Pochettino targets Champions League spot next season

[Pilchards]

If you expect us to buy proven young players you will be spending Gaston fees Ince,Phillips,Astori etc etc

 

Granted our form since Mo has come in has been top 7 material but we to expect us to carry that on next season without strengthening significantly is a bit naive,a few injuries and the squad is stretched

 

Imo we need

 

1x top quality CB ( Forren has not entirely convinced me)

 

1x LB 1 x RB ( as back up for Clyne/ Shaw)

 

1 quality Winger maybe 2

And maybe even another CM

 

If you are looking for top 6 finish these players will not come cheap you could easily be spending 50-60-70 mill

 

Unless Mayuka and Forren come through with the goods we will be looking at a very active window

 

Blimey why spend money on youth players if we have one of the best academies in the country. That's what I was referring too, get some great players in to teach our future stars.

[Fan The Flames]

The arrogance and sense of entitlement sweeping through this forum is pretty chilling actually.

 

You moan about people being over the top then you come out with the biggest drama queen statement of the century, are you for real. Anyway the Swansea fans were moaning about their boys being at the beach, but don't let the views of those that go every week get in the way of your armchair analysis, after all you wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to come on here and sneer.

[melmacian_saint]

We will be spending big,Gastons record fee will be broken

 

I think most of the clubs our size in the Prem will be constantly breaking their transfer record regardless of their ambitions with all the TV money coming in.

[pangy]

Blimey why spend money on youth players if we have one of the best academies in the country. That's what I was referring too, get some great players in to teach our future stars.

 

 

Maybe I misread then

 

Either way we only seem to buy young players these days anyway and if we are to strengthen we would be looking at players 26 and under I assume,the academy players are still a long way off the 1st team but in the future there is no reason we couldnt bring them through.

If reports are true we were going to spend £12 mill on Coutinho in January so if we are looking at those type of players we could easily spend 50-60 mill in the summer

[mulletsaint]

Hilarious isn't it. Only last week we were told we should aim for 6-9th, but settle for 12th. now Swansea will than likely achieve up aim, as well as win a trophy we have never won and qualify for Europe its belittled as half meaningless season. Lets see how many of the divs on here claim we have a meaningless season next year should we finish 6-9th, you know our target position, the one where we so would really announce our arrival in the big time, but wait. Surely finsihing 6-9th is meaningless, I mean, we'll never seriously challenge for the champions league or be threated by relegation in these positions, what at awful, boring season fullfilling this forums targets would be. I'm never ceased to be amazed by the sh*t on here.

 

There seems to be a deranged obsession on here about what "we" should "aim" for, coupled with the usual "shoot for the moon" rent a quote.

 

When it doesn't matter what "we" (people on here) aim for.

 

People on here saying we should go for fourth doesn't actually mean the team will then more likely finish ninth. People on here saying "try and stay up first" won't actually get us relegated.

 

I refer you to our chum Lighthouse who despite his sneering and blustering about how finishing ninth and winning a cup is "obscurity" and "wouldn't want many seasons like that"....is now suddenly saying that would be fine for us next season after all.

 

Oh, good. Me too.

 

So what exactly are these people drivelling about?

 

What amazes me is that posters such as your good selves seem to think that your opinion entitles you to be insulting and just downright rude, and then go on about how it's others ruining the forum. Go figure.

 

For what it's worth I'd be happy with mid-table security and a cup run next season and for several seasons after that. Having said that it's obvious our chairman has other ideas and the club won't achieve his ambitions by aiming for mid-table. As long as we're doing things sensibly and not risking another implosion, what's not to like?

[mulletsaint]

You moan about people being over the top then you come out with the biggest drama queen statement of the century, are you for real. Anyway the Swansea fans were moaning about their boys being at the beach, but don't let the views of those that go every week get in the way of your armchair analysis, after all you wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to come on here and sneer.

 

Delusion takes many forms.

[NickG]

There is still a chance we could be relegated this season so I wouldn't be speaking about a top 4 finish in the Prem as we could be in the Championship. If we lose tomorrow and Wigan and Villa win we are back in a relegation scrap.

 

You'll probably get shot down for that comment but I agree with you totally.

 

If you are worried have a play with the BBC predictor

 

.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/predictor/default.stm

 

I just struggled to get us relegated without another point!

 

If we lose our remaining 4 games (we are currently 6 games undefeated the best in prem) AND Wigan win their next three they will overtake us.

