Have we underachieved in the Roman era?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I say no, because before Abramovich came in, all of this was fantasy. I still sometimes can't believe we've transformed from the team I fell in love with as a kid in the late 90s after those two FA Cup wins in 1997 and 2000 into he European 'big four' alongside United, Real and Barcelona. 3 league titles and four second-placed finishes in that period of time = absolutely exceptional. We should have won the Champions League, and but for woeful refereeing we would have been in the final in 2005 and 2009, we should perhaps have won it in 2003 as well. Can't complain.

[warnie_666 1,081]

No, I said that football fans expect spending to bear instant results, but titles can't be bought.

Surely they can't be brought. And that shows why we finished second in our first season of Romans takeover and why Man City haven't won the title after three seasons with the sheikhs.

For Man City, it is different. The team was ranked 11 I believe when they were taken over and they finished 8 and 6 and 3 in the subsequent seasons. For them it is a success and they have achieved their goal Of breaking into top 6 and top 4 considering teir team was 11th when they were bought

Chelsea on the other hand was 6th when roman took over and finished 2nd and 1st in the subsequent seasons. But then we regressed. And self destruct. Fired the manager that bought us success and one who is considered as the best manager. Untill Carlo won us the title again after 3 seasons. We self destruct again last winter. By scaling down the squad and refusing Carlos request to extend Ballacks contract, he would have been invaluable in Lamps absence and We would have not suffered so bad and probably would have won the title. But hey we always self destruct. We were steam rolling untill our board had a brain fart and decided hey we don't need Wilkins and let's isolate Carlo.

Bottom Line is that the board is the cause for our underachievement.

[Ollie 4,400]

Can't complain at all. Man Utd are Man Utd so you can't expect to win it every year just because we have money. Man Utd can still attract the worlds best. Before Roman came, we were barely even a top 4 side and Man Utd and Arsenal had dominated the top 2 places for ages so to have won the league 3 times in 8 seasons, almost once every 2 years is very good plus the cups. Arsenal aint won anything for 6 years and they can still attract the best players plus they aint skint either. Man Utd haven't won the FA Cup since 2004 so at least we've won everything in domestic football multiple times recently.

It's ONLY the lack of Champions League trophy that's missing but 4 semi's and a final is a pretty good effort and we should've won it twice at least (04 and 08).

[francozola 2,040]

Man Utd's recent titles have been due to Fergie rather than their "team". I do think we've kind of underachieved and agree with warnie that it's because of our board imo

Really unlucky in the champions league though. Should have won it in 03/04, 07/08. Should have reached the final in 08/09.

[eldo 868]

It's all about being no.1. It pains me to see that inspite of investing millions in squad we have won only 3 titles in 8 seasons while Man Utd having invested less than half compared to us have won 4 titles and UCL in the same period.

We may have won our title in 50 years but that doesn't hurt much cus we didn't invest much in the squad.

It's like a business. You invest in squad to win to be number 1. If you don't achieve that your investment has failed.

Man utd have spent money too.

[zolayes 14,489]

when we are accused of being glory hunters it really pisses me off ...BUT seeing some of the comments on here ...some people would be better

fucking off to support Manure or Barca ...OF COURSE we would all like to win EVERYTHING every year ...just as some children

would like all the sweets in the shop ...AND make themselves sick

[NattyBlue 44]

Half Half, in the last few seasons regarding titles I could say yes, but winning titles isn't easy! I'm happy anyway, fark the CL for one....Would love to win the FA Cup this year!

[warnie_666 1,081]

Man utd have spent money too.

Yes not even half of our investment and yet they have 4 titles and Champions League

Had we not invested in squad I would have been content not winning but the aim is to be the best not second best which is what we are after having invested more than twice compared to Man Utd. In simple terms that is underachievement.

[warnie_666 1,081]

when we are accused of being glory hunters it really pisses me off ...BUT seeing some of the comments on here ...some people would be better

fucking off to support Manure or Barca ...OF COURSE we would all like to win EVERYTHING every year ...just as some children

would like all the sweets in the shop ...AND make themselves sick

So any fans who want Their clubs to be the best in the world should go and support Manure and Barca?

You do realize that we have regressed after Mou left us. Pacifying yourself by comparing this era to the 50 years when the club didn't win a title is stupid. We invested 700b in 8 years in this club. We didn't even invest half of it in this 50years combined.

