Define success and failure for the forthcoming season

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Would be nice to complete a season, unbeaten at home. Last time we did this ( IIR correctly ) was our Div 4 season, when we finished Champions in 1980-81?.

 

[leeblue]

So finishing 7th, playing some really decent football, before our injuries and scoring lots goals was much better than you expected.....Not a massive failure as we were barely in the play-offs all season.

Anyway back to the thread what do you expect this season ?

Read the post you quoted for answer

 

[rigsby]

Read the post you quoted for answer

You didn't give an answer.

 

[marlow17101032]

I know its a stupid question but where is this money coming from then and why all of a sudden long term contracts being signed

 

[Bearded Shrimper]

Success would be play offs. massive success would be promotion.


Failure would be bottom half.

if we finish between play offs and half way but play good football, have some enjoyable games and some youth players establish themselves I'd take that

 

[* ORM *]

I expect a 15 match winning streak. 100% wins at home in the league. The league one Golden boot winner and golden glove winner. Nothing more and nothing less will suffice :winking:

No clean sheets? Actually if we achieved this mine would not be clean.

 

[buffalowolf]

success to me can be measured not just on where we finish in the league , but the type of football served up to you the supporters ,who pay good money each week /fortnight whatever, hopefully i would love to see a top 6 finish resulting in another day out at Wembley for you all, whether it be from the playoffs or JPT as it was once called, also be nice to have a decent cup run resulting in once again defeating MAN U at RH.Hopefully as someone already stated we also can get one or two of our youths playing well in the first team and making a big impression ,Feel envious of you all being able to see my team play as all i get is to read your threads, but will never sto loving my club ,yes to me they are the ants pants.

 

[Jai]

I know its a stupid question but where is this money coming from then and why all of a sudden long term contracts being signed

More TV money, extra Checkatrade trophy bribe, Ron thinking his masterplan is nearly reaching fruition. Plus we're probably still being drip fed money from transfer fees like Payne, Bentley, Hayden and that 13-year-old lad that went Man City.

We're still losing money hand over foot, but turnover is sure to have risen significantly.

As for expectations, we have an injury-prone squad and I expect matching last season's achievement (which was significant) to be a tall order in such a strong division. However, a nice cup run would make a change, and I'd certainly not be calling for heads to roll with a mid-table finish. Although we all want year-on-year progression, so does every club and it can't happen to everyone.

 

[mrsblue]

Uncle Ron has certainly gone all in with long expensive contracts handed out like confetti being thrown at a Virgins wedding,Ron must be demanding something special this time around,autos probably Defo play offs.


The question is how many of the injury plagued stars can perform in the 46 game marathon ,my guess is not many.

Going to be interesting.

 

[Barry.C]

Getting off to a good start can often be important and we kick off with a tough itinerary, minus Coker, Wordsworth, Ranger and Turner. In addition Kiernan has not had a pre season as such and Hendrie admits to a loss of confidence and form, which I think will improve no end with a run of games. I am excited about the youngsters but know they need careful handling, tire , and will at times lack consistency.
Our best run of form kicked in when some of the " heavyweights" joined, so I wouldnt be surprised by an indifferent start, which makes sustaining a long run of wins significant and duly adds pressures.
So I would expect a top 10 finish , would up my bets if a 3 more decent players came in ( 2 via loans ), but after 66 years of watching my team, I will still happily be there if we found our way to the Conference.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

More TV money, extra Checkatrade trophy bribe, Ron thinking his masterplan is nearly reaching fruition. Plus we're probably still being drip fed money from transfer fees like Payne, Bentley, Hayden and that 13-year-old lad that went Man City.

We're still losing money hand over foot, but turnover is sure to have risen significantly.

As for expectations, we have an injury-prone squad and I expect matching last season's achievement (which was significant) to be a tall order in such a strong division. However, a nice cup run would make a change, and I'd certainly not be calling for heads to roll with a mid-table finish. Although we all want year-on-year progression, so does every club and it can't happen to everyone.

We now have something like 8 former Premiership players on our books and they won't have come cheap. If we don't have a year-on-year progression (or a cup run) what's the point of that substantial investment - would we not be better sticking with last year's budget and pushing through the youngsters a bit more?