 

Most points they have achieved from 6 games this season was early on with 10 points. These 6 they have spurs h, man city a, arsenal a. Them getting 11 is very optimistic. This would leave us needing 3 points from last 4 games to finish above them.

 

If they do have this good finish, and we have our worst there are still 5 other out of form teams that would need to overtake us.

 

I had quick try thinking with Wigan and Villa improving...Norwich were still below us!

 

Relax, we may or may not be top 8 next season, but we will still be here!

[Turkish]

What amazes me is that posters such as your good selves seem to think that your opinion entitles you to be insulting and just downright rude, and then go on about how it's others ruining the forum. Go figure.

 

For what it's worth I'd be happy with mid-table security and a cup run next season and for several seasons after that. Having said that it's obvious our chairman has other ideas and the club won't achieve his ambitions by aiming for mid-table. As long as we're doing things sensibly and not risking another implosion, what's not to like?

 

Good for you. Do you to think tis slightly odd that we should be aiming for a 6-9th placed finish and a cup run yet teams achieving this are described as having dull and mediocre seasons?

[Mowgli]

Anyone who moans about those kind of comments is a fool IMO. He isn't saying we will be in the CL, just that the ambition is to and there is no reason why it is impossible.

 

All those statements are true

 

It would be admittedly very, very difficult, but theres nothing wrong with aiming high.

 

Spot on. People were equally pessimistic about Cortese's claim that we would be back in the Premier League in 5 years. Actually I remember Rupert Lowe making th same claim one year and I defended him at the time for his ambition. Unfortunately, having the vision on its own is not enough. You need the financial backing (and maybe a bit more knoweldge of the industry that RL had). Overall, Nicola has it in spades!

[Minty]

Think it's slightly odd you pick out the most daft posts and argue against that as if it's the whole forum saying it.

 

Odd, perhaps. Unusual, no. Turks is on fire at the mo isn't he? I knew his 'constructive' period wouldn't last. lol

 

Basically, we're all happy to aim high, we all recognise that it's unlikely we'll achieve it straight away, but depending on the continuing progress and investment, we honestly don't know what we're capable of, so lets enjoy the ride and see where we can get to? Is that fair?

 

Hardly reason to start all this *****ing, is it?

[Sour Mash]

Spot on. People were equally pessimistic about Cortese's claim that we would be back in the Premier League in 5 years. Actually I remember Rupert Lowe making th same claim one year and I defended him at the time for his ambition. Unfortunately, having the vision on its own is not enough. You need the financial backing (and maybe a bit more knoweldge of the industry that RL had). Overall, Nicola has it in spades!

I can't remember anyone saying that getting back to the Premier League in 5 years was particularly unrealistic. Why would they? It would be a completely different scale of achievement for a club our size to qualify for the Champions League.

[Golden Balls]

Think it's slightly odd you pick out the most daft posts and argue against that as if it's the whole forum saying it.

 

Always the way. I look forward to him quoting that one persons opinion for the next 6-9 months as if the whole forum was saying it. Should be fun....

[Saint Garrett]

Odd, perhaps. Unusual, no. Turks is on fire at the mo isn't he? I knew his 'constructive' period wouldn't last. lol

 

Basically, we're all happy to aim high, we all recognise that it's unlikely we'll achieve it straight away, but depending on the continuing progress and investment, we honestly don't know what we're capable of, so lets enjoy the ride and see where we can get to? Is that fair?

 

Hardly reason to start all this *****ing, is it?

 

This. Some people seem to enjoy arguing for the sake of it. Chances are we're not going to get into the Champions League or even Europe next season. If we somehow do manage it, then great. Nothing wrong at all with ambition. Would some people rather the manager come out and say we'll aim to stay in the league?

[Sour Mash]

This. Some people seem to enjoy arguing for the sake of it. Chances are we're not going to get into the Champions League or even Europe next season. If we somehow do manage it, then great. Nothing wrong at all with ambition. Would some people rather the manager come out and say we'll aim to stay in the league?

Are the only choices aiming for the Champions League or aiming for just staying in the league?

[Lighthouse]

Think it's slightly odd you pick out the most daft posts and argue against that as if it's the whole forum saying it.

 

Not quite. What he (and Mr Fry) like to do is chose a post which is slightly controversial, edit it a bit in their minds to make it completely ridiculous, then argue against it as if it is the large majority.

 

The point I am making, pre Turkish editing, was that we should be AIMING for a Champions League spot. We are unlikely to get it but if we sign a couple of players of that calibre, they might just get us into Europe. Newcastle did it last year, that should be our bench mark.