[eldo 868]

Yes not even half of our investment and yet they have 4 titles and Champions League

Had we not invested in squad I would have been content not winning but the aim is to be the best not second best which is what we are after having invested more than twice compared to Man Utd. In simple terms that is underachievement.

I think they have spent more than half...

[xPetrCechx 13,578]

CL

[Laylabelle 9,539]

Money buys you players not success.And its hard to say really as we've had several Managers with different playing styles and some worked and some hasnt hence the lack of trophies really.No we havent

[Kez 2,727]

I say no, because before Abramovich came in, all of this was fantasy. I still sometimes can't believe we've transformed from the team I fell in love with as a kid in the late 90s after those two FA Cup wins in 1997 and 2000 into he European 'big four' alongside United, Real and Barcelona. 3 league titles and four second-placed finishes in that period of time = absolutely exceptional. We should have won the Champions League, and but for woeful refereeing we would have been in the final in 2005 and 2009, we should perhaps have won it in 2003 as well. Can't complain.

This.

We'd of won the CL at least once by now if it werent for bad luck and awful refereeing, some things you just can't control in football.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

I think we did more than great. Look at City, I know they wasnt in the same position before the take over(we were in the top 4, they were in the mid table),

but still, look at the players they purchased, look at their squad. And with all that they won one FA cup, when we won back to back titles and an FA cup

in 3 seasons. As for the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 seasons- yes in those years we kind a underachieved, our team was better than just an FA cup.

But we underachieved in those two seasons becasue of two reasons(has been said before in this topic):

1. Roman's ego(the sack of Mourinho). 2. Bad luck(CL final, and than ridiculous referee against us). So those years were a bit painful for us.

But it happens in football.

But overall, it amazes me of what did we become, 3 PL titles, 3 FA cups, 2 League Cups, and of course great performances in the CL inculdes a CL final

that went to penalties. So we should have won the CL, I think in one of the 08/09 or 07/08 seasons(i cant agree about 04/05 when Liverpool

would have got a peneltey if the Phantom goal wasnt allowed, and Cech would have got a red card. And for the 03/04... nah, werent good enough).

But it we'll come. Just think that the great Barcelona won their first only in 1992! Think that Fergie's United, "only" won it 2 times. With their amazing

number of league titles, two isnt an amazing number of CL's in 20 years. Look at Inter Milan who waited 50 years I think to win it for the second time...

We did great in all fronts imo. And it will be even better, if not right now so in a couple of years with Boas...

[zolayes 14,489]

So any fans who want Their clubs to be the best in the world should go and support Manure and Barca?

You do realize that we have regressed after Mou left us. Pacifying yourself by comparing this era to the 50 years when the club didn't win a title is stupid. We invested 700b in 8 years in this club. We didn't even invest half of it in this 50years combined.

So any fans who want Their clubs to be the best in the world should go and support Manure and Barca?

You do realize that we have regressed after Mou left us. Pacifying yourself by comparing this era to the 50 years when the club didn't win a title is stupid. We invested 700b in 8 years in this club. We didn't even invest half of it in this 50years combined.

no but stop acting like a spoiled child that we haven't won EVERYTHING..700 B ...only an exageration of 1000

[Henri 115]

Absolutely not, but would Mr. Abramovich give it all away for the holy grail, you better belive it!.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Absolutely not, but would Mr. Abramovich give it all away for the holy grail, you better belive it!.

I realy dont think so. I mean, of course not.

Roman realy wants the CL, and its a big deal for him maybe, but I just dont think it is THAT of a big deal like the media says it is.

[Term-X 7,891]

Did Man City win the league in their first "sheikh-season"? Let alone back-to-back? No, they didn't, and they're richer than us.

When Mourinho took on Chelsea it was a unique opportunity, a blank cheque and Champions League football. The game had never seen anything like it and whatever City spend they'll never replicate the novelty value of those years. Players and managers proceed with a degree of caution now, and no ‘initial’ project will ever have the same fanfare as Roman/Peter Kenyon’s Chelsea.

[Henri 115]

I realy dont think so. I mean, of course not.

Roman realy wants the CL, and its a big deal for him maybe, but I just dont think it is THAT of a big deal like the media says it is.

What Roman wants he gets, oh no,, not that titel!. He will do ANYTHING FOR THAT TITEL, ANYTHING!.

[TacticalBlues 2,817]

I'd have to say no because of all we have achieved and the difference between the pre-Abramovich era and now. However, their were certain seasons and moments where we did under-achieve, but mind you in a lot of those years we were denied things that we should have achieved. e.g. Ghost Goal, Overbo etc.