How could we compete??

[Fergie]

Been chatting about the Chelsea game at work today and was discussing how the substitutes Chelsea could call upon were just staggering!!

 

To be 4 and then 5-1 up and bring on Lampard, Makin & then the future of Brazilian in Oscar just shows how far we've yet to come in the premier league. I believe we are competing very well but I look at our bench and feel we have no options with class to change a game!

 

In the same game we brought on Hooiveld, Lee & De Ridder!!

 

Hopefully one day we'll have those substitutes at our disposal, but hopefully they'll also be players that have come through our youth system!! Onwards and upwards to the days were we can really call on game changers!!

[Thedelldays]

we will...when half of our team are academy products and we are fighting it out for 3rd or 4th place.....and man walks on mars

[supersonic]

That's the problem we have. Instead of building a squad which can keep us up, we spent too much money on players who aren't overwhelmingly good. (compare us to West Ham)

 

our bench is extremely weak

[Miltonroader07]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Alanh]

We can't match Chelsea either player for player or in terms of squad depth. I think the only member of our squad that would get into theirs is Gaston. There is a huge gap between the mega rich elite and the rest of the Prem. At this point we want to survive so you need to compare our squad to that of the other clubs in the bottom 6. If we survive and consolidate in a couple of years hopefully our squad will compare favourably with the likes of Fulham, Stoke and West Brom (in terms of PL quality and experience). To progress from there is going to take phenomenal scouting, negotiation, profiteering on homegrown talent and bold investment (think the Gaston deal, but bigger) allied with talented management. It could be an exciting journey.

[S-Clarke]

We will never get close to competing at their level, so there's no point comparing us.

 

We can do well with our own strategy, but at best it's mid-table PL and an outside Europa league shot. That's our realistic ''top'' level in this current day and age.

[Matthew Le God]

Been chatting about the Chelsea game at work today and was discussing how the substitutes Chelsea could call upon were just staggering!!

 

To be 4 and then 5-1 up and bring on Lampard, Makin & then the future of Brazilian in Oscar just shows how far we've yet to come in the premier league. I believe we are competing very well but I look at our bench and feel we have no options with class to change a game!

 

In the same game we brought on Hooiveld, Lee & De Ridder!!

 

Hopefully one day we'll have those substitutes at our disposal, but hopefully they'll also be players that have come through our youth system!! Onwards and upwards to the days were we can really call on game changers!!

 

4 of our best players didn't play against Chelsea.

 

Lambert

Lallana

Ramirez

Clyne

 

I'm not saying we'd have won, but with them playing it would make a big difference.

[S-Clarke]

4 of our best players didn't play against Chelsea.

 

Lambert

Lallana

Ramirez

Clyne

 

With them playing it would make a big difference.

 

I don't think having those 4 available would have made any difference to us. That 40-50min spell Chelsea had was beyond what many teams could handle, let alone us.

[SaintSteve]

I don't think having those 4 available would have made any difference to us. That 40-50min spell Chelsea had was beyond what many teams could handle, let alone us.

 

I think you are overstating Chelsea supremacy. With the MLG 4 chnages we would have had Cork to stifle their movement, Clyne's pace and most of all Lambert to hold the ball up so it did not keep coming back. We will lose to most teams with the 11 we put out in the Cup game, powder puff in midfield and a striker that is not strong enough to keep the ball.

[tajjuk]

Been chatting about the Chelsea game at work today and was discussing how the substitutes Chelsea could call upon were just staggering!!

 

To be 4 and then 5-1 up and bring on Lampard, Makin & then the future of Brazilian in Oscar just shows how far we've yet to come in the premier league. I believe we are competing very well but I look at our bench and feel we have no options with class to change a game!

 

In the same game we brought on Hooiveld, Lee & De Ridder!!

 

Hopefully one day we'll have those substitutes at our disposal, but hopefully they'll also be players that have come through our youth system!! Onwards and upwards to the days were we can really call on game changers!!