 

If we finish 12th year and Cortese says to the media, "well done team, next year I want to finish 10th" I will be a bit disappointed. If we aim for Europe and finish somewhere in the top half I will still consider that a decent season.

 

My point about Swansea is their aim was probably to achieve mid table safety, given that they lost Rodgers and haven't spent big money. They had it in the bag from pretty much Christmas, so they haven't really been competing for anything since then. That's fine but it's not something you'd want to aim for every season.

 

It was only a couple of months back Turkish and Fry were telling me how stupid I was for believing we could finish top 10 and there was no way we were going to overtake Stoke, so you'll forgive me for ignoring what they say.

[Saint Garrett]

Are the only choices aiming for the Champions League or aiming for just staying in the league?

 

Of course not. But surely the club has to aim to do as well as possible. Same philosophy as Pochettino saying that he wants to win the last 4 games. Chances are we won't win them, nothing wrong with aiming to win them though.

[Sour Mash]

Of course not. But surely the club has to aim to do as well as possible. Same philosophy as Pochettino saying that he wants to win the last 4 games. Chances are we won't win them, nothing wrong with aiming to win them though.

All clubs aim to do as well as possible. But targets should be ambitious and realistic - not just one or the other. There is no value in having targets that are unattainable. It is possible for a club of our size to be very ambitious, but not consider the Champions League as something we're targeting.

[Saint Garrett]

All clubs aim to do as well as possible. But targets should be ambitious and realistic - not just one or the other. There is no value in having targets that are unattainable. It is possible for a club of our size to be very ambitious, but not consider the Champions League as something we're targeting.

 

I do agree, as I've had a few mates saying it's embarrassing for us to be targeting that. Still I don't have a problem with it.

 

And regardless, I think this has been taken out of context anyway. It's not like Poche came out and said "We're aiming for Champions League". He just said why not, why not aim high, don't rule it out etc.

[Minty]

All clubs aim to do as well as possible. But targets should be ambitious and realistic - not just one or the other. There is no value in having targets that are unattainable. It is possible for a club of our size to be very ambitious, but not consider the Champions League as something we're targeting.

Thing is, while I understand what you're saying, this is uncharted territory for us... we've arguably NEVER had the potential resources that we have at our disposal, we've arguably never had a manager with as good an understanding of European players and experience from the very top level, and we've never had as ambitious a chairman as we've got now. So while I agree that, relative to what I'm used to and what I expect of Saints, Champions League is not 'realistic' because it never has been before, I cannot say it won't become realistic in the future. We might, just might, be about to blaze a trail up the league.

[Sour Mash]

Thing is, while I understand what you're saying, this is uncharted territory for us... we've arguably NEVER had the potential resources that we have at our disposal, we've arguably never had a manager with as good an understanding of European players and experience from the very top level, and we've never had as ambitious a chairman as we've got now. So while I agree that, relative to what I'm used to and what I expect of Saints, Champions League is not 'realistic' because it never has been before, I cannot say it won't become realistic in the future. We might, just might, be about to blaze a trail up the league.

Do you think it is a realistic, achievable target for Saints next season?

[Frank's cousin]

For me it's not a question of realism v pipe dreams, or happy flappy v moaning or even simple positive or negative outlooks... It simpler than that which is I simply don't understand the point of 'accepting' that any club, ours or any other will always be destined to be mid table at best. Just what is the point of being 'happy' just being in the top division? Somehow the hype and the riches of the prem seem more important to some than competing to win things- the whole fricken point of competitive sport. We all know that realism is now dominated by both money and a club's status in keeping and attracting talent... But that again is not the point.

 

 

If you aim for average or survival, what does it say about the club you support? It says you 'know your place' and are happy to be an also ran... I just don't believe that should ever be the target in sport- it should be to be the very best you can. If fans are happy to accept the best we can be is 12th, why bother being in the prem, why not be happy in the championship and be at the top winning and being more competitive?

 

 

No one is saying we will get there, but having that aim is surely much better than accepting 'our place' - which other clubs are only too happy for us to do. Many years ago we were third division south... Should we have accepted we were too small for div 1? Or when relegated under LM accepted we were too small and been happy back in div 2 ?

 

 

The money the top clubs have and as such their ability to attract and keep players stacks the odds against others breaking into that clique, but they are not zero. Forgetting that seems to go against the whole purpose of sport.

