| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up 22:53 - Jul 26 with 4214 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Which I completely understand. Right now as I look at the squad we’d obviously go down.
We weren’t anywhere near good enough last time, overspent on some poor recruitment and only just got over the line to make it back. Not to mention a new manager that also has scars from 2024.
What I do find fascinating, is I’ve seen plenty thinking we will be bottom and Cov are going to survive. Hull are almost the sexy Sunderland style pick as they kind of got promoted from nowhere and have a foreign coach.
Funnily enough I remember many having us to do well in the PL last time, even though we were starting a season brining on the likes of Harness and Ali Hamadi.
You really can’t take anything from an EFL season and equate it to the promoted sides. If that were the case Burnley would be established and Sunderland would have comfortably gone down.
So far I think our transfer business is ahead of Hull and Cov have been quiet. I also think the type of recruitment is more encouraging and extensive.
Massive month ahead, so much to do but I’m quietly optimistic we can build out a competitive squad if we keep the foot to the floor in the market with smart signings. [Post edited 26 Jul 22:55]
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 22:59 - Jul 26 with 3358 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
We’re not the romantic pick any longer, in the same way we weren’t last season.
Of the 3 promoted sides, if we do survive, people will just say we were best equipped as the rebound parachute payment side. |  | | |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 23:03 - Jul 26 with 3320 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 22:59 - Jul 26 by SuffolkPunchFC |
We’re not the romantic pick any longer, in the same way we weren’t last season.
Of the 3 promoted sides, if we do survive, people will just say we were best equipped as the rebound parachute payment side. |
Yeah just seems a bit lazy to think Cov will finish above us because of winning the league last season for a few reasons. They play anything like that they’d get absolutely battered in the PL.
Guess we need to wait to see how the window finishes up before making any true predictions. | |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 23:57 - Jul 26 with 3088 views | armchaircritic59 |
It's irrelevant what anybody thinks, the only thing that counts is what we actually do ( or don't ). Most of these so called pundits, neutrals etc, wouldn't know which end of a horse you put the hay in. |  | | |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 01:04 - Jul 27 with 2933 views | Churchman |
Who cares what anybody else thinks? They haven’t a clue.
Take Sutton. The lights are on but nobody’s at home. That walking talking idiot is not alone. Just look at his former playing partner dimbo Shearer. I suspect a 10 piece jigsaw would take them both a day to complete. With help.
We finished the season in a far better place in every way than two years ago according to McKenna. That includes quality and potential of players. I agree with that.
I too think we are in a better place than the other two promoted sides. We start from a stronger base. Of course it’ll be a struggle. A lot depends on the manager and how fast the new players bed in, but I think we might be ok. |  | | |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 01:32 - Jul 27 with 2886 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 23:57 - Jul 26 by armchaircritic59 |
It's irrelevant what anybody thinks, the only thing that counts is what we actually do ( or don't ). Most of these so called pundits, neutrals etc, wouldn't know which end of a horse you put the hay in. |
It was just an observation on how I think we are placed compared to perception. | |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 05:12 - Jul 27 with 2646 views | Benters |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 01:32 - Jul 27 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
It was just an observation on how I think we are placed compared to perception. |
17th is the target 👍
How hard can it be.. |  |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 06:13 - Jul 27 with 2548 views | cressi |
I wouldn't bet on us to stay up at present. A decent start in the transfer window but still 7 or 8 players required. Our midfield is still very weak and we have no one proven up front. Let's see who we can bring in. | | | |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:18 - Jul 27 with 2085 views | ITFC_Essex |
The reality is, if you take your Town glasses off and look at our signings/squad, there aren’t too many established Premier League sides that would take anyone we have over their options at present, which is a fair assessment of where we are at. Our recruitment last time wasn’t effective, and we don’t know how the new signings with figure in just yet.
That’s not to say we have done bad business, or to say that others from the existing squad one step up because they may well do.
