02 Nov 2026 14:10:00
Bit of a loaded question ED001 but i have really been excited at the progress this team is making and the spirit they show and i am sure they will be there and there abouts for challenging for things in the very near future.
What would your goals for this season be? Seem a little off city and Arsenal but I have a lot of faith in Iraola to get them there.
{Ed001's Note - get through the group stage of the UCL, qualify for it next season via the Prem and anything in the cups is a bonus. It is mostly about building a side to suit Iraola's style, this season is giving him time to look at what is there and deciding who needs to be moved on and replaced. I think we will end up top 3 in the league, which would be great considering the mess he inherited, with players unfit after working part-time last season and an SD who spent the transfer window only working part-time. I thought it would be a real struggle until Xmas to be honest, but we are already starting to look so much better.}
02 Nov 2026 15:41:17
That has been my feeling this season too. We as fans always expect instant success but finish in the champions league spots, get a good run in that and then the other cups it will have been a great season.
The other thing for me is we are enjoyable again to watch, last season was a real struggle at times to stomach but onwards and upwards from here.
02 Nov 2026 15:50:05
I agree on the whole very positive. The fitness massively improved is noticeable. Onwards and upwards with Andoni.
02 Nov 2026 14:50:59
I'd agree, Ed.
Third is the best we can do with the personnel we have at the moment.
We're ahead of where I thought we'd be too. I was worried we would be getting caught on the break often. We actually look pretty strong defensively.
02 Nov 2026 16:06:21
Biggest problem for Andoni, he's got to find a solution as soon as? for replacing the goals that Salah was regularly producing, 11 PL goals from 9 PL games quite evidently proves that is going to be difficult.
I have yet to see a game where we have been outplayed by a far better footballing team, the two PL games lost have been fully influenced by the officials to not be fair to both sides.
02 Nov 2026 16:18:10
It must've been a dream I had, that I kept reading we would walk the league if we'd had any other manager, than Slot, with the squad we had last season.
02 Nov 2026 14:58:43
Go with that Ed001 that would be a decent season
The greedy bollocks in me would like to bear Everton at Wembley in the Carabao cup though as well.
{Ed001's Note - beating Everton is always good.
02 Nov 2026 16:58:16
100% Ed, I really feel we are working towards this and actually better off where we are considering the squad and their fitness levels from the past 2 years and thought we would have more bumps than we had, it's clear the players are enjoying the set up so much more and responding to it.
02 Nov 2026 17:33:48
Agree Ed001 ?. Already massive improvements on last season TG ?.
02 Nov 2026 19:11:06
Rome, we don't have the squad we did last year do we? It's a different squad and different league.
I, for one, do still think AI in charge last year wins that league.
02 Nov 2026 19:25:46
It's definitely going to be an interesting season, I'm sure there will be plenty of ups and downs and I honestly don't think we have been anywhere near what we can and hopefully will be under AI. When I watch our performances this season you can see a lot of problem areas in our games ( in particular pressing and distances) however what I also see is improvement week to week. The team are learning but it will take time.
If we can get 3rd and have a run in the CL then I'd take that. When you look at our injuries they have been significant, Isak only returning after a season wiped out, Ekitike out long term, Bradley and Leoni too. Then add in Szob too. All teams have injuries but Ekitike is huge for us!
02 Nov 2026 22:57:26
I think the next 2 league games are huge. Win those two winnable games, and everything will feel good again.
Attitude has to be right now. We are starting to raise the bar. Now we got to continue to meet that bar every game and push it further.
03 Nov 2026 10:21:06
You got me excited, Ed. Suit up and let's go.