Ardwick AFC
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 11 Oct 2011
- Messages
- 472
The best thing about history is, you can learn from it. You can almost predict the future.
When Arsenal started putting together that fantastic side of Overmars, Viera, Petit, Bergkamp, Anelka and Henry...along with stalwarts like Adams, Campbell, Dixon and Seaman. They were untouchable and went on a run of dominating the PL and domestic competitions. Baconface had already started clearing out their old guard with players coming through spliced with the quality and experience of recruits like Stam, Yorke, Sheringham, Johnson, Berg. They came back to challenge Arsenal and won the treble.
Then came the Roman Abromovich era. Never before had English football witnessed a billionaire willing to part with his own cash, to fund improvements to the squad. Chelsea went on a huge spending spree, bringing in top quality players like Drogba, Essien, Robben, Duff, Makelele, Carvalho and Cech. The special one managed to blend them in with messers Lampard, Terry etc.. and they were champions for 2 seasons on the run, and everybody said that this would be the status quo for the foreseeable future, because Abramovich could just go and buy the best players in the world, but quelle surprise...Old baconface came back again. The Rooney and Ronaldo roadshow hit form and everyone said, "How do they do it?" He brought in unknown players like Vidic, Evra and Nani and they won more titles and the CL...
So here we are, City are now the new challenge to the evil empire. We've bought some of the best players in the world, just like Arsenal and Chelsea did before us. Do we think that the Rags will just roll over and give up? Recent History would lead us to believe not. Shaking bacon has already started clearing out the O'Shea's and Brown's, and VDS has been replaced. I can't see Fletcher playing again and Park will be gone next. They were completely overun by Spurs and us in midfield this season. So we'll probably see some new midfield recruits arrive in the summer and maybe a new right back. They'll be there or there abouts, motivated by our threat. Just like they were in seasons gone by.
We will win the league, this season or next. And they will have to raise their game to keep up with us. We'll be slugging it out for the next few years at least, and Chelsea will probably do the same. They'll have a clear out in the summer and some big names will come in. I predict a 3 horse race next season.
Lampard, anyone?
Another challenge we will have in the future, is after experiencing success with City, will big names like Aguero, Silva, Balotelli and Kompany want to stay around. With the likes of Real Madrid, Milan or Barca circling around like vultures. I don't think it's a question of money, either. The Rags would have matched Clownaldo's wages to keep him, but he wanted to start a new challenge in Spain. Footballers have a short career, and I can see many blues becoming upset over the next few summers. One thing for sure, it will never be dull again, so start growing that thick skin. You can only field 11 players, and there are thousands to choose from around the world, so it's good to remember that. Loyalty is a thing of the past. Agents rule the roost now.
So in answer to your question - Option 1, with Chelsea included.
When Arsenal started putting together that fantastic side of Overmars, Viera, Petit, Bergkamp, Anelka and Henry...along with stalwarts like Adams, Campbell, Dixon and Seaman. They were untouchable and went on a run of dominating the PL and domestic competitions. Baconface had already started clearing out their old guard with players coming through spliced with the quality and experience of recruits like Stam, Yorke, Sheringham, Johnson, Berg. They came back to challenge Arsenal and won the treble.
Then came the Roman Abromovich era. Never before had English football witnessed a billionaire willing to part with his own cash, to fund improvements to the squad. Chelsea went on a huge spending spree, bringing in top quality players like Drogba, Essien, Robben, Duff, Makelele, Carvalho and Cech. The special one managed to blend them in with messers Lampard, Terry etc.. and they were champions for 2 seasons on the run, and everybody said that this would be the status quo for the foreseeable future, because Abramovich could just go and buy the best players in the world, but quelle surprise...Old baconface came back again. The Rooney and Ronaldo roadshow hit form and everyone said, "How do they do it?" He brought in unknown players like Vidic, Evra and Nani and they won more titles and the CL...
So here we are, City are now the new challenge to the evil empire. We've bought some of the best players in the world, just like Arsenal and Chelsea did before us. Do we think that the Rags will just roll over and give up? Recent History would lead us to believe not. Shaking bacon has already started clearing out the O'Shea's and Brown's, and VDS has been replaced. I can't see Fletcher playing again and Park will be gone next. They were completely overun by Spurs and us in midfield this season. So we'll probably see some new midfield recruits arrive in the summer and maybe a new right back. They'll be there or there abouts, motivated by our threat. Just like they were in seasons gone by.
We will win the league, this season or next. And they will have to raise their game to keep up with us. We'll be slugging it out for the next few years at least, and Chelsea will probably do the same. They'll have a clear out in the summer and some big names will come in. I predict a 3 horse race next season.
Lampard, anyone?
Another challenge we will have in the future, is after experiencing success with City, will big names like Aguero, Silva, Balotelli and Kompany want to stay around. With the likes of Real Madrid, Milan or Barca circling around like vultures. I don't think it's a question of money, either. The Rags would have matched Clownaldo's wages to keep him, but he wanted to start a new challenge in Spain. Footballers have a short career, and I can see many blues becoming upset over the next few summers. One thing for sure, it will never be dull again, so start growing that thick skin. You can only field 11 players, and there are thousands to choose from around the world, so it's good to remember that. Loyalty is a thing of the past. Agents rule the roost now.
So in answer to your question - Option 1, with Chelsea included.