 

Hasn't abramovich invested over a billion now in Chelsea? he's spent like £170 million on strikers alone - Ba (7), Lukaku (20), Torres (50), Sturridge (4), Di Santo (3), Shevchenko (30), Drogba (24), Mutu (16), Crespo (16)

 

Last 3 years transfer spending £92 million, £82 million, £99 million, with £48 mil recouped from sales.

 

They have spent over £100 million in one season on two occasions- £153 mil in 03/04 and £112 mil in 05/06.

 

£700 million in player purchases since 2003.

 

That probably helps.

[trousers]

I don't think having those 4 available would have made any difference to us. That 40-50min spell Chelsea had was beyond what many teams could handle, let alone us.

 

I think there was an element of throwing in the towel by Adkins in the second half to steer clear of injuries etc for this weekend.

 

Had we gone in level at half time (which I felt we deserved to) then I think Adkins would have been more tempted to go for a result.

 

That said, I agree that there's a gulf in quality between us and the likes of Chelsea but I don't think that was the sole contributor to the result. We could have been more "competitive" with the same squad of players.

Edited 9 January, 2013 by trousers

[Turkish]

I think there was an element of throwing in the towel by Adkins in the second half to steer clear of injuries etc for this weekend.

 

Had we gone in level at half time (which I felt we deserved to) then I think Adkins would have been more tempted to go for a result.

 

That said, I agree that there's a gulf in quality between us and the likes of Chelsea but I don't think that was the sole contributor to the result.

 

That went well!

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

We will never get close to competing at their level, so there's no point comparing us.

 

We can do well with our own strategy, but at best it's mid-table PL and an outside Europa league shot. That's our realistic ''top'' level in this current day and age.

 

Which is why the way American sports are run is far better.

[Wes Tender]

I don't think having those 4 available would have made any difference to us. That 40-50min spell Chelsea had was beyond what many teams could handle, let alone us.

 

You don't think it would have made any difference? So we wouldn't have scored more or conceded less?

 

It's a shame that nobody told QPR that they should have been tonked by Chelsea the match before.

 

We matched them for most of the first half and it took them until virtually half-time to gain a lead. But we stopped closing them down and allowed them too much space to punish us, something that QPR didn't stop doing.

 

On paper, player for player, there are few teams in the World to match theirs in terms of player quality. But then matches aren't played on paper and on a given day, David can beat Goliath. Just look at what Bradford have done from the third division.

[Mowgli]

I don't think having those 4 available would have made any difference to us. That 40-50min spell Chelsea had was beyond what many teams could handle, let alone us.

 

That's just laughable. if they have that litle impact why don't we just sell them! The truth was we matched Chelsea for 40 minutes and folded on the half time goal. Game over. Chelsea were good but on our day, with all our star players on the pitch, we are capable of beating anyone. Sadly we are also capable of losing to anyone....

[Barry Sanchez]

I thought Cortese said we will be up there competing for European football! Anybody who completely buys into this academy, 5 year plan and the like is being very naive, like they think it will actually come true, what about Everton, Liverpool, Spurs, West Ham and Newcastle? Dont they have ambitions to rise again, they will always spend more money than us and most of the above have a history of a better academy as well.

We need to wake up, we will only progress if we do a bit of both and not actually speculate buy and purchase known quality, how do we do this? By paying over the odds for this and will Cortese allow this? I think you probably now know from my posts I dont think this will be allowed to happen on players over a certain age and unsellable for the future so what we are left with are academy players and young players of known but as yet unfulfilled potential, a huge gamble when we have to stay in this League if we realistically are going to keep

Lambert

Shaw

Puncheon

Ramirez

Schneiderlin

Cork

Lallana

 

Now when they have gone and we have balanced the books, what will we buy to get us up again? Selling Sharp could be a mistake after all.

[Smirking_Saint]

You don't think it would have made any difference? So we wouldn't have scored more or conceded less?

 

It's a shame that nobody told QPR that they should have been tonked by Chelsea the match before.

