Last two seasons there was already a lack of quality in the senior squad.
There was also a lack of senior players because of all the injuries we had (basically like every season).
Are we banking on the new coach to get more out of the players than the last guy did? Or are we hoping that the new coach will be a bigger miracle worker than the last one?
Going by logic we’re not competing for trophies this season. We might be in a title race at some point during the season but going all the way - would be very naive to expect (I’d be happy to eat my words).
As long as we reach CL football every season I’m fine with one or two years without a trophy.
But imagine having to do a major rebuild next year without CL football. Worst case scenario.
You would have to think Man City and Arsenal are favorites for the title. Never say never, but they are settled and have built it up over a long time. Jurgen left behind a great squad, but Slot will have to shape it, impose his playing style, and make it his own.
So third is probably what we are looking at in the league, assuming we don’t regress while we get up to speed under Slot. But again, never say never, and let’s see.
Champions League? Impossible to say, but hopefully a good run to the QF or beyond.
Domestic cup? Would be nice, but with moving youngsters on I don’t want to flog our top stars and slip backwards on bigger prizes. Let’s see.
So… third in Prem. QF in CL.
But there is still the possibility, given the age of the squad and the ideas of a new coach, that we kick on and give it a good title challenge. Just don’t fall out of the top four.
In Champions League and Europa League last season 12 teams won more points and 7 more teams won the same number of points than we did in our group stage.
Are we going to play weaker opponents this season? Do we have more quality now?
On other threads it seems that people are using the 3rd place we ended up as a way to say that if we don’t strengthen, we either get the same or worst off.
However there is a difference. Up until game 32, we were still joint top of the league. And things just went horribly wrong after that. It could have been injuries, fatigue, mentality etc. But this shows this team can wrestle with the best but will need some tweaks and work. And that is why some posters also reminded that improving the team does not just mean buying new players. That is definitely important but not the only means to an end. Being able to at joint top at game 32 meant this squad has some terrific talent and if Slot can refine and correct what went wrong in the last 2 months of last season, who is to say we cannot mount another challenge on the league or even win it. Buying players will be just another factor of adding strength to the squad but correcting those deficiencies are as important.
