Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: ncRover on June 28, 2025, 01:11:38 pm
-
I know it’s a bit early, but the vast majority of our squad has been assembled and I wanted to gauge what people’s realistic expectations were.
I think we’ll be 12th-16th and I’ll be happy with that.
We’ve got a great manager and a good core group of players who will fight for each other. I feel like the club and team has some real forward momentum.
My niggling worries that are tempering my expectations a bit is the balance of the attack and at left back if there’s one or two injuries. I’m looking at the business other clubs have done as well and some are definitely shopping in a market above us.
Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts. The general consensus on this same post last season was automatic promotion. It will be interesting to look back on how right or wrong we were!
You can change your vote up until the poll closes just before the first game.
-
I think we have enough to creep into the top half.
Not going to predict any higher but that would be great if we did manage that..
-
minor tweak to make the categories a bit more even sorry, it's now 7th-11th and 12-16th
-
I have predicted 12-16th. We are a work in progress and I do wonder about the strike force, Billy is a good super sub to have and I hope Hanlon and Ajayi can make a difference up front. GM knows how to get the best out of players and with some tweaking here and there, we can get results that might surprise a few people.
The first 10 games or so will possibly tell a lot about our path for the season and we may punch above our weight, but we know from what GM says, we are not in league 1 to make up the numbers.
-
I have a gut feeling GM will get us into the Playoffs.
-
I would be happy with top half but a couple of the signings have made me feel optimistic.
I have made decent money on Rovers for play offs and for the title race in the last two seasons so I put a bet on a couple of days ago for us to get promoted.
-
I think we'll make it to the top half. It's not how we start but how we finish. McCann seems to find a way to add a missing ingredient or the icing on the cake. Once he finds the right blend, we could fly again, although I don't think the other teams will be as generous with their inconsistencies as they were last season.
-
I've gone play-offs. I just think momentum is such an intangible but important variable in football.
-
I would be happy with top half but a couple of the signings have made me feel optimistic.
I have made decent money on Rovers for play offs and for the title race in the last two seasons so I put a bet of a couple of days ago for us to get promoted.
You should have some big odds! Skybet has us 17th.
-
I've gone play-offs. I just think momentum is such an intangible but important variable in football.
Uh-oh, you said the M word...
-
I predicted our final league position correctly in each of the last 2 seasons (but didn't bet on either :facepalm:)
This year: 15th
-
Play-offs for me. Why not eh? Pub team is back!
-
Play offs!!
-
I would go with GM', he isn't interested in just making up the numbers, he wants a real push, and with the players he has brought in to supplement the squad you can't say that isn't the aim, I will not be surprised if we are looking at a top 3 finish.
-
I don't think Terry's putting all this money in for a mid-table finish. If we do finish there, don't expect a better season to follow, because we'll lose most of our better players, and yet another re-build will be needed.
Last time we were in League 1 under GM, we came 6th in the table, yet still lost almost an entire team.
However, I won't be panicking with a slow start. We've been strong towards the end of both the last 2 seasons.
-
I would go with GM', he isn't interested in just making up the numbers, he wants a real push, and with the players he has brought in to supplement the squad you can't say that isn't the aim, I will not be surprised if we are looking at a top 3 finish.
There is no top three, it's top two and playoffs in this division.
Okay before pedants jump on me, there obviously is a top three, but the automatic promotion places don't extend to third place.
-
First
-
I think given that we were very deep into last season before Grant found a midfield combination that worked - and even that seemed to be accidental with Bailey needing to be moved into central defence and Crew given another go, I am expecting to see it play out similarly this season. 12th/16th.
-
Aim for the stars and land on the moon..
(Sorry)
Surely our aim is to be competitive, in every game. Hopefully results follow.
We should want to finish as high as possible. What position in the final table would be satisfactory however, is a different matter.
-
Aim for the stars and land on the moon..
(Sorry)
Surely our aim is to be competitive, in every game. Hopefully results follow.
We should want to finish as high as possible. What position in the final table would be satisfactory however, is a different matter.
Aim for the sun, to avoid getting burnt we can go at night when it's turned off.
-
I don't think Terry's putting all this money in for a mid-table finish. If we do finish there, don't expect a better season to follow, because we'll lose most of our better players, and yet another re-build will be needed.
Last time we were in League 1 under GM, we came 6th in the table, yet still lost almost an entire team.
However, I won't be panicking with a slow start. We've been strong towards the end of both the last 2 seasons.
Leyton Orient went
1st L2
11th L1
6th L1
-
Assessing the strength of the rest of the teams in L1 without having seen most of them for what is a long while in lower league terms. L1 team strengths change regularly as a result of the turnover of players. I have a feeling that the standard has risen a bit since we were last there.
