Naylor is right...aim is promotion or not promotion?

[Stumpy Tim]

But we got 35 points from the last 19 games last season to make 75 points. How many do you think we will get this season ?

This. We went on a cracking run to finish where we did. Having said that, we don't need to go on quite such a good run to make the play-offs.

The key is selling Bridcutt and making one or two new signings that impact the team. Mason and a central midfielder is what's needed, and Liam needs to go for the £4m he's worth

 

[supaseagull]

As long as we maintain our position, I'm pretty satisfied if we play the long game. Invest in infrastructure, invest in youth development, get as many kids as we can to the stadium lay down a legacy not a quick fix.

I have a feeling this austerity will serve us well in years to come.

We are not going to attract young players without the ambition of becoming a Premier League club. If you believe that parents from across the country will bring their kids to play for the Albion just because of a traning facility, then think again. People are fickle.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

For all the talk of new strikers, CMS returning, Obika being rubbish, Barnes leaving, etc, etc the absolute KEY to how the rest of the season goes, in my mind, is whether the real LEONARDO ULLOA is going to re-appear some time soon.

If he carries on as he has since his return from injury, we are going nowhere.

 

[Farehamseagull]

Why do the club have to come out and say anything? Surely every club is trying to finish as high as possible and if that means play offs/promotion then great.

I'm delighted with how we're going considering our difficult pre season and injuries. I don't expect us to go up and will still be quite happy with a top half finish in a very difficult league.

I would rather we made sure we were financially secure in the long term than gamble £2million plus wages on a player who might give us an outside chance of promotion this season. This is only our 3rd season in the Championship, but apparently patience doesn't exist in football anymore.

 

[British Bulldog]

For all the talk of new strikers, CMS returning, Obika being rubbish, Barnes leaving, etc, etc the absolute KEY to how the rest of the season goes, in my mind, is whether the real LEONARDO ULLOA is going to re-appear some time soon.

If he carries on as he has since his return from injury, we are going nowhere.

It's probably nothing a goal wouldn't put right for Ulloa.

 

[stss30]

Wait until the end of the transfer window, then we will know what the aim is. Glad we're still in the F.A Cup that's for sure.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I believe the club is aiming for the play-offs. It was in a play off position on Saturday and the team is playing effectively enough to get back there. The departures of Barnes and El Ab are untimely but I believe we going to happen at some time. I do not expect either to be successes at their new clubs (particularly Barnes) and they will miss their time here. What is hitting us more at the moment is the Bridcutt and Crofts situations. Both are leading players and the position is not helped by Andrews being passed his best.

We need a decent back up striker with a bit of pace. I am not looking for someone with a great scoring record but one who can promise a bit and lift the team as a whole (in the Nooney style). Couple that with a competent midfield player who we can expect to hit the ground running (maybe even on loan for the season) and we will have a fighting chance. That will be as good as it gets and all that can reasonably be expected given the events of the summer.

There are a couple of weeks or so left in the window. The Argus is stirring the pot and am not sure TB and PB will appreciate it too much. Let them get on with things and see where we are at the end of the month.

Is it stirring the pot or asking the questions the fans would like to ask?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

It's probably nothing a goal wouldn't put right for Ulloa.

He did score, at Charlton. He's been dreadful recently. Looks unfit and (whispers this bit) dis-interested.

 

[Farehamseagull]

It's probably nothing a goal wouldn't put right for Ulloa.

He scored 2 against Charlton.

I just don't think he's fit enough yet and to be fair, he's not had great service.

 

[kevo]

We are one point worse off than after 26 games last season, but also one place higher in the table

True, but I think people forget that we had an excellent second half of the season - and a very strong finish (unbeaten in 11 until the Palace play-off game), mainly due to the arrival of a certain Argentinian.

We do have the return of CMS to look forward to, but with no Crofts, Bridcutt or Barnes, and with Lua Lua and Buckley so injury prone, I can't see us replicating that this time round.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

He did score, at Charlton. He's been dreadful recently. Looks unfit and (whispers this bit) dis-interested.

You too. I was sitting near the front at Derby and saw his expressions a few times!

 

[kevo]

You too. I was sitting near the front at Derby and saw his expressions a few times!

He looks frustrated, not disinterested.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

Is it stirring the pot or asking the questions the fans would like to ask?

Both.

 

[Goldstone1976]

He looks frustrated, not disinterested.

That's my take too. Frustrated at both the lack of service and his currently poor first touch when the ball comes to feet.

 

[LamieRobertson]

He looks frustrated, not disinterested.

theres a big difference between the 2...i'd go for the former.....which could lead to the latter

 

[Thunder Bolt]

He looks frustrated, not disinterested.

I would say thoroughly peed off rather than frustrated. He also let a couple of balls go instead of running for them.

 

[British Bulldog]

He looks frustrated, not disinterested.

That's what I was thinking as well as him not being back to full fitness yet.

 

[LamieRobertson]

I would say thoroughly peed off rather than frustrated. He also let a couple of balls go instead of running for them.

thoroughly peed off because he's frustrated....frustrated because its just not working out for him right now

 

[Machiavelli]

The Argus is stirring the pot and am not sure TB and PB will appreciate it too much. Let them get on with things and see where we are at the end of the month.

While agreeing with most of your points in this post, I'm not convinced by this. If anything Naylor can be faulted for a paucity of analysis. He rarely ventures into this territory, but when he does his points are usually pertinent and his intervention is at key moments. His job is also not to kow-tow to the club, but to provide some genuine insight and assessment.

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

There are two different questions:-

First, are we ready for the Premier League? If we got promoted this season would we be confident of at least holding our own in the higher division?

The answer to this in my opinion is definitely not yet, unless there was a large influx of players in the summer.

Second, are we in a position to have a serious chance of promotion? This time, again my opinion, the answer is yes. Probably not for automatic promotion but can we make it into the play-offs? Absolutely. If we do make it into the play offs can we sneak through? Absolutely? Can the same be said about 6 or 7 other clubs? Absolutely.

Then the question is do we either wait to be ready for promotion before we go for it or shall we just go for it and worry about what happens if and when we get there?

Personally I say go for it but not to the detriment of the club. We shouldn't break the bank to get there this season. If we don't make it this year we'll be stronger next year. If we don't make it next year we'll be even stronger the next year.

It's actually a good place to be. If we make it this year everyone's happy, if we don't we know we still have at least another good shot at promotion the next season, assuming everyone pulls together and moves in the right direction.

And that includes us, the fans.