Early expectations for next season

[tidus_mi2]

Obviously this is pre any transfer dealings but with the takeover seemingly done, just not dusted and with 20/24 teams confirmed for next season, what are you expecting?

Personally, I think if we stick with people like Brian Carey who did amazingly well in the free market when we got relegated and considering the teams coming up/down, I think we should be building on last season and aiming for a top 6 finish.

Think Cardiff + Luton will be in a bit of a mess, Plymouth might do okay since they enjoy a bit of a yo-yo between Champ and L1. Of the teams coming up, none of them really stand out, Bradford might be able to leverage their large size compared to most L1 sides but can't see another Wrexham/Stockport next season.

[Brogue]

impossible to tell with 90% of our players ooc. Ask again end of july.

[tidus_mi2]

impossible to tell with 90% of our players ooc. Ask again end of july.

It's early expectations, which would include what you expect us to do transfer wise

[Sutekh]

Hoping Brian Carey has the connections to be able to persuade Toni Kroos one last sojourn he’ll never forget. So top 2 will be a must.

[From Despair To Where?]

I'll be happy with challenging for the playoffs again. There's a lot to sort out at the club and rightly or wrongly, there will be a level of expectation we haven't faced in the past 2 years.

[ILoveMoonPig]

Might not be the year just yet, i think too many of our prized assets will have shown their value and I'm not confident we can fight off the lure of championship football. I'm gonna go ahead an assume we lose Knibbs, Periera and Mbengue to championship clubs and assume that we are not able to get Bindon back again on loan. Hoping we can keep some of the younger players and build something a bit more long term, I'Il go for an upper-mid-table season, with another outside chance of the playoffs.

[stealthpapes]

Perhaps perversely I can see us struggling a bit. I cannot help but think having someone external for the squad to focus on has raised efforts in some places. While I trust in the people who brought in the League 1 squad two summers ago, we saw how hard it was to find appropriate players this Spring - Bodin might still come good, Carroll barely figured. There's huge holes in the squad - at least one striker, at least one winger, at least one centre back. We've stripped the youngsters out to plug gaps this year, so I can see a relative lull in players coming through for maybe a season.

So yeah, 20% chance of a perfect storm of failing to replace, energy levels slump after two years of backs against the walls efforts, lack of effective youngster cover.

It's a risk I think the club management has to prepare for.

[Sebastian the Red]

Top half/mid table.

After the insanity of the last few years, it will be entirely understandable if the release of pressure creates a slightly more subdued atmosphere within the team. They're excellent players, but they're not fighting for their lives any more, and we've always been a couple of players short.

I'd be very happy with a year to settle, followed by playoffs in 2027. If we're promoted by 2030 I'll be very happy indeed.

[Stranded]

I have literally no idea - with the same squad (plus 1 or 2) we may, as others have said do slightly worse as the "All in this together" mentality will likely dissipate.

However, if we have to totally rebuild the squad, then we may actually do better - selling it as a new dawn may see us get quality in.

So yeah, somewhere between 1st and 24th is my prediction.

[Snowflake Royal]

Hope for a promotion push, expect top half.

Still a lot of cost control required. Could lose a fair few key players. Recruitment is always unpredictable.

[Forbury Lion]

With big spenders Birmingham and Wrexham promoted, Should we cobble together a team as strong as that we finished with then I'd expect us to finish in the top half, possibly playoffs.... However when I look back over the season, I feel we got where we were in part because we signed Sam Smith and so I think we might need a similar signing to achieve this.

Having said that, the players at the club now have experience, so maybe they will kick on and do better?

[jd82]

Miss out on the playoffs on the last day again, good run in the league cup, out of the FA Cup 3rd round.

[rabidbee]

You really have to wait until the transfer window closes. You could be really optimistic at the start of the season, and then lose someone key to the squad late on deadline day.

As for Bindon, I can’t see why he would want to have another season at this level, even if Forest were willing. He’s proved himself at this level already. If Forest tell him he has no chance of making their first team this year, maybe he’ll be loaned out to a European club for a season.

[andrew1957]

Taking everything into account 7th this season was a remarkable achievement. Bearing in mind the need for a large rebuild this summer it would be a stretch to think we can do as well next season. However, with speedy good additions and enough young stars re-signing, plus a good pre season, anything is possible. But for me I would be very happy with any position in the top half and hopefully a good chance of top 6 in 2026/27.

[andrew1957]

You really have to wait until the transfer window closes. You could be really optimistic at the start of the season, and then lose someone key to the squad late on deadline day.

As for Bindon, I can’t see why he would want to have another season at this level, even if Forest were willing. He’s proved himself at this level already. If Forest tell him he has no chance of making their first team this year, maybe he’ll be loaned out to a European club for a season.

Fully expect Bindon to be loaned to a Championship club next season. He will almost certainly need to prove himself at that level before getting a chance at PL.

[Hendo]

Hope for a promotion push, expect top half.

Still a lot of cost control required. Could lose a fair few key players. Recruitment is always unpredictable.

Would agree with this.

[JedMaxwell]

If we retain the bulk of the OOC players, and don't lose Wing/Knibbs/Savage etc. then with some clever additions I'd expect us to be challenging for the play-offs again.

If we don't do that, then another rebuild is required and depending on that it might be a fight for survival, or just mid-table and looking to build a squad of challengers for 26/27.

Either way it'll be nice to not have extinction looming over us.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

The only thing I'm expecting with any real confidence at this stage is Ian Royal. That's a given.

[Royal Ginger]

I think we’ll finish a little worse than this year. Improvements at striker and fullback won’t be able to make up for the loss of Bindon and Pereira.

[WestYorksRoyal]

We should be a reliable top 6 side in this league. We have owners with a track record in football, a good scouting team, a top academy and a good first team manager.

There may be some turnover, but the fact is anything less than top 6 is under achievement.