Who's confident of promotion?

[Wiz]

Yes, I know its early days but I'm 100% confident of promotion at the first attempt, why?

1.   Squad quality and size.

2.  Tactics and a manager who appears to know how to use them.

3.  McNally and a boardroom who will back the manager in the January transfer window should it prove necessary.

What do you think?

 

[Lake District Canary]

I'm 100% confident we can do it, but not 100% confident we will do it.   But what does look good to me is that we look as if we have given ourselves the best chance of doing it.  Very impressive sales and purchases done, with a strong looking management team, Adams as the main man and Mr Motivator Gary Holt and Gary Robson to back him up. Competitive, strength in depth and quality throughout.   We should be right near the top at the end of the season, but there are other teams who will also want to be up there and who have strength too.  Everything to play for.

 

[BroadstairsR]

Things do look promising so far, especially on the signings front, but my confidence of promotion comes with some reservation. Football has a habit of biting you in the bum and the prospect of a sore posterior accompanied by a face-full of egg is something i would only want to envisage for supporters of Ipswich Town, whereby a poll on TWTD originally had over 50% of them predicting promotion for "Town," but has since been reduced following early season set-backs, especially our victory over them.

The bubble could be heard bursting as far away as the borders of Norfolk, whilst it's spray is still slowly descending upon the environs of Portman Road.

Most is positive for us now, I feel, but I would want to fully erase the tactical disaster  that was Molyneaux, accept fully that our failure to break down a competent Bournemouth side on own turf last time around was just one of those things and for us to clock up a few more away victories before becoming totally convinced.

I think that the Club and Adams & Co. have done as much as can be expected so far, under the circumstances, but there are some strong teams in this league.

Soon now the cream will come to the top. Hopefully we will not be amongst the skimmed ones, but I want to see how we manage against some of the tougher prospects before voting "Yes."

 

[GJP]

With the strength of our squad to finish outside the top 6 would be a big failure.

 

[Warren Hill]

Despite a promising start and what on the face of it seems like a vry positive transfer window, there's a long way to go between now and promotion.

Adams has made a decent fist of things so far but was largely harangued after the opening day defeat at Wolves. It's still early days in his reign and it will be interesting to see how he manages us if we enter a poor run of form and, almost as importantly, what the fan reaction is.

That all said, we have the tools available that SHOULD make us a force to be reckoned with but I'm not about to start turning cartwheels just yet.

 

[SussexYellow]

I'm 100% confident we can do it, but not 100% confident we will do it.   But what does look good to me is that we look as if we have given ourselves the best chance of doing it.  Very impressive sales and purchases done, with a strong looking management team, Adams as the main man and Mr Motivator Gary Holt and Gary Robson to back him up. Competitive, strength in depth and quality throughout.   We should be right near the top at the end of the season, but there are other teams who will also want to be up there and who have strength too.  Everything to play for.

Agree with this LDC.

Save for I would reserve judgment on our new purchases until we have seen them play. Look good on paper but on the pitch could be a different matter. There was as air of optimism after last august's transfer window when there was similar satisfaction. It went a bit pear shaped. So I would go for cautious optimism.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

I think we definitely have the tools for the job. Competition and strength in depth, as well as a Plan B. Finishing below 6th would be a major failure. To be assured we will definitely be promoted is to underestimate this league. We need to be professional, get the work done and not expect teams to roll over, as well as knowing they may raise their game if we're considered favourites. I think more important than anything is that key word momentum. We need an unbeaten run. If we can put a run together, picking up points becomes a habit, and opposition teams dont get the blood-lust. As long as we stay where we are and arent stop-start, I think we'll do it

 

[nolegs]

For the first time in a long time all the cogs and wheels within the club seem to be meshing together,that along with the successful transfer window,anything less than a top six finish would have to be deemed a failure,but hopefully we can avoid all the nail-biting of the playoffs and secure a first or second automatic spot!!

 

[GazzaTCC]

Reserving judgement until 10.00 pm on the 1 November. Why? By then we will have played 15 games, just shy of 1/3rd of the season, and will be in a much better position to make a meaningful judgement.

 

[bloodwagon]

Long way to go, but, hopes are high. started with a loss, then wins and one draw. looking good, just hope we can keep it going till end of season.

 

[It's Character Forming]

Yeah it's tough getting out of the Champ.  We're well placed after a few games, but it's a slog and can wear you down.  Hopefully we've got the strength in depth but it's all about those miserable winter evenings when you have to grind out results.

Optimistic at the moment but certainly not taking anything for granted.

Glad the OP is feeling positive, at least for now....

 

[The Ghost of Michael Theo]

I don't think confident is the right word. This is a tricky league, with many ups, downs and unpredictable results.

I think we'll do well, but 3 out of about 8 or 9 can probably feel the same way.

Long season this one. It's exciting though.

 

[Din]

Long way to go, and no doubt there will be a number of twists and turns throughout the season. We have a good enough squad to win the league, but whether we will or not is another matter. From what I've seen so far though I'd say we certainly stand a good chance.

 

[Jimmy smith]

It all looks good at the moment, so i've no reason to disbelieve, but 8 months is a long while away and to complete the cliche, a lot can change.

 

[ZLF]

I am certain we have a squad good enough to push for auto promotion,   which we can get with a little luck and hard work from the manager and players.    

Plenty of obstacles in the way,  with 23 teams wanting the same thing,  and we may play well but simply find three teams better than us.  

Great start;   some very tough weeks ahead;  hopefully its going to be a thrill ride this season

 

[Yellow Fever]

At the moment we're still third favourite with the bookies behind Forest and Derby, the latter having had a good season last year but will they do it again? I suspect that the bookies are reluctant to back Adams yet, in spite of the good start. We've had a tougher start than those two and have a good run of games after Cardiff. The large squad will hep to protect us against injuries, and that could be a key factor. I'm feeling confident, but it's still early days.

 

[morty]

Probably more hopeful than actually confident. Whilst we have had a good start, we haven't shown genuine promotion credentials as yet. I think if we are there or thereabouts, as previously said, after 15 games then that will be more of a gauge. I think it will be telling what happens if we lose a few on the bounce, really test our character. Obviously I'd rather we win every game, but this is a tough, tough slog of a season, and there will be downs.

One minute you can be flying, next minute Grabben breaks a leg (not being gloomy, but these things happen).

Yes we have a strong squad, but take a couple of first team starters out and all of a sudden its not looking so rosy. Take Tettey and Bradley J out of the team at the same time and suddenly we would be looking for an instant plan B.

Tentative caution aside though, I do think we'll do well.

 

[Chazchalk]

Ultimately i think we'l end up in the playoffs. And probably loose at the final stage

 

[cityoldboy]

Far far too early to even think about it.

As win at Blackburn on a cold February evening will give us a lot more

of an idea. 

 

[Salopian]

NA seems to have covered all the angles, with two players for every position, so I hope that we have few and fairly trivial injuries, if any.

The big question is whether NA can maintain the present enthusiasm and commitment, on his part and that of the squad. If he can, and he has already shown a few ways in which he is quickly learning the job, then I am optimistic.

If we can learn to convert more chances into goals, and others can back up Grabban - strikers and midfield, with occasional goals from defenders, then top six seems eminently possible. Whether we can make a top-two position, I am not sure. There are some other good teams to overcome.