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[Albion] A difficult season ahead









Lifelong Supporter

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2009
2,054
Burgess Hill
So how are Stains, Newcastle, Bmuff, Burnley, Palace, West Ham, Watford all able to achieve that, for significant spells in matches?

Because they have quality CM three’s.

Well I hope that we do. Last season we were by and large dominated, next season I would be happy to see us compete. That is the target for me, if we do better it will be great. I am prepared to be patient though.
 


Palacefinder General

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2019
2,594
One thread being slightly pessimistic about our upcoming season does not mean that I support palarse :wink:

One thread you Palace ponce, just about every piece of toxic crap you've ever posted on here is negative shit. With all due respect, fvck off back to your own message boards, you might find a life there while you're at it. Cheers, now where did I put that nosegay for warding off the stench of Palace, and/or the stench of The Black Death?
 


Seagull122

New member
Mar 16, 2019
54
One thread you Palace ponce, just about every piece of toxic crap you've ever posted on here is negative shit. With all due respect, fvck off back to your own message boards, you might find a life there while you're at it. Cheers, now where did I put that nosegay for warding off the stench of Palace, and/or the stench of The Black Death?
I don’t get it? Is this meant to be funny? Having an account dedicated to ‘hunting undercover palace fans on NSC’ sounds like you need to find a life not me pal. As for the ‘negative shit’, about five posts have been negative and I signed up at a time when we couldn’t score or get a point.
 




HastingsSeagull

Well-known member
Jan 13, 2010
9,259
BGC Manila
Yes it's true, that's why people say it all the time.

Also Norwich and United finished a few steps ahead of Villa yet everyone panics about the 'bigger club'. There's a lot of work for them to do if they are going to overtake those 2 clubs, let alone some from the Prem last year. That said, yes we have a huge task too.
 




nickjhs

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Apr 9, 2017
1,298
Ballarat, Australia
We have shown that we can beat the better sides. A bit more consistency and heart and we will finish better than this season. GP has shown he is no fool, neither is TB. Skybet has us finishing in 16th I am punting for 12th.
 




Kalimantan Gull

Well-known member
Aug 13, 2003
12,924
Central Borneo / the Lizard
I think a different way of looking at it was that we got lucky last year because it was much weaker than normal - hudds were pathetic, cardiff were never more than a good team spirit, Fulham collapsed, we were horrendous in the second half, Burnley in the first half, Newcastle had continuing off field issues, Palace couldn't buy a home win, Bournemouth were poor defensively, saints crawled over the line. It was poor poor poor and it didn't take much in the end for stable clubs with progressive managers to get top half. Lest we forget, almost every prediction on here had Watford in bottom 3

Two years ago was more like the coming year, and i doubt many predicted West Brom, Stoke, Saints and Swansea to struggle the way they did, none of them showed signs of doing so the previous seasons
 


Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
64,087
Withdean area
In an article in the Argus today, Tommy Elphick predicts that:

1. Villa will make top half next season. They have incredibly wealthy owners who are serious with their intentions.

(Here we go again .... another Wolves).

2. Villa will go on to be a major PL force for years to come.

3. Norwich and Sheffield Utd will stay up too.
 


SAC

Well-known member
May 21, 2014
2,550
In an article in the Argus today, Tommy Elphick predicts that:

1. Villa will make top half next season. They have incredibly wealthy owners who are serious with their intentions.

(Here we go again .... another Wolves).

2. Villa will go on to be a major PL force for years to come.

3. Norwich and Sheffield Utd will stay up too.

That would be quite surprising if all three promoted teams avoided relegation, I think at least one of them will be relegated. If not any of them, who did he predict to be relegated?
 




crodonilson

He/Him
Jan 17, 2005
13,536
Lyme Regis
In an article in the Argus today, Tommy Elphick predicts that:

1. Villa will make top half next season. They have incredibly wealthy owners who are serious with their intentions.

(Here we go again .... another Wolves).

2. Villa will go on to be a major PL force for years to come.

3. Norwich and Sheffield Utd will stay up too.

A family acquaintance has messaged me to 'warn' me that Villa will be hurtling past Brighton this season and we should be prepared for a couple of hammerings. Also they are expecting top 6 this season, they feel they're a much bigger, better club than Wolves so if they can finish th the minimum for Villa will be 6th and they will be competing for the title within 3 seasons.
 


