Are we going to finish in the top 4? - Achieved!

[Special Juan 28,146]

We need to be very careful and also very clever as to who we buy in the summer for the midfield slot, we must get it right. United will spend and no doubt get it right, as they have managed to slide through another season without anyone of quality in there, this summer will see that change.

Carrick has been good but you just feel they are a top class midfielder away from being brilliant IMO.

Massive summer for us in terms of bringing people back and signings.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

10 points from the last five games will be enough for a top four finish, in my opinion, as long as three of those points are against Spurs. Villa and Swansea are must-wins. United have the league sown up, so hopefully we can sneak a point at Old Trafford. Everton is always a tough one, but they haven't won at Stamford Bridge in a long, long time. I'm not too worried just yet - but if we don't beat Swansea, we're in deep trouble. However, we only really ever play well against the "big" teams, and we're playing three of them. That should get the motivation pumping!

[Rmpr 8,977]

Aren't ready? For what exactly?

In what way aren't they 'ready'? I'm really coming to the end of my tether with people looking on Wikiedia at someone's age and coming to the considered opinion that they're 'not ready'. Can you be anymore specific than that?

For instance, Chalobah and Oscar aren't ready to be our leading pivot for 40+ games a season and nor is Lukaku for the senior striker role. The first has absolutely no experience in the EPL (werent you the one wanting Modric ahead of Moutinho because he is proven in UK?), the second has to immensily improve his body to play in a position he has never played before and the third isn't even a starter for Wigan.

Also, we have no idea how good Schurrle is going to be. He might become a huge flop or have an average first season like Oscar and not contribute as much as we need him to.

That is because I am ignoring the fact Terry and Cole aren't the same...

The team you suggested is better than Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal (specially because of the bench options), but not better than the two Manchester teams. Meaning we wont be fighting for the title...

[The only place to be 11,313]

For instance, Chalobah and Oscar aren't ready to be our leading pivot for 40+ games a season and nor is Lukaku for the senior striker role. The first has absolutely no experience in the EPL (werent you the one wanting Modric ahead of Moutinho because he is proven in UK?), the second has to immensily improve his body to play in a position he has never played before and the third isn't even a starter for Wigan.

Improve his body? I think he's shown he can put himself about as much as anyone. He has an extremely high workrate, he's tenacious and he's composed on the ball. Is he much smaller than Modric or Moutinho? Chalobah has experience in the Championship, but he's got something about him and I don't think he'd disgrace the club or the shirt if he were given a shot.

Also, we have no idea how good Schurrle is going to be. He might become a huge flop or have an average first season like Oscar and not contribute as much as we need him to.

That is because I am ignoring the fact Terry and Cole aren't the same...

The team you suggested is better than Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal (specially because of the bench options), but not better than the two Manchester teams. Meaning we wont be fighting for the title...

We've shown we can beat United and give City a run for their money. I really don't think we're as far away from these teams as our detractors might suggest. I think we've just got to show a little faith in our club and not expect things to be handed to us on a plate.

[Tomo 21,751]

Arsenal may on paper have the easiest run in, but can you remember the title race in 2010 when they supposedly did aswell, remember what happened there?

Spurs seem to have a mental block when it comes to playing Chelsea, even last year when they were better than us we still managed to beat them 5-1, i can't see them getting anything at The Bridge is the stakes are so high.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Can you please learn how to quote? Geeez.

Improve his body? I think he's shown he can put himself about as much as anyone. He has an extremely high workrate, he's tenacious and he's composed on the ball. Is he much smaller than Modric or Moutinho? Chalobah has experience in the Championship, but he's got something about him and I don't think he'd disgrace the club or the shirt if he were given a shot.

Oscar needs to work on his body, he is still weak for European football and that is clear when he tries to work his possession in thight spaces. He often loses the ball and fall to the ground...

Chalobah must be given the chance, not the starting role in his very first season with a CFC shirt. You went from wanting to start him from giving him a chance, that shows a lot already.

You believe in Terry, Cole and Lukaku in the starting role to give us real title chances?

We've shown we can beat United and give City a run for their money. I really don't think we're as far away from these teams as our detractors might suggest. I think we've just got to show a little faith in our club and not expect things to be handed to us on a plate.

It is not about beating them, it is about making more points. You already start a season knowing Manure will make at least 80 points and City will be close by...

