Season Predictions

[djp]

Having just watched the fans forum Nourry was very clear at the end that premier league clubs want 20-22 yr old playets who have 70 odd championship appearances to their names. They likewise want to move players up to the top European clubs at a profit.

It really is going to be a development season for many of the players for the greater good further down the line.

Nourry also ephasised that there is a shortage of quality defensive midfielders in Europe and also CBs. Its these positions were we'll get the biggest transfer fees and Nourry admitted this was the main reason for the recruitment of Steve Bould. I also remember reading the Julien likes strong defensive midfielders. I think both recruitments were based on developing players for sale.....not necessarily to get promoted, but they emphasised that ambition is there.

We will blood a lot of younger players along the way, which will cost us points as they learn. But Nourry almost pleaded with the fans to support the young players at all times because keeping their belief and confidence high is key.

I now think a 60 point total and a £5m plus player sale next summer would be regarded as a good season. (£10m plus for Varane would do it). We're effectively a club that now develops players until the playing budget is big enough for us to challenge properly.

Nourry also said any influx of cash from an Eze sale would not be going straight out the door as quick as it came in. We will still be looking to continue player development with the aim of moving players to other clubs by the time theyre 22yrs old.

Yes I have noticed over the last few seasons that Premier teams have been signing Championship players much younger, even 22 is fairly "old" going by recent examples. With Poku turning 24 very soon I assume he is not being thought of in this way, more likely he would be a target for a relegated Premier team at best over the next few summers if he excels for us. It is the likes of Smith, Akindileni, Esqudhina that are being earmarked for this which makes me believe they will all get first team experience this season or a loan at least. I believe Morgan is being developed with sale next summer planned. Also have a feeling they might be trying to cash in on Kolli and maybe even Varane this summer.

New long contracts for Chair, Field, Dunne indicates we are probably not planning on selling these players at any point soon, they will be the experienced backbone of the side for foreseeable future.

[SheepRanger]

Yes I have noticed over the last few seasons that Premier teams have been signing Championship players much younger, even 22 is fairly "old" going by recent examples. With Poku turning 24 very soon I assume he is not being thought of in this way, more likely he would be a target for a relegated Premier team at best over the next few summers if he excels for us. It is the likes of Smith, Akindileni, Esqudhina that are being earmarked for this which makes me believe they will all get first team experience this season or a loan at least. I believe Morgan is being developed with sale next summer planned. Also have a feeling they might be trying to cash in on Kolli and maybe even Varane this summer.

New long contracts for Chair, Field, Dunne indicates we are probably not planning on selling these players at any point soon, they will be the experienced backbone of the side for foreseeable future.

Yeah, that's pretty much how I see it.

I wouldnt be suprised to see Koli move this summer if the price and sell-on was right. But there doesn't seem to be any rumours about him, so one more season with us may be more likely. But we are certainly being linked with a lot of forwards and we only tend to play one up top. Surely £5m rising to £7m plus 20% sell on will see him on his way? If a team can pay £3.5m rising to £5m for Kelman then Koli has to be worth more!

Varane is an interesting one. There's been interest but no mention of how much Espanyol offered. Hes just signed a new contract and surely his value will increase with a full season on top form. Personally I think he'll stay as will Morgan, but with both being sold next summer for bloody good money. Surely we'll get circa £15m for the pair?

I wish we could keep these players but it isnt going to happen.

[OB1]

As always, anything above 22nd would be great.

[Isleworth116]

Yeah, that's pretty much how I see it.

I wouldnt be suprised to see Koli move this summer if the price and sell-on was right. But there doesn't seem to be any rumours about him, so one more season with us may be more likely. But we are certainly being linked with a lot of forwards and we only tend to play one up top. Surely £5m rising to £7m plus 20% sell on will see him on his way? If a team can pay £3.5m rising to £5m for Kelman then Koli has to be worth more!

Varane is an interesting one. There's been interest but no mention of how much Espanyol offered. Hes just signed a new contract and surely his value will increase with a full season on top form. Personally I think he'll stay as will Morgan, but with both being sold next summer for bloody good money. Surely we'll get circa £15m for the pair?

I wish we could keep these players but it isnt going to happen.

Would anyone pay for Kolli. Looked great prospect two years. Two seasons with first team. What position suits him?

[SheepRanger]

Would anyone pay for Kolli. Looked great prospect two years. Two seasons with first team. What position suits him?

I reckon his best position is Nos 10.

Before anyone is prepared to spend decent money on him he has to get over his hamstring injury and bag ten goals a season. I cant see him leaving this window.

[Isleworth116]

I reckon his best position is Nos 10.

Before anyone is prepared to spend decent money on him he has to get over his hamstring injury and bag ten goals a season. I cant see him leaving this window.

We play 4 2 3 1. Kolli, centre of 3, behind lone striker. Competing with Chair. Probably best option for him.

Agree, has to stay fit, time on pitch and more goals.

Make or break season for him? I think it is.

[SheepRanger]

We play 4 2 3 1. Kolli, centre of 3, behind lone striker. Competing with Chair. Probably best option for him.

Agree, has to stay fit, time on pitch and more goals.

Make or break season for him? I think it is.

