Written by Kirsikka
In the previous three years, I labelled the equivalent thread “10 things I’m looking forward to this season”, but it almost always ended up as predictions, so I’m calling it what it is this time.
1. The Year of Dango
When he first arrived and looked in and out of things, I remember defending him, saying wingers often take time to mature into their role. It feels like he’s made consistent progress since then to the point that I think he would be a starter ahead of Tavs now in a straight head-to-head.
And now I think he looks all set to explode on the PL this season. I think he’s going to cause mayhem, and it’s going to give other teams a huge problem since Semenyo can cause major damage in a different way on the other side. I’m backing him to the level that by the end of the season, he’ll even have overtaken AS as our preeminent winger/wide forward.
I hope the club are already negotiating with him to extend his deal and get something signed by the end of September, at the latest.
Expect double figures in both goals scored and assists from him. Keep him away from penalties, though. Please. My heart can’t take it.
2. Stadium Progress
I disagree with the view that we should have prioritised the stadium when we first came up. I think we would have sunk back down and wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are now. We needed a run of seasons to kind of establish ourselves as a presence here. However, now that we’re not an unfamiliar face in the top flight, we can point to our record as part of our argument in attracting players and can also now make progress with our home.
Bill isn’t a talker; he’s a doer. He has a 50+ year track record of that in business. I don’t think the planning process will be easy, but I believe he’ll make it happen so that, by August 2026, we’ll be ready to welcome another 5k+ home fans to our first match at Dean Court that season. And that’s only Stage 1. Incredibly exciting and a hell of a legacy, whatever happens in the future.
3. Kroupi Jr Makes An Impact
Is it unfair to put a weight of expectation on a 19-year-old? Not when they’re a special talent, and there’s lots of chatter that he might well fit that bill. I’m excited to see him in action, although I do worry the physicality of the PL might be an initial culture shock for him.
I’m still not sure where we’ll be playing him, but if it’s as a 9 then I think he’ll bag a decent return for a second-choice striker. If it’s a 10, then I think we’ll see him make rapid progress in the role and look more and more menacing as the season goes on.
Not such an impact that the big boys will come calling next summer, but he’ll do enough that they’ll all be watching him like a hawk by the end of the season.
4. Category 1 Academy
It’s been on the cards for a long time, and the club were explicit about it during the academy documentary they released over the summer. The days when the Cat 1 goal posts were moved every year specifically to exclude new entrants are gone, so let’s hope the club gets it right and is accepted whilst the door is still open. It would be an incredible achievement and a huge statement about our long-term commitment to success.
We’ve done so much to get this far, I can’t see them messing it up, and so I expect the promotion to Cat 1 for our academy to be confirmed around the end of the season.
5. Rees-Dottin breaks through
Every season, I hope we’ll see a breakthrough into the first team from the academy. We’ve kind of got close.
Travers? Sure. But he was never really the first choice in the PL. Plus, he’s a keeper, and we all know they’re a bit different.
Anthony? Fair shout to an extent, but he was a late comer to our system and was not brought all the way through it.
Winterburn? It felt to me like he was being used as a placeholder due to his energy and ability to absorb the tactical instructions. (I’d be delighted if he proves me wrong.)
Rees-Dottin though. Of all the players to be given a chance around the first team last season, he was the youngest, and I think there’s something in that. When I say breakthrough, I’m not expecting him to be a regular, but I’m hoping around 5 PL sub appearances are on the cards as the next step in his development and starting to become part of the first team group.
Now I’ve said this, watch him get sent on loan for the season somewhere grim up north. Probably by the end of tomorrow.
6. FranPinto showing they’ve got what it takes to rebuild
Squad building is never a straight line, especially when you aren’t an apex club. Sometimes you have to take the cash and accept that replacements might need time to grow into their roles. And that is partly what is making this is a pivotal season for our defence.
A new man between the sticks and two PL rookie left-backs recruited since the start of the year. The possibility of Huijsen, Zabs and Meps all being sold this summer, and with Hill and Senesi in the final season of their deals. Smith may be in his final season as a player at right back, and with question marks still hanging over Araujo. It might mean a complete defensive rebuild.
Even if new deals are signed at the heart of the defence, we do know at least two centre backs are incoming, which will mean a minimum of five of the defensive group are new. Can they get that balance of youth, potential and current ability right? It’s a tough ask, but their track record means I think they will.
Not every player will be a success, but, as with previous recruitment regimes, it’s about them getting enough right to help us progress. I don’t think we’ll be as miserly as last season, but we’ll still look like a reasonably solid unit.
7. AI signs a contract extension
At least one poster on here has confidently said it’s already a done deal and just a matter of time. That would be fabulous since, as it stands, with his stock so high and no compensation to pay at the end of the season, AI could have the pick of a number of jobs. Yet, I think he’ll give it at least one more season with us after this one. Not sure when it will be confirmed, but I think next summer we’ll be looking forward to another year with him at the helm.
8. Points, position and GD
Last season, I backed us to qualify for Europe through the cup. It should have been us. This year, despite the doom and gloom around departures, I’m going to say we’ll improve again on our league position. Maybe our defence won’t be as strong, but I think we’ll be more clinical, and the Dango/Semenyo wide combination is going to inflict havoc on the league.
7th place. 62 points. 67 goals scored. +14 goal difference.
Best check that expiry date on your passport.
9. Record fee for Semenyo
Yes, he signed an extended deal, but I think the reason clubs were a little hesitant this summer around that reported £70m asking price was his shots-to-goals ratio. This season, he’ll score more and, thanks to that new contract, someone will have to pay up a huge fee. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a release clause that is active for a period next summer, but even if there is, it will still be a record sale for AFCB. We might have to wait a bit beyond May for this one to come true, but my guess is it will be his last season with us. Be Zen about it, though. It’s part of the model and means things are going well.
10. Countering the low block
Teams sitting in against us are a heck of a compliment to AI. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find the right answer a number of times last season, although his band of players was mostly held together by string and sticky tape at that stage. It’s a question even the best managers in the world with the most expensive squads struggle with at times, so no shame in it.
I do think AI will have been concocting some different plans to try and crack open those eggs this coming season, and I believe something will work. It won’t be every time, of course, but as long as it does on enough occasions, then it will be significant progress. And that will prove to be one of the differences in snagging us that seventh spot I mentioned above.
Your say…
MB1980 said…
Agree with near enough all of it… apart from Rees Dottin. But more than happy to be proven wrong
I’ve been feeling the same, particularly re Dango. Given his progress, I sense this season he’ll step up, and become considered a starter like AS, rather than sub or rotation option. A proper, consistent threat, rather than hope he turns up and causes confusion wild card. Feels like it’s going to click and all come together.
I’m also quietly confident re Scott. Although perhaps a lot more hope, perhaps. – To join the conversation, please click here.