LAST week, the County Gazette ran a series of online polls to assess the optimism of Somerset’s supporters ahead of the new season.

Below are the results, followed by the thoughts of our fan panel - this time made up of Daniel Kingdom, Matthew Roller and Paul Hopkins...

Where will Somerset finish in the Championship?
Winners - 17%; 2nd-4th: 33%; 5th-6th - 29%; 7th-8th (relegated) - 20% (428 votes)

Who will be Somerset’s leading Championship run scorer?
Marcus Trescothick - 10%; James Hildreth - 53%; Tom Abell - 11%; Steve Davies - 11%; Other - 15% (418 votes)

Who will be Somerset’s leading Championship wicket taker?
Craig Overton - 18%; Jamie Overton - 14%; Jack Leach - 43%; Lewis Gregory - 14%; Other - 10% (374 votes)

How will Somerset do in the One-Day Cup?
Winners - 11%; Runners-up - 4%; Semi-finals - 34%; Quarter-final - 35%; Group stage - 16% (386 votes)

How will Somerset do in the Vitality Blast (T20)?
Winners - 8%; Runners-up - 8%; Semi-final - 11%; Quarter-final - 33%; Group stage - 40% (373 votes)

Fan Panel 2018:

Are you optimistic ahead of the new season?

DK: Fairly – expectations are low and in recent years Somerset have always performed better when that is the case.

The batting should improve on last season’s showing – the line-up is too good not to – and our bowling line-up, when injury-free and unaffected by England call-ups, is up there with the best in the country.

MR: Reasonably. The Championship looks very competitive this year, and there are no obvious candidates for relegation, but equally I’m not sure any side is miles ahead of the rest, so it’s hard to predict where we’ll finish.

A couple of early-season wins could make a difference, especially given Somerset are perennial slow starters.

PH: I’m not very optimistic as it has been a difficult off season, both on and off the field. The departure of Lee Cooper, along with the Bancroft saga haven’t helped.

Off the field many members, myself included, have been alienated by the massive price hikes in membership. Also, through no fault of our own, I think we’ll lose out with Jack Leach and Craig Overton getting England game-time.

Thoughts on the Bancroft decision and the signing of Matt Renshaw?

DK: Personally I’d have kept Bancroft but I understand the decision. Renshaw should be an able replacement – he is in form in domestic cricket and has a decent test record. The question is whether he’ll adapt to the moving ball or go the same way as Tom Cooper.

MR: I was disappointed that the club gave into the ridiculous clamour for Bancroft to be sacked, but Renshaw is a better player – he should be a consistent source of top-order runs, which we lacked last season.

PH: I would have liked to have given Bancroft a second chance, but I understand and support the decision made by Somerset, who couldn’t really win either way. Matt Renshaw seems an excellent signing and will greatly strengthen our batting line up. He will miss most of the T20 Blast though so we need to sign two decent overseas players.

Should other areas of the team have been strengthened further?

DK: Ideally I’d have liked a pace bowler for extra depth but few quality English quicks were available over the winter. We need another t20 overseas player if we are serious about winning the Blast.

MR: In red-ball cricket there was no obvious department that needed to be strengthened, it’s just a case of our batsmen stepping up this season. I hope that the club are recruiting a second overseas player for the Blast, as we could do with a left-arm seamer or another top-order bat.

PH: We look light in the bowling department, especially if Craig and Jack get England call-ups. Also Peter Trego hasn’t bowled a great deal in recent years and I can’t see that changing this season.

Can Somerset succeed in the limited overs competitions?

DK: The RLODC is our best chance – we have done well in the last couple years but the line-up will be broadly similar this season so we will need something extra out of our players to win it.

T20 is unpredictable – we aren’t in the strongest few teams in our group but we have a shot at reaching the quarter-finals at least, especially if Corey Anderson stays fit and we sign another overseas player.

MR: We’ve been improving in white-ball cricket in the past few years, and should do well again. Re-signing Waller and van der Merwe was excellent business, and both should be key.

PH: I don’t feel we have the brand of cricket required to do well in the T20 Blast, but recently we have done well in the 50 over competition – as long as we don’t run into one of the power counties, such as Nottinghamshire.

Which young player(s) are you expecting big things from this season?

DK: Eddie Byrom – he made a solid (if unspectacular) start to his career last season, proving that he has the technique and temperament to succeed. Now he needs to start converting 30s and 40s into 80s and hundreds.

Paul van Meekeren too – he has had limited opportunities so far but he’s impressed me. His challenge is to nail down a regular spot in at least one or two formats – he could be helped by potential England call-ups for Craig Overton.

MR: Eddie Byrom will have his breakthrough season, and score 700+ Championship runs.

PH: Dom Bess should fill a void potentially left by Jack Leach – both players are going all the way to the top.

Tom Abell – I think this will be his season.

Who would be in your XI for the first game against Worcestershire?

DK: Top six is certain: Trescothick, Byrom, Renshaw, Hildreth, Abell, Davies.

As for the bowling, Gregory, C Overton, Groenewald and Leach all start for me. Trego probably misses out sadly.

The final spot I’d give to Davey, van Meekeren or Bess depending on conditions – I am not sure J Overton is ready yet after a slightly wayward showing against Ireland.

MR: Trescothick, Byrom, Renshaw, Hildreth, Abell, Davies, van der Merwe, Gregory, C.Overton, Groenewald, Leach.

PH: Renshaw, Trescothick, Abell, Hildreth, Davies, Trego, Gregory, C Overton, J Overton, Leach, Van Meekeren

Where will Somerset finish in the Championship?

DK: 3rd; MK: 5th; PH: 7th

Which player will score the most Championship runs for Somerset?

DK: James Hildreth; MR: James Hildreth; PH: Marcus Trescothick

Which player will take the most Championship wickets for Somerset?

DK: Craig Overton; MR: Craig Overton; PH: Lewis Gregory

Who will win the a) County Championship, B) RLODC, C) T20 Blast?

CC: DK: Lancashire, MR: Lancashire; PH: Essex RLODC: DK: Essex, MR: Notts; PH: Notts T20 Blast: DK: Warwickshire, MR: Northants; PH: Notts

Who will score the most Championship runs overall?

DK: Liam Livingstone; MR: Rory Burns; PH: Dan Lawrence

Who will take the most Championship wickets overall?

DK: Kyle Abbott; MR: Kyle Abbott; PH: Jamie Porter