The summer additions seem promising and there is reason to believe that the strength will be greater, but the blend has to be proved on the pitch.
We also appear to have a tough start which is not ideal if you are team-building. If we do weather it well, we will be so much more confident to go on from there. The fixtures schedule may well be key.
-
I've gone 12-16, 14th perhaps. If momentum does create a good start to the season we could be top half. More likely that we'll improve through the season after a slow start. Players bedding in and raising their fame to Lwague 1 level may take a while. I am confident GM has the basics of a promotion side - another two seasons?
-
I've been a bit pessimistic for a couple of reasons, it looks a bloody tough league for starters - a big step up from Lg2 for sure. I've been pleased with the players that we've brought in, decent business done but for me we haven't addressed the weakness in the middle of the park, and at the step up the Lg1 transitions will be much quicker and quality in midfield much better, I think our lack of mobility and quality will cost us in game when teams want to try and play through the middle.
We should have the quality to score at the other end though, I back McCann to get a tune out of Hanlan and Sharp and Ironside both to make their mark, plus the quality we have out wide and in behind now should make a difference and keep us safe, but maybe just fall shy of top-half finish.
-
I think the additions to parts of the team in the January window could prove very important for where we finish in the division at the top end or mid table.
-
With the addition which now seems quite unlikely a proven striker (big Target man) to give us another option the playoffs. With out opion then top half at least. With Grant nothing is out of the question RTID
-
The great thing about this time in the season is that we can all be really positive about where we’ll finish and why not, if you can’t be positive now when no team has more points than you when can you? We all start off joint top so let’s just be positive, Bolton and Donny for top two, Wanderers top of course.
-
I’m in the 12-16 camp incidentally.
-
Would be nice if we could finish in the top half, but going to be a tough league, if the players gel a top 10 is possible
-
I don't think Terry's putting all this money in for a mid-table finish. If we do finish there, don't expect a better season to follow, because we'll lose most of our better players, and yet another re-build will be needed.
Last time we were in League 1 under GM, we came 6th in the table, yet still lost almost an entire team.
However, I won't be panicking with a slow start. We've been strong towards the end of both the last 2 seasons.
Leyton Orient went
1st L2
11th L1
6th L1
Yes, but could be under totally different circumstances. A lot more money might have been put in for the 2nd season.
We don't know if Terry would be prepared to do the same after this coming season, or if he'll still be with the club.
Momentum is everything. We've got to go for it this season IMO.
-
We could do well, mediocre or badly. Even in the short time since we’ve been out of League One there are a load more strong sides in there with decent money. We’ve been playing some really poor sides the last few seasons. Until we get through a decent amount of games it isn’t going to be obvious how we are competing. It’s a world away from League Two.
-
Anywhere between 5th and 15th, probably towards the top end of that. Far greater chance of playoffs than relegation.
-
I think this will be one of those leagues where a lot of teams will beat each other and no one runs away with it. If I'm right, that would mean January transfer window will be the deciding factor.
As things stand I'm going 7-11 just on the momentum point and the signings we've made to bolster a good and together core group. If we are in that 7-11 group in January I may revise higher, given how Grant likes a charge for the finish line in the run-in
-
Automatic promotion for me. This league is not as strong as everybody seems to think + we have got the best manager in the division.
-
For me it will all come down to whether we have adequately replaced Street and whether we can get the midfield working like it did in the last few games of last season- if so I would be very hopeful of top 10 and then anything is possible.
-
There’s always a ‘surprise package’ in that final top six & I just reckon it could be us.
Especially if we can get Charlie Crew back on a season loan.
-
For me it will all come down to whether we have adequately replaced Street and whether we can get the midfield working like it did in the last few games of last season- if so I would be very hopeful of top 10 and then anything is possible.
It's difficult to know whether we still would have been successful without Street. No doubt he added the cream on top. On relection, we did look every inch champions and that's taking into account reviews from fans of other clubs.
As usual, it will come down to creating and taking chances, while limiting them at the other end. Without Street, we may see a different dynamic that makes us for his goals. For example, we've added players who point to us being better at set pieces while I still expect us to be strong on the break and our wide players contributing alot.
-
I don't think Terry's putting all this money in for a mid-table finish. If we do finish there, don't expect a better season to follow, because we'll lose most of our better players, and yet another re-build will be needed.
Last time we were in League 1 under GM, we came 6th in the table, yet still lost almost an entire team.
However, I won't be panicking with a slow start. We've been strong towards the end of both the last 2 seasons.
Leyton Orient went
1st L2
11th L1
6th L1
Yes, but could be under totally different circumstances. A lot more money might have been put in for the 2nd season.
We don't know if Terry would be prepared to do the same after this coming season, or if he'll still be with the club.
Momentum is everything. We've got to go for it this season IMO.
