Not really, there is a point to this, bear with me.
Basically I just want to get a feeling of what fan expectation is for next season. I’m doing it now, before we’ve bought anyone/sold everyone (delete as appropriate) with the view of doing a similar article once we know what players we have at the start of the season.
For me, part of me really wants to go all out and say we should be trying to win the Premier League. Realistically that just isn’t going to happen though, but there is no harm in trying I guess and if you’re in it then you may aswell try and win it! It’s bonkers, but then if you aren’t aiming for the top what are you aspiring to?
I suspect however that our shot at a Premier League title will disappear rather rapidly in all fairness, so what do we look for now? Comfortable safety? A top-half finish? Europe?
Personally I think the next step we should be aiming for is comfortable safety or a top-half finish. It sounds strange this ‘aiming’ malarkey as, like I said, we should always be aiming higher. I guess the correct way of putting it would be that I would accept comfortable safety or a top-half finish as a sign of progression.
For all of our stunning results this season we are still yet to secure mathematical safety. Granted we are effectively safe as I pointed out here, but I think a sign of progression for next season would be me writing almost a carbon copy of that article a few weeks earlier than what I have done this season!
If that is the case then I imagine we’ll be knocking on the door of the top-half next season.
I have a funny feeling about next season. I don’t think we’ll see as many surprise results and I think a bit of ‘normality’ will once again be restored to the Premier League. With that in mind I think a cheeky little bid for Europe, whilst not being completely out of reach, will be a stretch to far for just one transfer window.
What do you expect from next season?
from previous thread
Anyone go on the old Lesh site?! A rumour site with this on it.
04 May 2011 15:51:39
I heard Graham Hunter on Talk Sport yesterday saying that Newcastle had already bid for Oslvado of Espanyol, just been on youtube to have a look and wow he looks a real player, skills, scores with both feet and his head and is physical. Had a look at Gemiero also after reports in the Chronicle that we had bid for him and he looks good too although Oslvaldo would be my choice if I had to make one, of course both with HBA plying in the hole would be even better. Ed any news on what Graham Hunter and the Chron are saying and likelihood of either or both picthing up at SJP next season? {Ed001′s Note – Gameiro I know you are interested in, nothing new to add as you just seem to be keeping a watching brief on him rather than actually making a move. Maybe, like yourself, the club prefers Osvaldo? I hadn’t actually heard that about Osvaldo, I will have to look into it and see if I can dig up anything.}
Cheers Ed, much appreciated, waiting with baited breath.
But also had this on so maybe not as good as I think!!!
05 May 2011 10:53:23
The best links for Newcastle Utd News are:
Nufcblog.com
.co.uk
Geordies.net
Newcastlemad.co.uk
(WelshToon)
Everytime I comment theres a new bloody article
raffo(Quote)
That comment was made by me btw, but I think you wait for me to comment Toonsy and then pounce just to **** me off!!!
raffo(Quote)
Raffo “Everytime I comment theres a new bloody article”….how do you think the patrons of Ed’s feel 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Obviously its tough to say both in regards to our own team and in regards to what other teams spend. Close rivals, being the Scum, Bolton and Everton-if none of these guys strengthen then we should aim for good cup runs and a top half finish, with the possibility of hitting 7th and getting Europe if we don’t win any cups and the top 4 teams do. Can’t really see how we could push the top 4 or Spurs/Cesspool before a couple of years, although Dogleash should have a worse season next year and hopefully arry will leave Tottenham for england and they’ll go downhill.
NewkieBrown(Quote)
Richoe – 😆 😆
raffo(Quote)
Just seen that Bentley walked out in a huff the other day at Birmingham, wonder how much he regrets not joining us! Good job we didn’t get him if he has an attitude like that.
