Realistic expectations for the season

As Voyeur has said Phil doesn't seem to understand the difference between ambition and expectations.

Ambition should be to win 46 games and go up as Champions playing attractive football.

Expectation is mid-tableish.
Oh I do but thanks anyway
 
last year i made the prediction that we would be top ten, and until the least few games of the season we were more than capable of doing that.

i would say we have an easily top ten squad, but can MA get them to play together consistently, i would also say that at least 15 or 16 other teams have a top ten squad, so the consistency is very important. The first half an hour against Reading we looked very good, but the substitutions in my opinion broke the intensity that we were playing, and several players tired and became very error prone. the game should have been wrapped up in that first half hour.

If we can play (attack wise) like we did against reading for at least 60 mins every game, and start being signifiantly more clinical in forward positions, and maintain our general defensive capabilities then I fancy us to be in or around the play-offs.
 
Phil doesn't understand the difference between expectation and ambition. Seems you don't either.

Phil thinks Appleton is a big step up on Critchley. Jury is out for me.

Phil's negativity is legendary. A daily occurrence.
Nothing negative about me old boy, think you need to have a look in the mirror
 
It really is to soon for predictions but of course I'll always want us to go up as Champions.
Bowler is key so I'll wait until the transfer window closes and then hazard a guess. I certainly wouldn't let Bowler go for less than £3m and we've got to assume Rogers is lined up to replace him.
I was fairly reliably informed that Bowler did want to leave last January so I can't see why he will have changed his mind so that's got to taken into account.
 
Blackpools Finest to be ejected from the South, if not by the time we play Blackburn then definitely against PNE.

For a serious answer to the question, to finish higher than last season, and be in most games. To continue to be able to attract quality players and to progress off the pitch as well as on it. I follow the BFC former players twitter account and fuck me the difference in the standard of player we now sign compared to in the past, particularly in the last the three or four years prior to SS taking over is absolutely immeasurable.

It's a long term project this, and the knobs on social media who moan at everything on a daily basis and demand instant success whilst not having a clue what actually goes on behind the scenes at a Championship football club really need to stop playing FIFA football manager or whatever its called and get in the real world, and remember where we were for most of the last 40 years or so.
 
My expectation is mid-table finish and hopefully higher than last season. But I think if Appleton manages to get us consistently playing like we did in the first 20 minutes against Reading then we could potentially push for the playoffs.
 
I definitely feel that we will finish in the top 10, AT THE VERY LEAST, especially if Michael Appleton isn't another tinkerman. I hope we go at teams at Bloomfield Road and in away games. If we are in the playoff zone at the World Cup break, we can really go for it in the second half of the season, when players will want to come here and help us to secure promotion.
🧡COME ON YOU MIGHTY POOL🧡
 
Phil doesn't understand the difference between expectation and ambition. Seems you don't either. And Phil started the thread by forgetting to answer his own question and has been struggling ever since. Maybe read the thread again! Strings my arse!

Phil thinks Appleton is a big step up on Critchley. Jury is out for me.

Phil's negativity is legendary. A daily occurrence.
you do bite very very easy Voyeur - see you’re on strings again, chill fella, chill.

For the record i also already think Apple is a step up on the previous Manager - i also don’t think we will be pushing for the play offs although my ambition in the next season or two is to do just that but my expectations this year is finishing higher than under Critchley.
 
you do bite very very easy Voyeur - see you’re on strings again, chill fella, chill.

For the record i also already think Apple is a step up on the previous Manager - i also don’t think we will be pushing for the play offs although my ambition in the next season or two is to do just that but my expectations this year is finishing higher than under Critchley.
I'm chilled fella. Just banter.

Bit early to assess Apple. Achieved nowt yet, one game. Delusion to think hes already a step up.