 

We matched them for most of the first half and it took them until virtually half-time to gain a lead. But we stopped closing them down and allowed them too much space to punish us, something that QPR didn't stop doing.

 

On paper, player for player, there are few teams in the World to match theirs in terms of player quality. But then matches aren't played on paper and on a given day, David can beat Goliath. Just look at what Bradford have done from the third division.

 

If that chelsea team wants to turn it on then they will destroy teams, but the fact that they are not top of the league shows their problem, they are very inconsistant. It took them time to get into their stride but then when they get in the ascendancy you are knackered. The array of talent there is phenominal and Ba has taken them up another notch too.

 

We met them on a good day, QPR on a bad day. Lucky for 'arry nothing chelsea really threw at them worked, it was almost the opposite against us come the second half. Would we have stood a better chance with our better players ? Of course, but in reality Chelsea is the best team in the league on paper IMO

[Frank's cousin]

Think we have a the makings of adecent first 11 that with added experience of this season would be reasonably solid next season. Problem is the back up as many have noted, two of 3 changes and we lose shape and focus which is what happened second half v Chelsea. IN addition we do lack a natural leader on teh pitch. Adam is great but does not come across as a natural leader.

 

How do we ever compete?

 

Well if you dont believe we ever can, then my question is what is the point of being a fan? Its always been about dreams and aspiration, whether realistic or not, that keeps fans trudging to grounds on cold winter days, with little or no hope of points - we can mock the 10k that turn up a Fortress Fatpipes, but those fand still dream and keep going despite the shiedt on show...

 

Problem with the prem is that there are 4 or 5 sides who will always have the financial muscle to retain those top 4or 5 spaces if they get their act together - other EU leagues tend to have 1-3 so there are always extra CL places up for grabs depending on which clubs have good seasons - usually based on managers, a crop of decent youngsters or by digging out the hidden gems - their flirtation with CL is cyclical as the best will then move on to the bigger clubs after being in the CL window.

 

If and its a big IF, we do manage to harbour a conveyor belt of talent from the academy combined with teh 10-12 mil buys we seem to be looking at, there is potential to be regularly in the top 8 or 9. Better than that needs more cash, or enough cash to convince 19 yearolds to stay until 22-24 to give us that chance of the European place... but we shoudl be happy to dream that we will get a crop like teh Busby Babes and take Europe by storm

[Barry Sanchez]

My feet are firmly on the ground and supporting Saints has put them there, I like it that way, dreamy Saints fans make me laugh, like the fat kid with the prom queen infatuation, they just wont wake up and smell the coffee.

 

5 years plan

European football

50/50 Academy/purchased footballers

 

Noble dreams but do fans actually know how much you have to consistently spend to even try to achieve that? We are still one of the lowest spending teams ever in the history of premiership but dont let facts get in the way of bull****.

 

http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/transfer-league-table-1992-to-today.html

[tajjuk]

My feet are firmly on the ground and supporting Saints has put them there, I like it that way, dreamy Saints fans make me laugh, like the fat kid with the prom queen infatuation, they just wont wake up and smell the coffee.

 

5 years plan

European football

50/50 Academy/purchased footballers

 

Noble dreams but do fans actually know how much you have to consistently spend to even try to achieve that? We are still one of the lowest spending teams ever in the history of premiership but dont let facts get in the way of bull****.

 

http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/transfer-league-table-1992-to-today.html

 

Pretty sure our '5 year plan' was to be in the premiership in 5 years, we did it in 3.

 

That spending table is meaningless, starts in 1992 where a million was a big transfer, some of those clubs have had 3 or 4 owners in that time, many have been out of the league, the likes of us, norwich, man city, reading have dropped to the 3rd tier.

 

We spent little money under Lowe and still made it to 8th and the FA cup final and Europe. I'm pretty sure a lot of the clubs below us spent a lot more than that, pretty sure Liverpool spend shed loads more than West Brom, Everton, Arsenal yet all 3 sit above them in the table.