Blue Valkyrie

Not seen such Bravery!
Sep 1, 2012
32,165
Valhalla
There is going to be a lot of sour grapes around next season if TeamsLikeBrighton burst a few entitlement bubbles.
 


Hastings gull

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2013
4,635
A family acquaintance has messaged me to 'warn' me that Villa will be hurtling past Brighton this season and we should be prepared for a couple of hammerings. Also they are expecting top 6 this season, they feel they're a much bigger, better club than Wolves so if they can finish th the minimum for Villa will be 6th and they will be competing for the title within 3 seasons.

But they didn't hurtle past other teams this year, despite their alleged size and owner's wealth, scraping through via the play-offs, so it might be a good idea to just wait and see.
 






Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
64,087
Withdean area
That would be quite surprising if all three promoted teams avoided relegation, I think at least one of them will be relegated. If not any of them, who did he predict to be relegated?

He didn’t say.

If his opinions prove correct, that leaves a tiny pool of Brighton, Burnley, Stains & Bmuff fighting over the one place to stay up.

IMHO it adds to the thinking of TB behind his managerial move.
 


warmleyseagull

Well-known member
Apr 17, 2011
4,221
Beaminster, Dorset
I think a different way of looking at it was that we got lucky last year because it was much weaker than normal - hudds were pathetic, cardiff were never more than a good team spirit, Fulham collapsed, we were horrendous in the second half, Burnley in the first half, Newcastle had continuing off field issues, Palace couldn't buy a home win, Bournemouth were poor defensively, saints crawled over the line. It was poor poor poor and it didn't take much in the end for stable clubs with progressive managers to get top half. Lest we forget, almost every prediction on here had Watford in bottom 3

Two years ago was more like the coming year, and i doubt many predicted West Brom, Stoke, Saints and Swansea to struggle the way they did, none of them showed signs of doing so the previous seasons

This. Very lucky to stay up because three teams even weaker than us. No risk appointing GP because we would have been Huddersfield+ otherwise.

The two season comparison is apposite. Got to believe that at least one 'unlikely' team bombs. It can happen due to bad luck, injuries, crap or no signings, all of which lead to lack of confidence and consequent downward spiral. That (or a blend thereof) occurred to all of 17/18's bottom 3.

It is unusual for all three prom teams to stay up. Think Sheff U will go, and Norwich will struggle. Not as convinced as others about Villa, either. So let's book 1/2 relegation candidates there. Add 1/2 from unlikely candidates - I would take Bmuff but Palace or Ashley owned Newcastle could be in the mix. Then 1/2 from the nearlies: Brighton, Burnley, Saints.

Plenty of candidates IMO, and no reason to be fearful.
 






Bry Nylon

Test your smoke alarm
Helpful Moderator
Jul 21, 2003
19,869
Playing snooker
As a manager, Beatrix is an unknown quantity to me, but I am confident that at least we won’t have to play 38 away games again this season.
 


Icy Gull

Back on the rollercoaster
Jul 5, 2003
72,015
Having sacked a Premier League survival specialist manager after very narrowly avoiding going down last season you’d be a fool to think it is likely to be anything other than a difficult season coming up. Especially as we now have an unproven maverick with a totally different philosophy. If the club are to be believed, and not bluffing, we are not going for wholesale changes or big money players with experience either.

So we go into the season possibly without many new players, the ones we have are either the remains of an ageing Championship promotion squad, a bunch of untried under 23s and signings from last season who for the most part did not cover themselves in glory last season.

Not many outsiders would give us any chance of avoiding a season long relegation battle. It’s going to be interesting to see how TB’s very big gamble is going to unfold. Did CH lack the ability or belief to change his defensive and fearful tactics at this level or was he not given the players to play any other way?

I am fully behind this big change and hope that we do get some Premier League experienced quality in to bolster the squad, that GP is the real deal and that last years flops will show their true worth. I am not in any doubt that it’s going to be a very bumpy ride early season either. Bring it on, I do not expect to be bored much this season :thumbsup:
 
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