How far off are we from replicating Man City 2010/11 (top 4 finish)

[Abraders]

I think we are a while away yet, to be honest.

I think we should focus on trying to win the europa as entry to the top 4 personally.

Obviously I want us to do as well in the league as possible. We need to maintain the fantastic home form from last season, and drastically improve the dreadful away form.

Easier said than done. As others have mentioned, the whole league is stronger and more teams are capable of finishing in those top 4 positions.

 

[toffeejack]

they had less competition i think, but the competition they had was also better. None of the top teams are as good now as they were then imo.

 

[TraffordBlue]

Plus you simply asked the question "how close are we"? the answer might well be "Nowhere close" but simply asking the question is defo not RAWKish mate.

Exactly, I certainly haven't deluded myself in to thinking we will finish in the top 4, I think 7th is most likely but 5th and 6th a definite possibility if we do well. Perhaps the thread title should have been more appropriately named as I was actually interested to know how people view that City team and how the players at that time compared to some of ours.

Kompany for example was relatively unknown back then, Silva was unproven in the league but obviously them 2 and Toure went on to become 3 of the most important players in this league in the last 10 years.

I do see some weak links in their side back then though.

 

[BlueIsTheColour]

citys team then does have similarities with ours now, they took the likes of Barry, Milner, Lescott, Johnson off of mid-table teams similar to us taking Keane, Pickford, Siggi (pos) plus some surplus players from elite teams like Toure and Toure of which we have Schnieds and Rooney. That is the only sensible approach when trying to climb up a level as we wont and they couldn't get the superstar players yet, they will come after the top 4 spot is clinched, then we can try for our Aguero's etc. The one thing missing for us vs that team, as said, is the X Factor Tevez type striker, step forward Mr Giroud

 

[Bungle]

This thread reminds me of them RAWK whoppers,

yes you mate !

Welcome to the forum Gerry. How did you become an Evertonian and whereabouts are you from?

 

[johnnydawg68]

Exactly, I certainly haven't deluded myself in to thinking we will finish in the top 4, I think 7th is most likely but 5th and 6th a definite possibility if we do well. Perhaps the thread title should have been more appropriately named as I was actually interested to know how people view that City team and how the players at that time compared to some of ours.

Kompany for example was relatively unknown back then, Silva was unproven in the league but obviously them 2 and Toure went on to become 3 of the most important players in this league in the last 10 years.

I do see some weak links in their side back then though.

It's ok, I fully expect to be in the top 4 this year.

Optimism can get slated amongst our kind, but I don't mind. I'd rather be optimistic and wrong, than pessimistic and right.

 

[kenada_blue]

I think Tevez is the "X-factor" in there that we don't yet have.

Close thread

 

[CrustySack]

The problem boils down to this ultimately. Back then it was easier to get into the top 4. Now there are 6 (with us aiming to be the 7th) teams legitimately capable of challenging for those places, and obviously that's going to leave someone on the outside looking in. We may see over the next few years a different group in the CL places every year, with only 2 or 3 able to consistently manage it. Hopefully over the next couple seasons we'll be able to at least get one finish in that group.

This is certainly the case compared to say 5-7 years ago. We need 2 or 3 players with the 'X -Factor' before we can mount a solid challenge for the Title and the Top 4. Unfortunately those 'X-Factor' players want CL football. Realistically, our best hope of qualifying for the CL is by winning the Europa Cup. If we do that then we can attract the players we need. It sort of highlights the importance of the Europa League to Everton at this moment.

 

[Chewbacca]

I reckon we are 3 places off the top four.

Ask me again in May

 

[gerryandtheRedhaters]

Welcome to the forum Gerry. How did you become an Evertonian and whereabouts are you from?

Hello Bungle thanks for the greeting, the answer to your questions are 1. Whole family blue ( 3 generations) and i live in Cheshire nowadays.

Hows Zippy?

 

[ClausThomsen]

This is certainly the case compared to say 5-7 years ago. We need 2 or 3 players with the 'X -Factor' before we can mount a solid challenge for the Title and the Top 4. Unfortunately those 'X-Factor' players want CL football. Realistically, our best hope of qualifying for the CL is by winning the Europa Cup. If we do that then we can attract the players we need. It sort of highlights the importance of the Europa League to Everton at this moment.

We'd need to get into the CL, give a good showing and then qualify again with another good showing before we move to the next category of players. One season qualifiers are not that big a pull to players with established CL credentials.

 

[gerryandtheRedhaters]

I said 3 players of ours are worthy of getting in that City side and at no point did I say we will finish in the top 4. Just interested to see how far off people think we are and how our current 11 compares.

Not really sure therefore how it relates to RAWK...

'Yes you Mate' comment was for kopite lurkers on here not you, maybe the comment was a bit sarcy but no offence was meant.

 

[brieverton]

I still think we are miles off, but an improvement on last year.

Signings of £50M + are now becoming commonplace at Utd, City, and Chelsea.

We have most certainly improved our position relative to Spurs and the RS though.

Absolutely still need to push to get Giroud, Sigurdsson, (or equivalents) and LB/CB cover, if we do that, even if Barkley leaves, we will have come out of this summer significantly stronger. Important that we continue to strengthen though, to maximise what has been a great effort so far.

I think will we improve our points total and certainly need to do better in the cups and get to the business end of the EL. We can win that IMO.

I'm hoping that the Top 6 will all end up scrapping and taking points off each other, rather than 2-3 clubs pulling away. That will make it more feasible to sneak in and get 4th, though I dont think thats feasible this year really.

Spurs are the model, buy well and do it consistently, augmented by youth and astute signings of young players to complement others. Each year there will be bigger clubs disappointed to not reach UCL places, but we must at least try to be in the mix from March onwards.

The danger is the Big Six pull away into a permanent group, and recognised as such, if not already happening. It would be nice to at least break up that party and finish in the top 6, and win something.

 

[formerly manx toffee]

I am still in the camp of HOPING we can jump from the consistent winners of the 7th placed trophy to top 6. Not just a one off top 6 but a consistent shift. In three years I HOPE to be looking for a change from top 6 to top 4.

 

[gerryandtheRedhaters]

I actually think Spurs will struggle at Wembley, Wenger will be forced out by xmas and the RS will be increasingly shiter that normal.

so we could actually push on if we hit the ground running.