 

It's not how much you spend it's what you spend it on. Buying young players with potential is a much sensible purchase strategy than Chelsea's and Liverpool's, it's pretty much the way Arsenal have been a top 4 club in the premiership.

[Barry Sanchez]

Sorry Liverpool have always spent big and are the most successful English club in Europe, United also, now the most successful domestic English club, and Chelsea are the current European Champions, so if you spend big and well you win but other than that what are you on about?

[Wes Tender]

I thought Cortese said we will be up there competing for European football! Anybody who completely buys into this academy, 5 year plan and the like is being very naive, like they think it will actually come true, what about Everton, Liverpool, Spurs, West Ham and Newcastle? Dont they have ambitions to rise again, they will always spend more money than us and most of the above have a history of a better academy as well.

We need to wake up, we will only progress if we do a bit of both and not actually speculate buy and purchase known quality, how do we do this? By paying over the odds for this and will Cortese allow this? I think you probably now know from my posts I dont think this will be allowed to happen on players over a certain age and unsellable for the future so what we are left with are academy players and young players of known but as yet unfulfilled potential, a huge gamble when we have to stay in this League if we realistically are going to keep

Lambert

Shaw

Puncheon

Ramirez

Schneiderlin

Cork

Lallana

 

Now when they have gone and we have balanced the books, what will we buy to get us up again? Selling Sharp could be a mistake after all.

 

I'm far more inclined to buy into Cortese's ambitions than yours, so call him naive if you wish, he is the one with his hands on the purse strings, so probably has more idea than you anyway, as your inside knowledge is nil.

 

As far as I'm aware, the five year plan was to get into the Premiership, not into Europe. If you're going to ridicule the part that having home grown academy players playing as an important part of that scheme, then it's you who deserve ridicule.

 

What about your list of teams that have ambitions to rise again? It's certainly a peculiar list, comprising teams who are right up there currently, like Everton and Spurs. And which of them have a history of a better academy than ours? Let's have some examples.

 

And typically of a certain type of poster, you're already thinking about whether we should keep Sharp should we be relegated, when there is half a season to go with reported activity in the transfer window for players of the calibre that interests other major English and European clubs. But we can't buy them, can we, Barry, as that would rather fly in the face of your assertion that we will only have left academy players and young players of known but as yet unfulfilled potential (which is by definition what an academy players is, by the way).

[Crisp]

Chelsea are where they are because a Russian oligarch bought them and they have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on players in the last few years. Nothing more to it really.

[Wes Tender]

Why do you feel the need to belittle everything with the same point at every possible opportunity?

 

He wants to be in Turkish's and CB Fry's gang but doesn't have the imagination to think of his own put-downs, so has to plagiarise theirs.

[St_Tel49]

My feet are firmly on the ground and supporting Saints has put them there, I like it that way, dreamy Saints fans make me laugh, like the fat kid with the prom queen infatuation, they just wont wake up and smell the coffee.

 

5 years plan

European football

50/50 Academy/purchased footballers

 

Noble dreams but do fans actually know how much you have to consistently spend to even try to achieve that? We are still one of the lowest spending teams ever in the history of premiership but dont let facts get in the way of bull****.

 

http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/transfer-league-table-1992-to-today.html

So fans shouldn't have dreams. Somebody should have said that to those Wigan and Swansea fans 20 years ago when they went to watch the dross of League 2 and below.

[Wes Tender]

Sorry Liverpool have always spent big and are the most successful English club in Europe, United also, now the most successful domestic English club, and Chelsea are the current European Champions, so if you spend big and well you win but other than that what are you on about?

 

What exactly happened to Liverpool? The most successful club in Europe, yet they are only there in the second rate league by virtue of winning the second rate cup. And they are currently 8th in the Premiership. Chelsea who largely fluked winning the European Cup last year having been battered by Barcelona and Bayern Munich but winning regardless, are on the verge of going out. United won nothing last season.

