Same deal as last year
Stick your neck out, straight up, predict next years finishing position. Before the season starts, please - no cheating and waiting until next April!
The 'good platform to build on' 2011-12 Prediction Poll
Re:
25/1 to be champions? That's worth taking a small punt on, since a few good games at the beginning of the season and you can lay that off for a nice profit next spring."bspittles" wrote:According to skybet, we're 25/1 and expected to finish below halfway. Crawley are clear favourites at 5/1.
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Joey's Toe
- Puberty
- Posts: 327
- Joined: Sun Jul 25, 2010 12:18 pm
- Location: Wales
Well, I'm the first pessimistic one. I've said we'll be bottom half - not in any danger of relegation, but certainly lower than this year. Maybe 14th or thereabouts. Several reasons for this:
1) I think Wilder's policy of releasing solid, proven players in the belief that he's found better alternatives will come back and bite us on the bum. Sometimes it's worked, sometimes it hasn't - but I think the lack of consistency might cause us issues this year.
2) Wilder's motivational approach (perhaps like Shotton's, to a lesser extent) might also peter out. Giving people a massive bollocking on a regular basis can work for a while, but eventually will wear off. And the new breed of cossetted, arrogant young professionals (generally, not just at Oxford) won't stand for it. I expect a less happy squad next year.
3) I think the standard of the league has gone up, and will continue to do so. When you've got the likes of Crawley spunking money like it's going out of fashion, that will inevitably create and imbalance. We're well-run and financially prudent, but in the short term I think that might cost us points.
4) Priorities. The fans will attach too much importance to THAT derby match next season, and this will rub off onto the manager and players. Whilst we might all settle for that if we win, I think it will have a detrimental impact on our season. I also expect some of our fans to spend too much time fretting about results at the other end of the A420 rather than helping Oxford through things like the 12th Man fund etc. A small factor, but I think it shifts the mentality of the club (which has been overhwelmingly focused and positive in the last 2/3 years).
NB - I sincerely hope I'm proved wrong on all of the above!
1) I think Wilder's policy of releasing solid, proven players in the belief that he's found better alternatives will come back and bite us on the bum. Sometimes it's worked, sometimes it hasn't - but I think the lack of consistency might cause us issues this year.
2) Wilder's motivational approach (perhaps like Shotton's, to a lesser extent) might also peter out. Giving people a massive bollocking on a regular basis can work for a while, but eventually will wear off. And the new breed of cossetted, arrogant young professionals (generally, not just at Oxford) won't stand for it. I expect a less happy squad next year.
3) I think the standard of the league has gone up, and will continue to do so. When you've got the likes of Crawley spunking money like it's going out of fashion, that will inevitably create and imbalance. We're well-run and financially prudent, but in the short term I think that might cost us points.
4) Priorities. The fans will attach too much importance to THAT derby match next season, and this will rub off onto the manager and players. Whilst we might all settle for that if we win, I think it will have a detrimental impact on our season. I also expect some of our fans to spend too much time fretting about results at the other end of the A420 rather than helping Oxford through things like the 12th Man fund etc. A small factor, but I think it shifts the mentality of the club (which has been overhwelmingly focused and positive in the last 2/3 years).
NB - I sincerely hope I'm proved wrong on all of the above!
I've got faith in Wilder - every season he has not only beaten the previous season, but also beaten the next-best-previous-finish (at least). So this year he beat the 04-05 finish of 15th. Next step is to beat 03-04's finish of 9th.
But I actually think we will sneak a promotion place - I think we'll have a good start, the typical Christmas slump, but I think this year it will be shorter, and we'll hang on to a top three place for the entire season.
If we do that then we've got absolutely no chance of keeping Wilder next summer of course.
But I actually think we will sneak a promotion place - I think we'll have a good start, the typical Christmas slump, but I think this year it will be shorter, and we'll hang on to a top three place for the entire season.
If we do that then we've got absolutely no chance of keeping Wilder next summer of course.
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Kernow Yellow
- Grumpy old git
- Posts: 3076
- Joined: Thu May 11, 2006 5:16 pm
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John Byrne's Underpants
- Puberty
- Posts: 348
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2007 3:44 pm
- Location: Behind the desk
I've gone for play offs.
