Really simple question.

[persvenality cult]

Chelsea have taken the same approach as us and brought a lot of players into their club for significant sums of money and have achieved their aim of winning the premiership. Given how much money we have spend and arguebly having a better standard of players than them, why can't we?

Who says we can't? Oh, you mean right now.

Chelsea finished 4th in the last season pre-Abramovich.They had been spending heavily for nearly a decade before Abramovich pitched up. They finished top 6 every single year and won the FA Cup (twice), League Cup, Charity Shield, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Super Cup. Terry and Lampard were well established. Foreign stars including Vialli, Zola, Ruud Gullit, Desailly, Gallas. So there was more to build on, including Champions League football. it was easier to persuade the stars they wanted to join in that first summer. Even so, Abramovich spent 180m to finish second in his first season. Mourinho then spent another 100m in his first year.

Relative to that, we've come from nowhere.

 

[persvenality cult]

Chelsea finished forth in the first season Abramovich took over, the next season they won the league.

So if you get top 4 this season you should challenge next season.

Knowing you lot though, you'll find a way to fuck it up.

Chelsea fourth the season BEFORE Abramovich took over, second in his first season.

 

[urmstonlad]

Chelsea finished forth in the first season Abramovich took over, the next season they won the league.

So if you get top 4 this season you should challenge next season.

Knowing you lot though, you'll find a way to fuck it up.

Chelsea fourth the season BEFORE Abramovich took over, second in his first season.

Yeah, sorry you're right. My mistake.

Abramovich took over in June 2003.

02/03 - 4th
03/04 - 2nd
04/05 - 1st

Safe to say if you make top four this season you'll be spending big in the summer and should challenge.

If you don't make top 4, it'll be quite the disaster for you.

 

[ForeverCity]

we went from 14th to 9th to 5th to ?? give it time, its coming, hopefully.

 

[persvenality cult]

Chelsea fourth the season BEFORE Abramovich took over, second in his first season.

Yeah, sorry you're right. My mistake.

Abramovich took over in June 2003.

02/03 - 4th
03/04 - 2nd
04/05 - 1st

Safe to say if you make top four this season you'll be spending big in the summer and should challenge.

If you don't make top 4, it'll be quite the disaster for you.

Unthinkable.

I don't think we'll spend that much this summer. Two/three 20m+ players. We have a lot of young players who will be expected to step up in their second year together in this league.

 

[Rammyblues]

We are constantly reminded that it is thirty odd years since we won owt. I have been a city fan for the last 34 years and seen us win fuck all. Another year or two makes no difference to me. Finishing top 4 is not winning something but it is a platform where you can go out and win something. Since our wonderful owners have been with us we finshed 10th then 5th but looking at closing the number of points on the leaders and in our first year I believe we finsihed 29 points behind and last season 18, if we do finish 4th and that number of points is again halved to say 9 points IMO provided again this summer we make the right investment in the right players there is no reason why we can't mount a strong challenge. We still need to clear the players out who don't feature under Bert (almost there) and replace with better players who do want to play for Bert and understand his philosophy, only then will we truly be able to compete with the likes of United. Finally I do think we have a good chace of winning Europa League and we are still in FA cup, winning either of those trophies and finishing top 4 will be fantastic.

 

[blue order]

Chelsea fourth the season BEFORE Abramovich took over, second in his first season.

Yeah, sorry you're right. My mistake.

Abramovich took over in June 2003.

02/03 - 4th
03/04 - 2nd
04/05 - 1st

Safe to say if you make top four this season you'll be spending big in the summer and should challenge.

If you don't make top 4, it'll be quite the disaster for you.

Lot easier for Chelsea...they were established and had been winning trophies so could rival anyone for attracting players for reasons other than pure cash.

1. Already top four.

2. Easier to be top four than now.Even putting L'pool on a par with United and Arsenal for three of four places,who else was around to really compete for that fourth spot?

Interestingly,Abramovich still despite finishing 2nd did not pass up the opportunity to bring in Mourinho when on paper there was no justification for sacking Ranieri.

If we say scrape fourth this year and no other trophies do we 'trust in Bobby'or if the special one is available do what Abramovich did?

It is going to be even tougher next year to get in the top four....United/Arsenal/Spurs/City/Chelsea/L'pool will all be in contention.I know some people will burn me for this opinion but if we just scrape fourth/no other trophy or worse then I would take Mourinho if available ..I just happen to believe he is the better/more proven manager and it would mean he wouldn't be at United or L'pool also.He is the only manager that I would sacrifice RM for though.

 

[Spiros]

Chelsea fourth the season BEFORE Abramovich took over, second in his first season.

If you don't make top 4, it'll be quite the disaster for you.

What has this got to do with United?

I very much doubt you want to hear my opinion on all things city for that reason I'm only commenting on threads to do with United.

 

[clubfoot]

When Chelsea got rich they already had a decent team, Terry, Lampard etc.

We have had to buy a complete new team

That's why it will take us longer than it took them

 

[kippaxwarrior]

Chelsea finished forth in the first season Abramovich took over, the next season they won the league.

So if you get top 4 this season you should challenge next season.

Knowing you lot though, you'll find a way to fuck it up.

So 3rd in the league 5 points behind the leaders with 13/12 games left and you think were not challenging this season?

Are you Tony Gale?