 

Five years ago, the argument was that nothing would displace the top four teams, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, but already Liverpool have sank down and Manchester City have replaced them and teams like Everton and Spurs will give them all a run for their money. What will be the effect on ManUre when Ferguson finally retires or pops his clogs? Somebody as wealthy as Abramovich could take over another Premiership club and spend like him and then things will change again. Nothing is certain and set in concrete, although the hierarchy seems to be established for the near future at least.

[Barry Sanchez]

I'm far more inclined to buy into Cortese's ambitions than yours, so call him naive if you wish, he is the one with his hands on the purse strings, so probably has more idea than you anyway, as your inside knowledge is nil.

 

As far as I'm aware, the five year plan was to get into the Premiership, not into Europe. If you're going to ridicule the part that having home grown academy players playing as an important part of that scheme, then it's you who deserve ridicule.

 

What about your list of teams that have ambitions to rise again? It's certainly a peculiar list, comprising teams who are right up there currently, like Everton and Spurs. And which of them have a history of a better academy than ours? Let's have some examples.

 

And typically of a certain type of poster, you're already thinking about whether we should keep Sharp should we be relegated, when there is half a season to go with reported activity in the transfer window for players of the calibre that interests other major English and European clubs. But we can't buy them, can we, Barry, as that would rather fly in the face of your assertion that we will only have left academy players and young players of known but as yet unfulfilled potential (which is by definition what an academy players is, by the way).

 

http://fourfourtwo.com/news/england/115302/default.aspx

I can list their players if you need me too?

 

Spurs graduation list

Livermore

Crouch

Hoddle

Hazzard

Barmby

Redknapp

They have had a feew good footballers out of their academy over the years...................

[Barry Sanchez]

What exactly happened to Liverpool? The most successful club in Europe, yet they are only there in the second rate league by virtue of winning the second rate cup. And they are currently 8th in the Premiership. Chelsea who largely fluked winning the European Cup last year having been battered by Barcelona and Bayern Munich but winning regardless, are on the verge of going out. United won nothing last season.

 

Five years ago, the argument was that nothing would displace the top four teams, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, but already Liverpool have sank down and Manchester City have replaced them and teams like Everton and Spurs will give them all a run for their money. What will be the effect on ManUre when Ferguson finally retires or pops his clogs? Somebody as wealthy as Abramovich could take over another Premiership club and spend like him and then things will change again. Nothing is certain and set in concrete, although the hierarchy seems to be established for the near future at least.

 

So you are saying money plays a huge part? I agree we needed to spend and spend well.

Thanks Wes. Good caveat by the way at the end of your little piece.

[tajjuk]

Sorry Liverpool have always spent big and are the most successful English club in Europe, United also, now the most successful domestic English club, and Chelsea are the current European Champions, so if you spend big and well you win but other than that what are you on about?

 

Currently they are 8th in the league, last year they finished 8th, year before they finished 6th.

 

Over the same period they have a net spend of nearly £100 million.

 

Everton, who finished above them last year and the year before have a net spend over the same period of MINUS £18 million.

 

Arsenal, who have finished 3rd, 4th, and 3rd over the same period have a net spend of MINUS £10 million.

 

Like I said, depends how you spend it not how much you spend.

[Wes Tender]

http://fourfourtwo.com/news/england/115302/default.aspx

I can list their players if you need me too?

 

Spurs graduation list

Livermore

Crouch

Hoddle

Hazzard

Barmby

Redknapp

They have had a feew good footballers out of their academy over the years...................

 

Blimey! You're going back quite a long time with a very mottley list there, Barry. Half your list aren't even playing. Are we to go back with equal validity to include Le Tiss, Shearer, the Wallace brothers, etc? Or might you accept that by producing major talents like Bridge, Bale, Baird, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana amongst others who are still playing at the top level, that entitles us to boast arguably the most successful academy currently in British football?

[Wes Tender]

So you are saying money plays a huge part? I agree we needed to spend and spend well.

Thanks Wes. Good caveat by the way at the end of your little piece.

