Tomo

Last summer was our first awful window since 2010, in between we have had solid but unspectacular windows (11 and 13) and incredible windows (12 and 14). We did sell to buy in 2014 because we had little choice, after the loss we made late 2013 we needed to, now with the TV deal, the extra money from Yokohoma and the money from Rami, Salah and potentially Cuadrado will mean the cash is there. Despite this season this squad still has a lot of quality, priority this summer should be centre back, right back, centre midfield and striker, get them in and if they hit the ground running we will be back on track.

It's so frustrating that when we finally get a manager who puts Cahill in the position he should have been from day one (solid squad player, no more), he ends up back in the side by default.

I have to say it's pretty amusing that our three best performances and three biggest wins this season (today, Newcastle and MK) have a mere seven pages combined In the post match threads The 0-0 Watford thread alone has more than these three.

Hopefully we can go a run now, allthough we have nothing to play for in the league (unless we are desperate for Europa) we need a strong ending to give some positive momentum for next season and to be able to convince new players this season was a one off. For me we should aim to 'win the league' in terms of the table since Guus took over, right now we are third, one point behind Saints who we play this weekend and seven behind Spurs who still have to come to Stamford Bridge.

Every time I've seen this lad play I like what I have seen, Ighalo has got the attention due to his goal record but honesty in every other aspect Deeney has impressed me more. Ighalo is a bit like Remy, can stick the ball in the net but beyond that his general play leaves a bit to be desired, Deeney on the other hand has it all, pace, power, link up play, eye for pass, quality movement, could score more but has an all round game that means that isn't too much off an issue, imo he is a very clever player. Now we are surely not activating Falcaos release clause and Remy is likely to leave, meaning if the Pato experiment doesn't work out we will be in the market for a new forward (might be anyway depending on how our new manager rates Traore), given Terry is leaving we need a home grown boost, and as a back up/foil to Costa I reckon Deeney could do well here.

The only thing that worries me about Simeone is his forward recruitment, unless I'm missing someone Greizman is the only real success story, the fact he signed Torres and tried to resign Falcao worries me somewhat, and his recent comments re Torres sounds similar to the constant excuses some people made for him while he was here. Other than that this news excites me greatly, to compete with Pep and potentially José we need top brass and Diego is exactly that, plus I love the way he sets up his team, its like us under José the first time, solid defense with a lot of heart and brutally effective footy. If he comes and makes a decent transfer window, we will be back at the right end in no time.

You have basically listed all the games we have dropped points in under Guus, I'm sorry but you can't expect anyone to take over the shambles that Hiddink had too and pull off ten in a row from the off (something that's only been done a few times in PL history and never by us I don't think) furthermore, even if he did, we would still be out of top 4 places. Havewe been perfect under Hiddink? No, and yes some of the draws have been avoidable, but looking at the context of how the team and club were on its knees when he arrived, 18 points in ten games is a very respectable return, that's top 4 challenging form.

After all this he will probably eclipse last seasons tally, he needs ten between now and May. A fully fit on form Costa all season is at least 40 goals, hopefully next season is the year.

The funny thing about all this is, if we have a window as good as 2012 and 2014 this summer, we will be back to kissing Emanalo/the boards arses. Only need to look at Costa thread now compared to before Christmas as to proof of how reactionary a lot of people are, at times its worse than Arsenal fans shifting from Wenger in/out based on the last result.

The main two culprits are unfortunately banned so they can't come here and eat their words.

Can we unban Zolayes and Didierforever? Although they both deserved to go annoying that it's coincided with Costa return to form

We've won our last three at home to Newcastle without conceding.

Then we will have to be more astute, their will be players out there who can improve us, look at the difference Alderwierld made at Spurs. Also its not like our team need a complete overhaul, unlike 2012 we already have top player's here, a few astute signings to be restore depth and order could be all we need to challenge again if we keep the best players.

Well I'll use two other example's, Palace and Watford, been carried by Bolasie/Cabaye and Ighalo/Quique Flores respectively and in recent weeks both teams are being exposed. Tbh, even if he does take easy jobs, his outstanding work at Barca has earned him that right.

