continuing with my theme / belief, that we are in no way as bad as the media and some on here would have you believe, nor has the season been an unmitigated disaster, i think a little more perspective can be achieved by looking at last nights CL results, and our performance in the last 2 seasons in that competition.
Last season, we were put out (effectively) by Bayern and Napoli, Bayern went on to the Final, and excluding the most tunnel visioned Chelsea fans, most people will agree they should have won it. Napoli, beat the eventual winners convincingly at home, and were very unlucky to ultimately lose the tie in the away leg.
This season, we were eliminated again at the group stage, this time by Real, and Dortmund, both of whom have already qualified for the last 8, something no English team (Arsenal miracle apart) will manage this season.
Sure we could and probably should have done better, but i believe our failure (?) to get out of the group stage for the last 2 seasons has far more to do with the group we were in, than any actual failure on our part.
To tie this in with the first part of the thread, retaining our title was always going to be even harder than winning it, (teams raise their game against the champions), and we can all point to perceived failings. However, i think Real and Dortmunds progress in this seasons CL, put our performances in that into a little perspective.
Given the group we were in, (only really poor performance was Ajax away, and we were so close in Madrid) second in the League (it aint quite over yet, but i accept improbable), and the FA Cup still ongoing, I'm possibly easily satisfied, but i'm quite ok with that.