Season Prediction

[Bingers]

Wouldn’t have wanted them in the trenches with us Evers old chum.

Perhaps be with the 2 who reckon we'll finish top, they are obviously optimists, so let them go over first and see how they get on.

[itsme]

Mid table again for me and I'd happily accept that

[bungle]

We have to manage expectations this season.

This is probably the toughest League 1 line-up ever: the relegated Championship teams (Birmingham, Huddersfield and Rotherham) and the promoted L2 teams (Wrexham, Stockport) have budgets which blow us out the water. Existing big beasts like Charlton, Reading and Wigan have stabilised off the field and are likely to be much stronger. Even some of our 'mini-league' rivals like Burton appeared to have strengthened considerably.

Many of the pundits (Gabriel Sutton etc) have us in a relegation position.

IMO our style of play is also likely to be quite different this year. Last season's attractive possession-based style was largely dependent on the passing ability of Leonard and to a much lesser-extent Sherring, who operated as a kind of ball-playing CB. The recruitment this year (Baldwin, McGeehan, Eaves, Morton) points to a more direct style which is a sensible, pragmatic move by Brady given the difficulty in finding like-for-like replacements for Leonard and Sherring. However, it will probably mean inevitably that we have to get used to having much less possession in matches. 

As fans, we will need to be patient with the switch to a more direct style and accept that at times we will probably be under the cosh against the division's biggest hitters. Having said that, Stevenage proved last year that a direct style can unsettle more cultured opponents when deployed effectively.

So, what are reasonable expectations for the campaign given the challenges ahead? We have to remember that no Cobblers manager in the last 30+ years has been able to achieve
2+ seasons of L1 football. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that keeping us up this year would be Brady's greatest achievement as a manager (particularly given the strength of the opposition).

A lower-mid table finish with a decent cup run (something Brady has never really achieved) and some development of younger players like Koiki, Magloire (if fit) and Morton (perhaps with a view to a permanent signing) would constitute an excellent season IMO.


 

[guest3687]

Thank you Bungle 👍

[Tabasco Kid]

We have to manage expectations this season.

A lower-mid table finish with a decent cup run (something Brady has never really achieved) and some development of younger players like Koiki, Magloire (if fit) and Morton (perhaps with a view to a permanent signing) would constitute an excellent season IMO.

Younger players! You are taking the piss, yeah?
Koiki age 24
Magloire age 25
Morton age 24
"younger players" are in their teens, not in their mid twenties. 






 

[bungle]

Younger players! You are taking the piss, yeah?
Koiki age 24
Magloire age 25
Morton age 24
"younger players" are in their teens, not in their mid twenties. 

Thank you for your thought-provoking and well-considered response.

I used the comparative adjective 'younger' rather than the adjective 'young'
in order to refer to a group of players with the potential for further development
rather than those 'at their peak' or coming towards the end of their careers. Morton for instance is not 'young' but he is considerably 'younger' than the rest of our strikers.

However, your insightful response has made me re-consider this nuanced approach. I will stick to words of one syllable in future.

[Tabasco Kid]

Thank you for your thought-provoking and well-considered response.

I used the comparative adjective 'younger' rather than the adjective 'young'
in order to refer to a group of players with the potential for further development
rather than those 'at their peak' or coming towards the end of their careers. Morton for instance is not 'young' but he is considerably 'younger' than the rest of our strikers.

However, your insightful response has made me re-consider this nuanced approach. I will stick to words of one syllable in future.

My apologies. I didnt realise how much that would have upset your feelings.
Still.... Moving on. 

[everbrite]

My apologies. I didnt realise how much that would have upset your feelings.
Still.... Moving on. 

Not wise Oh Pericles to challenge one of the few on here able to put a sentence together grammatically correct. Good of you to apologise tho'.

[Gustavo Palcrice]

'Manage expectations '? Please. I am pretty sure we are all grown-up on here. What you need is passion. The talk of consolidating and then building next season is pure bull. You have to grab that bull by the horns and wrestle it to the ground. We are all getting pretty old on here now and opportunities will soon only be visible in the rear view mirror. Go for promotion everytime. The danger is you shoot your bolt but without at least attempting to hit the bull, he will not drop. Every penny, every ounce of energy, every joker in the pack should be gambled on achieving the highest goal. Why on earth are folk trying to be pragmatic? Shoot the monkey, stab the beast, kill your sons. Tomorrow belongs to us.

[guest3687]

'Manage expectations '? Please. I am pretty sure we are all grown-up on here. What you need is passion. The talk of consolidating and then building next season is pure bull. You have to grab that bull by the horns and wrestle it to the ground. We are all getting pretty old on here now and opportunities will soon only be visible in the rear view mirror. Go for promotion everytime. The danger is you shoot your bolt but without at least attempting to hit the bull, he will not drop. Every penny, every ounce of energy, every joker in the pack should be gambled on achieving the highest goal. Why on earth are folk trying to be pragmatic? Shoot the monkey, stab the beast, kill your sons. Tomorrow belongs to us.

How many games do you think you’ll attend next season?

[Manwork04]

How many games do you think you’ll attend next season?

None, he’s a hypocrite.

[guest3687]

He might stand on the hill with his “mate”!😂

[Gustavo Palcrice]

How many games do you think you’ll attend next season?

I have no idea. Does it matter?

[Gustavo Palcrice]

None, he’s a hypocrite.

How so hon?

[Tabasco Kid]

Not wise Oh Pericles to challenge one of the few on here able to put a sentence together grammatically correct. Good of you to apologise tho'.

Nice to see that you are feeling better "tho"
Sounds a bit Catherine Tate to me. 

[Manwork04]

He might stand on the hill with his “mate”!😂

😂

[guest3687]

I have no idea. Does it matter?

Not to me, but Dave might be bothered 😉

[Gustavo Palcrice]

Not to me, but Dave might be bothered 😉

I would imagine Cardoza is beyond caring.

[guest3687]

I would imagine Cardoza is beyond caring.

you can do better than that Gustavo 😉

[Deepcut Cobbler]

https://theanalyst.com/2024/08/league-one-2024-25-opta-predictions/

16th or sneak into the play-offs or drop into the relegation zone?