The Promotion Thread 16/17

[SF_]

To finish top 6.

Norwich 7/1
PNE 22/1

Bookies really don't fancy us!!

Probably worth throwing a tenner at that just in case the teams above us turn to shit.

 

[markwwfc1992]

To finish top 6.

Norwich 7/1
PNE 22/1

Bookies really don't fancy us!!

Don't think anyone does, bar Preston fans.

 

[SF_]

Don't think anyone does, bar Preston fans.

Tough but hardly unthinkable.

For example Aston Villa were 5pts behind Barnsley 3 games ago, 6 goals behind on goal difference, now level on points and GD.

Our run-in is more favourable than Norwich's.

 

[JJH]

Probably worth throwing a tenner at that just in case the teams above us turn to shit.

Don't waste a tenner

 

[SF_]

Don't waste a tenner

I don't bet on PNE, we've beat worse odds in the past.

 

[markwwfc1992]

Tough but hardly unthinkable.

For example Aston Villa were 5pts behind Barnsley 3 games ago, 6 goals behind on goal difference, now level on points and GD.

Our run-in is more favourable than Norwich's.

Just feel it will be tough with 4 teams vying for realisitcally, 1 position. Sheff Wed, Fulham and Norwich are all better teams, no offence, and I can't see you having a 6 point swing on them all (including goal difference).

Although with you, similar to Huddersfield, I feel this will be your chance to make your mark on the top end of the division. You may not get another chance for some time.

As you says though, stranger things have happened.

 

[SF_]

Just feel it will be tough with 4 teams vying for realisitcally, 1 position. Sheff Wed, Fulham and Norwich are all better teams, no offence, and I can't see you having a 6 point swing on them all (including goal difference).

Although with you, similar to Huddersfield, I feel this will be your chance to make your mark on the top end of the division. You may not get another chance for some time.

As you says though, stranger things have happened.

Of course it will be tough but looking at the 2 sets of fixture, i'd fancy us to pick up more points than Norwich. Wednesday are in pretty poor form too, Fulham would be my guess for finishing 6th.

Don't see why we would fall away next season, our squad is young and tied down, keep McGeady or replace him with another similar quality loan and i'd more than fancy us for another crack at the top six next year. We were top half last season as well.

 

[mossypne]

Of course it will be tough but looking at the 2 sets of fixture, i'd fancy us to pick up more points than Norwich. Wednesday are in pretty poor form too, Fulham would be my guess for finishing 6th.

Don't see why we would fall away next season, our squad is young and tied down, keep McGeady or replace him with another similar quality loan and i'd more than fancy us for another crack at the top six next year. We were top half last season as well.

We're in discussions over McGeady atm

 

[SF_]

We're in discussions over McGeady atm

Not getting my hopes up.

 

[JJH]

Just feel it will be tough with 4 teams vying for realisitcally, 1 position. Sheff Wed, Fulham and Norwich are all better teams, no offence, and I can't see you having a 6 point swing on them all (including goal difference).

Although with you, similar to Huddersfield, I feel this will be your chance to make your mark on the top end of the division. You may not get another chance for some time.

As you says though, stranger things have happened.

I dunno mate, provided they keep Grayson they'll probably be alright, he always has them overachieving. They don't really have any superstars other than McGeady, and he's on about going there permanently. Possibly Pearson as well, but even if they lost him they'd probably partially replace him with the money they'd get.

As good as Preston's recruitment is, one thing they haven't found in the last two seasons on the cheap is a 20 goal striker in this division, and that's probably what's held them back this season.

 

[SF_]

I think it's possible to do well without a prolific, 20-a-season man but obviously it does help.

Hugill, Robinson and Barkhuizen have 23 goals between them which isn't too bad and all three are constantly improving, with the way Barkhuizen has started here, he could be the surprise package next season.

 

[mossypne]

I dunno mate, provided they keep Grayson they'll probably be alright, he always has them overachieving. They don't really have any superstars other than McGeady, and he's on about going there permanently. Possibly Pearson as well, but even if they lost him they'd probably partially replace him with the money they'd get.

As good as Preston's recruitment is, one thing they haven't found in the last two seasons on the cheap is a 20 goal striker in this division, and that's probably what's held them back this season.

Hopefully it's Barkhuizen. 5 in 4 games and 1 assist. About 100k too...

