The 2017/18 season preview/expectation and build up thread

[Sutekh]

Middlesbrough, Derby, Villa and Norwich are definitely my favourite contenders, perhaps also Sunderland if they can get themselves organised (and they usually do at this level rather quickly). Birmingham under 'arry will be revitalised to and then there's the 3 biggest clubs in the world (excluding Barcelona and Hove obvs.) that will be champing at the bit to prove themselves all over again.

[Top Flight]

Who are the three?

Real Fulham is one. Who are the other two? Is it Leedschester United and Bayern Sheffield Wednesday?

[Sutekh]

Who are the three?

Real Fulham is one. Who are the other two? Is it Leedschester United and Bayern Sheffield Wednesday?

Damn, you guessed right. Have to make the next oblique reference I make a lot harder.

[Sutekh]

Most of the players will be back for pre-season on Monday, obviously the likes of Swift, Gunter ad Habsi are due back later because of their additional international commitments.

[Sutekh]

Injuries starting to proliferate according to GR

Callum Harriott out until end of August
Yann Kermorgant out until October
Rob Dickie out until August
Tennai Watson out until December (well that would explain some of the links to right backs in the media this window)

[CountryRoyal]

At the moment I can't see us improving on last year. We're starting the new season markably weaker than when we finished last, what with Williams and Kermorgant (potentially al-habsi too) and we just haven't recruited the quality.

Would have been nice to have made some more quality additions before QPR and give them time to gel but that hasn't been. Last season our most influential signing was at the end of august so there's still plenty of time. At the moment though as things stand gone for 7-12 just not good enough.

[LWJ]

(potentially al-habsi too) .

?

[CountryRoyal]

(potentially al-habsi too) .

?

In terms of a loss. Mannone could be as good or better so it's difficult to say.

We haven't replaced Williams and Jon Dadi isn't as good as Kermorgant.

Probably didn't word it very well.

[NewCorkSeth]

At the moment I can't see us improving on last year. We're starting the new season markably weaker than when we finished last, what with Williams and Kermorgant (potentially al-habsi too) and we just haven't recruited the quality.

Would have been nice to have made some more quality additions before QPR and give them time to gel but that hasn't been. Last season our most influential signing was at the end of august so there's still plenty of time. At the moment though as things stand gone for 7-12 just not good enough.

Evans, Kelly and Swift as a midfield 3 is stronger than most in the league imo.
I think we should be able to scratch out a very similar start to last season.

[blythspartan]

13th with the current striking options, as the defence will always be under pressure trying to keep a clean sheet. I just hope that Yann can make a swift recovery.

2nd if we can bring in 2 more decent stikers and a winger with a lot of pace.

[Snowflake Royal]

Without Williams our depth is definitely hurt and I'd like to see us improve on him. But for all his quality he always seemed the wrong cog in midfield to me.

With Kelly, Evans, Berg and Swift to choose from the first choice looks strong. Plus Clement, Barrett and co. Injuries will really hurt us there though.

Kermie being injured is big. We were already weak at striker. Very weak... Dadi is a step in the right direction but we're short there.

Watson I'm sad about, but lets face it, Gunter will play almost every league game.

Mannone is obviously an unknown, but he's no bigger risk than anyone else we could have got.

We haven't fixed last year's weak spots, but I don't think we've really gone backwards.

[windermereROYAL]

Well if we have a 3 year plan . with 1 gone to date we`ve done sod all to strengthen. I`m sure there is work being done behind the scenes but fans want to see results.
I can see another deadline day stuck in front of the telly with nobody coming in. same old quotes we tried ect ect ect.
As it stands I`m looking at a bottom half finish.

[Hound]

There's load of time left in the window. As it gets closer to the end of it, clubs will be trying to shift players from their wage bill rather than ask extortionate sums for them

Ideally we'd have got someone in by now, but it's far from panic time

[Lower West]

Well if we have a 3 year plan . with 1 gone to date we`ve done sod all to strengthen. I`m sure there is work being done behind the scenes but fans want to see results.

The young core of the team gained invaluable experience last year.

Playoffs would be a good achievement. Going to be a tougher league than last year in the top half.

[CountryRoyal]

Going to be a tougher league than last year in the top half.

Same thing is said every season for as long as I can remember.

[maffff]

Going to be a tougher league than last year in the top half.

Same thing is said every season for as long as I can remember.

Yet two thirds of people I polled on Twitter expect the teams that missed out in the playoffs to end up with more combined points than all three relegated teams.

Surely that suggests two thirds think it's weaker?

[NewCorkSeth]

Going to be a tougher league than last year in the top half.

Same thing is said every season for as long as I can remember.

I think it's a much weaker league this season. I think I've said so a few times on hobnob.

[tidus_mi2]

Last season we lost Newcastle and Brighton who are better than the current state of the three sides that came down imo.

Of the teams who went down, the only one who seemed way out of their depth would be Rotherham, Wigan and Blackburn at times looked capable of potentially surviving otherwise.

Sheffield United I would argue are an improvement on the three who went down, Bolton are for me, an unknown due their financial situation and Millwall eventually always seem to get relegated eventually so I don't particularly think they've strengthened the league.

However we do have Villa and Norwich who will surely do better than last season and Wolves are throwing money around like crazy right now so who knows where they'll be.

I would say that the league is prooooooobably weaker but it's really hard to tell, as for us, I optimistically predicted automatic promotion but based on transfer dealings so far and current situation with injuries, I think we'd do well to make the play-offs.

[John Smith]

I think it's a much weaker league this season. I think I've said so a few times on hobnob.

Could you embellish on this point for the benefit of the rest of the board please?

[genome]

Anyone else excited for all the "we saw you cry on the telly" chants from away fans?