Where did you spring from btw? Phil been recruiting again? 😉
 
I was fairly reliably informed that Bowler did want to leave last January so I can't see why he will have changed his mind so that's got to taken into account.
I feel that Josh Bowler and a few other players were a bit brassed off with Neil Critchley tinkering with the side far too much, which I hope Michael Appleton doesn't do. As a fan, I know it did my head in. With a bit of luck, they will be a happier bunch of players this season.
If I was in the squad, it would not bother me one iota if a winning team played the next match, and I would just wait for an injury or suspension, to try and stake a place in the side.
🧡 UTMP 🧡
 
I desperately want Bowler to put pen to paper and surely they must be negotiating with him. At the end of the day though money talks, if he doesn't want to sign a new contract and wants to walk away in the summer then I think we have to look seriously at selling him. As Fount's says there are at least 2 EPL teams interested I him and possibly more and if he plays to the top of his game then he could easily go for 5 million.

So, I would rather we kept him on a new contract but if not then sell for anything over 5 million. It doesn't want to be left to the last hour of TDD either, it needs sorting so we can either settle down knowing he's with us or we have time to get a replacement if he doesn't.

As for expectations. I expect us to be more expansive and fun to watch but at this stage anything better than what we achieved last season would do for me.
I genuinely think if Josh was going to sign a new contract he would have done it by now. Our only hope is that if no one comes in with an acceptable offer by the end of the month, that he decides to take our money. A signing on fee, very large pay rise and agreed release clause going forward. Of course the very large pay rise may be unsettling in the camp, which can bring its own problems.
 
I'm chilled fella. Just banter.

Bit early to assess Apple. Achieved nowt yet, one game. Delusion to think hes already a step up.

Where did you spring from btw? Phil been recruiting again? 😉
i’ve been on this crazy journey a long time me ole friend.

Not really delusional, i didn’t enjoy/like the football played under the old guy and already impressed with Appleton’s attempts to play a more attractive style and appears genuine in his approach. I agree it’s early days but pleased so far.
Sorry he doesn’t do the fist pumping and badge kissing routine for you though but move on from that eh?! 😜
 
Not been mentioned yet, but the cup competitions are ripe for a great run in, given that the 'Elite (sic)' disregard the League and FA Cup comps.....national exposure of an up and coming club......etc etc, you can fill in the rest.....
 
I feel that Josh Bowler and a few other players were a bit brassed off with Neil Critchley tinkering with the side far too much, which I hope Michael Appleton doesn't do. As a fan, I know it did my head in. With a bit of luck, they will be a happier bunch of players this season.
If I was in the squad, it would not bother me one iota if a winning team played the next match, and I would just wait for an injury or suspension, to try and stake a place in the side.
🧡 UTMP 🧡
There's a counter argument to that - he kept the whole squad happy by disregarding nobody, tackled the season as a group, and they seemed happy to me.
 
i’ve been on this crazy journey a long time me ole friend.

Not really delusional, i didn’t enjoy/like the football played under the old guy and already impressed with Appleton’s attempts to play a more attractive style and appears genuine in his approach. I agree it’s early days but pleased so far.
Sorry he doesn’t do the fist pumping and badge kissing routine for you though but move on from that eh?! 😜
He didn't do it for me me ol' mucker.

I got frustrated with our inability to attack teams effectively, lack of creativity in midfield etc. But it wasn't as bad as some are making out - that's revisionism in my opinion. Plenty of very good matches to watch, like Fulham and Bournemouth at home, and plenty more.

It will be ace f Appleton can make a more attacking style with two attacking CMs work, I'm all for it. It doesn't make the last two seasons poor though. We have gone from a complete mess under Oyston and Grayson to promotion and a solid first season in this league. Solid foundations for MA to build on. Looking forward to seeing Fiorini and Patino work their magic. I've always liked progressive attractive football. And players with genuine talent. Bring it on. But don't fuck it up and destroy the good work. 😆
 
Being more attack minded I think we will concede more regularly so scoring will need to be upped to standstill.

To that end we need a goalscorer with 15 goals in them ideally unless the midfield excels and delivers a couple of players with a few.
 
I feel that Josh Bowler and a few other players were a bit brassed off with Neil Critchley tinkering with the side far too much, which I hope Michael Appleton doesn't do. As a fan, I know it did my head in. With a bit of luck, they will be a happier bunch of players this season.
If I was in the squad, it would not bother me one iota if a winning team played the next match, and I would just wait for an injury or suspension, to try and stake a place in the side.
🧡 UTMP 🧡
When you say 'you feel' does that just mean you're essentially just making it up or do you actually know that players 'like Josh Bowler' were a bit brassed of ?