There are still question marks over Wilder in certain areas. Yes he's made some good signings but also some dross as well (Futcher anyone?). I'll be interested to see who we get during the summer. Also, I've felt tactically we've been a bit inept at times. Stevenage out muscled us for example (and we'll have Crawley and Dagenham to deal with next season too, even if Stevenage do go up) and as Geoff has pointed out we seem to struggle against sides who 'park the bus'. So basically there is still room for improvement, however I hope and expect him and the team to learn from this season and progress a bit next.
There are still question marks over Wilder in certain areas. Yes he's made some good signings but also some dross as well (Futcher anyone?). I'll be interested to see who we get during the summer. Also, I've felt tactically we've been a bit inept at times. Stevenage out muscled us for example (and we'll have Crawley and Dagenham to deal with next season too, even if Stevenage do go up) and as Geoff has pointed out we seem to struggle against sides who 'park the bus'. So basically there is still room for improvement, however I hope and expect him and the team to learn from this season and progress a bit next.
3rd place.
Because -
Every season with CW we have improved.
Beano is a better player now than in August and will get more goals next season.
Tommy will match Beano for goals.
Young players like Alfie, Josh, Harry will have learnt from this season and will kick on.
Chapman will be a massive player for us in second half of season.
But will also need to realise my wish list -
An experienced head to drive us forward and make us more streetwise - would love a Gareth Ainsworth type signing.
A goalie to put pressure on Clarkie.
Shaun Batt
A big CB
Because -
Every season with CW we have improved.
Beano is a better player now than in August and will get more goals next season.
Tommy will match Beano for goals.
Young players like Alfie, Josh, Harry will have learnt from this season and will kick on.
Chapman will be a massive player for us in second half of season.
But will also need to realise my wish list -
An experienced head to drive us forward and make us more streetwise - would love a Gareth Ainsworth type signing.
A goalie to put pressure on Clarkie.
Shaun Batt
A big CB
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Tabbernackle
- Brat
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:57 pm
Wilder out (ish)
If he learns by his many mistakes fine. I feer he won't though. (too far up his own jacksy for my liking
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GodalmingYellow
- Senile
- Posts: 5178
- Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 10:22 am
I've gone for promotion via the play offs. That is certainly where we should be aiming.
I'm not remotely concerned about Crawley. All clubs have limitied lifespan if they don't cover their costs with income, and many clubs, us included, under-estimate the step up from the Conference and don't re-inforce the squad with sufficiently better players. The best players won't sign for Crawley.
The problem for Wilder, in my view, is that he hasn't released enough of the players who were sub-standard this season. I'm thinking of Asa Hall & Simon Heslop, and we need to sign 2 top quality strikers,and an attacking midfielder, each of which will take a big chunk of the budget, as it was the sharp end where we failed. Our goals against record wasn't that bad, but goals for was not promotion standard.
We also need cover at right back in the form of another attacking right back, another centre back to take the pressure off Worley, anothe rPotter type to play from midfield, a ball player from midfield, and probably a back up keeper, given the speculation over Eastwood.
This all assumes we plough on with the 4-3-3 trendy system, which is pretty crap in my view.
I have faith in Wilder - best Manager we've had for years.
25/1 is that for any promotion, or for auto promotion, or for the title? If just for any old promotion, that has to be worth a tenner.
I'm not remotely concerned about Crawley. All clubs have limitied lifespan if they don't cover their costs with income, and many clubs, us included, under-estimate the step up from the Conference and don't re-inforce the squad with sufficiently better players. The best players won't sign for Crawley.
The problem for Wilder, in my view, is that he hasn't released enough of the players who were sub-standard this season. I'm thinking of Asa Hall & Simon Heslop, and we need to sign 2 top quality strikers,and an attacking midfielder, each of which will take a big chunk of the budget, as it was the sharp end where we failed. Our goals against record wasn't that bad, but goals for was not promotion standard.
We also need cover at right back in the form of another attacking right back, another centre back to take the pressure off Worley, anothe rPotter type to play from midfield, a ball player from midfield, and probably a back up keeper, given the speculation over Eastwood.
This all assumes we plough on with the 4-3-3 trendy system, which is pretty crap in my view.
I have faith in Wilder - best Manager we've had for years.
25/1 is that for any promotion, or for auto promotion, or for the title? If just for any old promotion, that has to be worth a tenner.