 

Of course money is a significant factor, but you seem to think that it guarantees an unbeatable team. It doesn't, as Tajjuk proves, by shooting your post down in flames.

 

And in my last line, note the words "seems", and "near future" and the observation that nothing is set in concrete.

 

I wasn't throwing a bone in your direction to allow you any credence towards your viewpoint.

[Turkish]

If we can stay up this season, which with this current squad is 50/50 then next season I really beleive we can push on to be a midtable side next season. We'll need a couple of quality signings in the window and then 2 or 3 more in the summer. You can see how players like Clyne, Schniderlin, Cork and Lallana have stepped up and are improving since the season started. Shaw has been better than I'd hoped, Yoshida is improving every week and Rodriguez is starting to show why he was described as a future England player. Add to this the fact tht Ramirez is clearly class we have a core of young players here who will be so much better for having a season in top flight under their belts. We need more from Mayuka and a reliable goalkeeper but if we can Add 4-5 quality players over the next two windows which will also give us a bit more depth to the squad and we can really push on next season. There isn't anything to fear from anyone from about 8th down. we aren't a midtable side at the moment, but we aren't a million miles away.

[Barry Sanchez]

If we can stay up this season, which with this current squad is 50/50 then next season I really beleive we can push on to be a midtable side next season. We'll need a couple of quality signings in the window and then 2 or 3 more in the summer. You can see how players like Clyne, Schniderlin, Cork and Lallana have stepped up and are improving since the season started. Shaw has been better than I'd hoped, Yoshida is improving every week and Rodriguez is starting to show why he was described as a future England player. Add to this the fact tht Ramirez is clearly class we have a core of young players here who will be so much better for having a season in top flight under their belts. We need more from Mayuka and a reliable goalkeeper but if we can Add 4-5 quality players over the next two windows which will also give us a bit more depth to the squad and we can really push on next season. There isn't anything to fear from anyone from about 8th down. we aren't a midtable side at the moment, but we aren't a million miles away.

 

Carlton Palmer played for England and so did Andy Sinton, future England player yes indeed.

[Barry Sanchez]

Of course money is a significant factor, but you seem to think that it guarantees an unbeatable team. It doesn't, as Tajjuk proves, by shooting your post down in flames.

 

And in my last line, note the words "seems", and "near future" and the observation that nothing is set in concrete.

 

I wasn't throwing a bone in your direction to allow you any credence towards your viewpoint.

 

No you were covering your own arse.

[Barry Sanchez]

Blimey! You're going back quite a long time with a very mottley list there, Barry. Half your list aren't even playing. Are we to go back with equal validity to include Le Tiss, Shearer, the Wallace brothers, etc? Or might you accept that by producing major talents like Bridge, Bale, Baird, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana amongst others who are still playing at the top level, that entitles us to boast arguably the most successful academy currently in British football?

 

One of them but there is no point in having that system unless you keep them?

I was asked about their acadamies not the other way around, I ws not justifying their system even though Everton is a very good system.

[Barry Sanchez]

Currently they are 8th in the league, last year they finished 8th, year before they finished 6th.

 

Over the same period they have a net spend of nearly £100 million.

 

Everton, who finished above them last year and the year before have a net spend over the same period of MINUS £18 million.

 

Arsenal, who have finished 3rd, 4th, and 3rd over the same period have a net spend of MINUS £10 million.

 

Like I said, depends how you spend it not how much you spend.

 

Arsenal and Everton have won what exactly in the last few years? And I get shot down for saying where Saints are halfway through a season but you can use to try and give your argument some weight, fair this.

[Turkish]

Carlton Palmer played for England and so did Andy Sinton, future England player yes indeed.

 

He was alright for us!

[Barry Sanchez]

He was crap but always got in the way which was his job, a newer Glender.

[tajjuk]

Arsenal and Everton have won what exactly in the last few years? And I get shot down for saying where Saints are halfway through a season but you can use to try and give your argument some weight, fair this.

