Calm down

[bitter-no-better]

They speak about what poch is doing at spurs and that they could have a team which can win things for years to come. we have a few young talented players and people believe we are on the verge of something good. How many times do you hear about the good young players we have in the England squad and that we are building for the next tournament. It's nice to have optimism but in reality you need a good mix of experience with youth who are both in peak form. see the 1980s everton teams.

 

[JAYTALITY]

Mix them letters around and it says dam clown.

Mods?

 

[RomEFCRom]

Plenty to be excited about but I think we have a limited window to establish ourselves in the top 4 while the competition is unsettled. Next season might be our best opportunity to get top 4 for a long time.

That was this season... and we're 12th... league gets much harder next year IMO - City, Chelsea, Liverpool, those will all be better

 

[billycopper]

I had 40 alerts and I was expecting to get pulled apart. I'm pleasantly surprised!

If you look at the league I think that everyone from Arsenal down are going to be disappointed with their season so far. It's so condensed though, and we're only about two wins away from the Europa League places. Our next three games are against big guns but after that we're playing the traditional lesser lights and we could get ourselves back into the reckoning.

There is quite possibly a vicious circle going on with our home games. Any hint of a toxic atmosphere translates to the players, making them edgy and more likely to make mistakes. And that makes the crowd more negative in turn.

What counts as success anyway? Is CL football and a domestic trophy our minimum requirement? Why should we attain those goals rather than Leicester, Spurs, Arsenal, United, Chelsea, Liverpool, City or West Ham? If not Roberto, who could guarantee us those benchmarks?

As Moshiri has said the Premier League has never been such a level playing field. And while that helps us catch the Big Five, it also helps our rivals to catch them.

Going to places like Stamford Bridge, the Brittania and St Mary's and scoring 3 goals is the hard part. Up until last weekend we had started to demonstrate more defensive solidity too. Now we just need to perfect the balance.

 

[AJC5]

That was this season... and we're 12th... league gets much harder next year IMO - City, Chelsea, Liverpool, those will all be better

Agreed but no point looking back. We have a big budget this summer and Liverpool, City, Man U and Chelsea all with new managers and hopefully still in transition.

 

[DualityNSNO]

Well, this kind of thread pops up every end-of-season IIRC. There was one last year as well, "next year this and that".

Just like our loveable neighbours do...

 

[RomEFCRom]

Agreed but no point looking back. We have a big budget this summer and Liverpool, City, Man U and Chelsea all with new managers and hopefully still in transition.

Yes, give it a go, see what happens, etc but it'd be naive to think the league will be weaker next season. Pep will bring some great players to City, they'll be far better. Chelsea, hard to say but it's difficult to imagine they'll not be significantly better. United, depends on who the manager is... Van Gaal hopefully or even Giggs but if it's Mourinho, they'll be much better. Liverpool under Klopp will be much better than the past two seasons. Spurs and Arsenal should continue to better than us and then we've got the emerging West Ham. We probably won't even finish above any of these this season... I know that's a glass half empty view but it's not unrealistic. Are we going to be significantly better? I don't think so. Possibly not as bad, but it depends on summer transfers and it's hard to be optimistic about that even, let's be honest, it'll probably be the usual struggle to keep the best players, and doing so being seen as a successful window.

 

[Sentinel]

I had 40 alerts and I was expecting to get pulled apart. I'm pleasantly surprised!

I think you expressed your defense of Martinez with honesty without resorting to haranguing people who disagree with your position. In my experience, I find that approach will work better, even if they disagree, they may consider your argument and who knows you may even persuade some along the way.

 

[AJC5]

Yes, give it a go, see what happens, etc but it'd be naive to think the league will be weaker next season. Pep will bring some great players to City, they'll be far better. Chelsea, hard to say but it's difficult to imagine they'll not be significantly better. United, depends on who the manager is... Van Gaal hopefully or even Giggs but if it's Mourinho, they'll be much better. Liverpool under Klopp will be much better than the past two seasons. Spurs and Arsenal should continue to better than us and then we've got the emerging West Ham. We probably won't even finish above any of these this season... I know that's a glass half empty view but it's not unrealistic. Are we going to be significantly better? I don't think so. Possibly not as bad, but it depends on summer transfers and it's hard to be optimistic about that even, let's be honest, it'll probably be the usual struggle to keep the best players, and doing so being seen as a successful window.

On the positive side, we have the hardest bit of the game sorted provided we keep Lukaku and find a back up (hopefully Niasse). Just having a competent goal keeper would probably get us another 10-15 points a season so I think we could see a big improvement in points without changing the squad to much provided we figure out how to defend at home.

 

[larbert toffee]

I had 40 alerts and I was expecting to get pulled apart. I'm pleasantly surprised!

If you look at the league I think that everyone from Arsenal down are going to be disappointed with their season so far. It's so condensed though, and we're only about two wins away from the Europa League places. Our next three games are against big guns but after that we're playing the traditional lesser lights and we could get ourselves back into the reckoning.

There is quite possibly a vicious circle going on with our home games. Any hint of a toxic atmosphere translates to the players, making them edgy and more likely to make mistakes. And that makes the crowd more negative in turn.

What counts as success anyway? Is CL football and a domestic trophy our minimum requirement? Why should we attain those goals rather than Leicester, Spurs, Arsenal, United, Chelsea, Liverpool, City or West Ham? If not Roberto, who could guarantee us those benchmarks?

As Moshiri has said the Premier League has never been such a level playing field. And while that helps us catch the Big Five, it also helps our rivals to catch them.

Going to places like Stamford Bridge, the Brittania and St Mary's and scoring 3 goals is the hard part. Up until last weekend we had started to demonstrate more defensive solidity too. Now we just need to perfect the balance.

Agree Billy, Don't like the negativity of the crowd but understand the frustration

Not one for booing or jeering our own, that can only have an adverse affect on the players and make things even worse.

I hope we can turn the old lady into a cauldron today and make Chelsea feel as uncomfortable as possible.

 

[ijjysmith]

I'm calm now.

 

[tommye]

I'm calm now.