Our hope as supporters is we will have players who fell short last time like Davis, O’Shea, Greaves, Clarke, Jaden (if still here) and Hirst have a much better season, we’ve got a different midfield bar Burns/Taylor who we all expect will be bench options at best and we’ll likely have a new frontman before the window ends. We hope the new signings will come good, but the French/Dutch and Scottish leagues are not as brutal as the Premier League which is why it does cost less to recruit those types of players, but there is a risk with that as much as there was a massive risk in recruiting players from the Championship last time.
My feeling at the moment is, unless we bring in some more Premier League experienced players, which I know is easier said than done, I expect we’ll be relegated either 3rd or 2nd bottom as things stand, because I don’t feel we have improved the squad (so far) enough to really make a dent on that league based on what we saw last time. I think the club probably internally feels that way as well, so I don’t think our business is anywhere near done yet. |  |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:20 - Jul 27 with 2075 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
I think we are miles off it right now tbh.
Going to take a hell of a push these next few weeks |  |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:26 - Jul 27 with 2038 views | IPSWICHFANITFC |
Looking at it from a data perspective, Hull are maybe most likely to adapt to the PL the quickest out of the 3 promoted teams. Across the 46 games last season, they had an average of 45.8% possession. In comparison, Ipswich had 56.1% and Coventry 55.3%. I felt Hull massively overachieved and data supports that argument. If they could overachieve their stats again this season, then they might surprise one or two.
Their playing style will transpire to the PL too. Ipswich and Coventry were teams who wanted to control games last season by having control of the ball, whereas Hull were happy to surrender possession and play on the counter attack. That said, Hull had the 5th worst defensive record last season conceding 65 goals.
As we saw last time out in the PL, and what we have seen with Burnley under Kompany as another example by trying to invite the press and play out from the back, the same way in the PL as what got you there from the Championship is a disaster waiting to happen. PL teams/players are better are regaining possession, they do not give the ball away as cheaply and they are more clinical in both boxes.
As it stands, I look at the squads of Coventry, Ipswich and Hull currently and I do not see a squad which is the 17th best in the PL, so all 3 are going straight back down. Fulham are looking the ropiest out of the teams that were there last season and would be my current shout for 17th, but there is still more quality in their squad than the 3 promoted teams. [Post edited 27 Jul 8:28]
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:31 - Jul 27 with 1995 views | Mullet |
I think most people have covered it well here. Until the season is a month old we will have no idea at all anyway.
Staying up is possibly the biggest hurdle anyone faces now because the gap widens every year a little bit. Last season showed how weak the Championship was and you'd hope that was a freak year now West Ham and Wolves are down redressing the balance a little.
I think a lot of the Coventry hype will be the Frank Lampard factor and the romance of them being away and sturggling for so long. |  |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:36 - Jul 27 with 1958 views | muccletonjoe |
I wouldn't predict us staying up at the minute. Need at least 2 midfielders of top quality . Plus the same in defence. Plus another striker. |  | | |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:37 - Jul 27 with 1957 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:26 - Jul 27 by IPSWICHFANITFC |
Looking at it from a data perspective, Hull are maybe most likely to adapt to the PL the quickest out of the 3 promoted teams. Across the 46 games last season, they had an average of 45.8% possession. In comparison, Ipswich had 56.1% and Coventry 55.3%. I felt Hull massively overachieved and data supports that argument. If they could overachieve their stats again this season, then they might surprise one or two.
Their playing style will transpire to the PL too. Ipswich and Coventry were teams who wanted to control games last season by having control of the ball, whereas Hull were happy to surrender possession and play on the counter attack. That said, Hull had the 5th worst defensive record last season conceding 65 goals.
As we saw last time out in the PL, and what we have seen with Burnley under Kompany as another example by trying to invite the press and play out from the back, the same way in the PL as what got you there from the Championship is a disaster waiting to happen. PL teams/players are better are regaining possession, they do not give the ball away as cheaply and they are more clinical in both boxes.
