3 hours ago
(4 hours ago)DeesideRed Wrote:(7 hours ago)Paplane Wrote:(7 hours ago)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote: Realistically I think at least 2 of the promoted teams will go straight back down. Coventry Im not sure about but again 17th is probably their ambition.
Leeds weren’t great at all for most of the season. Tottenham most thought would have been OK with Frank and actually managed to get worse. Sunderland were amazing but could well have been a flash in the pan. We do need to strengthen well for me, as a minimum a new CF and Anderson replacement to make us remotely competitive then other upgrades too if we want to be comfortable.
If other clubs' forums are having a similar debate to this then they'll be looking at us and saying we've struggled in 3 of the last 4 seasons, we're losing our biggest player and we're probably odds on to have a new manager after 10 games. They'll have us down to be a favourite to go down, if one of the promoted 3 are decent.
I can see Coventry doing the best out of the three because I rate Lampard. Ipswich with a new coach? No sure about that. And Hull I have no idea so I've got them down to struggle, albeit I probably said the same about Sunderland this time last year.
Thats probably fair.
Fulham are a funny fish as they looked like they were going to be in the mix one minute and then turned up at other end of the table. Palace, new coach and Europa is a big ask. Feels like a big season for Howe as it could get ugly up there in Sunderland outplay them again.
Its a good point re Sunderland adding pressure on Newcastle. Stuff like that really matters to fans and I think it's underestimated. If the fans get restless because their bitter rivals, who are fresh out of the championship, are eclipsing them then it adds massive pressure on the manager & players. And I think Howe is under a bit of pressure anyway. They lost Isak and replaced him with an incredibly expensive Woltemade. He also signed Wissa and Elenga for big money and none of those have really turned up for them. Gordon's now gone and will need replacing and Man Utd are chasing Tonali by all accounts. So two more key players maybe to replace. If they have a poor start Howe could be an early sack candidate.