Next season preview
No its not too bloddy early! Just hang with me for a minute…
We now know the 21 of the 23 teams we will face next year. Unfortunately Fulham wont be one of them. I will admit to wanting either Donny or Carlise to come up automatically from the 1st as well, as that would mean one of the ‘big’ clubs in Forest and Leeds definately missing out. I would put money on Leeds winning the playoffs, just to compund the whole thing.
In some people’s eyes, we are already fovourites, but this seems to be based upon fiscal opportunity rather than anything else, so lets look (or preview) the evidence… (see where Im going now?).
I want to compare thios season to the potential next season, and Ill do it in a number of categories:
1 - Our team.
At the momnet we have a decent startign XI, when all are fit. ON its day this team can beat anyone. But as was shown at the arse end of this season a couple of injuries and we start to struggle. This is one area where our new found wealth will come in handy. I expect at least half a dozen championship standard players to come in over the summer - a huge improvement on what we have had to scrape together in previous season and one which should improve our squad and provide compeition for places - which isnt usually a bad thing.
Verdict: Improvement
2 - The tactics.
We had three managers last year - and our tactics varied quite considerably from the sublime (mostly under De canio) to the ridiculous (the Hawthorns). Even under the De Canio, however, there were issues, such as our inabilioty to hold onto a lead going into injury time. We dont have a manager right now, and IMO the key thing is to get a decent tacticain - someone who understands how to play Blackpool away on a cold, wet and windy tuesday night in novemeber as well as at home in August when its 100degrees on the pitch and Blackpool have decided to turn up in black.
Verdict: Expect to be more consistant and probably imrpovement.
3 - Stability.
After the rollercoasters of the last few seasons, the one things i really crave is some stability on and off the pitch. those people who say that off field shenannigans dont come onto the pitch with the players are talking crap. In this respect we should surley see a massive improvement. but then this is QPR…
Verdict: Improvement
4 - Opposition
I hoenstly beleive Derby will struggle big time - a team with no money, no decent players and no confidence will struggle next year - but I beleive that Birmingham and reading will be better teams than Stoke and whoever wins the playoffs. Forest have the ability to spend a few quid, Swansea less so, but come up as champions and we saw what Brizzle did. Certainly that coming up is better than Colchester and Scunny. Add oonto that the strange years that teams like Preston and Cardiff have had. This league will be tougher.
Verdict: Tougher next year.
We can all add more categories, but all I am trying to say is that its not a foregone conclusion we will go up next year - I think you should see a significant concl;usion, and I will be dissappinted if we are not in the shake up for the play offs as a minimum come the end of the season.
Whoever becomes manager will have huge (all be it unrealistic) expectations behind them, and that will create pressure; pressure they could probably do without. I just hope they can cope with it, juggling 20 players who all want to be in the first team and Flav’s media profile. Good luck mate. Ill be there to roar you on.
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