You're talking about ambition and extending our stadium is a sign of ambition and a sign that we want bigger things. What have Southampton got? A point more than us after we didn't start playing until February? Yeah well impressive.
What are you talking about? The Great Escape was Pearson and the start of us playing our high energy, high intensity counter attacking football and we won seven out of nine. Ranieri carried that on as we went on to lose only four in 47 and then he changed it and he picked up 21 points from 25 games and then Shakey changes it back and we go and and get 22 from the next 10. You haven't got a clue what you're talking about and you're wildly underestimating us.
They are in Europe and we aren't which is why they have a better chance then us - the ods on them to win is much less then the odds on us winning the league...
Rumour is that Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be joining us on loan. I hope this this is in view to a permanent deal if true as we shouldn't be developing players for other teams. Also I wonder where would it leave the likes of James and Chowdrey as we already have a lot of players that play in the centre of the park.
Ranieri was nowhere near the great escape. It was Pearson, Shakey and Walsh. Raneiri'a strength was definitely not picking up a struggling team like Pearson did. Can't fault what he did was a team already flowing in confidence though
Let's not get carried away and think we know the outcome of the future. Only the past is fact. The future is all what-ifs, maybes and hopes. The certainty of the future cannot be argued about except by the deluded and foolish. Logic doesn't always work. Who would have thought Leicester would win the Premier League? Let's keep things in perspective until they have actually happened. Every die-hard supporter thinks his team are buying the players best suited for their needs. Whether these things work out or not will be decided in due course and, as much as we might convince ourselves that we know what will happen, there will be many a twist and turn and plenty of curve balls and surprises between August and next spring. Let's not turn this forum into a slanging match between supporters. Keep the attitude grown-up and the rivalry respectful off the pitch as well as on.
No arguing with the facts - but you do need to factor in our European adventure in relation to where we finished last season and that we obviously were not as motivated in the league as we were the previous season (inexcusably of course ) Pickford may be the next great English hope - but we don't currently need a keeper - and to put it into perspective - Pickford couldn't keep Sunderland up at the end of the day. Keane was 'a choice' - we don't know if he was 'first choice' - and whilst promising is not yet the finished article - we exposed him quite easily in the 3-0 win at ours. Klassen is OK - but we played against very much better midfielders in last season's European campaign and more than held our own ... and the Dutch are not faring particularly well at International these days, are they? Wayne Rooney has been sleeping in Everton pyjamas for the last 13 years ... and presumably sleeping on the pitch for United for the last couple too - nothing else to add. ... apart fom ... we have won 3 domestic trophies since Everton last won one - food for thought. Do I see Everton's signings so far making them credible Top 4 challenges? ... nope.. do you?
... Ranieri did way more than take on a team "already flowing with confidence" John ... we were amongst the favourites to be relegated at the start of the season - whilst the "great escape" was phenomenal, we need to keep that in perspective too. We only played one of the top 6 in that 9 game run, Chelseas, and we lost 3-1. Ranieri put his faith in players that would not have been exactly flowing in confidence in Vardy, Drinky and Simpson and made them almost guaranteed starters - Vardy, crucially, as the focal striker rather than as a wide left option as he had been the season before. Ranieri's record against the top clubs, Arsenal aside, was quite incredible - and down to his tactical nous.
With Pickford I did say that he was on the short list to replace Kasper when the rumours that he was leaving was at its peak - was many people's first choice. With Keane, we were after him last season and he was the first player that we bidded on in this so it is safe to assume he was our first choice. Klaasen - is a someone that is going to reach their peak. Will he reach it in the Premier League? Dunno - all I know it's that I would have been happy if he joined us. As for the Dutch, they are like England - talented players with a **** FA buggering things up from the top. Rooney - as a striker he has lost it. As a AM, he could do well. Is at his boyhood club so may lay off the pies and play like he cares and will make them ****loads in merchandise and commercial sales. Will Everton reach the top 4? Don't know and tbh I don't really care. Only reason I'm even paying attention is because Champions of England kept going on about them. All I can say is that Steve Walsh is doing a job with them that I like the look of - maybe those signing will go the way of Mendy and Musa. Then again they could go the way of Kante and Vardy.
Whatever happens last season doesn't take away what happened 2 seasons ago - Raneiri took a team that spent most of the season rooted at the bottom of the Premier League and made them champions. I remember watching the miracle in Istanbul and thinking nothing will ever top that only for my team to prove me completely wrong.
Derby are interested in Tom Lawrence and are preparing a £7M bid - not sure what opportunities he will have here, especially if Mahrez stays so might be worth cashing in.
Looking increasingly likely that Riyad Mahrez won't be joining Arsenal ... hope he knuckles down and reproduces his form of the season befor last if he doesn't get a move ... starting iwth a one fingered salute type of performance at the Gooners in our opening fixture ... would literally **** myself if that happened ... those Arsenal fans would go into complete meltdown
According to the BBC, Swansea have turned down an offer worth £40m for Siggy - form US. They have set a value of £50m on him.