Madsen will also be completing for an advanced central role. Julien has said he wants Chair to play through the middle, but when asked about formations in the fans forum, he said formations aren't that important and might change. Its the principles of play that matter, which I assumed to be our mentality to succeed, pressing and defendng well.

With injuries, suspensions and our small squad, Im expected attacking players to be prepared to play in multiple positions along that three. Like others, I'd like to see Dunne play CB, but as Nourry said these are positions where bigger fees get paid, so could we see Dunne change between defensive midfield, CB and RB?

Nourry's implied criticism of Marti was that he didnt rotate the squad and that lead to a lot of our injuries. I think all outfield players will be expected to be flexible on where they play and adapt quickly to different roles. Some starting line ups might seem a bit strange when we see them.

[Melbourne Hoop]

We need to get a couple of decent loans ( ex champ players from promoted teams if possible) aged 27+ to add experience.

i have watched highlights and a couple of the friendlies on live +.

we look so sluggish and fragile, dont think we will go down, might take to Nov for a decent run though.

[shaggy24]

We need to get a couple of decent loans ( ex champ players from promoted teams if possible) aged 27+ to add experience.

i have watched highlights and a couple of the friendlies on live +.

we look so sluggish and fragile, dont think we will go down, might take to Nov for a decent run though.

We’ve been pretty uninspiring pre season, Brentford class above us sadly ok 88 mins without conceding but same time without looking at scoring

decent win in France only game we looked ok other mob trounced us either one of the cf needs to get fit asap or lad from schalke hits ground running this week

from what I’ve seen so far a tough slow start looks inevitable credit to a few who done ok pre season Dembele looked sharp and Adamson did ok v brentford think he’ll be ok but do worry about the left back and lhs for us

[daveshads]

Like a lot of us I have no idea how we are going to get on.
Some good signings, some strange selections/line ups, Colback/Fox/Saito gone. I guess my main concern is that we will fall short in games where the opposition has a rugged midfield. Our new manager may not be aware that pretty, pretty sideways football cuts no ice in this league. However Christian should know this by now.
Still, a blank canvas for now, let's hope we use it well.
Here's hoping......

[Rebel R's]

I'd be happy with 16 th spot if offered now .
I expect yet another relegation battle but think we are just about good enough to stay up .
I predict we will finish in 18 th place

[supahupa10101]

I am going with a usual pessimistic 23rd and hope to be wrong like I have been every season.

[SheepRanger]

Bet365 have their championship winners table showing Wed, Oxford & Charlton in the bottom three. We're in the 19th-21st group with Portsmouth & Preston. The next tier is 17-18th containing Blackburn & Hull.

We had the third lowest championship budget last season, so finishing 17th would be punching above our weight and finishing higher than teams the bookies fancy more than us. But we finished 15th last season and with another 3-4 weeks still left of the transfer window, we will have a better squad than last season. Up front Celar was useless and injured, Frey partially injured and Kolli was in his break-through season. Let see where we get to with Frey, Kolli, Burell & possibly Ba and Bennie.

I still think we'll get more points than our pathetic 56pt haul of last season. The new squad will surely get another six points, which based on last season's table, would have put us in 11th.

Finishing around 12th and selling Morgan, Verane & Kolli for circa £20-25m will be an excellent season, but an achievable one imo.

We've already got one of our apparent bottom half six pointers on Sat and we need to beat Preston!

[FurtiveFox]

Difficult to tell from preseason. Have in the past seen very poor preseasons followed by decent seasons and what looked like very good preseasons followed by poor seasons.

Am pretty uninspired at present. Started preseason with some promising signings but then not an awful lot happened. A few decent signings could change things significantly and there will be some activity I'm sure. Am concerned about apparent injuries and starting so many games without a recognised striker. We struggled to score last season and from what we have seen so far am expecting that to be the same again as things stand. Can see strikers not hitting double figures again. Behind the striker I cannot see enough goals. Poku could do well but is an unknown at this level. Chair may get 7 or 8. Dembele if he can get going is someone I can see just about getting to double figures with a fair wind.

Don't get me wrong we do have some good players but at present look short of both numbers and goals.

[Darkranger]

Bet365 have their championship winners table showing Wed, Oxford & Charlton in the bottom three. We're in the 19th-21st group with Portsmouth & Preston. The next tier is 17-18th containing Blackburn & Hull.

We had the third lowest championship budget last season, so finishing 17th would be punching above our weight and finishing higher than teams the bookies fancy more than us. But we finished 15th last season and with another 3-4 weeks still left of the transfer window, we will have a better squad than last season. Up front Celar was useless and injured, Frey partially injured and Kolli was in his break-through season. Let see where we get to with Frey, Kolli, Burell & possibly Ba and Bennie.

I still think we'll get more points than our pathetic 56pt haul of last season. The new squad will surely get another six points, which based on last season's table, would have put us in 11th.

Finishing around 12th and selling Morgan, Verane & Kolli for circa £20-25m will be an excellent season, but an achievable one imo.

We've already got one of our apparent bottom half six pointers on Sat and we need to beat Preston!

I also noted on William Hill that only Oxford and Sheff Wed have been given more points on their handicap system. The bookmakers clearly don't rate our chances.
I, on the other hand felt compelled to bung a load of money on us.