 

[LeylandWhite]

The thing that's held us back this season is our poor start, we lost 6 out of the first 8 I think it was.

If we keep the majority of our team together I've no doubt we will challenge for the top six next season. People will say we're not good enough etc but we've proven over the past 2 seasons that we are good enough so long as we start playing from the first game.

 

[JJH]

I think it's possible to do well without a prolific, 20-a-season man but obviously it does help.

Hugill, Robinson and Barkhuizen have 23 goals between them which isn't too bad and all three are constantly improving, with the way Barkhuizen has started here, he could be the surprise package next season.

Yeah it is but it massively helps.

Three of the top four have 20 goal strikers, you'd be properly challenging if you had one.

Hopefully it's Barkhuizen. 5 in 4 games and 1 assist. About 100k too...

Not even a striker is he?

 

[SirTomFinney]

Just feel it will be tough with 4 teams vying for realisitcally, 1 position. Sheff Wed, Fulham and Norwich are all better teams, no offence, and I can't see you having a 6 point swing on them all (including goal difference).

Although with you, similar to Huddersfield, I feel this will be your chance to make your mark on the top end of the division. You may not get another chance for some time.

As you says though, stranger things have happened.

Massively disagree with this. Best squad we have had in years. Because we have no stand out players which we have paid 12 million for people right us off.

If we had paid 5 million for Barkhuizen people might look at us differently. It doesn't matter how much you pay for players if you get it right.

Reach was our stand out player for me last season. We lost him and upgraded to Mcgeady.

If we lose Mcgeady which I think we will I have no doubt Grayson has a target in mind to replace him.

For what it's worth I think we will fall short of the play offs but to have Norwich at such shorter odds with there fixture list is bizarre.

 

[SirTomFinney]

Yeah it is but it massively helps.

Three of the top four have 20 goal strikers, you'd be properly challenging if you had one.


Not even a striker is he?

He is now!! And a fricking good one aswell

 

[JJH]

He is now!! And a fricking good one aswell

We'll see if he keeps it up next season there, has to be a season why he's been at Morecambe and Blackpool so far in his career. Only scored 1 in 4 for Morecambe as well.

Potentially a great signing, we'll see.

 

[SF_]

Barkhuizen looks every bit a striker to me, one who can do a job on the wing.

 

[mossypne]

We'll see if he keeps it up next season there, has to be a season why he's been at Morecambe and Blackpool so far in his career. Only scored 1 in 4 for Morecambe as well.

Potentially a great signing, we'll see.

Lee clark played him at RB at blackpool...

 

[JJH]

Lee clark played him at RB at blackpool...

 

[markwwfc1992]

Massively disagree with this. Best squad we have had in years. Because we have no stand out players which we have paid 12 million for people right us off.

If we had paid 5 million for Barkhuizen people might look at us differently. It doesn't matter how much you pay for players if you get it right.

Reach was our stand out player for me last season. We lost him and upgraded to Mcgeady.

If we lose Mcgeady which I think we will I have no doubt Grayson has a target in mind to replace him.

For what it's worth I think we will fall short of the play offs but to have Norwich at such shorter odds with there fixture list is bizarre.

Which part specifically do you disagree with? Sorry but if you take of the baised Preston specs other teams around do have better, and bigger squads than Preston. Don't get me wrong, you are punching above your weight and having a very good season. Enjoy it whilst it lasts is what I am trying to say.

Still I'd like to be proven wrong. I grew up near Preston and lot of my friends support them. Would be a great story if you did make the playoffs and beyond. I just can't see it personally.

 

[SF_]

Which part specifically do you disagree with? Sorry but if you take of the baised Preston specs other teams around do have better, and bigger squads than Preston. Don't get me wrong, you are punching above your weight and having a very good season. Enjoy it whilst it lasts is what I am trying to say.

Still I'd like to be proven wrong. I grew up near Preston and lot of my friends support them. Would be a great story if you did make the playoffs and beyond. I just can't see it personally.

Very patronising.

Since 2000, we've spent 13 seasons at this level, 8 of them finishing in the top half of the division, including 4 play-off campaigns.

Hardly find ourselves in unknown territory, counting our blessings.

We're massively exceeding expectations based on budget but our team certainly isn't punching above their weight.

 

[SirTomFinney]

Very patronising.