 

Liverpool have a Carling cup, so have Birmingham in recent years and got relegated the same season. Bradford are in the league cup this year, commonly reffered to as the 'Mickey Mouse Cup'.

 

One clubs spends £100 million and struggles to finish behind two clubs that have made a profit on transfers proves my point. Pretty sure Arsenal are one our two remaining representatives in the Champions league this year and have qualified the last three years. Liverpool haven't, big spending Chelsea and City are also both out of the Champions league this year as well.

 

Did you also have a stroke half way through writing that - "where Saints are halfway through a season but you can use to try and give your argument some weight, fair this" makes no sense.

 

Like I said I think you used to be a west ham fan, this guy seems to have about the same 'knowledge' as you -

[Wes Tender]

No you were covering your own arse.

 

No, it's called being circumspect. Accepting that although something might be unlikely, that there is always an element of possibility. You're the one clutching at straws in a vain attempt to justify your position.

 

quote Barry Sanchez:

One of them but there is no point in having that system unless you keep them?

I was asked about their acadamies not the other way around, I ws not justifying their system even though Everton is a very good system.

 

Name an academy better than ours in terms of the quality and number of players produced in the last 5/10 years that are playing at the very top level. I bet you can't. Therefore I think it is an entirely valid assertion that we currently have the most successful academy in British football. And we have no need to sell the players we produce. Granted that it is unlikely that we will keep players whose heads are turned by the offer of mega-bucks from the top glory teams, but then we are in a strong bargaining position to screw those clubs for an amount that we cannot refuse. And having received that payment into our coffers, we are then able to spend it on some top quality replacements.

[Smirking_Saint]

If we can stay up this season, which with this current squad is 50/50 then next season I really beleive we can push on to be a midtable side next season. We'll need a couple of quality signings in the window and then 2 or 3 more in the summer. You can see how players like Clyne, Schniderlin, Cork and Lallana have stepped up and are improving since the season started. Shaw has been better than I'd hoped, Yoshida is improving every week and Rodriguez is starting to show why he was described as a future England player. Add to this the fact tht Ramirez is clearly class we have a core of young players here who will be so much better for having a season in top flight under their belts. We need more from Mayuka and a reliable goalkeeper but if we can Add 4-5 quality players over the next two windows which will also give us a bit more depth to the squad and we can really push on next season. There isn't anything to fear from anyone from about 8th down. we aren't a midtable side at the moment, but we aren't a million miles away.

 

Spot on Turks

[Wes Tender]

Spot on Turks

 

Yes, a very good summary.

[Charlie Wayman]

We will never get close to competing at their level, so there's no point comparing us.

 

We can do well with our own strategy, but at best it's mid-table PL and an outside Europa league shot. That's our realistic ''top'' level in this current day and age.

 

The quicker a European Super League is set up the better then the likes of ManUre, Mancy and Chelski can bugger off for good. Nobody will miss them, they've done their best to ruin football in England for everyone else and helped bankrupt more than a few clubs along the way.

[studentsaint]

Been chatting about the Chelsea game at work today and was discussing how the substitutes Chelsea could call upon were just staggering!!

 

To be 4 and then 5-1 up and bring on Lampard, Makin & then the future of Brazilian in Oscar just shows how far we've yet to come in the premier league. I believe we are competing very well but I look at our bench and feel we have no options with class to change a game!

 

In the same game we brought on Hooiveld, Lee & De Ridder!!

 

Hopefully one day we'll have those substitutes at our disposal, but hopefully they'll also be players that have come through our youth system!! Onwards and upwards to the days were we can really call on game changers!!

 

Aahhh I remember a time when we could call upon the services of Chris makin from the bench.

[kpturner]

Aahhh I remember a time when we could call upon the services of Chris makin from the bench.

 

Damn! Beat me to it

[Deano6]

Has anyone mentioned that Swansea beat Chelsea away in the cup tonight? Looks like a pretty full strength team too. So much for "nobody could compete with them"!

[lordswoodsaints]

'You had your day out now **** off home' sums it up really.