It's just that I didn't get the slightest sense at all that the players (including Josh Bowler) were at all brassed off... Maybe one or two who weren't featuring as much as they might have liked, but by and large, I got the impression that the players had a great deal of respect for Critchley.

As for Bowler specifically, I really don't think his decision last season or this would have anything to do with how he feels about the Manager or the Club. He came to us on a short term contract, he clearly has aspirations of a big move and was willing to come to us to put himself in the shop window.... I'm sure if we were in a position to match his ambition with a bigger money contract then we may be in with a better shout, but if he's getting interest from Premier League Clubs, then realistically we can't compete.
 
Anywhere between 4th and 14th.

I have no expectation or worries of us being in a relegation fight, but I also think a concerted push for the playoffs to be a stretch.

A late run on the other hand...
 
Above the Nobbers for starters, our squad is alot stronger than last season, theres is weaker.

Top 10 finish for us is a real possibility, a playoff spot would be brilliant, but maybe a bridge too far at this point in time.

Lets see who comes in and goes out before the end of the window
 
Mid table 12th/13th would do for me (or finish higher than the knobbers )where ever they finish )unless of course they finish 23rd 22nd 21st ,
 
I feel that Josh Bowler and a few other players were a bit brassed off with Neil Critchley tinkering with the side far too much, which I hope Michael Appleton doesn't do. As a fan, I know it did my head in. With a bit of luck, they will be a happier bunch of players this season.
If I was in the squad, it would not bother me one iota if a winning team played the next match, and I would just wait for an injury or suspension, to try and stake a place in the side.
🧡 UTMP 🧡
Do not think he will tinker, but take full advantage of the 5 subs, and do changes when there is a realistic chance of them having an impact
 
Surely the Critchley compensation and any incoming fee from Bowler is small potatoes in comparison the the Sky TV money and the Premier League solidarity payment for Championship clubs. More than £10 million up from League 1?
 
Surely the Critchley compensation and any incoming fee from Bowler is small potatoes in comparison the the Sky TV money and the Premier League solidarity payment for Championship clubs. More than £10 million up from League 1?

TV money for this league is about £7,000,000, about x10 from L1, serious money by most standards, but not enough to justify spending £2,000,000+ on a single player for one season, which is in effect what Bowler staying is.
 
We have seen very little of "Appy, we have no idea how he will be in a full season, tinkering or not, changing formations or not. To already say he is better than Crichley is deluded, we have no idea.

Reasonable expectation, mid table, if we keep or replace Josh. I worry our midfield loanees will be too lightweight at this level, putting too much pressure on whoever is the DM
 
The key thing for me is not how we might perform in a single season, but rather how the club manages progress and stabilise over time. We've already done the whole boom and bust thing with the Oystons and TBH I'm not really interested in the idea of sacrificing the future to roll the dice and see what happens.

That's a long way of saying that unless Josh signs a new contract, then we need to take the money and reinvest in the future.

Not sure where we will end up this season, but if success or failure hinges on a player who appears to be willing to run down his contract, then we're doing something wrong.
BOOOORRRINNNG!!!!
 
Very few people would agree with you. Remarkable lack of self awareness!
I'm one of the very few then. I don't find it negative to question things behind the scenes, nor to ask for the best on the pitch and question why that shouldn't be the aim.

That's all very positive.

This century has shown us that too many just accepted 'what it was' and only started questioning when the horse had bolted. Not quite the same? Of course not, but it shouldn't force acceptance without questioning.

Crack on @Philbfctrois 👍
 
Heart tells me we can have a crack at the playoffs, head tells me lower mid table.

We’ve signed some exciting young talents and already had a decent squad in place, I think we can allow ourselves to dream a little bit.
 
Targets for the season. 1) is my only 'expectation'. 2) & 3) are 'stretch' targets. 4-8 are never out of the realms of possibility but they are not expectations.

