Late November and first 3 weeks of December we have been terrible in recent years, seen us go out in the quarter final of the league cup twice in 2 years. We should be a great cup side, but the quarter final dates need to be moved for us!
I’m going to agree with bearsy and predict an 8th place finish. I’m also not impressed by Puels interviews. I struggle to understand some of what he says, the English he has mastered he just repeats, so essentially he never says anything different in interviews and he is just plain dull. I’m hoping he is a different person on the training pitch because I can’t see how he can be making himself understood. That said, Pottechino managed it so I’m sure it’s not the biggest issue we will face. I’d like to see one more quality signing (at least).
I voted europa qualification again, as i think we will make the league the priority. If we have a good run in Europa group stages i think domestic cups will be played by squad players and kids, but if we don’t have a good first 3 games in the group, i would hope for a serious attempt at one of the domestic cups.
So league: anywhere from 4th to 8th
Europe: getting out the group has to be the aim
Domestic cups: if league and Europa are going well they become an afterthought. Out of Europa, we have to go for it.
I agree with the comments regarding Puel’s demeanour but I also accept it is very early days and we’ve not kicked a ball yet. Hopefully with a run of wins he will eventually grow on me and I can stay awake for the full post match interview… he wont be doing Monday Night Football anytime soon though will he!
In terms of transfer business so far…pretty underwhelmed although Pierre-Emile Højbjerg could well turn out to be decent. I would also like Redmond to prove to me that he isnt the next Aaron Lennon - nippy but otherwise bang average with no end product. I do accept though that Norwich is not the best place to showcase your attacking flare. Otherwise I am a bit concerned with how thin on the ground we are up front and in the attacking midfield positions, especially with Europe. It would be ironic if the summer that we recouped a record fee for a player sold AND the mega-bucks from the TV deal that we dont break our transfer record of £15million. Tadic is clearly being considered for the number 10 role so remains to be seen if we do splash out on someone.
I also fall in to the category of being scared shitless everytime Yoshida is named on the teamsheet. That said, the crowd singing “How shit must you be, Yoshida has scored” to the Villa fans in the league cup last year is one of my all time faveourite St Mary’s moments! So a new CB wouldnt go amiss, especially as Gardos is injured again and even retired his squad number to PEH by the look of things.
Think we will do ok. Bound to have our usual patchy moments. Look forward to another bigger challenge than the last. Hope we can uncover another gem that the so called bigger clubs like Everton will covet.
Like Bearsy and Phil says let’s win a cup and have some fun. Book your Stockholm trip now.