Madness

[cibaman]

For me last season and this have always been about making progress, establishing a settled squad and playing system. Next year we should be ready to make a serious title challenge.

If we finish 3rd or 4th this year but dont win anything we will:

1) Probably have developed a reasonably settled squad playing reasonably consistently
2) Probably be keeping the same manager with the continuity that goes with that
3) Probably not have to make wholesale changes to the squad next summer but
4) Be able to recruit 1 or 2 genuinely world class players

If we had won the Carling cup but finish 5th we'll:
1) Have had a good day out at Wembley
2) Had the pleasure of seeing the 34 Years banner come down, but only to be replaced by something almost equally as condescending
2) Probably be looking for a new manager but not be able to recruit the real cream
3) Be turning the squad upside down again next summer but still not able to attract the best players in the world.

Last night was really unimportant in the grand scheme of things

 

[Soulboy]

For me last season and this have always been about making progress, establishing a settled squad and playing system. Next year we should be ready to make a serious title challenge.

If we finish 3rd or 4th this year but dont win anything we will:

1) Probably have developed a reasonably settled squad playing reasonably consistently
2) Probably be keeping the same manager with the continuity that goes with that
3) Probably not have to make wholesale changes to the squad next summer but
4) Be able to recruit 1 or 2 genuinely world class players

If we had won the Carling cup but finish 5th we'll:
1) Have had a good day out at Wembley
2) Had the pleasure of seeing the 34 Years banner come down, but only to be replaced by something almost equally as condescending
2) Probably be looking for a new manager but not be able to recruit the real cream
3) Be turning the squad upside down again next summer but still not able to attract the best players in the world.

Last night was really unimportant in the grand scheme of things

Or... we could finish top 4 AND win the Carling Cup?

Others do it. So why not us?

Have you such limited ambition for the richest club in the world?

 

[cibaman]

For me last season and this have always been about making progress, establishing a settled squad and playing system. Next year we should be ready to make a serious title challenge.

If we finish 3rd or 4th this year but dont win anything we will:

1) Probably have developed a reasonably settled squad playing reasonably consistently
2) Probably be keeping the same manager with the continuity that goes with that
3) Probably not have to make wholesale changes to the squad next summer but
4) Be able to recruit 1 or 2 genuinely world class players

If we had won the Carling cup but finish 5th we'll:
1) Have had a good day out at Wembley
2) Had the pleasure of seeing the 34 Years banner come down, but only to be replaced by something almost equally as condescending
2) Probably be looking for a new manager but not be able to recruit the real cream
3) Be turning the squad upside down again next summer but still not able to attract the best players in the world.

Last night was really unimportant in the grand scheme of things

Or... we could finish top 4 AND win the Carling Cup?

Others do it. So why not us?

Have you such limited ambition for the richest club in the world?

Others can do it because they have settled playing systems developed over a number of years. They can make wholesale changes to the team, resting senior players, but still look like more or less the same side. Their reserves and juniors are used to playing the same style and system, they can step into the team and not look uncomfortable or out of place.

We aren't there yet. Our reserves and juniors are still getting used to Mancini's systems. One of the pleasing things for me this season so far has been that we have made a number of changes to the first team from week to week and still had the same look, still played broadly the same system. But it only apples to our best 16 or 17 players.

 

[Soulboy]

Or... we could finish top 4 AND win the Carling Cup?

Others do it. So why not us?

Have you such limited ambition for the richest club in the world?

Others can do it because they have settled playing systems developed over a number of years. They can make wholesale changes to the team, resting senior players, but still look like more or less the same side. Their reserves and juniors are used to playing the same style and system, they can step into the team and not look uncomfortable or out of place.

We aren't there yet. Our reserves and juniors are still getting used to Mancini's systems. One of the pleasing things for me this season so far has been that we have made a number of changes to the first team from week to week and still had the same look, still played broadly the same system. But it only apples to our best 16 or 17 players.

More holes in your argument than there is in a tramp's jumper.

Harry Redknapp took over a seriously failing club, and within two years had won a Carling Cup and qualified for the Champions League.

Mourinho's first season in charge I think he won the Carling Cup and the Premiership.

It's a bit of a myth this about building teams over a long period of time.

Benitez and Wenger were successful almost from the off and even Ancelotti did the double in his first season at Chelsea.

 

[carlosthejackal]

How long did it take Arry to take spuds from the bottom of the league to the champions league?