How hopeful are you of an instant PL return

[beddie]

I’ll give you an answer if and when we bring in a quality striker. Hope your answer is sent within the next two/three days

[Nonayforever]

Not hopeful at all this season. Far too many changes, not just in players but throughout the whole club.
4 / 10 for me.
In the PL fine margins defined where we were, I think this season it will be massive margins, some big losses and silly goals.
It's hard enough trying to integrate new players in an existing system let alone integrating new players into a new system with new management.
I will be happy to escape relegation with a few games to spare.

[California Colner]

I put 100 pounds on Burnley to get promotion at 12/1

[kentonclaret]

I put 100 pounds on Burnley to get promotion at 12/1

The best odds available on Burnley to "get promotion" are only 4/1 with just 2 bookmakers. Generally 3/1 to 7/2.

To win the Championship you can get 12/1 in places.

[Jamesy]

Not that hopeful but happy to have a few seasons of entertaining football in the Championship. This isn’t being negative, it will do us good prior to our march back into the big time. Strap yourselves in and embrace it. UTC.

[CoolClaret]

Swing between about a 5-7/10

[CHEWBACCA]

I hated being in the Prem recently so no desire to get back soon !

[jurek]

I think we'll struggle to begin with and be mid-table at best come the break for the World Cup.
And hopefully improve after the World Cup.
Possibly enough to get us up the table and pushing for a play off place.
That'll keep the momentum going until the end of the season but whether
we'll make the top six is debatable.
Consolidation is the word that comes to mind.

So with that in mind I's be happy with a top 8 place but improving as the season goes on.
Playing some decent football and beginning to score a few goals would be nice.

[2 Bee Holed]

Play offs and then it’s 50/50.

Some tricky maths there Trevor.

I would love to know how you calculated 50/50.

[Pearcey]

It’ll be hard with the amount of changes to the squad and the way we play. Gonna need to be patient I think.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

This season or next, we will get promoted.

[jrgbfc]

Think a season of consolidation is on the cards. Too many new players, and barely any sort of pre season. Don't see where the goals are coming from either at present, assuming Cornet leaves.

[claretinkorea]

Just be nice to have a bit of positivity back. Really, it's one season in many. Most of which in my life have been spent in the championship anyway, in a way it feels like a return to what I'm used to. The prem was great and it would be nice to get back, but this is a good reset! How hopeful on promotion: 6/10, how hopeful of some decent football and a few proper derby wins and maybe having a proper go at a cup again 8/10.

[Ampth7]

I genuinely have no idea how well we will do this season mainly because of all the massive changes at the club.

Having said that, my gut feeling at the moment is that if we are to have a successful, promotion winning season, then we need at least one more experienced centre half to guide the younger new players. Losing Pope, Mee, Tarks and Collins I feel is going to be very difficult to do in the short term and in my opinion this was the strongest part of our team that prevented us from getting cuffed most games last season.

I also feel as though we are short of a quality striker and I think we need an Ings, Austin, Gray type of signing if we are to compete at the top of this league. The margins at this level are so small and having a potent goal scorer is so important and I don’t believe that we have that player at the moment. Admittedly, Cornet may stay (highly doubtful) and Twine may be a great bit of business, but I still think we are missing quality up front.

[It Is What It Is]

9/10. Either r top or second.

[expoultryboy]

Not very . Looking forward to seeing a different kind of football but worried our young/inexperienced centre halves could get "bullied " in the championship .

[nyclaret]

I genuinely have no idea how well we will do this season mainly because of all the massive changes at the club.

Having said that, my gut feeling at the moment is that if we are to have a successful, promotion winning season, then we need at least one more experienced centre half to guide the younger new players. Losing Pope, Mee, Tarks and Collins I feel is going to be very difficult to do in the short term and in my opinion this was the strongest part of our team that prevented us from getting cuffed most games last season.

I also feel as though we are short of a quality striker and I think we need an Ings, Austin, Gray type of signing if we are to compete at the top of this league. The margins at this level are so small and having a potent goal scorer is so important and I don’t believe that we have that player at the moment. Admittedly, Cornet may stay (highly doubtful) and Twine may be a great bit of business, but I still think we are missing quality up front.

Spot on. My thoughts exactly.

[quoonbeatz]

Not arsed if we don't go up. Obvs want us to be playing at the highest level possible but the PL is a dead league and pretty boring.

[JarrowClaret]

I have said on other threads that I think we are going 46 games unbeaten I accept though with all the changes that is unlikely to happen. I think though if the fans can stick with them for the first 10 games or so we will go very close to promotion. Everything that Kompany has said suggests that this season is a let’s see how far we can get and next season would be the 1 for promotion though

[ClaretPete001]

Not arsed if we don't go up. Obvs want us to be playing at the highest level possible but the PL is a dead league and pretty boring.

Just as a matter of interest three questions: (1) what is a quoonbeatz? (2) How do you square the (a) I want them to play in the top league? and (b) the top league is dead: circle? And, finally, (3) How do you punctuate point 2 properly?