You honestly believe this team can make 80+ points?

[The only place to be 11,313]

Can you please learn how to quote? Geeez.

Oscar needs to work on his body, he is still weak for European football and that is clearly when he tries to work his possession in thight spaces. He often loses the ball and fall to the ground...

Again I completely disagree and think that you're looking at his size, rather than what he does in matches.

How many times has he done that thing where he uses his body to shield players who are about 3 yards away from the ball? He's intelligent enough to position his body between opposition players and the ball. Falling to the ground is fine if he gets free kicks too - I really think you're overstating a problem that doesn't exist in the first place.

Chalobah must be given the chance, not the starting role in his very first season with a CFC shirt. You went from wanting to start him from giving him a chance, that shows a lot already.

What I've wanted from the start is for him to be given a fair shot at the shirt in pre-season. That's purely because I think he'll prove himself better than Mikel in a fair fight.

You believe in Terry, Cole and Lukaku in the starting role to give us real title chances?

Yes, with rotation. I think there's a question mark over Terry and that we should be looking for a replacement for him, but Cole is still good enough and Lukaku seems to be going from strength to strength.

It is not about beating them, it is about making more points. You already start a season knowing Manure will make at least 80 points and City will be close by...

You honestly believe this team can make 80+ points?

Yep. That's not many more than I'd expect from this season - imagine if we'd beat QPR and held onto a few more winning scores. This team is not far away from being very good.

[SinineUltra 1,170]

One heartbreaking moment and we are already crying about finishing out of TOP4? I hope our players aren't mentally as handicapped as some here, fragile and fickle. I'm confident we will be playing in the Champions League next season but if we aren't then it is something we have to deal with and suck it up, handle it and make corrections.

At the start of the season I thought this would be a year for Mata, Hazard, Oscar to gel their teamwork etc, but it has more been about the team having to play without the likes of Drogba, Lampard, Terry, Cole. In that regards we haven't done bad, looking forward to next season -be it in CL or not - I'm more for getting our hands on the Premier League trophy again.

[Strike 7,494]

Arsenal may on paper have the easiest run in, but can you remember the title race in 2010 when they supposedly did aswell, remember what happened there?

Spurs seem to have a mental block when it comes to playing Chelsea, even last year when they were better than us we still managed to beat them 5-1, i can't see them getting anything at The Bridge is the stakes are so high.

Exactly!in 2010, it came down to an easy run-in and Arsenal bottled it with only 1 win in their last 5 games. Wigan away - 2-0 up to 3-2 was possibly the hammer blow. their 4 remaining games now -

United H - Not easy even if United don't maintain intensity.

QPR A - Ok, This one is probably an easy 3-pointer

Wigan H - Wigan are in another relegation shootout. They have stunned Arsenal at The Emirates remember

Newcastle A - Again, edgy

That's 2 or maybe 3 potential pitfalls in the remaining 4 games

[remains of the day 564]

This team is weak, it lacks cohesion and quality in many areas. We don't have a strong squad. If we did we wouldn't be battling for 4th with Spurs and Arsenal. That's our level now and it perplexes me to see you talking about a title challenge!

Agree completely. Some of the talks about mounting a title challenge next season (despite the possibility of us finishing 5th) is bewildering if I'm being honest. I mean.....I'm I just over-exaggerating the direness of our current situation or are people just not seeing what's being happening? We finished 6th last season, might possibly finish out of the top 4 again this season (despite a staggering 80 mill spent on players) and people think that we can somehow bounce back to win the league next season? I get that this is a transition period and I get that that many of our players are still very young, new to the league and still very much developing; but when 80 mil is spent in one summer on transfers and the squad is still short in depth, strength and talent in large areas, then I question whether we're really moving in the right direction. I also question if the person making all these signings has the slightest idea what they’re doing.

I'm thrilled that we've shifted to a youth policy but as it stands right now I haven't seen any clear indication or signs that the club is moving forward and learning from past mistakes made around transfers dealings. We’re still doing the same thing as we did before; the only difference is that we’ve become singularly focused on signing young players while spending more. In fact, this fixation we seem to have with acquiring all the young talents in the world resembles a ‘youth version’ of that ridiculous galactico policy real madrid had several years ago. We keep on stockpiling all these young attacking talents with no clear plan as to how they would all fit into our formation.

