I have to disagree with the idea that Jenkins wanting Jones showed a lack of ambition. It is impossible to speculate as to how we would be performing had he joined, but that his name is not as famous as our current manager is no indication of his limitations as a potential first team manager; Steve Clark at WBA being the perfect example. If, and when, Laudrup decides to move on, it is going to be the hardest managerial choice that HJ and the board have had to make for years. I admire the optimism of some posters in regarding the Champions league as our goal, but I cannot buy into this mindset...well, not yet, anyway. The first year in the PL, after being promoted, the goal posts are clearly defined: survival. Second season, the goal posts do not move: survival, again. Yet in the third and fourth seasons, fractures appear in the expectations of fans and, probably, players as well, where realists see survival as achievement again, and optimists see mere survival as stagnation and so begin to demand loftier targets. After our recent, explosive, ascent to our current division and league position, it is inevitable that we will have to see a plateau in the rise of our team at some point soon, because unless you honestly believe that we can be competing with, and beating, the Barcas and Real Madrids in champions league finals within the next few years, there simply remain very, very few goal posts to aim for other than a tidy cup run, and league survival.
I agree about Jones to a certain extent, but don't think he has enough connections to get really great players like ML has. But as you say, there's no way for us to know. If we can finish in top or very close, ML may be able to attract some even better players to get us into the top 4. Finishing top 4 would mean many great players would be happy to come and play for us. Once that happens there's no reason why we can't beat Barcelona, Real Madrid. We're a long way from that but there's no reason we can't get there. But it will be very difficult. Not impossible though. Most top teams were nobodies once upon a time.
No, I also agree that Jones would not have got the players that ML has been able to, but he knew the strengths of the team of last year as well as anyone, and also knew our style of play better than anyone else, Martinez and Rogers aside. With hindsight, I don't believe that Jones would have implemented the tweaks in our style that Laudrup has done and that have allowed us to progress from last season, but, finding themselves in the unenviable position of having to source and appoint ANOTHER new manager, Jenkins and the board's initial leaning towards Jones was definitely a sensible decision. I love your optimism, DG, and, of course, share your hopes. For it to happen though, we will have to be trail blazers and do that which no other club has done in the history of the premier league; that is, to be the first promoted side to qualify for the champions league. That we've been trail blazers for the past 8 years gives us, perhaps, greater hope of achieving this than any other promoted side, but, in reality, the statistics are against us. For me to buy into this dream, I have to look a long way into the future, into a time when true financial "fair play" initiatives are actually enforced which will inevitably drive away the Abramovichs and Sheikhs and force sensible business practice into our sport. When this happens, ourselves, Arsenal, and a few others will be prepared and ready, and can hopefully take advantage. In the mean time, I'll take Premier league survival as my main goal for each season, enjoy attending the games, and revel in the scalps that we claim along our path.
I have seen that piece of paper. It says 'How the F**k can I top Laudrup, better ask the boys on Not606.' Are you sure your not Huw, ecmm
