[Albion] If...

[Simster]

Genuine question.

If Baleba and Mitoma were convinced to stay (and not simply tied to their contracts), and JP is adequately replaced, could we actually challenge for the title?

I am aware that might sound hilarious to some (especially visiting supporters) but when you look at that squad, we've got decent cover almost everywhere. We have just finished 8th, a few avoidable dropped points outside the Champions League places.

Normally the question I'd have asked is whether we could challenge the champions league places, but if Liverpool sans TAA drop back to the pack, there really isn't much difference.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

No.

 

[dadams2k11]

No.

 

[doogie004]

We can but dream

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Genuine question.

If Baleba and Mitoma were convinced to stay (and not simply tied to their contracts), and JP is adequately replaced, could we actually challenge for the title?

I am aware that might sound hilarious to some (especially visiting supporters) but when you look at that squad, we've got decent cover almost everywhere. We have just finished 8th, a few avoidable dropped points outside the Champions League places.

Normally the question I'd have asked is whether we could challenge the champions league places, but if Liverpool sans TAA drop back to the pack, there really isn't much difference.

Defence would need tightening up considerably. We ship goals for fun

 

[Simster]

Easy to say no, but why not? Leicester did it.

 

[dwayne]

No chance. We could easily be top 4 if we held on to all our players I reckon. With wieffer , ferdi , gruda , Solly ,boscogli , playing a bigger part next season.

Unfortunately I can't see a world where Pedro and mitoma stay.

 

[A1X]

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

No but I don’t think you’re mental for asking as the gap between the top sides and middle teams is smaller than it’s ever been and we may see an unexpected club or two winning the league in the next few years I think.

We’ve definitely got an outside shot of the Champions League places though.

 

[Bozza]

Regardless of what we do, I'm not sure Liverpool are going to "drop back to the pack".

Frimpong and Wirtz both look like they'll sign - that strengthens them significantly.

Kerkez, if he comes, is an upgrade on Robertson on the left if they get him too.

 

[Hugo Rune]

No chance. We could easily be top 4 if we held on to all our players I reckon. With wieffer , ferdi , gruda , Solly ,boscogli , playing a bigger part next season.

Unfortunately I can't see a world where Pedro and mitoma stay.

We don't need Pedro for us to be top 4.

Welbeck and Georginio were our best No.9 & No.10 pairing this season. It's their back-up that is critical. Gruda is showing good from at No.10. Buonanotte looked good for Leicester whenever he played. O'Riley and Hinsh were reasonable back-ups but shouldn't be first choice. This Tzimas fella might turn out to be very good though. And if we can perform a mircle with Ferguson and return him to his form under De Zerbi.......

Mitoma is the big one. If he stays, it'll be a massive achievement by the club and will put us well into the mix for a top-four finish. I think Adingra could be reasonable given a run of games but he has been is very inconsistent this season. The likes of Watson and Osman need a lot more experience to get anywhere near his level. But we might find that a player like Kadıoğlu or Enciso (in the unlikely event that he stays) does well at right wing.

 

[Anger]

No.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Easy to say no, but why not? Leicester did it.

Aside from anything else (like Kante being in their team for a start, and the quality of the "big teams" that season) Vardy set a record for goals scored in the most consecutive premier league games that season, and ended up with 24.

With the best will in the world, even if we kept everybody, nobody in our squad is coming close to that. And even if Liverpool drop back a bit next season and Forest revert to their mean we're not overtaking 7 teams above us when they'll all be trying to improve themselves.

I can imagine us getting to the champions league places if we keep the key players and add a couple in areas where we've been lacking.

Edit: apologies for having to make about 5 edits to this after posting when I realised I'd missed out crucial words like "not" and my phone auto-correcting "champions" to "championship".

 

[Anger]

Easy to say no, but why not? Leicester did it.

You were absolutely right!

I typed ‘No’ and it was easy.

 

[Simster]

You were absolutely right!

I typed ‘No’ and it was easy.

You're going to look a massive tool when we win the league by 7 points next season :

 

[BrightonLoyal]

No but we should go in to next season with genuine hopes of getting European football

 

[Birdie Boy]

No, not all the time our injuries rack up like the last 2 or 3 seasons! Otherwise, you never know.

 

[beorhthelm]

Leicester is the reference, had a better defence and 20+ goal striker. fix that and we could be contention.

 

[Munchkin]

Dealing with the extensive injury list over a season would be a good start.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Genuine question.

If Baleba and Mitoma were convinced to stay (and not simply tied to their contracts), and JP is adequately replaced, could we actually challenge for the title?

I am aware that might sound hilarious to some (especially visiting supporters) but when you look at that squad, we've got decent cover almost everywhere. We have just finished 8th, a few avoidable dropped points outside the Champions League places.

Normally the question I'd have asked is whether we could challenge the champions league places, but if Liverpool sans TAA drop back to the pack, there really isn't much difference.

Depends what you mean by "challenge for the title".

If you mean be within 6 points of the top 2 for a good chunk of the season, then yes, I think we possibly could.
Assuming our injury record reverts to the norm.