champions league?? Not my words.

No one has actually said that dude. We're just debating an article written by someone else suggesting it's possible.

Think you should calm down mate

 

It would be great to be in and around those spots at the end of the season fighting for something other than relegation. Depending on the head to head results there is no reason we cant be up there fighting for a spot. Chelsea have been inconsistent all season so unless this changes its possible. Same with Liverpool and Arsenal. If Arsenal lose RVP they will really struggle. Its very unlikly but if we keep out key players fit and cisse sets the league alight you never now. Still think we will just miss out but that would be a fantastic season

 

No one has on here Stoney but honestly if you read some of the forums etc I think Tash has a point about some of our fans. I can see where our deluded tag comes from at times. I've read some disparaging remarks about the respective squads of Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs. Less so Spurs of course but you'd honestly think our squad was much stronger than it is. The signing of Papiss seems to have given some of their brains a leave of absence. I'm not having a go at those who think our squad is stronger either, each to their own but I'm struggling to see the factual basis for it! They have completely forgotten about the huge gaps we have at present. We're a centre half light, we don't have a natural left back, we have no natural cover for Tiote (Abeid, Guthrie all look like Cabaye types). Then you look at these other teams and the strength they have, the comments look sillier and sillier.

Take Liverpool for example seen as they seem to get the brunt of the ire, its just one big bandwagon jumping session. Don't get me wrong I don't think they look a team yet, but in terms of squad I'm struggling to see where folk are coming from. If we just look at a basic 442 line up: Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Skrtel, Agger, Lucas, Gerrard, Downing, Maxi, Bellamy, Suarez. We have Krul, Simpson, Santon, Colo, Saylor, Tiote, Cabaye, Benni, Jonas, Demba, Demba. Striker wise there is little in it. In the wide areas I say we edge it. Central midfield I'd say they do. Centre halfs, not much in it. Full backs they edge it and GK, again nowt in it. So pretty close of first 11 for me and I reckon we'd win our home game, them theirs if it was just on first teams.

Then you look below and we're a fair bit behind. They'd have the likes of Doni, Coates, Carragher, Kelly, Aurelio, Kuyt, Henderson, Spearing, Adam, Carroll, Sterling, Shelvey, Flanaghan. I know they have some quality youngsters too who are involved with various international set ups. I like our squad but I'm struggling to see the depth to compete with that. Harper, Raylor, Ferguson, Perch, Willo, Guthrie, Obertan, Gosling, Lovekrands, Shola, Sammy, Best, Marveaux, Smith, Abeid, Vuckic. Am I missing something obvious here? There looks a bit of a gulf in quality to me and it will take a few years to get to that stage. Chelsea and Arsenal are probably stronger again.

I just think Tash is right, we need to be realistic to avoid ending up disappointed. If he was just aiming at those on not606 then yes I'd agree he is being a bit jumpy but I assumed he was just talking about our fanbase in general.

 

I very much doubt we will get there, but we are only 4 points off 4th. Liverpool are a point below us and will be aiming for it so why the **** not .

 

FFS just spent ages replying to a cross-board article and it's been removed: (sorry fo the OT on this thread)

Who the hell's Sundeland? Doesn't matter anyway because my dad is bigger than yours you twat

Dunno mate. Martin O'Neil is a great signing to be your new manager, but much the same as Cisse, we don't know how well they'll do in our particular clubs. The greatest have fallen and the smallest have risen for every team in the past. Pardew looks well set for a shot at some decent reputation gains, but that could all turn around as well.

As for being "bigger" I think that view point has come about due to the higher league finishes (and which league), stadium size, no. of fans, attendance records and not to mention we've scored more points in the top division over the last 30 years and a higher average of points per game - While this all sounds very impressive, neither has achieved a great deal in real terms and we only edge you on most of those stats.

Your owner appears to be providing the funds (I don't follow you that closely, so I'm going by what you and others have said on our board) and with someone like MON in charge you can be relatively comfortable that it will be spent wisely.

Personally I would like you to be around the same position as us (just below to be specific ) and the effort has certainly been there. Agree you should never have let Bent go, at least not without a decent replacement then that would probably be the case now.

It's football, there's always bound to be a certain amount of luck involved. Our signings have been a bit risky, but with good research and medical staff we've got away with it.

I'm sure if your owners show the same faith in MON when it comes to signings as they did with Brucey he'll get you on track. It's like relationships you have to keep trying til you find the right match.

Once he's settled in and molded the team I expect you to surge up the table, though I hate to admit it

You'll never be better than us though

 

I completely agree! I still want 6th spot. I just don't like the general attitude sometimes, swearing at people because they don't share the same opinion etc.

If I was manager I would be telling the squad we're aiming higher, but that's just my motivational philosophy rather than expectations.

It can be annoying when you get rediculous fans, but I can also understand the "it's our year" dream. To suggest it's just us that have them would be silly, yet we are noted for it for some reason. Again, probably the tabloids influence.

Good read btw.

 

I think we'll end up 7th. 6th if Liverpool mess up.
and there will be a significant gap between 5th and 6th (and less of a gap between 7th and 8th)

what I hope is that the Cups play out favourably, and are won by teams above us
(or we get to the FA cup final against a team already qualified for Europe)

this will mean 7th place gets into the Europa League. That will cement the contracts of any players wavering about leaving I reckon, and show our ambition. We can then build to look at getting higher up the league.

 

I want us to be as high as we can. I think 5th or 6th are unlikely but not impossible with a bit of ladyluck. Beyond that I just can't see it. I agree Pards needs to be positive while keeping goals realistic. He just needs them concentrated on one game at a time and see where it takes us. Sometimes I get a bit baffled by our support but over the years I've learned to just accept it for what it is. Truth be told I do find some of the delusional comments quite funny and entertaining so would I really want them to stop?!

 

25/1 Might be worth a cheeky fiver.
Stranger things have happened

 

OR maybe he's seen them play together for Senegal

 

yeah, still taking the bet! Same though, just £5

@Pouch - Yeah, can be a laugh sometimes.