[farawaysaint]

Guaranteed relegation next year then

[Sour Mash]

For me it's not a question of realism v pipe dreams, or happy flappy v moaning or even simple positive or negative outlooks... It simpler than that which is I simply don't understand the point of 'accepting' that any club, ours or any other will always be destined to be mid table at best. Just what is the point of being 'happy' just being in the top division? Somehow the hype and the riches of the prem seem more important to some than competing to win things- the whole fricken point of competitive sport. We all know that realism is now dominated by both money and a club's status in keeping and attracting talent... But that again is not the point.

 

 

If you aim for average or survival, what does it say about the club you support? It says you 'know your place' and are happy to be an also ran... I just don't believe that should ever be the target in sport- it should be to be the very best you can. If fans are happy to accept the best we can be is 12th, why bother being in the prem, why not be happy in the championship and be at the top winning and being more competitive?

 

 

No one is saying we will get there, but having that aim is surely much better than accepting 'our place' - which other clubs are only too happy for us to do. Many years ago we were third division south... Should we have accepted we were too small for div 1? Or when relegated under LM accepted we were too small and been happy back in div 2 ?

 

 

The money the top clubs have and as such their ability to attract and keep players stacks the odds against others breaking into that clique, but they are not zero. Forgetting that seems to go against the whole purpose of sport.

Who is suggesting that we'll always be destined for midtable at best? No-one is saying we should just aim for "average" or "survival".

[Saint Garrett]

Do you think it is a realistic, achievable target for Saints next season?

 

Who knows. All depends on keeping our important players, (Shaw, Clyne, Cork, Morgan, J-Rod, Gaston) and them progressing as they're expected to. It's no coincidence that all these players have been mooted for international calls this year if not already. You could argue that we have the base of the 2016 Euro team, but then if they don't progress then they won't be close to it.

 

Add to this the players who we bring in. If you include Boruc in that, who is a top keeper, and Lambert keeps being affective, and Lallana improves then why not. Obviously our team right now isn't good enough, but who knows in the future.

 

The other big question is how much money do we have? If the club has got this 'pot of gold' left for them, then we could really push on.

 

It's not unrealistic that we can compete towards the top of the division, just like any club, but there are a lot of variables that need to go our way for it to happen.

 

Time will tell, I am just enjoying being a Saints fan at the moment and who can blame me?

[Minty]

Do you think it is a realistic, achievable target for Saints next season?

 

As things stand here and now, no I don't. I pretty much just said that. But I also accept that I don't know what NC has got planned, what the transfer budget is likely to be, and that I'm used to us not competing at that level, so I will naturally downplay my expectations.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Independent of the ambition debate, there are only one or two players in a Spurs squad chasing 4th who cost more than Ramirez. So we don't need to be spending a ridiculous amount of money to be in a challenge for 4th and you can build slowly over a number of seasons as long as you invest right and keep hold of key players (although Spurs even routinely lose theirs).

 

However if you want to go from lower mid-table to CL qualification in a season then you need to spend a massive amount.

[Dig Dig]

The amount of spend needed in order for us to compete for a Champions League spot next year is not known by anyone on here. Pulling random figures like £150M out of the air is pointless.

 

We could spend another £30M on top of what we have really wisely and be able to compete or we could spend £100M and not get close.

Edited 26 April, 2013 by Dig Dig

[Verbal Kint]

Do you think it is a realistic, achievable target for Saints next season?

 

Depends what the transfer budget is. Any ideas?

[Saint Garrett]

I wouldn't be surprised if we spend another £30m net.

[Dig Dig]

I wouldn't be surprised if we spend another £30m net.

 

I think it will be more

[KelvinsRightGlove]

The amount needed to spend in order for us to compete for a Champions League spot next year is not known by anyone on here. Pulling random figures like £150M out of the air is pointless.

 

We could spend another £30M on top of what we have really wisely and be able to compete or we could spend £100M and not get close.

 

Precisely. How can people not understand that it is not WHAT you spend, it is HOW you spend it.

 

People say we spent our way to promotion, but in the Championship, teams like Leicester massively outspent us - where did that get them?

 

Look at QPR for christ sake. They have spent an absolute fortune over the past two seasons, on transfers, agents, wages, changing managers and where has that got them?

 

By contrast, Dortmunds team was assembled for a fraction of QPR's, QPR's wage bill is a fraction of Dortmunds, and no player in the BVB squad is on the same money as Samba. One team are dead cert's for relegation, the other have one foot in the Champions League.

 

Or if you want an example closer to home, look at Liverpool & Everton. The gulf in net spends between those two clubs on transfers is huge, and despite this Everton are still sitting above them in the League.

