What are your expectations for next season?

[jacobncfc]

I think we have to/should expect a genuine title challenge next season. We've had two decent seasons since coming down, but not really looked like title winning material at any point during that. With the core of a good team kept together and the recruitment folks having had time to get used to the league and what we're looking for, we should be in a position to do that next season.

Ultimately you can't control what other teams do and maybe someone else would run away with it anyway, but I'd want us to be getting around two points per game.

[jacobncfc]

My expectations for next season are continued improvement. By this I mean work on our attacking play, intensity, and also defending set pieces.

Last season we fell short of the title by five wins and an extra draw compared to Sutton. Likewise Sutton scored ten more goals than us and conceded five less. These should be our targets for improvement which is ten points extra over the season. Do this and we will be in with a good chance of winning the title.

The ten extra goals required is going to have to come from a new striker to partner Wootton the way I see it. For me this is going to be our biggest and most toughest position to fill as every club wants proven goal scorers. Hopefully we can find someone suitable who will want to come.

Enzio scored 7 goals last season so that shortfall is going to have to come the likes of Rodrigues through extra starts he should get next season compared to last along with Roberts.

A suitable replacement for Doyle on the pitch will be another key signing. Casper Sloth was probably expected to be that player last season but we all know how that turned out.

Until we have signed players then I’m holding off predicting where I think we will finish.

I'd be surprised if we signed a new striker to partner Wootton. Maybe a different option to put some pressure on him and offer something else (we've been linked to a young lad who scored goals on loan at Weymouth last season, which seems the right kind). When Roberts is fit, him and Rodrigues become our two automatic starters probably, but I don't think you can play the two of them and two strikers as well.

[Notts78]

I'd be surprised if we signed a new striker to partner Wootton. Maybe a different option to put some pressure on him and offer something else (we've been linked to a young lad who scored goals on loan at Weymouth last season, which seems the right kind). When Roberts is fit, him and Rodrigues become our two automatic starters probably, but I don't think you can play the two of them and two strikers as well.

Rodders could play as a 2nd striker and then another genuine winger to go with Roberts in a 4-4-2. As an alternative, though in his recent interview IB suggested he prefers a back 3.

[jacobncfc]

Rodders could play as a 2nd striker and then another genuine winger to go with Roberts in a 4-4-2. As an alternative, though in his recent interview IB suggested he prefers a back 3.

I think we're looking at a front three of Wootton with Roberts and Rodrigues playing off him in quite fluid positions. It's a pretty exciting prospect.

You could play in two different ways behind it as a 4-3-3 or 3-4-3, but that we seem likely to sign Miller probably suggests the latter. He excelled as a left wing back but offered little as an orthodox left back or as a genuine winger. Retaining Chicksen probably the same, who has been excellent on the left side of a back three.

I think the big signing we need to get right is a genuine box-to-box midfielder to play alongside Reeves.

[uysapie]

another season ending in disappointment, low expactations but hope to be proved wrong!

[andy6025]

As long as everyone tries their best and enjoys themselves then that’s what counts. 😀

[ForeignLegion]

Such negativity....IB will take them up as Champions next year.

[OP67]

With 3 failed play off attempts in the past 4 seasons then I expect us to go for automatic. With the squad we have a few good additions and a better start to the season then normal we should be able to hopefully get out this league...maybe...

[the_anticlough]

I think we're looking at a front three of Wootton with Roberts and Rodrigues playing off him in quite fluid positions. It's a pretty exciting prospect.
.

It is.
Personally though, I'd like to see all 3 playing along with a new player who gives that threat of getting in behind the defence (which none of that great trio give us really, strangely enough). That would stretch and pin back teams out who want to press us. So a new CF/wide attacker of that type would be near the top of the shopping list, just behind that physical box-to-box midfielder and the combative, aerially-strong CB!

Rodrigues and Roberts are similar in that they'd thrive by playing with a runner (which Wootton isn't really). If fit, I'd like to see Ruben as the most advanced/attacking of a midfield 3 to allow some real pace to be brought into the side.

[Mapperleypie]

We need to come out of the blocks quickly with a decent number of wins in the first 10 games (at least 7). We have never threatened top spot once in either of the two seasons so far, largely due to the respect the point nonsense and giving teams that should be comfortably beaten chance to stay in the game and take points off us. The dropped points against teams in the bottom half of this division are extremely costly. I don't see IB being quite so worried about their perceived threats as NA always was.

For me it all depends on the start. A good start with decent attacking football will see bums on seats at ML and momentum gained.