To be fair, as this thread and poll shows, only a few thought that a European spot, or even a top 10 finish, was a possibility. The majority had lower expectations of mid-table or below.Nic wrote:Maybe some are disappointed we haven't come up and set the table alight fleeting with the the possibility of a European spot, but surely that was not a realistic expectation.
If the quality of the Premier league isn't that great, then where exactly is great quality football being played?DominanceUK wrote:I actually thought a European place was a possibility due to how we played and the quailty of the PL - which I think isn't that great
The Bundesliga, much better imo. Don't get me wrong, there is, at times, quality but it's not consistent. I would even go as far and say Serie A is better.Costy wrote:If the quality of the Premier league isn't that great, then where exactly is great quality football being played?DominanceUK wrote:I actually thought a European place was a possibility due to how we played and the quailty of the PL - which I think isn't that great
Well last four seasons 36pts would have done.NottinghamWhite wrote:Was wondering about how many points we’d need to be safe & I reckon it’s around 36-40 which still gives us a way to go.
We are on course for at least that. We do seem to be mostly winning against the bottom 6 sides which is surely enough to keep us up. We will lose against the top 6, save for possibly the odd upset, and how we do for the teams in the middle will determine how high we end up.Barlow Boy wrote:Sheffield United are going to skew the average figures if they carry on like they are, I’m with you both that mid 30’s should see us ok, but I’m more than confident we can hit the mid 40’s.
The important thing here is to make sure we don't get into a rut of bad results and lose confidence. The win against Newcastle was very important, and the style of it even more so. As long as we keep doing that through the season bouncing back from a couple of bad results then we will be fine.Nic wrote:We are on course for at least that. We do seem to be mostly winning against the bottom 6 sides which is surely enough to keep us up. We will lose against the top 6, save for possibly the odd upset, and how we do for the teams in the middle will determine how high we end up.Barlow Boy wrote:Sheffield United are going to skew the average figures if they carry on like they are, I’m with you both that mid 30’s should see us ok, but I’m more than confident we can hit the mid 40’s.
There isn't a run away at the top with teams in the top 4 spots correspondingly on less points than the teams in there last season, even if you have Spurs and Southampton on much improved results verses last season.
The beneficiary seems to be the teams in the middle as the bottom teams are not faring as well. Even excluding Sheffield Utd minus seventeen compared to last year, or seven points behind where bottom placed Watford were, 16th and below have all got a lower points tally than the team that was in that spot last season. That said we still have two newly promoted sides occupying relegation spots, who both looking likely candidates to go straight back down.
As to where we finish, well using the current table standings and looking at scenarios where we win against bottom teams, draw middling ones, and lose to the top for the whole season gives us suggestions as to where we would end up. Then add our actual results and the high 40's isn't an unrealistic expectation. We do seem to be on track for an 1.2-1.4 PPG seasonal average, or about 50pts.
