What are your expectations for this season?

[Gandalf]

I got a kicking in a thread before the season started for saying that teams might catch on to how we play and adopt the Brighton method of play against us, when everybody else was clamouring for Europe. I still believe this to be the case, although Burnley adopted Brighton's methods with some extra kicking. So, not as good as last season, but comfortably safe.

A cup run would be brilliant, but with our record, highly unlikely.

[1964white]

Hoping we avoid injuries particularly to Llorente, Phillips, Raphinha, Bamford, Dallas & Klich, not the case so far with two of those players already missing games in our opening three fixtures.

Would love another top ten finish & a good run in the cups.

Also our defence conceding less goals this season.

[CanuckMightyWhite]

I think we will be in a tier with at least half a dozen or so clubs that will hover close to and have aspirations for a 7th placed finish. The likes of Everton, Villa, West Ham, Wolves, Brighton and maybe even Brentford. The top 4 + Leicester and Spurs seem a bridge too far but we should be a long shot for a 5th placed finish as well. On the pessimistic side I can’t see us falling below 12th place, unless we have long injuries to KP, Raphinha and Llorente.

Quite pleased with the window, we upgraded on 3 senior team positions - Alioski, Costa and Poveda, and also brought in many high quality u-23 players such as Bate, McGurk, Miller. Buzzing!

[weasel]

This, an excellent close season for me. Kept Raph and Kalvin. added Firpo, James, Bate and Hjelde and I really like the look of Miller. We had a strong starting 11 coming into the season

Also kept hold of Messlier despite supposed interest from PSG, Bamford's contract extended and kept, signed Harrison as despite us having agreed a fee with City previously it would have been easy for another club to have told him not to sign for us and then they sign him.

The only players to have departed (barring Costa confirmation) have generally gone to lower league clubs which vindicates Bielsa on not playing the youth so far. Not like Championship clubs were clamouring for their services.

[andrewjohnsmith]

I was really hoping that we'd kick on and finish higher than last season. After the first few games it really doesn't look that way. Looks like we only made a slight upgrade with Firpo for Alioski. James is a big plus. But I don't see it making us more than a slight margin better. My prediction is 11th or 12th. I don't think I can be more optimistic than that.

[White Riot]

To win the EPL, FA Cup and EFL Cup, that's what I expect every season from now and no excuses

[Chilli D]

I'd be more than happy with a top half finish and a good cup run. I predicted we would finish 8th which is still achievable despite the shaky start to the season which hasn't been helped by Llorente, Koch, Firpo and Klich all missing games.

[SG90]

The biggest issue is the aging midfield is now a year older and our 'saviour' is 30 years old and been injured for two years. We really needed to freshen up there with younger players. Hopefully Shackleton and Bate can get a chance.

[lufc1304]

Same as last year, survival. Despite the delusions of some of our fan base, we are not a big club in Prem terms, we are babies who need to walk before we can run. I'm happy for us to consolidate and establish ourselves as a Prem side and then look to kick on. Solid foundations and all that. Also, and maybe this comes from being older, I don't crave instant gratification and can look at the bigger picture/longer term. Other sides will be wiser to how we play and will seek to frustrate us, sometimes that tactic will be effective. But we are streets ahead of at least half dozen other sides in this league. As such, I think we'll be somewhere between 8th and 14th. Like others have said, a decent cup run would be fun and a nice change!

[WestgateRun]

A mid-table finish would be fine by me.
Because we have spent so many seasons out of the Premier League, retaining PL status must be our main target.
We must try to avoid becoming a yo-yo club.

[Cjay]

I hope for an improvement on last season, i think you always have to aim for that surely?

Is that likely? Probably not but i do agree with Gandalf that its entirely possible that teams will catch on a bit to how we play and that unfortunately may make us a bit predictable.

Id like a cup run

[Carrick Dave]

If we can keep Phillips and Klich fit we might make 9th again, if not it could be 12-14th.

I think a sustained cup run or two would adversely affect our league position.

[BobHirst]

James fills and hopefully improves on the gap left by Alio leaving. Finishing 10th or higher would be a very good achievement for us.

[The Subhuman]

Same as last season would be the best case scenario for me... Top 5 really set in stone, then we're bottom of the second tier of 5 imo. Brentford could be this seasons Sheff Utd/Leeds and throw a spanner in the works

[Irish Ian]

Same as last year, survival. Despite the delusions of some of our fan base, we are not a big club in Prem terms, we are babies who need to walk before we can run. I'm happy for us to consolidate and establish ourselves as a Prem side and then look to kick on. Solid foundations and all that. Also, and maybe this comes from being older, I don't crave instant gratification and can look at the bigger picture/longer term. Other sides will be wiser to how we play and will seek to frustrate us, sometimes that tactic will be effective. But we are streets ahead of at least half dozen other sides in this league. As such, I think we'll be somewhere between 8th and 14th. Like others have said, a decent cup run would be fun and a nice change!

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A decent cup run would be nice for us fans.

[Norm]

A cup run would be nice only if we are secure in the EPL. The cups take a lot out of players, partly because of the potential excitement of winning a trophy after 6/7 games, but it still detracts in terms of potential exhaustion when we are not secure in the league, so, for me, sod the cups.

That said, there are rare occasions when a cup run will enervate players and make them perform better in every competition.

It's hard to tell, or make a prediction, but the way we've started in the league is worrying to me.