 

[Jam_Man]

More TV money, extra Checkatrade trophy bribe, Ron thinking his masterplan is nearly reaching fruition. Plus we're probably still being drip fed money from transfer fees like Payne, Bentley, Hayden and that 13-year-old lad that went Man City.

We're still losing money hand over foot, but turnover is sure to have risen significantly.

As for expectations, we have an injury-prone squad and I expect matching last season's achievement (which was significant) to be a tall order in such a strong division. However, a nice cup run would make a change, and I'd certainly not be calling for heads to roll with a mid-table finish. Although we all want year-on-year progression, so does every club and it can't happen to everyone.

Surprised you think like that.

We are aiming for better than last season, I would be stunned if Brown wasnt sacked if we dont make the play offs at least.

I think the entire preparation, the signings we have made, keeping leonard against his wishes at the risk of losing a lot of money has all been done for one purpose, promotion.

I think anything less this season will be deemed failure.

Whether its via the play offs or automatic that seems to be our goal.

We now have something like 8 former Premiership players on our books and they won't have come cheap. If we don't have a year-on-year progression (or a cup run) what's the point of that substantial investment - would we not be better sticking with last year's budget and pushing through the youngsters a bit more?

Exactly, Ron didn't back all these signings to finish mid table.

A lot of expectations this season, not sure we have ever started a season with them so high?

 

[jackj13]

what's the point of that substantial investment - would we not be better sticking with last year's budget and pushing through the youngsters a bit more?

Because Ron wants us in the Championship, there is absolutely no doubt about that at all.

 

[Mad Cyril]

Essex Senior Cup as a bare minimum.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

Our last 34 games last season yielded 60 points. Over the coures of a season this is over 80 points.

We have lost Atkinson and replaced him with Kightly and or Hendrie.

We have lost Thomson and replaced him with Kiernan and Turner.

Coker is injured, which is a big loss, but there were spells last year without him too.

To me that looks like serious upgrades. If we can get off to a half decent start until Ranger and Woody are back and fit then we should be pusing the top 2.

Anything below the 72 points we achieved last year would be considered a faliure on my part, and probably the clubs management as well.

 

[Shrimperforlife]

Essex Senior Cup as a bare minimum.

thats a banana skin waiting to happen ....

 

[Barling Magna]

We are aiming for better than last season, I would be stunned if Brown wasnt sacked if we dont make the play offs at least.

A lot of expectations this season, not sure we have ever started a season with them so high?

Well let's hope those expectations aren't dashed by a poor start again - August's fixtures look tough. September's appear to be a bit easier, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that by October 1st we will have gained 17 or 18 points from our 11 matches........

 

[Tommy2holes]

Success = promotion automatically or via the play offs.

Failure would be mid table mediocrity.

In every season Brown has improved our league position. With the strength of the league it will be a big ask to better that.

We have the players for sure. Keeping the squad fit will be the biggest challenge this season. Lots of injury prone players and older type players.

We can do it but it will be a big ask.

 

[USAShrimper]

It would be great to be back-up in the Championship again and that must be our goal this year. However we get there, the end result will be regarded as a success. Would like us to have a good run in the FA Cup, (Have not had that for a couple of years).
We could also have a sense of having a positive season (would class last year as that). But promotion only will make it a success.

 

[fatgrandad]

The level of investment suggests that anything less than play-offs would be deemed a failure by management. There also seems to be a high level of expectation on the Zone which I haven't really witnessed before, even though we don't yet have any evidence that this collection of players can come together as a team.

Sadly I can't get excited about a cup run any more, however financially rewarding it might be, as any match-up with a so-called premiership "giant" would see them field 1/2 dozen 14 year olds against us.

Although I am a bit worried by the heightened expectation, I myself would be disappointed if we were not at very least challenging for a play-off place come next April/May. Sporting Index are giving us a points spread of 65-67 points at the moment (8th place), and I'll be putting a few pennies on us to beat that.

Whatever, win or lose, I am very excited to be taking my virtual seat at Roots Hall tomorrow, with my glass half-full beside me - provided I can get the iFollow service to work in Ireland. Let's hope that if i am screaming at my laptop at 4.45, it's only because the VPN has failed.