20 Apr 2015 21:48:16
Perhaps the worst thing that could have happened to our club was second place finish last year. We over-reached and set a standard we cannot possibly maintain (IMO). If you look at top 4, they simply have the most financial clout. If you look across the leagues in Europe, it is almost always the richest teams that are in top 4. Yes, there are exceptions on off occasions, but in general, to be a top four team you need the finacial backing. We are in 5th, which is more or less where we should be on paper. This isn't an excuse and someone will soon point out Atletico or a similar example of trend bucking, but it is a simple and unfortunate truth. The outlay last summer was largely money recouped from a sale. sure we have made some bad decisions (all clubs do) but we are not in a finacial position to make mistakes on players (or manager).

Here's hoping that Origi steps in next year and becomes a Suarez.


1.) 20 Apr 2015
20 Apr 2015 22:28:58
Wrong. The worst thing was throwing the title away. We lost the 3rd best player in the world, that's going to hurt any team but we had funds and the lure of CL football to replace him in some way, plus better the squad. So if that's the case who is to blame?


2.) 21 Apr 2015
21 Apr 2015 00:32:12
I'd agree if Man Utd, Man City and Arsenal had all been playing well this year, but they haven't, they've been really inconsistent. Despite this, and despite our terrible start, we still aren't too far off top 4 so we should be somewhere in the CL places by now even with the budget and Suarez departure taken into account.

Also there is no way the events of the last season should have seen us capitulate as badly as we did recently against Man Utd, Arsenal and now Villa. We clearly lack an enforcer in midfield, a good RB, a backup striker, all problems we clearly knew about at the end of last season. GJ was obviously poor, Allen too lightweight for CDM and Suarez was leaving yet none of these seemed to be planned for adequately. Instead we make Markovic and Llalana our most expensive purchases (who I both think are good players but unnecessary) to reinforce attacking midfield where we already have Sterling and Coutinho? Then when we have obvious problems he doesn't give Borini a real chance and freezes him out?

Also why the tinkering with the rotation and formations? I think Rogers is too full of his mental gymnastics and hubris, when instead he should have hired a quick forward (Remy anyone?), reinforced midfield and RB, and built on last season rather than trying to reinvent the wheel every week.


3.) 21 Apr 2015
21 Apr 2015 09:02:20
coop. you say the top 4 are "richer clubs" and it is almost always the richest teams that are in top 4,fair enough,but how can you explain arsenal over the last 15 years finishing above spurs every year and above lfc most years and they have spent a a lot less than the spuds and lfc


4.) 21 Apr 2015
21 Apr 2015 14:56:29
Zimbo took the words right of my keyboard.