|
|
Post by Karma on Aug 8, 2024 10:38:59 GMT
I’m going for similar position from last season based on our transfer activity .
|
|
|
|
Post by Stew on Aug 8, 2024 11:03:37 GMT
I’ll come back to this after the window closes I think.
|
|
|
|
Post by ratbag on Aug 8, 2024 11:19:05 GMT
I’ll come back to this after the window closes I think. Me too. Far too early to make any predictions |
|
|
|
Post by Kojak on Aug 8, 2024 12:34:23 GMT
Does Rust not keep an itinerary of all these threads every year?
Feel like he usually does a proper deep dive of predictions prior to the season starting (apologies if it’s someone else).
|
|
|
|
Post by viking22 on Aug 8, 2024 16:10:20 GMT
Also feels premature. But let's give INEOS benefit of the doubt and assume they will sign De Ligt, Mazrouia and if not Ugarte then a suitable alternative.
On that basis I think we get back into top 4 but won't be in the title race. Reasoning is as follows:
1) Defence was chaotic last year because Onana was very shaky and we had a lot of injuries and left back was a huge problem area. I do not expect we will have much more luck with injuries but I think Onana will be a lot better for us and De Ligt gives us another defender who can play from the back and adds a lot of quality while Mazrouia can play on both flanks and gives us a bit more going forward than AWB did.
2) Our midfield will be a lot better balanced with a competent defensive midfielder who has legs. We also only had half a season of Mainoo last summer and he is getting better and better. Mount also looked decent in the pre-season and will hopefully manage to stay fit. Collyer is also coming through.
3) Attack hasn't really been strengthened that much. But Rashford surely can't be as bad as last season and should benefit from having Ruud coaching him. I also think that Hojlund cramps his style a bit because Rashford is more of an inside forward so an out-and-out striker cramps his style and he might combine better with Zirzkee or a false 9. Garnacho will be even better and this could also be Amad's year and Sancho might benefit from a clean slate and a fresh start for us. Also Erik has probably realized by now that Antony isn't good enough to start so he won't be stinking the place up next season.
4) Chelsea and Liverpool have both lost very good managers and replaced them with inferior alternatives. I still have no idea what Chelsea are doing in the transfer market. Liverpool haven't done anything this summer. I think if they sign Zubimendi and a decent centre back they might finish above us just because they have a better team mentality than we do.
5) We are nowhere near the title race. We still have a lot of problems. We have a long way to go in implementing an effective style of play that is less dependent on the availability of key players. The injury problems will continue to disrupt the team even if we might have a bit more cover next season. There are still question marks over Rashford. And so on.
|
|
|
|
Post by caino on Aug 11, 2024 7:16:36 GMT
West Ham will have a cracking season. Made some good signings.
There defence will be solid and some good forwards in Kudus & fulfrug.
Expecting them to be in and around the Europa positions
|
|
|
|
Post by Karma on Aug 24, 2024 13:30:43 GMT
Still too early? 😈
|
|
|
|
Post by Stew on Aug 25, 2024 10:03:39 GMT
For me yes. It comes down to Ugarte imo. |
|
|
|
Post by anti_social on Aug 25, 2024 10:19:26 GMT
I can feel myself getting progressively angrier already, but I'll give it at least 5 games (plus Ugarte) before melting down totally. I can imagine pretty open rebellion if we get stuffed by Liverpool though.
|
|
|
|
Post by ratbag on Aug 25, 2024 13:33:37 GMT
I can feel myself getting progressively angrier already, but I'll give it at least 5 games (plus Ugarte) before melting down totally. I can imagine pretty open rebellion if we get stuffed by Liverpool though. If we have Ugarte and he plays as well as de Ligt then we will win… |
|
|
|
Post by fergiegiveusawave on Aug 25, 2024 13:40:10 GMT
See where we are after 10 league games. There have been some positives in the opening 2 games but also too much that just looks like last season.
Get Ugarte in and if we look exactly the same as last season after 10 or so games then replace him. They can’t sit around too long and risk another shitshow like last season.
|
|
|
|
Post by caino on Aug 25, 2024 14:21:00 GMT
i dont want Ten Hag to be sacked as i think theres improvement on last year.. but if he does get sacked then id like Iraola from Bournemouth. they press well, good in possession & on the attack, hes young and looks to have what it needs to go up a level
|
|
|
|
Post by Rustin Cohle on Aug 25, 2024 14:38:01 GMT
Does Rust not keep an itinerary of all these threads every year? Feel like he usually does a proper deep dive of predictions prior to the season starting (apologies if it’s someone else). My laptop was broken until a week or two ago and I couldn’t be bothered to do all that on mobile, sorry! |
|
|
|
Post by anti_social on Aug 25, 2024 15:15:14 GMT
I can feel myself getting progressively angrier already, but I'll give it at least 5 games (plus Ugarte) before melting down totally. I can imagine pretty open rebellion if we get stuffed by Liverpool though. If we have Ugarte and he plays as well as de Ligt then we will win… I like De Ligt but I don’t think he’s had a chance to shine yet. Mazraoui easily the best signing so far. |
|
|
|
Post by Stew on Aug 25, 2024 15:39:11 GMT
If we have Ugarte and he plays as well as de Ligt then we will win… I like De Ligt but I don’t think he’s had a chance to shine yet. Mazraoui easily the best signing so far. I think he means ‘in addition to.’ |
|
