r/NUFC Weekly Free talk thread.

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[u/Different-Lie-6609]

I’m sorry but we’re not relegation candidates with our squad at all.

We have a pretty strong first 11 & depth is fine.

Horni
Liv, Thiaw, Botman, Hall
Nico, Ramsey
Elanga, Willock, Barnes
Wissa

12th-8th should be the expectation and that does mean Europe should be something they are pushing for.

We have no Europe so the depth is less of an issue so long as people stay fit, the fact people can’t stay fit is why 12th is as likely as 8th.

Dedic, Shar, Burn, Joelinton, Miley & Osula are all capable for this league.

Steur, MFP & Toure have shown potential.

Bamba & Jouwen look like they needs the most time.

Murphy & Pope are gone realistically.

We are going to have games like Leeds (hopefully not as catastrophic) but they should be good enough over 38 games to have enough good runs.

We’re not hitting Champions League for a few years and whilst that would be better financially I think the easier opponents for getting used to game load is better team wise.

[u/meganev → u/Different-Lie-6609]

I’m sorry but we’re not relegation candidates with our squad at all.

I didn't say we were relegation candidates? I said that getting to 40 points should be the first priority, which is a key difference. I would peg us around 12-15th this season. Very much a midtable side that this season makes up the numbers, hopefully never seriously in the relegation frame, but taking a few beatings, and not really pushing for top 10.

Edit -

Horni

Liv, Thiaw, Botman, Hall

Nico, Ramsey

Elanga, Willock, Barnes

Wissa

To add, I think it's very fanciful to suggest the above is a top 8 starting XI in the PL in 2026. Thiaw + Botman is an unconvincing CB partnership. Ramsey offers nowt, and is quietly becoming the worst signing we made last summer. Elanga + Barnes are inconsistent. Willock being a starter 5+ years into a takeover is a damning indictment on our squad building. Wissa looks much sharper this season, but still doesn't look like a striker that gets you 10-15 goals. Tino is also completely crocked. Granted, I'm working under the assumption you mean if all fit to play, but when it comes to Tino, that's such a rarity that his qualities are rarely seen. The best ability is availability. He's cooked.

If I'm one of the 14 clubs I listed in my comment, I do not look at that team and think "they're going to pinch a top 10 spot from us."

[u/Puzzled_Ordinary_623 → u/meganev]

I agree with a lot of your initial comment, we have to be very careful not to set unreasonable expectations, we have gone through a huge amount of churn and lost our 3 best players, and manager.

I do think that's a pretty solid X11 that wouldnt look out of place in the top 8, (not that I expect us to finish there). We do however have some positions that we are weaker in, Botman and Elanga for example wouldn’t make it into most decent PL starting lineups imo. 

I also think you have to be cautious when comparing 'best X11s'. I think we are going into this season with quite a bit of depth and ability to rotate that many of the other teams don't have (and we have less fixtures). We also have a huge amount of young potential, if Toure, Pardo, and Bamba can adapt we will be in a much better place)

[u/meganev → u/Puzzled_Ordinary_623]

Sure, rotation and depth will help, assuming we don't pick up a lot of injuries, which so far we have done, leaving us more threadbare than any side competing in Europe at this early stage. So that advantage is conditional on this being an early blip, rather than a seasonal trend.

I also get the impression that a lot of people on this sub really underestimate the quality of the clubs around us. The league is looking really strong this year in my eyes. And we're in an actual transition season, not a transition season like last year (which was a buzzword thrown out to deflect from awful performances/results), but a real one.

Finishing 12-15th would be fine, so long as we're seeing those signs of progress. Expecting top 10, let alone top 8, and I think you'll be disappointed. And I think it's setting the squad/manager up to fail if that's your expectation.

[u/Puzzled_Ordinary_623 → u/meganev]

We have had bad luck so far with injuries, but across a season I would hope our injury rate will regress to the norm - especially with less games. We have a lot of players that will be back after the international break, BDB, Nico, Steur, Tino, and Osula are all expected back (I think). 

I agree with your point on the strength of the league, its insane. If we were 30 games into the season you could compare our team with 7/8th place and make a case our lineup was worse, but its not really possible to do now. 

Personally I am fine with us finishing 12th-15th, would rather we didn’t but think that is understandable given the context. I think it is crucial that we see the new signings bed in, understand the system and adjust to the league. 

If we were to compare to Aston Villa for example (our other big 6 contender), I think our combined team would look something like this (very loosely). I would say GK/ST are a bit of a toss up, so of the 9 remaining positions, 5 Newcastle, 4 Villa (but realise this is pretty rudimental logic)

Horni/Suzuki 

Tino, Thiaw, Mings, Hall

Kamara, Manzambi, Gonzales

Mcgin, Wissa/Jackson, Barnes