One paper saying were going to sell him for £25m

When I do watch La Liga and Bundesliga, the lesser sides strike me as more technically able, when I see games in the PL when two bottom half teams come head to head the lack of quality is alarming, take Villa for example, some cock ups theve made this season is beyond ameteur stuff, its just horrible.

We have already got a fai bit of cash from player sales along with the TV money. Even last year their was wide reports we were chasing Pogba and its no secret we were prepared to blow a serious amount on Stones, shows the money and ambition is still there. Also in recent times when we so desparately needed to react in the market we have, 2012 our squad got stale and we needed young blood to add some fresh impetuous, we got that, 2014 we needed creativity and a forward who can score and lead the line, we got just that. We seem to be at ourbest in the market when we are in desperate need, and this summer will fall in that category.

Because no side in England are as good as Real, Barca and Bayern and even then Liverpool and City netted over 100 season before last. Could you imagine Norwich or West Brom at the Camp Nou? Would be massacre. Out ofthe league teams we have the traditional top seven Saints, Leicester and if we push it Stoke and hammers with a bit of quality, that leaves nine teams that are shite and Pep will take a shit on, 54 points to play for vs those teams and Pep's record suggest he will probably take about or close to 50 against them lot, he will more than likely take at least 13 vs Stoke/Leicester/Saints, which will mean 20 points out of 36 against the big boys will probably win it for him. Id love to bewrong, I really would, but I can't see past Pep dominating this league for the 3/4 years he is here, especially if he's getting the funds he's reportedly getting.

I am off the opinion that the lesser sides in this league are very overrated, on the ball most areclueless and lack any real technical skill, if Pep unleashes the pressing game to full effect I just cannot see any team below the standard of Liverpool/Everton coping with them even remotely.

I made a lengthy reply to this but internet cut me off and deleted everything, I'll write it up again in next couple of days.

Thing is, I think we can return to where we were next season with the right appointment and the astute transfer window similar to 2014 and 2012, unlike when we last dropped out of the top four (for Munich to save us) we still have a lot of quality in the squad. To compete with Pep can be done but we will have to keep up with the very high standards he will set at Eastland's, Pep teams sweep up against the lesser sides, we (or anyone hoping to compete with him) will need to match that or just be below that then beat him on head to head. That's why I'm sort off attracted to the idea if Sampaoli, his high energy attacking football is suited to flat track bullying, its a gamble with very high potential rewards.

Here is some perspective for people who think Pep has had it easy at Bayern and anyone can do what he has done. Before last season they have only won three in a row once before, Pep is oncourse to win 3 in a row himself to add to the three in a row Bayern have done (him managing two). If they hold out to win the Bundesliga this season, it will be the first time they have ever done 4 in a row, yes I know Pep didn't manage for the first of them four but just shows how well he has done to maintain their dominance, its not easy. And just to add Barca won four in row early 90s but aside from that, they never did more than two until Pep showed up, infact if it wasn't for the genius of José and the sheer determination of our old guard, he would have sweeped up on La Liga and CL titles during his four years. Luckily he will only be at City for a few years, but its going to be a nightmare for us and the rest of the challengers, the guy is a genius.

I mean in the eyes of the fans not the players, of course if Mou is to ever return, most of this squad will have to have been gone. Mourinho is a proud man and I think he left on good terms with the owner all things considered, so there will be no bad blood their, the reason I think he might be up for a 3rd spell in years to come is after all the history he has made for Chelsea I just can't for the life of me seeing him wanting to end it for good on those last four months, if the timing was right and he had a chance to return for 2 years later down the line, it honestly wouldn't surprise me if he returned to right this wrong. Obviously there are other factors to consider, if we were in a stable position under a manager who's football is opposite to Joses then it will be a non starter, but if we wind up in 2022 with our team in a similar outlook (in terms of playing personnel) to Inter 2008 and we were on the lookout for a new manager, then I can easily see the temptation to "marry again" would be there., for both parties.

Last summer was tragic, but 2012 and 2014 were absolute brillian windows, that'l could easily happen again next summer.