Fantalk

Castle · Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 4773

The season gets underway tomorrow night against Peterhead so what's everyone's hopes and fears for the coming term?
For me it's the same as every season we find ourselves in the championship. Avoid relegation, preferably comfortably, and do not lose to lower league opposition in the cups.
If we can be competitive for a top four place till near the season's end then that'll be a bonus. If I'm honest I think that this season, as with most in this league for us, the chances of being relegated are considerably greater than being promoted. It's a lot easier for a manager to get it wrong than to get it right.
Thirty years ago we won the First Division in style and I don't think anyone saw that coming so I begin the new season hopeful but with a dose of realism.
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scotty · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8903 Location: Almost Dysart.

I’m feeling none of the confidence I had 12 months ago. Perhaps that’s a good thing but I can only hope my fears are short lived.
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StarksBarmy · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 3786

It’s all a load of guesswork at the moment!

If we get the required signings in, work some magic on the loan front then our injured guys return to full health on time with no repercussions… I would like to think we are up there challenging for the title.

Is this all likely? Crying or Very sad

It’s not a strong looking Championship, I would go as far as to say it’s the weakest I can recall seeing it.

The fact Dundee are strong favourites with much of the team which struggled all last season says it all. On paper though, at the moment, it’s hard to argue with the bookies.

Craig_1986 · Joined: 18 Jun 2011 Posts: 1814

I'm a bit up and down about things at the moment. I've only seen us in the flesh against QOS and Kelty and whilst there were passages of play where we looked not to bad there were still periods where we looked pretty mediocre. I get those are just pre-season friendlies but that's all I've seen to judge the squad on at present. Highlights against Alloa suggested we looked not too shabby with some good goals but again couple of instances where Alloa managed to open us up easily.

The squad is very obviously light in some areas which I'm sure Murray is aware of and will address. I was quite impressed with Scott Brown against QOS and it's a real pity if it ends up being him at centre back for a bit. The fact he's featured there in the last two games suggests this is Murray's plans until any new player(s) come in. Just makes Musonda ending up at Ayr even more frustrating.

I don't think many teams in our league are hoovering up players at the moment so a couple of decent additions might give us a bit of oomph and quality to challenge for a top 4 spot. All depends who Murray ends up signing. Depends what other teams do as well I suppose.

For the moment mid table wouldn't be the end of the world.

Castle · Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 4773

StarksBarmy, I have to disagree with your assessment that this is one of the weakest championships in recent times (I know I'm paraphrasing what you said). If someone had been living in a cave for the last five years and then looked at that championship they'd probably think Cove Rangers and Queens Park will surely be prime candidates for relegation not realising that both of those clubs are no longer the clubs they were financially only a few years ago. So while there is no club who look set to runaway with the title more worrying for us, in my opinion, is that there is nobody looking like they will be cut adrift at the bottom.
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Biggles · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 2146

StarksBarmy · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 3786

Northern_Rover · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 2666 Location: Granite City

With a clearly deficient squad, significant injuries to four key players for several months yet and a new manager I dont feel all that confident or excited about the season.

Theres nothing yet to indicate a positive vibe.

My gut feeling is we may struggle at the start but improve as the manager beds in and the squad strengthens.

Neil M · Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 2424 Location: Aberdeen

Would agree with NR, but even on last season's form we are vulnerable to a relegation battle, unless we hit much better form. I don't think there will be a club in the league not watching the bottom clubs, at least for a good while.
Offer me 5th again, before a ball is kicked and I'd take it in a flash!

Armagh Rover · Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 5556 Location: Nottinghamshire

Ideally a top four challenge but anything above 8th place will suffice for this season, we're in a bit of a transition period and still carrying injuries to key players also very short of quality at the back

red zebra · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2022 8:24 pm Post subject:

Play offs, no excuses this year
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Castle · Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 4773

Well that's one of my expectations for the season not met as we were effectively eliminated from the cup by lower league opposition or at least our inability to beat lower league opposition. Twice.
As for the avoiding relegation bit I still believe we can do it comfortably but it can easily go wrong. Dundee, Inverness, Partick and Arbroath should have the top four sown up but other than them I don't see there being a big difference with the other six clubs. Our first half performance yesterday gives me hope we can be the best of the rest.
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TxRover · Joined: 02 Jun 2018 Posts: 3018 Location: North Texas, USA

Results: Between 4th and 6th, with a loss in the playoff first round.

Reason: Murray has to develop his team, and appears not to have been given a terribly large budget, and so is working with what he has.

Satisfaction: Yes, especially if we jettison DG before September.

Offside! · Joined: 21 Aug 2016 Posts: 352

Nae defenders or strikers signing - 7th
Decent defenders/ strikers signing - 4th

Blow it in the playoff though.

Strathallan Rover · Joined: 29 Nov 2014 Posts: 605

This season depends very much on our transfer activity this week. If IM gets the players he wants and we stay clear of injuries i think we have a good chance of challenging for 4th place. I think it's pretty obvious that Dundee are probably one of the weakest teams to come down from the SPL for a few years, i would rate ICT as starting favourites, so going it's going to be more competitive than ever.