 

I'm not saying we will get into the Champions League next year, or even in the next couple of years. But I don't buy into this idea that it is simply impossible. Nor do I believe that simply money = success. It has to be spent well.

 

I also don't see the problem in aiming as high as we can. F it, why not start the season aiming to win every game and win the league? Yeah, it probably won't happen, but fall short and you could still finish 8th, which I'd be pretty happy with. Aim for 17th and fall short, and you are looking at disaster.

[mulletsaint]

Good for you. Do you to think tis slightly odd that we should be aiming for a 6-9th placed finish and a cup run yet teams achieving this are described as having dull and mediocre seasons?

 

Good for me? Yeah that just about sums up you general tone of voice.

 

I don't have a problem with your 'argument', in fact I agree it's a bit disrespectful to Swansea given what a good season they've had, especially as it's only their second season back in the top flight. I don't think it's worth getting your knickers in a twist though.

[Sour Mash]

Precisely. How can people not understand that it is not WHAT you spend, it is HOW you spend it.

 

People say we spent our way to promotion, but in the Championship, teams like Leicester massively outspent us - where did that get them?

 

Look at QPR for christ sake. They have spent an absolute fortune over the past two seasons, on transfers, agents, wages, changing managers and where has that got them?

 

By contrast, Dortmunds team was assembled for a fraction of QPR's, QPR's wage bill is a fraction of Dortmunds, and no player in the BVB squad is on the same money as Samba. One team are dead cert's for relegation, the other have one foot in the Champions League.

 

Or if you want an example closer to home, look at Liverpool & Everton. The gulf in net spends between those two clubs on transfers is huge, and despite this Everton are still sitting above them in the League.

 

I'm not saying we will get into the Champions League next year, or even in the next couple of years. But I don't buy into this idea that it is simply impossible. Nor do I believe that simply money = success. It has to be spent well.

 

I also don't see the problem in aiming as high as we can. F it, why not start the season aiming to win every game and win the league? Yeah, it probably won't happen, but fall short and you could still finish 8th, which I'd be pretty happy with. Aim for 17th and fall short, and you are looking at disaster.

Not one person is suggesting we aim for 17th. No one is saying that spending money automatically equals success. And no-one is saying Champions League qualification several years down the line is impossible - just pretty unlikely.

[Dig Dig]

Not one person is suggesting we aim for 17th. No one is saying that spending money automatically equals success. And no-one is saying Champions League qualification several years down the line is impossible - just pretty unlikely.

 

That's a lot of stuff which people aren't saying. What are these 100+ posts about then?

[Griffo]

This is embarrassing. The 2nd season usually seems to be harder than the first for the promoted clubs that stay up. We'll more than likely be in a relegation scrap like we have been for most of this season.

[Sour Mash]

That's a lot of stuff which people aren't saying. What are these 100+ posts about then?

Discussion on how realistic it is for Saints to qualify for the Champions League next season or future seasons. What did you think it was about?

[Bearsy]

That's a lot of stuff which people aren't saying. What are these 100+ posts about then?

 

we're saying that the people saying what no-one is saying, is idiots yo

[Prince Jazzbo]

Malaga are a good example of what could be acheived. Similar sized stadium, and relatively rich owners. They did ok in this years Champions League. They're a good model for us to follow, but I think it will take more than a season, if at all. But its what you must aim for.

 

Having said that, is'nt there some question of unpaid debts or something?

[hutch]

Lest we forget, the team currently rock bottom of the third division qualified for Europe three seasons ago.

[Giordano]

Our form since the squad adapted to the Premier League in the beginning of November has been that of a top 7 team. As a newly promoted side we have a good chance of a top 10 finish in our first season back, I doubt Cortese will be happy to settle for the same again next season. He brought in Pochettino for a reason, that reason is unlikely to be because he is happy to see mid table mediocrity year after year.

 

If we can come mid table in our first season when it took 10 games to get going (1 win, 1 draw, 8 defeats and 28 goals conceded in those opening 10 games), imagine what we'd do with more investment this summer, a pre-season with the squad for Pochettino and a squad now already adapted to life in the Premier from day one of the season. We should (in theory) have a better season next season.

 

The rest of the posts are conjecture compared to this.

 

It is inconceivable that NC would be happy with a same-ish finish next year considering we gave the rest of the league ten games start this season.