Call me a pessimist, but until I begin to see signs that this club recognizes that there’s more to building a squad than simply scouting young talents, won’t be feeling optimistic about the future.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Again I completely disagree and think that you're looking at his size, rather than what he does in matches.

How many times has he done that thing where he uses his body to shield players who are about 3 yards away from the ball? He's intelligent enough to position his body between opposition players and the ball. Falling to the ground is fine if he gets free kicks too - I really think you're overstating a problem that doesn't exist in the first place.

He falls too much, in my opinion. He also rarely gets a foul most of the times...

Yes he is intelligent, but I don't believe he has the right physical condition to play on the pivot!

What I've wanted from the start is for him to be given a fair shot at the shirt in pre-season. That's purely because I think he'll prove himself better than Mikel in a fair fight.

Until now, he is only a promise, be careful not to make him world class before time...

Many players come and go, you cant go into a season in the hopes of him living up to the hype. We did this with Torres (believing he would come back) and look what happened and how many times we cried for a striker.

Obviously that it would be amazing if he does win the starting job and perform like a top player. I just see a big risk in letting a young player with no experience be our only option for the DM (don't start me with Mikel, I had enough of him already).

Yes, with rotation. I think there's a question mark over Terry and that we should be looking for a replacement for him, but Cole is still good enough and Lukaku seems to be going from strength to strength.

Like I said, this team is great, just not enough to be English Champions!

If we rely on rotation, it will happen just like with Benitez, we will lose important points along the way...

Yep. That's not many more than I'd expect from this season - imagine if we'd beat QPR and held onto a few more winning scores. This team is not far away from being very good.

Wow, you honestly think that by only buying Schurrle and recalling our Loanees, we can win EPL? You actually think we can make 80+ points with that team??

I think this squad can comfortably make top3, but not win it all...

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To stay on topic, I dont get the drama queens around here making us look like Liverpool or Arsenal if we don't qualify. We have been through this already and I have stated all my concerns over not making to UCL...

However, it is not because of one bad season in over a decade that Roman will leave or Chelsea will lose all their players. This is fucking laughable!

We are still in the driving seat if anyone hasn't noticed. I posted this in the English Football Thread and will post this again, if we had drew in different circumstances, everyone would be celebrating. How many of you did your simulations and added three points in Anfield?

[Tomo 21,751]

One heartbreaking moment and we are already crying about finishing out of TOP4? I hope our players aren't mentally as handicapped as some here, fragile and fickle. I'm confident we will be playing in the Champions League next season but if we aren't then it is something we have to deal with and suck it up, handle it and make corrections.

At the start of the season I thought this would be a year for Mata, Hazard, Oscar to gel their teamwork etc, but it has more been about the team having to play without the likes of Drogba, Lampard, Terry, Cole. In that regards we haven't done bad, looking forward to next season -be it in CL or not - I'm more for getting our hands on the Premier League trophy again.

Exactly, seeing comments saying that our future is fucked has me banging my head against a brick wall.

[robsblubot 3,595]

Realistically, this was a tough result to take regardless of how mediocre this Liverpool side is (Downing, Henderson...). The circumstances made it a bad result, but before the match, I'd have taken the tie without a second thought. Same goes for United game.

Now, Spurs at home has got to be a win for us--no excuses! Arsenal have to play United too, but at home. Though, United counter-attack well so that won't be much of an advantage to poor-defending Arsenal. ANd they've played an additional game... So, we can still get the 3rd spot, so long as our form does not dip and we don't keep on insisting with Torres.

[Strike 7,494]

Psychologically speaking, Leadership is a BIG reason why we failed. Up until Carlo's reign, the squad was full of leaders/experienced internationals but now the squad is mentally fragile.

Think back to October when we were on such a good run and everybody was happy. One loss to Man Utd and we caved. Lack of leadership is also the reason we've bottled so many leads this season. Once we lead in a game, we start losing every 50-50 challenge and the opposition will soon be all over us. How often did this happen with Lampard-Essien -Ballack etc? Very very rare.

This is not a lobby for Lampard and Terry to play, mind you. They don't have the legs anymore. but lack of leadership is a HUGE reason for our cursed season.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Yep. That's not many more than I'd expect from this season - imagine if we'd beat QPR and held onto a few more winning scores. This team is not far away from being very good.