1) Avoid relegation.
2) When 1) is achieved, beat last seasons points tally.
3) Finish above last seasons final position 2) & 3) should be mutually compatible.
4) Finish in the top half
5) Finish in the top ten
6) Play off spots
7) Automatic
8) Champions.

It's possible to have all these in the air at one time and keep moving forward.
 
People posting about josh hopefully signing a new deal, forget it, it isn’t happening, if he can go for free he will get a huge signing on bonus as his new club won’t have payed a fee and then big wages higher then he could dream of at blackpool, that’s the top and bottom of it.
He either plays for us this season and goes for free or we sell him now or in January, I’d be absolutely astounded if he signed a new deal.
 
I'm one of the very few then. I don't find it negative to question things behind the scenes, nor to ask for the best on the pitch and question why that shouldn't be the aim.

That's all very positive.

This century has shown us that too many just accepted 'what it was' and only started questioning when the horse had bolted. Not quite the same? Of course not, but it shouldn't force acceptance without questioning.

Crack on @Philbfctrois 👍
I never said questioning things was negative. Nobody questioned the Oystons on here more than I did. I'm all for it, and will question this regime too and havd done in occasions. It needs to be intelligent though, and valid, and have attention seeking taken out if it. And be less abusive, the Bullshit Ben nonsense is both ignorant and abusive. Feel free to condone it if you wish, I'm all for free speech and have asked the mods not to ban people every time that has been suggested to me. About 3 times over the years.
 
Top 10 would be great if JB stays. The money being bandied about for Josh is a joke in the current transfer market. The lad is brilliant. Marcus Tavernier has left Boro, off the Bournemouth for a reported £10m.
Josh is a better player and similar age Hope he stays otherwise we'll be lucky to match last seasons 16th
 
Even two weeks ago I felt we had a good enough squad to stay up but seeing how well our newbies started (yes I know it was only Pince and Reading) I reckon we're good for an upper mid-table finish. We deffo need a striker and ideally two more full backs then we could easily push top ten. We're Blackpool we surprise people it's what we do best.
 
If Bowler stays and we get a better centre forward and some cover at right back, top half.
If Bowler goes and we get another wide player, a better centre forward and cover at right back, at least mid table.
If Bowler goes and we add little or nothing to the squad, bottom 6.
 
After 1 decent game Bowler got more press than our entire team combined has for at least a decade, there's even an article in the local Stoke paper comparing him to Stanley Matthews!


Keep him and we could possibly be looking at a top half finish but I think if he scores on Sat and has a good game they'll be 3-5 teams clamoring and we might be able to bump it up around 3 million, which I think they'll accept. Don't know where they get their info from but i've seen a few articles saying Bowler is very keen to move, especially to Forest. That being said so far his attitude looks good and he even did a fairly lengthy interview post game where he seemed committed.
 
People posting about josh hopefully signing a new deal, forget it, it isn’t happening, if he can go for free he will get a huge signing on bonus as his new club won’t have payed a fee and then big wages higher then he could dream of at blackpool, that’s the top and bottom of it.
He either plays for us this season and goes for free or we sell him now or in January, I’d be absolutely astounded if he signed a new deal.

Totally agree with this.
 
My main concern is where are the goals going to come from? We tried to sign Bishop then missed out on Simms so where does that leave us. Lavery is not the same player who burst on to the scene early last season, Jerry might surprise us under a new Head Coach and Madine might find his scoring boots (but he has never been prolific).

The new bright, shiny players Fiorini & Patino may tear up The Championship. There's a lot of ifs, buts and maybes'. Opponents are now aware of the threat of Bowler poses so will double up on him even if he stays beyond TDD. A lot will hinge on signing a centre forward who guarantees goals and there are not many of them about and they don't come cheap. The last one we had at this level was Kevin Phillips and that's when we had Parachute payments!
 
It would cost us round 65k a week rather than sell him for 3 million to keep him for the season, if he decides to wind his contract down and performs like saturday then happy days he cost us nothing, but sensibly we should be looking to sell if we can't tie him down to a new contract

Realistically top 12 improve on last season but hoping for the play offs.
 
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