I really don't think 40 points will be required this season. The aim is 30 as quickly as possible and then it will be really interesting to see what this squad can do without the spectre of relegation hanging over them going into the final couple of months.
As you observe...the points required to stay up are reducing, because the discrepancy between the top and bottom teams is wider than it ever has been. Yes there will be outliers, but on the whole, the deck is more stacked than ever in my lifetime.
...and it's all about lucre, and your ability to spend it (or willingness to cook the books).
Ipswich will be an interesting marker this year as there are obvious similarities with Forest two years ago, in terms of getting promoted after more than two decades outside the PL and with players totally untried and inexperienced at the level.
I was thinking how great it is that Leicester and Southampton have spent 10 of the last 11 seasons (or something) in the Premierleagueship and we are way ahead of both now.
How often have all 3 promoted teams been relegated straight back down?
It's not that shocking that teams who spent the previous year at a lower level, and the year before that either also at a lower level or being the worst teams at that level, would struggle.
Disappointed that in the Champagne Socialist Republic of Talkback we're squabbling over who's the best tramp, rather than the Sky 8 tightening their grip on the top half of the league (and all the real money).
We hate Luton and Ipswich because they are usurping our "plucky" appellation. Similar to how we particularly dislike Leicester for appropriating "miracle".
Let's get that Forest-Brighton 1-2 after City are deducted 175 points and Liverpool and Arsenal have a brutal fight over the term "biggest victim".