekhart - mahorn
City will be the main threat.
I am going to try enjoying it for a change, I cannot deal with this who stress thing.
Are we setup for the champions league, I think we are ok but the premiership I can see about 10 players playing centre back throughout the campaign,
Harry will be managing wormwood scrubs reserves and Pleat will see us through to the end of the season.
Anyone think we need more than just one or two players? Say, at least 2 cb's and another midfielder and forward?
we need to make sure we win our qualifier, the experience of the champions league will make our players better players and in turn give us a better chance of finish 4th each season.
So on one hand big players are saying we're not "big enough" or an "elite club". Yet they are all dropping their pants and bending over for Man. City....Why are we not a so-called 'big enough club'. Crise, I thought once we reached where we are, that we would be able to snap up players with relative ease. Well maybe not after one season, a bit soon perhaps. City has 0 history but lots of cash.
We should start buying our players from City perhaps.
Next season is difficult to call, because it is not clear whether Man U, L'Arse, Chelsea and Liverpool will retain their best players let alone buy new ones.
If L'arse lose Fabregas and Liverpool lose Torres and/ or Gerrard and do not replace them with similar quality, they will be going in the wrong direction.
Chelsea and Man U may not sell their best players but both have ageing squads and may both have gone backwards next season.
Chelsea may buy Torres but will he link with Drogba ?
If we can keep players like Lennon and Modric fit, squeeze some games out of Ledley and maybe get Woody fit for a last hurrah ( I live in hope, not expectation ) get some cover at left back (the World cup showed BAE limitations) and find one absolute top class striker, we may just shock the World!
spot on Spooky.....first priority is to qualify for the group stage.
Then we focus on the league.
Sure, we must give Europe our best shot, but if we make it to the groups, there are big games that will follow mid week CL games - LFC, Chelsea, Everton, Villa at WHL. Away to Bolton. As amazing as the CL fixtures will be, they will be tough and will no doubt have an impact on our squad. For me the league games that follow them are more important. We must get up there and keep challenging from the start. We cannot afford to let the likes of City or Liverpool get away. IMO we need to stay in touch with Utd and Arsenal too - who knows if they have the squads to maintain a strong challenge this year or whetehr they will slip back/stand still.
Groups stages, elimination before the knock out and 4th place or higher is better than being knocked out in the quarters and ending 5th or worse.
Bring back the Ghetto prince and let the arse have Cole. Sign Elia and Forlan and win the CL.
id like to see modric score a few more goals and rip up the midfield like take on players plus he has signed a 6yr contract so hope modric proves his worth plus does anyone think we will sign joe cole