Hey how come now one is talking about the group of women by the water that had all their guns took? What about them?
On one side it would be cool (in a sad way) that they go back and they've been overrun by walkers or that the Scavengers took most of them out (since they are a sneaky bunch and could see that they would've had 1 spy following Rick's group.
Also the spineless Mayor guy at the Hilltop, I could see him getting in the way and then doing a mini redemption story and then end up doing more harm then good (similar to the guy that shot himself and almost got Glen killed).
As far as Negan, I would lean more towards following the comics, at least for a little while, as they've shown glimpses of him having some sense of decency (in a warped way) to get you to like him so they can keep him around for at least 1 more season. I personally have liked his comic relief, it has replaced Abraham's one liners.
But I guess I can turn off my thought logic/suspend disbelief enough to keep this show entertaining enough, not every episode is good but for me it's good enough.
The part of my brain I have to keep quiet involves killing Negan, it just seems like if they just wanted to kill him they really could have thought of a way. I just tell my brain that his mini groups would just become chaotic wild packs that are even worse, so they have to reduce their numbers in a show of force and as I stated before that the Negan character can have a longer shelf life to make the show more interesting.
Besides obviously offing Glen and Abraham, Negan is almost likable to me and the part that bugs me the most about him is how he lets his "Negan's" be such absolute dicks to the other groups (they don't in front of him as much). I get it for the story line though and I can talk myself into that he has to let them have some free rain so he can keep everyone under his thumb.