[quote="Dave K.":raus050e][quote:raus050e]I think the last few seasons have taught us all to be cautious[/quote:raus050e] or at least it should of, do feel alot more confident this year than last, as feel our facilities, off field staff and playing staff are streets ahead of last season. I said last year, we could do ok if the gambles pay off, unfortunately not one of them did and it was a diaster. We still have gambles amd need some of those to pay off, but no where near the level of 2024. I do wonder if Smith gets another chance to coach, I think it would be a huge risk.[/quote:raus050e] Earlier in this thread (in my standings prediction) I put us tenth, and that was a self-reflective act on my part due to the overwhelming disappointments of recent years. I would like to be more positive about 2025, but having been so badly burned these past four years I need to see some proof we've stopped the rot and turned a corner first before I start getting carried away!! We've been here too many times in the recent past for me to be too wildly optimistic, I've been watching us for far too long to ever be carried away on mere promises! There are still a lot of question-marks and variables around us (as there are for a number of clubs). I'm simply going to take it week by week, game by game and see how it unfolds for us. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised as the year progresses. As for T. Smith? You do wonder who, in SL, would take a gamble on him after his stint with us. It would have to be someone who believes he still has something left in the tank to prove himself again, but really not sure who that club would be. Huddersfield maybe? if it goes badly wrong for them and Robinson is dismissed half-way through the year. That's the only type of scenario I see Smith returning, or at a Championship outfit, and I'm not sure that would interest him at this stage in his life. He undoubtedly blew a hole through his reputation during his spell with us!!

[quote="Jake the Peg":xl1cifiq]Mikey lewis is by far and away rovers best player as he was last season. Lose him and they will be 4th to 6th. If he stays fit they'll be top 3[/quote:xl1cifiq]a few injuries for your boys and you could be serving the soup

We need John Asiata to play min 20 games or else I feel we’re 9th

I also think Wakey will be fighting at the bottom, they have made some good signings, as have we, but alot of their overseas players are untested at SL level. For me they lack creativity, pivots of Jowitt, Trueman, Russell, Hood and Pitts hardly set fear in sides. Like us they have a couple of injury risky signings too. It's OK playing against part time teams but SL is another level. I wouldn't be suprised if we finished above them or vice versa to be honest.

[quote="bishops finger":3w4j35rt]I'm not sure splashing out on Hugo qualifies them as a power board Jake [/quote:3w4j35rt] Obviously left with the scraps when your power board signed ruan

[quote="Jake the Peg":1z9ydtf8]Obviously left with the scraps when your power board signed ruan [/quote:1z9ydtf8]