Since 2000, we've spent 13 seasons at this level, 8 of them finishing in the top half of the division, including 4 play-off campaigns.

Hardly find ourselves in unknown territory, counting our blessings.

We're massively exceeding expectations based on budget but our team certainly isn't punching above their weight.

Couldn't have said that better myself

 

[SirTomFinney]

Which part specifically do you disagree with? Sorry but if you take of the baised Preston specs other teams around do have better, and bigger squads than Preston. Don't get me wrong, you are punching above your weight and having a very good season. Enjoy it whilst it lasts is what I am trying to say.

Still I'd like to be proven wrong. I grew up near Preston and lot of my friends support them. Would be a great story if you did make the playoffs and beyond. I just can't see it personally.

Again like I said, just because teams spend millions on players and we spend Penny's doesn't mean there squad is better than ours.

Recently we have signed Andy Boyle, Daryl Horgan and Tom Barkhiuzen. No one has really ever heard of them and didn't get reported that much by the media. And all 3 of them are quality.

If we spent 10 million on these 3 players people would be saying 'Oh Preston have a good side'

As long as we keep our side together and Grayson in charge the only way is up for PNE

 

[SirTomFinney]

We had Adam Reach on loan all last season. Great player. Big fan. Sold for between 5-7 million to Sheff Wed.

This season we have signed Horgan and Barkhuizen whom from what I have seen are better players for less than 100k.

So from the outside I can see why teams might think we're not that good of a team and look at our team sheet and not fear anyone. but us PNE fans can see what Grayson is building

 

[SF_]

What do Wednesday fans make of Reach by the way? he was decent for us but couldn't believe how much he was sold for.

Solid defensively, works hard, versatile and rarely wasted the ball but his return in terms of goals and assists was very underwhelming.

His best performances for us were probably the odd time he played just off the striker away from home.

 

[TomPNE94]

What do Wednesday fans make of Reach by the way? he was decent for us but couldn't believe how much he was sold for.

Solid defensively, works hard, versatile and rarely wasted the ball but his return in terms of goals and assists was very underwhelming.

His best performances for us were probably the odd time he played just off the striker away from home.

I was never a big fan of Reach. So inconsistent. His best performance that sticks in my mind was Wolves away. He was unplayable that day so he clearly has the ability.

 

[Magic]

What do Wednesday fans make of Reach by the way? he was decent for us but couldn't believe how much he was sold for.

Solid defensively, works hard, versatile and rarely wasted the ball but his return in terms of goals and assists was very underwhelming.

His best performances for us were probably the odd time he played just off the striker away from home.

Sounds like Stuart Dallas...although he wouldn't command the same sort of fee.

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

What do Wednesday fans make of Reach by the way? he was decent for us but couldn't believe how much he was sold for.

Solid defensively, works hard, versatile and rarely wasted the ball but his return in terms of goals and assists was very underwhelming.

His best performances for us were probably the odd time he played just off the striker away from home.

Polarises opinions does Adam Reach, some see him as a lazy, complete waste of time, others (me included) think that we have potentially got ourselves a good player. I think he is an adaptable, quite pacy (something we really lack) and our best crosser of the ball. (Especially when he whips it in without thinking.) What I personally like about him though is when he has a bad game (as he did against you at Deepdale) he never hides and always still wants the ball. On the downside he often turns round and goes either back or sideways when I would really like to see him attack his opponent, but think/hope that will come with more confidence. He will currently struggle to get into our side as Carlos is still trying to find a system that suits all our better players (he had it last year, but for some reason as gone more defensive aka negative this season, but that's another story). One thing all Wednesdayites agree on is the fee was much too much, this isn't the players fault though, just another crazy example of the over inflated market at the moment. To sum up I think we haven't yet seen anything like the best of Adam Reach and that he will be an asset (though an over priced one) in the future. Really hope he doesn't become another player who we have wasted a lot of money and wages on, in return for nothing. As for the last playoff spot, still not sure who will get it, but those odds on Preston look incredible.

 

[Nuttall]

I'd probably agree with the above on Reach, people will turn round and tell you he's crap when in reality all they mean is he wasn't worth the money we paid for him. He has something to offer, i'd personally have him playing left back as he's better there than our other left backs but i am aware its not supposedly his best position. I've yet to see enough quality performances on the wing to suggest he should be starting there but he's a decent option within the squad.