As it stands, I look at the squads of Coventry, Ipswich and Hull currently and I do not see a squad which is the 17th best in the PL, so all 3 are going straight back down. Fulham are looking the ropiest out of the teams that were there last season and would be my current shout for 17th, but there is still more quality in their squad than the 3 promoted teams. [Post edited 27 Jul 8:28]
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Hull had like the 2nd worst Xg against in the whole league last season and didn't create tons either. Just because they didn't have that much possession doesn't outweigh how kamikaze they were at defending. In the Prem they would get slaughtered playing like they did last season without question. We played a much more transferrable style of football than they did. | |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:47 - Jul 27 with 1901 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:18 - Jul 27 by ITFC_Essex |
The reality is, if you take your Town glasses off and look at our signings/squad, there aren’t too many established Premier League sides that would take anyone we have over their options at present, which is a fair assessment of where we are at. Our recruitment last time wasn’t effective, and we don’t know how the new signings with figure in just yet.
That’s not to say we have done bad business, or to say that others from the existing squad one step up because they may well do.
Our hope as supporters is we will have players who fell short last time like Davis, O’Shea, Greaves, Clarke, Jaden (if still here) and Hirst have a much better season, we’ve got a different midfield bar Burns/Taylor who we all expect will be bench options at best and we’ll likely have a new frontman before the window ends. We hope the new signings will come good, but the French/Dutch and Scottish leagues are not as brutal as the Premier League which is why it does cost less to recruit those types of players, but there is a risk with that as much as there was a massive risk in recruiting players from the Championship last time.
My feeling at the moment is, unless we bring in some more Premier League experienced players, which I know is easier said than done, I expect we’ll be relegated either 3rd or 2nd bottom as things stand, because I don’t feel we have improved the squad (so far) enough to really make a dent on that league based on what we saw last time. I think the club probably internally feels that way as well, so I don’t think our business is anywhere near done yet. |
I’m not hopeful as things stand. Quite a lot hinges on that middle part about hoping longer-serving players step up, even though they mostly fell short last time. I’m not convinced any would get a starting spot in an established PL side. The gap’s huge and we’re going to have to be a very disciplined unit and play out of our skins each week to stand a chance. |  |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:52 - Jul 27 with 1879 views | Guthrum |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:20 - Jul 27 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
I think we are miles off it right now tbh.
Going to take a hell of a push these next few weeks |
On the contrary, I think we are very close to the threshold. We absolutely need a CM and a ST (the latter Prem experienced). At that point we will have a functional squad capable of a proper tilt at staying up.
Beyond that, everything is about improvement, cover and options. |  |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:58 - Jul 27 with 1826 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:52 - Jul 27 by Guthrum |
On the contrary, I think we are very close to the threshold. We absolutely need a CM and a ST (the latter Prem experienced). At that point we will have a functional squad capable of a proper tilt at staying up.
Beyond that, everything is about improvement, cover and options. |
if we played 3 CBs, and started DOS Diop Greaves. What we do if one of those players got injured. And more to the point are we happy with that a Premier league backline ? | |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:59 - Jul 27 with 1822 views | positivity |
how many neutrals/outsiders were predicting sunderland to stay up at this stage, let alone make europe?
good start, more to do, but we have to recognise that the 17th best-equipped team from last season's prem will still have a massive structural advantage over us (and cov and hull).
the reality is that we could have a perfect recruitment summer, and still fall short if the 17 don't mess up | |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 09:10 - Jul 27 with 1737 views | Guthrum |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:58 - Jul 27 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
if we played 3 CBs, and started DOS Diop Greaves. What we do if one of those players got injured. And more to the point are we happy with that a Premier league backline ? |
Yes, I would be happy with that as a Prem backline. They've all got Prem experience.
More cover would be ideal, but we have Kipre. O'Shea has proven himself fairly indestructible, the other two are rarely damaged. | |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 09:17 - Jul 27 with 1680 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:58 - Jul 27 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
if we played 3 CBs, and started DOS Diop Greaves. What we do if one of those players got injured. And more to the point are we happy with that a Premier league backline ? |
This is where I think people need to be realistic. Sure, injuries could disrupt us badly if a key player is out for months, or the entire season. However, we’re not going to have top PL starters sitting on the bench for much of the season.