 

He MUST have insisted and have the mindset that this must improve. Did anyone see the OPTA stats report on SKY regarding the number of km's run and the number of sprints on average run per game in the EPL compared to 6 years ago? Its gone up massively - around 25%+, many of the stats are on a steep upward trajectory. It roughly works out that, like for like, on average the team have to up performance by c. 5% across all measuring means just to stand still compared to the other epl teams next year. To get ahead of the game ( and so potentially finish higher) it needs 10%, 15%, 20%.....

 

A 20%+5% improvement for us if we finish 10th is to finish c. 5th- so CL is not out of the question in that rough and ready working out. Id say NC would consider a 25% improvement in the team across all measuring terms as achievable with this squad, this manager plus additions.

 

Whether it is "realistic" to believe a top four place is achievable is a different question. I also feel that our style of play may get "found out" next season. I recall it took time for teams to produce a counter strategy to Saints in the CCC and League 1 but in some matches we got turned over through it, next year epl will be the same i think.

[Olallana]

I blame MP for talking about ambitions, and to do that with a smile.

 

He should know by now what that does to SWF.....

[trousers]

Having said that, is'nt there some question of unpaid debts or something?

 

No, I think you must be thinking of another team not to far from here...

[trousers]

Lest we forget, the team currently rock bottom of the third division qualified for Europe three seasons ago.

 

Remind me how that happened again....?

[Glasgow_Saint]

Tion is setting himself up for a huge fall imho - if he fails to deliver on his 'own' ambitions then he has failed himself and us

[CB Fry]

Lest we forget, the team currently rock bottom of the third division qualified for Europe three seasons ago.

 

 

They're not rock botton of the third division, they're "still amongst the stars" if you take this forums favourite quote.

[Monk]

Worried about 'second season syndrome'.

 

If Poch thinks we need to break top six let alone CL, I think we shall see a few big deals this summer.

[Webby]

There's a phrase that goes something like 'if you do what you've always done, then expect to get what you've always got'.

 

I'm all for this CL ambition, bravado or not, it creates a very positive vibe about the club that will spread around Europe. If you have the ambition, and the resources to backup your efforts to make it happen, then it's possible. NC is clearly looking to improve this club year on year. Anything less than improvement, and by that I mean league placing, would be seen as a failure.

 

If you're finishing 10th every season and you have the resources to make changes, then not doing so should not be an option. Why settle? Look at stoke. They've finished mid table for a number of seasons now, but why haven't they pushed on, why haven't they improved? Have they accepted their lot? Do they not think they could get a better manger than pulis? Do they have the resources? If NC was there, he'd have had pulis out I'm sure, obviously depending on resources.

 

Of course, making changes does not guarantee improved performance, but not making changes does pretty much guarantee the same performance, re the quote above. A squad and a manager can reach a level, their level. Once reached, you need to find personnel capable of reaching the next level. Poch in for Adkins.

 

It's an amazing time to be a saints fan; I don't think we'll be looking to become another mid table also ran. Top, top players will want to join a team that is at least threatening the top 4, which, realistically, would be 5th, 6th and 7th.

 

Onwards and upwards.

[Marsdinho]

Lots of ifs and buts. They're currently stronger than us and I see no reason why the shrewdest manager in the league won't strengthen again this summer.

 

Shrewd enough to have won f*ck all in the 11 years he's managed Everton. Don't tell me, he's done it all on a small budget.

[Turkish]

Shrewd enough to have won f*ck all in the 11 years he's managed Everton. Don't tell me, he's done it all on a small budget.

 

Yeah, he's a terrible manager isn't he.

[moonraker]

All clubs aim to do as well as possible. But targets should be ambitious and realistic - not just one or the other. There is no value in having targets that are unattainable. It is possible for a club of our size to be very ambitious, but not consider the Champions League as something we're targeting.

 

 

I believe we meet your criteria of ambitious and realistic and therefore a CL spot whilst unlikely is achievable it certainly isn’t black and white as the sneering purport, my criteria are;

Ambitious – the easy one, aim high, yes a CL place is the stretch target but the right target.

Realistic – the difficult one, there are a number of factors that have to be considered the key ones for me are: be in the EPL (Tick); be capable of winning football matches (Tick); have enough quality players, not there yet but with summer transfer window who knows; have a manager capable of forging a high performing team, whilst the jury is still out all the signs are that we have such a man; have a chairman who puts his (or someone else’s) money where his mouth is (tick); and my final factor is luck if we have plenty next season who knows.

NB. Failure to achieve a CL position will not be a validation of those who say we can’t, it will merely be the actual outcome from one of a number of possible outcomes.