Orient owed much to their loanees last season with Kelman’s 27 goals exceptionally useful. They seem likely to lose Ethan Galbraith too, so RW will have to rebuild. He does have the advantage of new money however as they were recently taken over by an American. My point is that their progress has been influenced by factors beyond consolidation and straightforward development via experience.
-
Top half finish with a few derby wins, build well in the summer again and go for it.
-
Automatic promotion for me. This league is not as strong as everybody seems to think + we have got the best manager in the division.
You’re quite right Bob, it will be another of those seasons where there are a number of decent teams who will take points off each other but aside from possibly Luton with their parachute money none that should dominate like Birmingham did so evening it up for everyone. I still expect there to be a very obvious top half, bottom half split as there was last year with the 6 or 8 bigger clubs pushing for the play off spots but there’s always a surprise club who gets in there so why not Donny this year? Good luck guys and and I think if you’re in front of wanderers you will definitely be in the play offs.
-
Assessing the strength of the rest of the teams in L1 without having seen most of them for what is a long while in lower league terms. L1 team strengths change regularly as a result of the turnover of players. I have a feeling that the standard has risen a bit since we were last there.
The summer additions seem promising and there is reason to believe that the strength will be greater, but the blend has to be proved on the pitch.
We also appear to have a tough start which is not ideal if you are team-building. If we do weather it well, we will be so much more confident to go on from there. The fixtures schedule may well be key.
I don’t think it’s a tough start at all.
Exeter one of the favourites to go down.
Mansfield and Wycombe were poor at the back end of last season.
Huddersfield obvs tough but then…
Port Vale who we finished above
And Rotherham not in a good place seemingly struggling to get players in.
It’s November and December that will be tough, think the relegated Champ teams should gain momentum by then.
-
Bump
-
Whilst we’ve made some encouraging signings this summer, I also think it’s fair to say that, as things stand, the 11 that start the coming season won’t be as strong as the one that finished last season. That said, the squad is made stronger by the additions. In my opinion, we still need a central midfield player that can dictate play, and a striker that can replace what Street offered. If we can get those then I believe we can realistically look at the top half. Otherwise it could be hard for us but I think we have enough to be okay. We are much better (players and manager) than we were last time we were in League One, but I think the league itself is getting stronger too.
-
Whilst we’ve made some encouraging signings this summer, I also think it’s fair to say that, as things stand, the 11 that start the coming season won’t be as strong as the one that finished last season. That said, the squad is made stronger by the additions. In my opinion, we still need a central midfield player that can dictate play, and a striker that can replace what Street offered. If we can get those then I believe we can realistically look at the top half. Otherwise it could be hard for us but I think we have enough to be okay. We are much better (players and manager) than we were last time we were in League One, but I think the league itself is getting stronger too.
Whether we are stronger remains to be seen, until we see what the new boys have to offer under league one match conditions. Whilst Street was great for us and Crew was a talent, he didn't play that many games. Will Hanlan and Gotts add similar value?
The bigger questions are about our central defence and how Pearson, Grehan and O'Riordon integrate.
We should maybe ask if we're stronger than at the start of last season. With time left in the window, there's a bit of time to assess and possibly do some refining with both outgoings and incomings. Where we are when the transfer window closes will be a better time to compare. By then we'll have played a good range of contenders including Huddersfield away who are likely to be one of the front runners.
-
Whilst we’ve made some encouraging signings this summer, I also think it’s fair to say that, as things stand, the 11 that start the coming season won’t be as strong as the one that finished last season. That said, the squad is made stronger by the additions. In my opinion, we still need a central midfield player that can dictate play, and a striker that can replace what Street offered. If we can get those then I believe we can realistically look at the top half. Otherwise it could be hard for us but I think we have enough to be okay. We are much better (players and manager) than we were last time we were in League One, but I think the league itself is getting stronger too.
Whether we are stronger remains to be seen, until we see what the new boys have to offer under league one match conditions. Whilst Street was great for us and Crew was a talent, he didn't play that many games. Will Hanlan and Gotts add similar value?
The bigger questions are about our central defence and how Pearson, Grehan and O'Riordon integrate.
We should maybe ask if we're stronger than at the start of last season. With time left in the window, there's a bit of time to assess and possibly do some refining with both outgoings and incomings. Where we are when the transfer window closes will be a better time to compare. By then we'll have played a good range of contenders including Huddersfield away who are likely to be one of the front runners.
I feel very confident that we are stronger than we were at the start of last season.
-
We will do ok this season. Lot of people blindly ignoring fact this is a very tough league with some very well resourced sides in there, and our budget will be among the bottom quartile you would expect.
-
Voting closed.
Using the weighted average, the forum is predicting Rovers to finish 10th this season.