Early Expectations for 2015/16?

[John Smith]

Hoping: relegation

Let's get it out the way and clear the decks, storm League 1 and use the momentum to go again in the Championship.

Expectations: 17th

Why does everyone think relegation would be great and we'd storm League One? Big clubs sure, they eventually find their way out of it but we're not a big club, if we get relegated our attendances will plummet, I doubt we'd be able to maintain Category 1, regardless of the fact academy costs don't factor into FFP I doubt the club would maintain large losses when they can make large cuts in that area.

Look at Sheffield United, bigger club than us but they will have been down in League One for 5 seasons now, it's not necessarily an easy league to get out of, the only positive I could possibly see out of it would be that it would allow us in the short term to introduce our young players into the team sooner but the long term effects to the club are going to be far more negative than positive.

Of course immediate promotion isn't guaranteed but I'm saying for the purposes of a more entertaining season and a fresher side I wouldn't mind seeing it happen.

As for Sheffield United being a bigger team than us...I have to use the immortal words of Brendan and tell you that "you are not supporter of this club". What planet are you on man?

[RG7Fan]

Right now we have a pretty big shopping list, but nothing we can't manage:
Goalkeepers (Fods and Hamer for me)
CB - we need someone who can lead because our only decent leader is off to the Rams.
Left winger - Someone who gets balls into the box and get into the box himself.
Striker - A guy with pace and/or skill (preferably both!) who can strike with confidence and competence. Gets into the box when needed as well.

There you go. If we get all that, I would consider that an excellent summer and would lay the framework for a better team in 16/17. With that, I would say 6-9th. Without it, 13-19th.

Jobi?

[Sutekh]

Hoping to see a squad capable of a top 10/top half finish....

[floyd__streete]

One, possibly two of the better players from a squad which performed abjectly already out of the door
A manager who managed to perform even worse than the previous joker
Owners whose intentions are about as clear as Lord Lucan's whereabouts

Bottom 6.

[Ian Royal]

I'll add to my expectation of how we will do that anything higher than 17th would be a success given where we are now. Although obviously if we make brilliant signings and start like a train then even 10th could be a disappointment.

[KC Royal]

Hoping: Mid-table
Expecting: Bottom 6

+1

[Forbury Lion]

Injuries or lack of will determine our season once again since the first team squad is so small.

If McLearly, Hector, Williams and whoever our goalkeeper is sustain long term injuries we will probably finish bottom.

[melonhead]

7-12

tough start gives way to gradual improvement and decent finish

[Franchise FC]

I fully expect to wait until the end of June before releasing my expectations

[Lower West]

With no news of significance. Relegation looms.

[King van der Kwaak]

I think you're a bit confused, or maybe I just misunderstood you.

If Pearce leaves, Ferdinand remains unavailable, and we send Cooper on loan, our options at centre back will be Hector, Sweeney, Keown, Hyam, and Dickie (and Gunter/Sammi/younger players). We would have no choice but to play an unproven youngster alongside Hector, let alone using them as cover.

I do think Cooper could benefit from a loan move, but that should only happen if we have three reliable options ahead of him. Otherwise he may as well get that experience with us.

Sorry, you're right I didn't make myself clear. As much as I rate Cooper, whether he's up to being the 1st choice alongside Hector is questionable. My thinking of him going on loan would only be if we bought two central defenders and Ferdinand is fit. Otherwise as someone else said, it makes no sense for him to go, he might as well develop here.

[Lower West]

Jobi?

Saw him play for Orient this year. Best days are past.

[Simon's Church]

With Hector signed on, top 6 is a certainty and top 2 very likely

[tidus_mi2]

Hoping: relegation

Let's get it out the way and clear the decks, storm League 1 and use the momentum to go again in the Championship.

Expectations: 17th

Why does everyone think relegation would be great and we'd storm League One? Big clubs sure, they eventually find their way out of it but we're not a big club, if we get relegated our attendances will plummet, I doubt we'd be able to maintain Category 1, regardless of the fact academy costs don't factor into FFP I doubt the club would maintain large losses when they can make large cuts in that area.

Look at Sheffield United, bigger club than us but they will have been down in League One for 5 seasons now, it's not necessarily an easy league to get out of, the only positive I could possibly see out of it would be that it would allow us in the short term to introduce our young players into the team sooner but the long term effects to the club are going to be far more negative than positive.

Of course immediate promotion isn't guaranteed but I'm saying for the purposes of a more entertaining season and a fresher side I wouldn't mind seeing it happen.

As for Sheffield United being a bigger team than us...I have to use the immortal words of Brendan and tell you that "you are not supporter of this club". What planet are you on man?

They are bigger than us though aren't they? Historically they've spent most of their seasons in the top 2 divisions, whereas we have spent most of ours in the 3rd and 4th tier, last season they pulled an average attendance 2k higher than ours despite being in the division below. At the very least they are of a similar stature but I would call that being generous to us.

[paultheroyal]

Steve Clarke will go quietly about his business. He is keeping players who are loyal to his ideas and leadership and I expect a few humdinger foreign bargain players to come in with pace!

Have a sneaky feeling we will do a Watford.

[Ian Royal]

Steve Clarke will go quietly about his business. He is keeping players who are loyal to his ideas and leadership and I expect a few humdinger foreign bargain players to come in with pace!

Have a sneaky feeling we will do a Watford.

So far he's had no say in anyone of significance staying or going on the playing side except Guthrie.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Chalobah on loan, surely he was instrumental in that. And if he really wanted Feds he could have asked for better wages to be offered.

[MoorgateRoyal]

I think we'll finish mid table.

I'm not panicking about signings yet as pre-season is still a long way off. If we've still not made any improvements by the start of July, I think we can start to be concerned.

Clarke will bring in a few players who buy into his ethos, although we may well lose Pearce and Karacan. I'd like them both to stay, but it may just be time they moved on to pastures new. They'll still be our Academy products and I'm sure will get good receptions, so long as they don't slag the club off in the press after leaving. But Clarke will need to start to build his own team, and we'll see if those two are in his plans.

I think the season will ebb and flow, with a few good results on the bounce here and there, without forming into a significant run. We'll also lose our fair share but overall I think we'll be better than last season, but still struggle for consistency.

I'm hoping Clarke is given some time to put his own squad together and see where he can take it. I like the way we tend to treat managers, giving them some time to get their ideas across.

Overall, it will be a season neither great nor shit.

[Forbury Lion]

If we have more luck with injuries and our home form improves then top 10.

[SCIAG]

Right now we have a pretty big shopping list, but nothing we can't manage:
Goalkeepers (Fods and Hamer for me)
CB - we need someone who can lead because our only decent leader is off to the Rams.
Left winger - Someone who gets balls into the box and get into the box himself.
Striker - A guy with pace and/or skill (preferably both!) who can strike with confidence and competence. Gets into the box when needed as well.

There you go. If we get all that, I would consider that an excellent summer and would lay the framework for a better team in 16/17. With that, I would say 6-9th. Without it, 13-19th.

Jobi?

Jobi was no good at getting into the box. Terrible goal record.

If we're talking ex-Royal, Henry and Antonio would be excellent but alas are probably beyond our reach.

Wouldn't be opposed to Taylor getting another go - at the time we seemed quiet and he was poor for Orient, but his stats are actually quite good. If we want a better long term option, we have two excellent wingers in the U21s plus Tanner. That spot should be theirs for the taking.