Does anyone think we will finish higher in the table than they previously thought?

[Muhammad - I’m hard - Bruce Lee]

been a good start, but as previously posted
we aint played anyone of note yet

 

[Lawro's Lip]

I'd had us marked down for a mid table finish and probably still feel that , even after the good start.

Keep this going however, and we could be in the top half of the table for at least some of the season, rather than bobbing around the middle or struggling before a mid table finish.

Avoiding more injuries and strengthening with a striker and one or two decent loans and we could stick around at the top all season.

So basically, at this stage, its all still in the mix, but we should not struggle as some predicted/ wanted.

 

[Scotty Mac]

i will reserve judgement until we play the likes of forest - but things are looking significantly more rosy than a week ago

 

[Don Tmatter]

1) He has organised well a new line-up in defence that blends young legs and experience well, particularly creditworthy given the bad luck with Hinshelwood and Butters.

2) His gamble with the 4-3-3 formation has paid off, he correctly judged that it would get the best of Revell and nippier youngsters like Cox and Robinson, and he also correctly judged that the workrate of his forwards would not leave his 3 in midfield outnumbered and exposed.

Do you really believe this is down to him?
Nothing to do with Dean Wilkins then?

 

[London Irish]

Re: Re: Does anyone think we will finish higher in the table than they previously thought?

Do you really believe this is down to him?
Nothing to do with Dean Wilkins then?

Of course it's down to him, he makes the final decisions - although I'm sure all the coaching team has an input. But just to remind you:

Mark McGhee - three promotions by three different teams from League 1

Dean Wilkins - quarter-final in youth FA Cup.

 

[7:18]

Not possible I picked us for first place

 

[Don Tmatter]

Deano seemed to be doing all the work last night, warm up before the game, warm downs after the game and was the only one giving instructions during the game.

 

[Arrid]

1) He has organised well a new line-up in defence that blends young legs and experience well, particularly creditworthy given the bad luck with Hinshelwood and Butters.


Call me a cynic but has he not just stumbled across the best central defensive pair due to injuries to Butters and Hinshelwood. I certainly don't class Butters and Hinshelwood being injured as 'bad luck'.

And yes I don't like McGhee and yes it certainly looked like Wilkins was organising the troops and yes I am bias.

However all said, the buck rests with McGhee and nobody can argue with 6 out of six so far!

 

[Barnet Seagull]

It's an encouraging start, but what we don't know from last season or this, is weather the current squad can maintain confidence and bounce back from defeats.

IMO it's good that McGhee is trying to play his way out of the division. I believe we have the technial abililty in the squad to acheive this and it should give confidence to the players in their own ability.

The real test will begin when the pitches cut up in the winter and we have to change the style of play. THAT is when we'll need the physical presence up front that we don't appear to have.

If we can keep the whole squad of players fit and motivated, we can definitely win the division, however, I expect us to finish in and arond the playoff positions.


In short - slightly more positive than pre-season, but I think we could struggle over Christmas/New Year.

 

[DJ Leon]

Re: Re: Does anyone think we will finish higher in the table than they previously thought?

Do you really believe this is down to him?
Nothing to do with Dean Wilkins then?

Well he's the boss so he should take the credit. I obviously think that Wilkins is helping, but what evidence can you possibly give that it's definitely only Wilkins?

 

[BensGrandad]

MM is on a hiding to nothing if we do well it is because of Dean Wilkins and his input if we dont it is down to MM. We desperately need some flair in the side to excite us until then mid table mediocrity.

 

[Jim D]

Before we started I would have expected 8 or 9 points from the 5 games in August. We might still get them, but now I would expect 10 or 11.

Our final position will largely depend on our keeping Stokes, staying injury and suspension free from now on and finding our big man up front. If we can do 2 of these then we'll have a decent season and stay around the playoff places. All 3 and we'll be contenders for automatic - but 1 or less and we'll be back struggling.

I said 7th to 12th before we started and I still see that as realistic for now. Ask the question again on the 28th though.

 

[Arrid]

MM is on a hiding to nothing if we do well it is because of Dean Wilkins and his input if we dont it is down to MM. We desperately need some flair in the side to excite us until then mid table mediocrity.

I think thats a interesting point. Was likely to be the case as soon as the board promoted Wilkins to 1st team coach, from that moment things looked slightly precarious for Mcghee. In my opinion when we slump and all teams do, Wilkins is likely to get the job.

 

[London Irish]

Re: Re: Does anyone think we will finish higher in the table than they previously thought?

1) He has organised well a new line-up in defence that blends young legs and experience well, particularly creditworthy given the bad luck with Hinshelwood and Butters.


Call me a cynic but has he not just stumbled across the best central defensive pair due to injuries to Butters and Hinshelwood. I certainly don't class Butters and Hinshelwood being injured as 'bad luck'.

Blimey, I knew there was a movement on here to forget everything decent that Butters has done for us, but Hinshelwood?

 

[London Irish]

Re: Re: Does anyone think we will finish higher in the table than they previously thought?

Deano seemed to be doing all the work last night, warm up before the game, warm downs after the game and was the only one giving instructions during the game.

Absolutely, I take that as evidence that McGhee is a much better man manager than his critics give him credit for.

 

[London Irish]

I think thats a interesting point. Was likely to be the case as soon as the board promoted Wilkins to 1st team coach, from that moment things looked slightly precarious for Mcghee. In my opinion when we slump and all teams do, Wilkins is likely to get the job.

And remarkable that given our recent record of internal appointments to the top job has been very patchy.

 

[sullyupthewing]

I had £25 e/w on the stripes before the season started, and all because of Dean Wilkins getting more involved with the first team.
It's top 3 for me.

 

[empire]

intresting

 

[surrey jim]

edit to: Does anyone think we will finish higher in the table than they previously thought?

in a word NO

 

[London Irish]

Oh well. It was nice to look back a time not so long ago when there was some optimism around.