For me progress isn’t something measured by one season. It’s a year on year thing. We should end up with our best points tally for a while this season, so wherever we finish if we can show further progress next year we should be happy.Newmarket wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 10:41 amAgree with all of this Mr Whisk.Whiskyman wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 10:25 am
You are of course right, although I think a comparison with Wolves would be more appropriate. They are a side who have flirted with Europe but having sold Jota and lost Jimenez to an unfortunate serious injury have fallen back into the pack of also rans. Sheffield United were crap last season, imo, even though they finished in the top half of the table. Remember Burnley have also done that in the past.
I tend to look at teams and ask myself which of their players would I like to have in our team. Sheffield United have none that, in all honesty, I would want in the squad, never mind the first team. Even Burnley have Pope. In all honesty looking at our overall squad I would not have expected us to be close to challenging for a CL spot. In fact it still wouldn't surprise me if we missed out on Europe completely. With C & B specs off I don't think our squad is as strong as Everton's or any of the so called Big 6. We have to throw Leicester into the mix because although I think overall we are as strong squad wise as they are they have Vardy and if the can keep him fit he will score the goals to keep them in the Europa League spots imo.
Based on that I'm realistically expecting a finish somewhere between 7th and 9th. As you say that represents a significant improvement on last season. But as for next time round. who knows ? I don't think there's going to be as much transfer money sloshing around because of the financial impact of over 12 months without gate receipts and reduced merchandising turnover so I imagine for a lot of clubs, including us, it's going to be bargain basement time. The good news is that, as Coufal and Soucek prove, there are bargains to be had if you know where to look.
There are going to be an awful lot of disappointed Hammers at the end of the season I fear.
Human nature I guess , it’s always been a case of how good a season it COULD of been , how much BETTER could the season have been .
Approaching 50 years of supporting this fucking lot ensures that my West Ham glass is usually half empty instead of half full and why I never tend to cream my jeans.
Because I never really believe it’s going to happen until I see it .
And quite frankly , as far as league positioning is concerned, I’ve never seen it .
I don’t count 86 as the soon-to-be-Victims put paid to that.
The inter toto was fun though
But as you say with this lot it always seems to be one step forward then two back. We have to live up to the dirge’s prophecy you know.