I suffer from a very rare disease called "pedantic semanticitis" and that statement is giving me cognitive dissonance and exacerbating my condition to the point where my itches are developing itches.

[quoonbeatz]

1 A quoonbeatz makes banging tunes.
2 You don't. Such is life.
3 You don't. Such is life.

[leelad]

I will probably reserve final judgement after the first three games of the season. Huddersfield, Luton & Watford. We need to get off to a strong start, I have the feeling though that our remaining transfer business (incomings, outgoings) will be done later on in August. We definitely need a striker, attacking winger and an experienced central defender in by then. So the first few games are going to be tough as our first 11 may consist of players who might not be at the club on 1st September (Cornet, Taylor). Just hope players like these are up for the challenge. I'm sure they will be. With my claret tinted specs on, if we make these additions to the squad, I expect us to be challenging for the playoffs. Realistically, with the squad we have at the moment, I'll take a top half finish.

[leelad]

Another thing to bear in mind, in the two seasons that we got promoted from this league, we scored at least 70 goals. Look at this squad now and think, how many goals can this team score in this league? 40 to 45 perhaps? We need a strike force that can develop into a proven partnership and can get us at least 20 goals

[ClaretPete001]

I genuinely have no idea how well we will do this season mainly because of all the massive changes at the club.

Having said that, my gut feeling at the moment is that if we are to have a successful, promotion winning season, then we need at least one more experienced centre half to guide the younger new players. Losing Pope, Mee, Tarks and Collins I feel is going to be very difficult to do in the short term and in my opinion this was the strongest part of our team that prevented us from getting cuffed most games last season.

I also feel as though we are short of a quality striker and I think we need an Ings, Austin, Gray type of signing if we are to compete at the top of this league. The margins at this level are so small and having a potent goal scorer is so important and I don’t believe that we have that player at the moment. Admittedly, Cornet may stay (highly doubtful) and Twine may be a great bit of business, but I still think we are missing quality up front.

Indeed experience suggests that it will be mid table at best but football is a bit of a mystery. It's like an Agatha Christie novel except no one dies unless, of course, you are like Quoonbeatz and you kill off the PL but in my experience whodunnits generally don't spend 300 pages unravelling the death of the top tier of a football pyramid.

More's the pity because it would be marvelous read 300 pages and finally end up on the final one only to discover Professor Plum killed off the Premier League.

[CoolClaret]

Another thing to bear in mind, in the two seasons that we got promoted from this league, we scored at least 70 goals. Look at this squad now and think, how many goals can this team score in this league? 40 to 45 perhaps? We need a strike force that can develop into a proven partnership and can get us at least 20 goals

How do you get 40-45 from our entire squad?

Cornet 20
Jay 15
Twine 8
Barnes 7
Brownhill 6
Centre halves combined 7
Full backs combined 4
Everyone else combined 10

76 there off the top of my head

[Cleveleys_claret]

I may be mad but can see us winning the league, if we get a striker in. I think the likes of Bastien, Brownhill and Twine are all good for 7-10 goals.

The big thing is keeping one of if not both of Cornet and McNeil, if we do we will walk the league by just outscored teams, defense may leak goals but we will score more than everyone. Muric is a good keeper and will be very good behind our back four, Taylor and Robers prem standard, Haywood Bellis great Championship player.

Midfield looks best in the division by a country mile.

[NewClaret]

Torn. Think we’ve got the best squad in the league on paper. But inexperienced at the back and not much pace in attacking positions. If either of those two issues are rectified I’ll feel more confident.

[Claretforever]

Top 10.

Poor early start due to so many signings, but then we’ll come on strong. 2023/24 will be the season we have a promotion push if the current transfers are an indicator.

[California Colner]

The best odds available on Burnley to "get promotion" are only 4/1 with just 2 bookmakers. Generally 3/1 to 7/2.

To win the Championship you can get 12/1 in places.

My sister back home placed the bet and she said the odds where 12/1
I can only quote what she said

[Bullabill]

Add O’Hare, Delap and a CD before the end of August, too six.

CD? How about a DVD?

[leelad]

Ok CoolClaret, I undercooked the numbers slightly with 40-45 goals. More like 55 goals when you exclude Cornet's potential contribution. I hope he stays with us, but I am sceptical about him being here come 1st September. Think that any move for him will be later on in the month, hence why August will be an important month for us should he play.

[willsclarets]

Having just listened to that Sean Dyche interview on coaching, it struck me how important the right culture and environment is. We're so used to hearing it we've got tired of it, particularly when we weren't winning anymore. But especially in the championship, as much as the ability of the players we have seems to be enough to at least compete, we've no idea yet if we have the right blend of people/characters and whether VK is up to the task of bringing them together as a squad. We'll soon see if he can manage it, but it may take more than one season especially if we don't start well. While youth and potential was definitely the right medium term approach and I'm excited by the signings, we have lost a few pivotal leaders who epitomised the qualities we used to have.