Next season I would aim for a another solid mid table finish depending on who we sign and leaves – maybe top half.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Aim for the top, as always 😉
Realistically a comfortable top half finish would be good but sneaking a Europa place would be fantastic though that depends on 4 things, Who stays, who goes, who comes in and lastly how other teams strengthen.
richietoon(Quote)
I think the obvious answer is that it depends on the players in our team at the end of the summer window. I would agree that you should aspire to be the best otherwise theres no point. I think that the targets next season should be to aim for the top 8. Perhaps a decent cup run might be nice, with every chance to go all out for the carling cup maybe, but to get to the 1/4 finals of a cup, and top 8 with the chance for europe again would be my aims.
raffo(Quote)
Andrew I forgot about him, didnt he want a clause to play all games? Did he sign on loan or perm? I would take him this summer actually
raffo(Quote)
I think next season we should be aiming to finish in the top half of the league. I don’t think we’ll get Europe to be honest, but with a few good signings, you never know! 😀
ArranW(Quote)
top 8 for next season. and with new signings and a bigger squad i dont see why we cannot get into europe through the Carling cup. That should be our aim
pearceet(Quote)
I just hope we are more consistent really, depending on who we sign id be very satisfied with a top 10 finish. Don’t really want to be lingering around mid table.
Josh-NUFC(Quote)
Just on the other thread for a moment; sure some players in relegated teams are a rose in a huge pile of dirt but look what happened to our ‘roses’ when we went down..
Owen-booed benchwarmer
Martins-3 clubs in two years?
Bassong-benchwarmer
Beye-reserve team
And so on. I’d be looking a little higher, and thus far if we did, I’d answer this thread with a top half finish.
Brendan(Quote)
Id be happy with Top 10…
witters(Quote)
Top ten for me, it looks like we’ll finish 12th/13th this season and with the promoted coming up not looking as strong as the ones that came up this year the leagues going to be less congested so the bigger teams will probably win more often than this season.
Like Sir Bobby once said going from 19th to 18th in a season isn’t good but going from 4th to 3rd is great. That kind of applies to us but in less extreme circumstances!
dan4toon(Quote)
NUFC have to find a way to Europa by the end of the year. That is the only way to attract and keep the quality players.
BeeGuy(Quote)
Europe would be nice, but Bee theres alot of people saying that spuds and bin dippers dont want the distraction of the europa league to concentrate on the league.
raffo(Quote)
Haha Richie!
I’d be happy with 10th
Man Utd/Chelsea/Arsenal/Man City/Tottenham/LiverpoolVilla/Everton I would say are the (in general) top 8 teams in our league, we need to announce ourselves as undisputed top dogs of the rest then look to push on I think.
Obviously judging on this season and Bennys return we could do even better, but I dont want to put to much pressure on what could be a new look strike force that may take time to gel.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
On a side not has anyone on here ever been on teamtalk.com? I’ve been browsing it for years and signed up the other day, honestly I’ve never seen such hate between toon fans!
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Like most others, I think top half is target, with the possibility of Europe if we can just be more consistent and stop losing winnable games so often. That comes from squad depth, which hopefully is coming in the summer.
One sobering thought, though: we keep thinking in terms of position. Start looking at points and it’s a different picture. We’re 9 points off the bottom of the table. And 32 away from the top.
So I think in terms of improvement we can rule out a title challenge! 😆
Whumpie(Quote)
win the league? 😉 🙄
MarkToon(Quote)
Beeguy’s got a point. Partly due to the AC sale the club has to demonstrate its ability to provide European footie within a couple of years or it’ll never hold onto any decent talent for long.
A happier thought: how good is it going into this with a decent back line for a change? Especially with attacking options like Benny coming in and money to spend on wingers and strikers. IF the club gets things right (and thereby proves January to be a temporary brainfart) we could be a force to be reckoned with.
