Things look more promising, but I think we have to finish in the Top Six for the season to be deemed a success.
We are in contention, but have to get over the line in that respect.
If we finish outside it, then we can be accused again of a lot of brouhaha over nothing.
We are in a transitory position I think between needing to have expectation and being somewhat fearful of that same thing, and being let down again with a whimper.
There is improvement across the team and if we can build on the good work done last summer and through the season to date, then the next couple of years offer a lot of encouragement and hope.
I don't want us to become a one-season wonder, everything that is done needs to be to ensure and maintain success. We absolutely must regain that association with the big clubs, as Spurs have done.
The more Ancelotti can quietly weave his wisdom across all levels of the club, and the longer he does it, the better placed we will be.
Yes really thoughtful post mate.
Unless we win the FA Cup I would agree with you. It would be underwhelming and a real missed opportunity.
I do think there is more sustainability to what we are doing now though. I know I touched upon it a bit in the post, but that is important. Under
Moyes we didnt have the backing, or if we're honest the manager who was able to get us much beyond where we are now, which was competing for the top 4 and one of the top 6-7 best teams. That was his and the clubs ceiling and by the end you could see it was the law of diminishing returns.
On Martinez, he hit a sweet spot, but again he didn't have the consistency, nor did the club have the money/resource to kick us on. 4 of the back 5 (which it was built upon) and Gareth Barry in front were all the wrong side of 30. Coleman was approaching it. There wasn't the sustainability there.
We now have an owner who will back us, and a DOF with hit "foot under the door" 3 years into the job. We also have a good group of players 21-25 and quite a few below that who look promising. Some of the key players (Keane, Mina, Digne, Doucoure) are also the right side of 30 which helps. They shouldn't fall off the same cliff.
European football is really important next year. It ticks up a level of player we can attract. If we can hang in, I do think other sides will fall away further.
Good read.
