I think we will be in that mid table section. No danger of going up, but only an outside chance of making a playoff spot. Unless we make some really impactful signings.
This season I am happy to see us just consolidate in the championship. We have a number of players whom we think can make the step up and still have to recruit a number of others. It would be nice for these all to be proven at this higher level but I'm not sure if that would fit into the club's model. Base level is I'm happy for us to retain our place in the championship and build in improvements over the next couple of years. This to be followed in our 4th year by us mounting a serious attempt at promotion. This season I think we might overperform and finish around 10th. That said I wouldn't turn down an attempt at promotion this season.
7th to 12th will do me just fine. I'd be a little nervous of us doing too well first year back in the Championship. Say we did go up through the playoffs, I doubt that many of the current squad would be ready to take the step up to Premier League football next year, having been playing in League One last season. That's going to mean more of an overhaul of the team to try and survive in the Prem. Given a season or two in the Championship, a number of the players, especially some of the younger ones , may progress and prove themselves capable, or we'll have had chance to gradually recruit some better players, and then we can keep a core of a team together when we do get back there. Having said that, if we did go straight up gain, I'd be jumping around celebrating anyhow.
True, we need a goalkeeper, two centre backs, a left winger and a striker just to be at the same point as we were at the end of last season. I have every faith in the recruitment process and looking forward plenty of business short term and an exciting season coming up.
Last season i could see us mullering a couple of teams. but not this season much stronger oppo. i think most victories will be by the odd goal. defeats if we can keep it at last season total will be fine.
I'd like to think we'll be in no danger of going back down. We'll see how our business goes but for me we need to be staying in the division and look to build a decent squad. I'm realistic about we have a squad that finished in the play offs last season so we do need to strengthen but not go daft and over stretch ourselves financially as we have done in the past. If we can identify and bring in solid players like we did last year i think we'll be fine.