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to see our new squad and I'm cautiously optimistic. But iI'd snap your hand off for a top 6 and a feeling that VK has a squad that's together and never gives in. I'd hate to lose that from our club.

[kentonclaret]

My sister back home placed the bet and she said the odds where 12/1
I can only quote what she said

If placed with a UK bookmaker then almost certainly the bet will require Burnley to win the Championship at odds quoted of 12/1 not just to get promoted.

[Top Claret]

Tell you in 5 weeks, until then no Idea.

I have never seen or heard of any of our new signings who have little or no experience at championship level

[Stayingup]

I genuinely have no idea how well we will do this season mainly because of all the massive changes at the club.

Having said that, my gut feeling at the moment is that if we are to have a successful, promotion winning season, then we need at least one more experienced centre half to guide the younger new players. Losing Pope, Mee, Tarks and Collins I feel is going to be very difficult to do in the short term and in my opinion this was the strongest part of our team that prevented us from getting cuffed most games last season.

I also feel as though we are short of a quality striker and I think we need an Ings, Austin, Gray type of signing if we are to compete at the top of this league. The margins at this level are so small and having a potent goal scorer is so important and I don’t believe that we have that player at the moment. Admittedly, Cornet may stay (highly doubtful) and Twine may be a great bit of business, but I still think we are missing quality up front.

Yes losing the Holy Trinity and add Collins making a fantastic four is going to take some replacing, be it in the EPL or Championship. Leaves me feeling not very hopeful this season, but I hope I am wrong.

[distortiondave]

Bottom of the league at the end of August, top of the league by the start of May.

[Lancasterclaret]

Not very at the moment!

Certainly short of at least a striker, and that is before we lose anymore players

[Guitargeorge]

It could be “the best of times, it could be the worst of times”, it could be Great Expectations, it could be Bleak House. There could be many a Twist, but let’s hope there won’t be Hard Times. Dickens only knows how this season will develop

[bf2k]

Outside shot at the playoffs. I think we've had too much of a squad turn around, plus a manager team who will need to find their feet. I'm thinking a push for promotion by 2023/2024 season is more realistic and an acceptable expectation.

I think our start will tell us a lot.

[forzagranata]

As it stands - I'd simply be happy if we stay up.

[dandeclaret]

I think a manager change is more likely than promotion.

[Lancasterclaret]

The vast majority of us have not seen us play yet, so we'll have a much better idea on friday

[claptrappers_union]

I think we will struggle at first, as the new team will need time to settle. Kompany was appointed weeks late, our preseason hasn't been good enough and I don’t believe the players are match fit.

We have key players with a side eye on the transfer window too.

I don’t know much about the players we’ve signed but there is a lack of experience in the new recruits.

[daveisaclaret]

I feel quite alone in this, particularly being generally quite negative about what's going on at the club at the moment, but I think we're absolutely full of goals. Might take some time to settle but I don't really see why we can't go up automatically even if the defence lacks experience and isn't close to what we've had before.

Certainly think it's an instant return or no return though.

[MancunianClaret]

I think we'll have a tough start to the season, but will come back strong after the WC break and make play offs at least.

[Down_Rover]

Clearly it will take time for our squad to gel together but the potential is there. I expect a slowish start but steady improvement as the season progresses. Whether or not this means a promotion push or not who knows but teams last year came from well behind to fill in the play off places.

What is most important is that we finish the season well and either achieve promotion or lay the foundations for the following season. Given the age profile promotion in 23/24 might be best in the long run so this squad might be better prepared for the PL. Promotion this season could leave us undercooked and vulnerable.

5/10 for me, but more important that we steadily improve throughout the season

[OffTheBar]

I have Reading’s record points total as a target.

[Pickles]

I'm optimistic but honestly, who the heck knows. And I'm all for not knowing what to expect at the moment. It's been a while.

I think I'd be happy with beating Rovers home and away and finishing mid-table but I can see playoffs or automatic as possible.

Don't think we'll be anywhere near a relegation battle but it's impossible to know. Even after Friday we won't have much of an idea. It's a long season.

[NickBFC]

Optimistic but concerned over the huge turnover of players. It'll take time to settle, how long is anyone's guess. I'd hope we'll be there or there abouts but a lot depends on who else we lose and bring in before the window shuts. Desperately hoping for a good start Friday.

[Lambo]

Can’t believe the pessimism of some of our fans, automatic promotion is the only target we should have. Yes, we’re a team in transition but we’ve removed a large number of ageing players and replaced them with young, keen lads who will be desperate to do well. Couple that with a manager with the reputation of VK who undoubtedly has the standing in the footballing world to attract players and the future looks bright. The Championship is not a league full of quality, for gods sake our local neighbours who shall not be named were in 2nd place at the turn of the year and look how sh**e they are…we will be fine and at last we’ll see high tempo fast attacking football….fully expect a good start from us on Friday and looking forward to a great campaign….UTC