Whumpie(Quote)
I would still like to add a quality CB though Whumpie. I think we should be looking at Jones from Blackburn if they go down, but theres obviously bigger teams in for him but I think we should look to continually improve the squad. Sol is going in the summer and I would like Kadar, Ranger and Vuckic and maybe even Fergie to go out on loan in the championship to give them playing time. That means we are a CB light so why not get someone better than we have to take a place next to Collo?
raffo(Quote)
Mikes broke his arm…Great 🙁
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
If not first then second would be ok. Save having to play in the CL qualifiers.
Avoid the europa league spots like the plague. Who in their right mind wants to be in that competition. Playing you games on Thursday afternoons / evenings, Sundays and Mondays. No thanks
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
I’d like a more consistent team, which hopefully improves on the foundation we have put down this year. I’ve been a bit fed up with this ‘two teams’ season where you don’t know which team will turn up. The games we’ve lost have generally been absolutely horrific performances.
I’ll be happy if we strengthen the squad, and have more depth to it on the whole. For me, it’s about improving every season and thats it. Once you get to fifth place or whatever you need some serious cash to compete with the big spenders so thats a million miles away, we’ll probably never be big spenders again which isn’t a bad thing.
I really hope we keep Jose etc, and if they do decide to leave then we must get in able replacements.
NorthernPaul(Quote)
Is Saylor now a stick on to play on saturday or can anyone see Perch or Tavernier getting a start
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Taylor I’d have thought, was Perch not injured in the warm up V Liverpool?
richietoon(Quote)
Kadar maybe? Is he back to fitness? Sol for a glorious swangsong
raffo(Quote)
Would like to see Kadar given a game. He’s always looked decent when I’ve watched him.
That and Tayls was poor against Villa!
ArranW(Quote)
Poor Willo – not good news. Could be worse, though. Anyone know about Kadar’s situation?
Whumpie(Quote)
Pardews said Taylor will start on Saturday and Mike broke his arm in the gym.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Taylor imo should have been playing anyway after Williamsons **** up on sunday.
Big Dave(Quote)
I think next year we should aim for 50-60 points and that’ll have us around 6th-8th. We need to catch teams like everton, and Bolton and keep teams like villa and fulham at bay.
Manure chelsea and arsenal are 3 to 4 years away and Liverpool man city and spuds 2-3.
We need to knock on their door and progress up the ladder. So it would be a good season IMO if we can get to 7th place and position ourself to push on to challenge for the 4th to 6th spot the next year.
What I really want for next year is to win the fa cup. Think we should go all out for that. Get some bloody silverware 😈
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
Aim for the top!!! I can’t stand our Brits way of “Hopeing to win”
rather than “Wanting to win”Every game is there to win.If you start out accepting second best you’ll get worse than that.If it can be done for 45 second half minutes against Arsenal it can be done for the full 90 and more.Sure top teams have more money but can still be beaten with a bit of fight and team belief.
nutmag(Quote)
if we get 50 pts plus next season then i will be really happy
Army69(Quote)
Raffo…..
The old Lesh site as you would have it raises three issues:
1 – Fame at last? 😉
2 – It ain’t my site; 🙁
3 – I ain’t that old (if you think that 106 is youngish!) 🙄
lesh(Quote)
Europa would be my goal for next season. I think that is realistic and would certainy give the players and supporters some good fun playing in Europe. Realistically, a 7-8th place finish would be solid
MDS(Quote)
Big Dave at 33. Aye, willo had a stinker Sunday. Let’s see what STaylor has in him.
MDS(Quote)
New thread up. I’m off to hospital now so back in a bit 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
The thing is that the quality of teams in the PL is deterioriating so much that I don’t think we’ll ever have a better chance to make a real push up the league and try to get amongst the ‘top’ clubs.
In reality I will be extremely dissapointed if we don’t spend at least £30m on new players (transfer fee’s). We have the Carroll money and we will have at least £10m from Enrique, not to mention the other players we manage to get rid of.
With that type of slush fund we should be pushing into the top 6/7 – if spent wisely of course.
Stuart79(Quote)