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Does anyone think we stay up?

Simply depends on how good these signings actually are. Adding 2 or 3 to last years team would have given us very little chance. We have signed 11 (or so) and know little about most of them in reality. But we have more of chance than if we hadn't bothered IMO. Its a YES from me
 

and the next few games will tell us whether we have any chance of staying up !
The next few games will tell us very little, really. It's a race, not a sprint and we have almost an entirely new starting eleven who haven't played a competitive match together yet. I'll judge in a couple of months, whether they're up to the task, when they're all bedded in properly, not when they're just getting used to each other's styles of play.
 
heart says yes, head says no. Not sure anyone can really predict at this point though. Tomorrow will tell a story.
 
I haven’t got a clue to be honest. Other than Xhaka no idea whether the others will cut it in the Premier League, also looking at the start of the seasons fixtures we are going to have to hit the ground running get some early points on the board, it’s going to ask a lot for all the players to gel so quickly. Some of the signings will turn out to be great and some will disappoint no doubt, that’s how it goes. The main thing is we are giving it a right go. I don’t go along with the idea we will stop up comfortably, I think it’s going to be a long hard slog, 17th will be an unbelievable season in my opinion and I think we will just about do it.
 
Well before the playoffs I was confident that we had a group of players who were determined to get promotion and that we could at least finish top of the bottom 4 in Premier. I think much depends upon the new players having the same attitude and fitting in to the team/squad. Oh and importantly the ‘fans’ at the SoL keeping off their backs if they have a bad game.
 
2 reasons why I think you probably have the best chance of staying up / doing best out of the promoted sides

1. General feel good factor. You guys have had a great ride in recent years almost like Leeds did under Bielsa. Having been out of the PL for so long also creates a real appetite for success / harmony within a club untainted by big earners, people dropping from the PL down etc

2. Of the 3 clubs you also have the easier start to the season which together with point 1 will see you have a few points on the board and potentially allow you to maintain some momentum / confidence going into the tougher games

Either way it’s going to be emotional - good luck!
 
Be interesting who does the better out of you lads and Leeds.

Both signed players - Leeds strategy is bringing in a load of 6ft2+ lads in their prime years whereas yours seems to be focused on smaller energy bunnies from the AFCON nations.

We play Leeds on the Monday so be interesting how that game goes. Would take a point now if offered mind, Branthwaite and Mykolenko likely out injured until after the international break which leaves us much weaker at the back, and no natural right sided wide player yet signed / our back up LB likely not ready to step up due to age.
 
It's August, and we're on MoTD tomorrow - it's all I'm looking ahead to and I know I'm going to really enjoy the next few months.

I'm not going to give it any thought at all until we see how we set up, how well the new players gel, and how free from injury we stay. There's no reason now why you'd think we're certain to go down - the recruitment has been brilliant, and you have to assume the gaps we have left will be filled.

I'd really, really like some of the players who got us here have some game time too. There's not much room for sentiment, but they earned it, and there's some proper talent in there still.

All that said, yes, I think we'll stay up. Just.
 
Yes. I genuinely think we can push for top 10. No joke.
I’ve put £100 on this at 33/1. 16/1 now. Truth is no one knows….so there is an outside chance but it’s less than 33/1 in my book.
Be interesting who does the better out of you lads and Leeds.

Both signed players - Leeds strategy is bringing in a load of 6ft2+ lads in their prime years whereas yours seems to be focused on smaller energy bunnies from the AFCON nations.

We play Leeds on the Monday so be interesting how that game goes. Would take a point now if offered mind, Branthwaite and Mykolenko likely out injured until after the international break which leaves us much weaker at the back, and no natural right sided wide player yet signed / our back up LB likely not ready to step up due to age.
And you can’t get Chris Rigg for 15m….Moyes man, what a whopper.
 
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The early games are key imo. Get off to a bad start / find ourselves cut adrift in the bottom 3 going into the festive period games (awful, awful fixtures) and we are toast imo.

My concern is how well these new players gel, and fast, given the need we must capitalise on early results.

I don't think we'll finish rock bottom as loads of pundits predict (most of them probably haven't even bothered look at our style of play, new signings), I think Burnley, and possibly Brentford, will be competing for 20th.....but I do think it'll be a tough ask to stop up.

We can do it and I hope I'm wrong, I'm just not wanting to get my hopes up yet. Want to be proven wrong, hope I am.
 
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Im an optimist regarding Sunderland but no idea

I think people are massively underestimating Leeds n Burnley mind and not sure why people think we will be ahead of them yet. Like we might, but they have both spent pretty well too I think.

It’s more long term for me, even if we go down we are stronger for it, just gonna try and enjoy it
Burnley have no chance at all. Lost their keeper, centre back gone for free, Brownhills gone from midfield for free, never had goals in the championship, never mind the PL. They won't be able to keep loads of clean sheets in the PL.
 
Be interesting who does the better out of you lads and Leeds.

Both signed players - Leeds strategy is bringing in a load of 6ft2+ lads in their prime years whereas yours seems to be focused on smaller energy bunnies from the AFCON nations.

We play Leeds on the Monday so be interesting how that game goes. Would take a point now if offered mind, Branthwaite and Mykolenko likely out injured until after the international break which leaves us much weaker at the back, and no natural right sided wide player yet signed / our back up LB likely not ready to step up due to age.
Can well see us and Leeds battling over 17th until the death of the season.....
2 reasons why I think you probably have the best chance of staying up / doing best out of the promoted sides

1. General feel good factor. You guys have had a great ride in recent years almost like Leeds did under Bielsa. Having been out of the PL for so long also creates a real appetite for success / harmony within a club untainted by big earners, people dropping from the PL down etc

2. Of the 3 clubs you also have the easier start to the season which together with point 1 will see you have a few points on the board and potentially allow you to maintain some momentum / confidence going into the tougher games

Either way it’s going to be emotional - good luck!
Great post.

You are spot on about Leeds. Tends to be insane amounts of internal pessimism at the slightest dips in form and mag levels of hanging their own out to dry in public over the last few years.
 
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Could see us finishing anywhere from about 7th to dead last. Just don't have a clue yet about how our team stacks up against other teams.
 
Yes, main reasoning is that I feel team like Brighton, Bournemouth, Fulham, Wolves, and Forest has not improved and in some cases regressed. Throw in Leeds and Burnley and overall the league is much weaker than last season.
Wolves and Brentford are the only two non promoted sides, who for me, I can see potentially getting sucked into it.
 
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