I’ll take pelters for this, but imo Kipre and Johnson are ok as bench/squad cover for DOS, Diop, and Greaves. We have more pressing needs to improve elsewhere. I wouldn’t say no to one more solid CB, but see 5 or 6 positions I’d like to see improvements in first. | | | |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 09:45 - Jul 27 with 1538 views | unstableblue |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:52 - Jul 27 by Guthrum |
On the contrary, I think we are very close to the threshold. We absolutely need a CM and a ST (the latter Prem experienced). At that point we will have a functional squad capable of a proper tilt at staying up.
Beyond that, everything is about improvement, cover and options. |
Guthrum - striker and the box to box midfielder alongside Matusiwa are the priorities |  |
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| Relegation bettings odds are currently: on 09:50 - Jul 27 with 1506 views | unstableblue |
Hull - 1/5
Coventry - 4/7
Ipswich - 8/13
Sunderland - 11/4
Crystal Palace - 11/2
Leeds - 11/2
Fulham - 11/2
Nottm Forest - 7/1
Brentford - 8/1
Bournemouth - 9/1
Pretty much as expected; going to be tough, Palace maybe feel like a good rival this season, depending on new manager | |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 10:01 - Jul 27 with 1465 views | Earls_Jeans |
I'm with you on this - we're going under the radar and will continue to do so for a month until hopefully everyone sits up and realises what a competitive squad we've managed to build.
The below point you made is really valid:
"You really can’t take anything from an EFL season and equate it to the promoted sides".
For me, while that is true, the one thing that we can take from last season is that we beat Hull and Cov four times without conceding a goal. So regardless of it having been a grind and perhaps slightly underwhelming for a promotion campaign, we have the number of the two other promoted teams when it comes to facing up H2H. Do that again this season and we're potentially 6 or 7 wins from safety, compared to last Prem season when we only took 2 points off Southampton and Leicester. | | | |
| Relegation bettings odds are currently: on 10:12 - Jul 27 with 1412 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Relegation bettings odds are currently: on 09:50 - Jul 27 by unstableblue |
Hull - 1/5
Coventry - 4/7
Ipswich - 8/13
Sunderland - 11/4
Crystal Palace - 11/2
Leeds - 11/2
Fulham - 11/2
Nottm Forest - 7/1
Brentford - 8/1
Bournemouth - 9/1
Pretty much as expected; going to be tough, Palace maybe feel like a good rival this season, depending on new manager |
I've said it before, and will say it again - I predict that Sunderland will be in the mix for relegation this season. Their underlying stats may well catch up with them this season - Leeds were far more solid, just came out on the wrong side of margins far more often. | | | |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 10:26 - Jul 27 with 1332 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 09:17 - Jul 27 by SuffolkPunchFC |
This is where I think people need to be realistic. Sure, injuries could disrupt us badly if a key player is out for months, or the entire season. However, we’re not going to have top PL starters sitting on the bench for much of the season.
I’ll take pelters for this, but imo Kipre and Johnson are ok as bench/squad cover for DOS, Diop, and Greaves. We have more pressing needs to improve elsewhere. I wouldn’t say no to one more solid CB, but see 5 or 6 positions I’d like to see improvements in first. |
I'm not sure it is unrealistic to say that we probably need and will sign another CB.
I don't think we want to be in a position where one injury means we are relying on Kipre who is firstly playing on his wrong foot and also really struggled in the 2nd half of last season against physical centre forwards. Would be a hell of a risk imo. | |
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| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 11:11 - Jul 27 with 1192 views | IPSWICHFANITFC |
| Haven’t seen any neutrals/outsiders predicting us to stay up on 08:37 - Jul 27 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
Hull had like the 2nd worst Xg against in the whole league last season and didn't create tons either. Just because they didn't have that much possession doesn't outweigh how kamikaze they were at defending. In the Prem they would get slaughtered playing like they did last season without question. We played a much more transferrable style of football than they did. |
Let's see how they finish the transfer window. They will need to add more quality, but they have a manager and an playing style without the ball. They might have maxed out their luck in terms of goals scored vs XG, but they had a similar style to Sunderland when they were promoted.
The difference will be in recruitment. Sunderland got it spot on. Hull haven't really done anything as of yet. | |
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