Before I get ahead of myself that is.
I work with some of the sharpest minds (I make the tea, sweep the floor, get the lunch etc etc) in the betting industry and as a Charlton fan the obvious question asked of me has been "so what chance next season?"
My initial reaction was the old "well if Norwich and (probably) Southampton can do it, why can't we". But then came a reality check sparked by the reaction to the Stuart Beavon thread I started. The fact that some of us believe we should be looking at established Championship strikers. Well that's right isn't it, we are a Championship Club now aren't we? But wait a minute they don't come for free do they? Probably £1m to £2m might get us somone of that ilk but there are no guarantees even at that price. And do we really have that sort of money to splash out on one player?
Then I looked at the wider picture. A Division potentially filled with the likes of Wolves, two from Blackburn, Bolton, Wigan, QPR and Aston Villa, three from West Ham, Birmingham, Blackpool & Cardiff plus the likes of Ipswich, Hull, Middlesborough, Leicester, Derby, Leeds, Brighton and possibly one or two potential underperformers (Forest to name but one) who could surprise next season.
So it ain't gonna be easy. In fact it's gonna be bloody hard. So I will be expecting the worst, hoping for the best and if we end up having a season halfway between the two, I for one will feel rather satisified.
And before someone says "you sound like you're looking for a season of consolidation" I'm not. I'm looking for us to have a right go but to accept that we might, at times, just fall a bit short. And if we happen to lose the first six games, so what! We're all in it together whether we have followed the club for one year or 70 and in my opinion the ups and downs of the journey are what it is all about. You only have to see how Man United supporters at home only start to get behind the team when they go behind (like today) to realise that they haven't had the pleasure of that particular trip for quite some time.
So what are your expectations for next season?
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I do worry though that a lot of our fans will have their heads turned by the constant references to Norwich and Southampton.
We're not used to losing matches regularly with this current team so I am concerned that if we lose a couple back to back then some idiots will start getting on their backs without taking into account the difference in quality between the two leagues.
And as much as I despise saying it, palace are looking half decent too. Freedman took over around the same time as CP and has turned them from relegation fodder to a team (with a couple of key signings) that could challenge for a play-off spot next season. (I'm now going to clean my mouth out with a wire brush & Dettol)
Rome wasnt built in a day!
He's going all the way to the top and he's taking us with him!
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I think I prefer consolidation.
Another decent goal scorer alongside BWP, will take the pressure off him and accounts for when he is not playing and taking a rest.
If we strengthen with right back cover, central midfield, confirm the left wing / midfield position and a quality striker, we will be a real force.
If we strengthen in only one or two positions then it is probably mid table.
In our favour we have a team who work hard, never give up and want to win for their manager which can take you a long way.
Be interesting during the summer to see how much money is available.
strong league and with less than 2 or 3 new players i can see us struggling
obviously all depends what is done in the summer but at least we're in a league where you know a few of the opposing teams fans and people will care how we get on , let the banter commence
How many new players did the likes of Sothampton, brighton, Norwich and leeds sign?
Take one match at a time and see where it takes us........
Hoping for the best but expecting the worst. In the context of next season the worst would be bottom half (I don't think we will go back down).
If I was a gambler - which I am not, I would think that you would not get the best value odds for us going straight up as the likes of Norwich and Saints have shortened the odds on teams like us.
We don't know what is in the coffers for next season but I doubt there will be wholesale changes. Some have suggested half a dozen more new players in. I can't see that myself. Slater has already said that he thinks we have a competitive squad. This is a long term (five year) project and we are a season and a half into that.
Anywhere in the mid table to the bottom of the league (avoiding relegation obviously) would make me happy. Top of mid table and I'll be very happy. Anything else is a bonus. If we manage to do a Southampton/Norwich then great, but I don't want us to run before we can walk.
I for one am dreading next season, purely for the fan's reactions if we aren't winning every game. Fingers crossed most fans will understand that we're in a very competitive league and won't be winning every game like this year. However, I know there will still be the serial moaners coming out of the woodwork.
Not an issue this year but surely in the Champ we need the option of pace at CB.
Competition for Solly. Unlikely any youngsters are good enough just yet.
RM is a weaker area. Need a new CM with Russell only being on loan.
If Jackson moves into the midfield (not sure he will) we will need a couple of options on the left. If he doesn't we'll still need one.
I'd like some better competition up front, ideally for both BWP and Yann.
How can we not need at least 4 signings?
If I was strengthening the team I would look at the spine as a priority.
1. New Centre Back (with pace)
2. New Centre Mid (box to box)
3. New Centre Forward (with pace)
I would then also look at full back reserve with pace who could also play wing back, plus maybe a pacey winger.
The competition for Solly could be a player who could also play CB . The Doc's departure would open up a place in the squad , I agree with Scoham that Cort ,Morrison and Taylor all might be vulnerable to pace .When you have moments like this you realise what a gem Richard Rufus was because most centre backs even in the CCC would not have the pace that the Roof possesed .
I'd like another option at RM because I have my doubts about both Green and Waggy for differrent reasons . I think possibly we need two cm's because as well as Russell , Alonso will certainly depart and open up a potential wage also although he has another year of his contract I don't see Hughes featuring much next season .
On the left I will be interested in what happens with Jacko . I'd like him to move inside and look at bringing Lee Cook as well as playing a younger pacier option also , or maybe Callum Harriott will fufill that role. Does anyone know how Bover has done on his loan ?
Up front we need two strikers to provide competition for BWP and Yann .
TBF we have played more like Norwich and Southampton did in their "get out of league 1" seasons, than Brighton, who played much nicer football and just rolled over the opposition, and have done well bu not brilliantly in the Championship. Have Brighton hit their level? What is ours?
In terms of expectations next season id be perfectly happy with mid table, delighted if we were pushing the playoffs. Love our players but to make a prem push we'll need a fair bit more quality in 4-5 positions; no offense intended to our current squad but there's a huge leap from being a promising youth/experienced player in L1 and a higher champs/ lower prem player. Some will make it I'm sure (Solly, Yann and Wiggins to name three) and others wont.
I am actually really excited to see what will happen next year and which players step up. Im sure there will be a shock or two. Green is my tip as I think he'll have a little more space to work in and his technical ability will shine.
Bring it on!
The right mid / wing position will be interesting. Can Green step up and make an impact? Let's hope so. Waggy also deserves to be given a chance. Guess the dream player there would combine the qualities of both. Pritchard has emerged as a genuine contender in central mid, but can also do a job there, though that wouldn't be most people's first choice. Tenacious enough to fill in at RB too?
The great thing is that a lot of the current squad are young enough to develop & learn under fine manager who's played at the very top, hopefully growing with the club. Gradually, those who don't will make way for those who can.