We should think about our immediate competition. Right now the hyped teams like Spurs and Newcastle are not performing, and Bolton who were very unlucky not to break into the top 4 last season, have had a severe dip in form.
Then you look at this season. Right now Portsmouth, Man City and Villa are flying and the problem is, they are not going to step down any time soon with massive new investment behind them. And that is why it will be very difficult to maintain a top 6 place let alone think about breaking the top 4.
If we can asses it from the other angles, which team will realistically drop out of the top 4? Arsenal are in superb form, Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool, they are not looking like they are going down anytime soon. They all have too many resources, big squads to call on in times of need, players happy to sit on the bench when they are earning what some of those louts are earning.
It is very difficult for us to compete, but we are competing and I put the sucess firmly on the shoulders of one man;
David Moyes. He has worked wonders on limited budget.
Cahill £1.7 million
Reo-Coker £10 million
Ashley Young £9.65 million
Arteta £2 million
or West Ham -
Pienaar £2.5 million (option to buy agreed this summer)
Boa Morte £6 million
Carsley £1 million
Scott Parker £8 million
I know which midfield I'd prefer. In fact our midfield put out against Fulham, all 5 combined (including Osman, a youth product) cost less than (or in Pienaars case, WHEN we buy him for £2.5 million) Reo-Coker.
Now that is something special from Moyes.
)