Thank God I'm not the only one who thinks that. Our problems seem more to do with mentality (in terms of concentration and belief - so many times we've made careless mistakes, or gone behind and come back to draw or make the score more credible, only then to think if we'd have gone for it from the beginning we might even have won it) than with individual talent (I would go as far as saying some of our players, ie Cech, Azpilicueta, Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Luiz, are amongst the best players in the league in their positions). Just need someone to instil belief - not necessarily a Mourinho (although that would help...), just someone who can inspire the team to win.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Psychologically speaking, Leadership is a BIG reason why we failed. Up until Carlo's reign, the squad was full of leaders/experienced internationals but now the squad is mentally fragile.

Think back to October when we were on such a good run and everybody was happy. One loss to Man Utd and we caved. Lack of leadership is also the reason we've bottled so many leads this season. Once we lead in a game, we start losing every 50-50 challenge and the opposition will soon be all over us. How often did this happen with Lampard-Essien -Ballack etc? Very very rare.

This is not a lobby for Lampard and Terry to play, mind you. They don't have the legs anymore. but lack of leadership is a HUGE reason for our cursed season.

^ perfect post. Superb. Was just about to express the exact same view.

[The only place to be 11,313]

He falls too much, in my opinion. He also rarely gets a foul most of the times...

Yes he is intelligent, but I don't believe he has the right physical condition to play on the pivot!

Well I disagree. He's deceptively strong and tenacious and the players that we're looking at (Modric, Moutinho etc.) aren't much different in terms of strength.

Wow, you honestly think that by only buying Schurrle and recalling our Loanees, we can win EPL? You actually think we can make 80+ points with that team??

Yes. I have faith in this squad and in this club.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Well I disagree. He's deceptively strong and tenacious and the players that we're looking at (Modric, Moutinho etc.) aren't much different in terms of strength.

If you look at their size, you will see basically the same thing, but both are stronger than Oscar, specially Moutinho.

Anyways, totally not the point here. Agreed to disagree...

Yes. I have faith in this squad and in this club.

I do have faith, but I dont go that deep. I honestly cant see us finishing first with only Schurrle and Loanees, as much as I want to. I think we need a Striker and a DLP, at least. (only talking about next season)

If we want to really fight for every trophy, we need 3 or 4 players. Cavani/Falcao/Lewandowski, Schurrle, Moutinho at the minimum. And a new CB if we want to really spend a lot of money...

Again not the point of this thread, so we will end it here!

[samsemia 4]

Santiago is back BABY!!!

And Bar Suarez's actions yesterday, we were basically inviting Liverpool on our half the entire last 20 minutes. Our defending was atrocious and we should have put Moses and and left Hazard to cause more problems. Why Torres started is the most illogical consumption I have ever crossed. Are we saving Ba for Thursday FFS?

Well done Torres for bottling it yet again whist better strikers like Sturridge played a huge part. A nice beautiful slap across the face of our boards.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Psychologically speaking, Leadership is a BIG reason why we failed. Up until Carlo's reign, the squad was full of leaders/experienced internationals but now the squad is mentally fragile.

Think back to October when we were on such a good run and everybody was happy. One loss to Man Utd and we caved. Lack of leadership is also the reason we've bottled so many leads this season. Once we lead in a game, we start losing every 50-50 challenge and the opposition will soon be all over us. How often did this happen with Lampard-Essien -Ballack etc? Very very rare.

This is not a lobby for Lampard and Terry to play, mind you. They don't have the legs anymore. but lack of leadership is a HUGE reason for our cursed season.

I agree. Drogba said in an interview that when Mourinho put up his team selection, he'd fill in CECH - TERRY - MAKELELE - LAMPARD - DROGBA and say 'this is the spine', and then he'd put in the Riccys, Arjens and Tiagos.

We don't have that spine anymore. We don't have those leaders anymore, but we're getting there. We have Cech and Mata, and maybe even Luiz but there's a real lack of leaders which isn't surprising because we're a young team.

But this is where my frustration with Mikel arises from. How is it possible that a guy who has played so many games, over so many years and won so many trophies not grown into a leader in our team? When we talk about captains, does anyone ever raise his name? Think of the other people who have played that position - Makelele, Essien, Ballack, Wisey, Petit, Deschamps, Spackman.....

They were all MEN. We need MEN. We need leaders. When you look at the team now, I don't think you see those guys and it's why we've thrown away leads.