Why are Toon fans resigned to the fact that we'll slip down the table due to Europa??

Spending big isn't the only way to have a successful season. Everyone should know that after last year. Of course we punched above our weight. But the real question is why? It was because we have an excellent scouting network, a good manager and a good squad of players (ability wise and character). As far as I'm aware, none of that has changed.

 

we havent actually qualified for the europa league group stages,


weve still got to win the 4th round play off, to get to the group stages, which is at the end of august,

 

well slash my wrists and call me Henry

 

Away with your realism !

 

A fluke if it was hat easy everyone would have done it

 

Having a good squad, a good manager and great work ethic isn't easy. Having our socuting network isn't easy at all. Everyone tries to do it. Very few people succeed.

As for next season, anywhere from 5 - 10 is the most likely bracket.

 

Who said it had been easy? Getting Carr, plucking Pardew from the managerial scrap heap, and getting the right characters was not easy. This where you have to credit Ashley, like him or loathe him. It can be done and we have done it.

Unless of course you're suggesting that Pards is no longer a good manager, all them players are about to develop ****ty attitudes and Graham Carr is going to lose his sight? Then you're not only wrong, but mad as a *****ose

 

I have never had occasion to doubt the mental health of mongeese

 

Sorry Henry I can't do that, I hate the sight of blood.

 

Exactly it was a fluke and now MA thinks we can do the same everytime. We will sell all our best players again and this time the opposite will occur in my opinion. I'm usually right about such matters but I really hope we just stick rather than twist again,

Twist again and I expect a relegation fight.

 

In the next couple of weeks I'll pull together a Euro 2012 thread for everyone.

 

What exactly do you mean by twist again though? We didn't REALLY twist that much last time. In fact, in 2 windows, we sold 4 players, and without going over old ground for the umpteenth time, one was a gamble, one a necessity and two were educated choices with back up already in place.

If that was to happen again, say, for the sake of argument in the following scenario (Tiote, Ba, Guthrie and Simpson leaving) I'd think that, looking at our track record over the two most recent windows, they'd be suitably replaced. If we get Carroll-esque money for Tiote, there are numerous players here and abroad that could do a decent job (many of whom wont be away for 3 months next season).

The thing is, to use a gambling analogy, from what I hear, it is the agent's forcing the clubs hand in most cases nowadays, this is obviously the case for Ba, and from what I have heard Tiote will be away within 2 years, as his two agents are after a big payday. If these player's advisers are constantly angling for 'big moves' then it's not going to help the player (in terms of them focussing on the job at hand) or the club, and cashing in is mutually beneficial, assuming that suitable replacements are found, which is what all of this comes down to, and to be honest, nobody has a crystal ball, and nobody can see how that will pan out. All I'd say is that we do have 'previous' in terms of finding the right players, that said, the loss of certain individuals (and I wouldn't include Tiote in this list incidentally) may be an undertaking that would stretch the ability of any scouting network.

 

Gamble is what I mean.

 

Indeed, but surely even an optimist like yourself would have to think another one player gamble wouldn't ruin us. We're much better than we were last time we gambled on selling a big name.

 

I keep wondering if I detect any irony in there.

Probably not. Too bad - - it would sound so much cleverer with a bit of irony