Title Run In

[zolayes 14,489]

Comparing apples and oranges has never been a good idea.

so whimsical but does not disguise you can only be a glory hunter

[Las7 951]

Explain?

We missed 2nd spot by like 3 points, Made Semi's in both cups and won the Europa!

so Jose and no trophies would be better why?

Lets see:

We were only in a title race a little before RdM's sacking and being in a title race in October means nothing. We only finished so close to the two clubs ahead of us because they were awful. The very same United team plus a few players bought in is currently outside of CL places; City basically got a new manager and signed a lot of quality players since they finished 2nd to that sorry lot.

He made semi final in two Cup competitions, that's not any type of achievement. No price for Semi Finals

We won the Europe League - because we were a CL Winner the previous season and basically the best team in the competition and one of the few big clubs that took it seriously after crashing out of the CL. We faced exactly ONE top European side to win the title and that was Benfica - if we were to get Benfica at any stage of the CL Knock Out most people would be happy about it.

So there you go a bit perspective.

Anyone who had huge expectations for this season - only has them because City somehow have failed to actually do what was predicted of them and with their new manager they might still not be able to win the League due to his lack of experience.

Rafa has challenged for a EPL League Title once and Pool were about as close as Rodgers is right now.

Jose has managed to have us challenging for a title when our best Striker hasn't even managed to score over 10 goals in the League. All together Torres Ba and Eto'o have less goals than Aguerro - yet we are ahead of City baffles my mind.

If there was no Jose we would have been in the same position in the League we were under Rafa; Carlo and RdM - not in a Title Race;

simples

[Amblève. 4,995]

so whimsical but does not disguise you can only be a glory hunter

Welp. Have a good evening, old man.

[lionsden 4,689]

No, in the position we're now, titles are simply expected. If Jose wasn't the coach people would be livid if we lose out on all trophies this season. We're one of the biggest clubs in Europe and winning nothing at all would be a failure.

Not really. objectively speaking anyway.

There's a big difference between status and squad quality and the strength of the competition. the latter factors significantly dictates expectations and success not status afterall AC milan are also one of the biggest clubs in europe but no one expects them to win shit.

For example, a club like Bayern would be expected to win atleast one trophy per season because they have the luxury of 2 key factors which we currently lack. the best squad in their domestic league and arguably Europe plus the gap between them and the competition they face in the Bundelsiga is huge and the Dortmund's injury crisis further widens the gap . In contrast to the EPL where 4 teams are competing for the title.

[Las7 951]

Not sure if serious. Liverpool winning the League is the worst thing imaginable.

The worst thing imaginable is being United right now - I don't give a crap who the winner is if it's not us

[zolayes 14,489]

Welp. Have a good evening, old man.

the best reply you can make . My point is not to win a trophy every year is not failure ..

If you must have that go support Celtic . I might be old but that's better than being a spoilt brat

[Rmpr 8,977]

Explain?

We missed 2nd spot by like 3 points, Made Semi's in both cups and won the Europa!

so Jose and no trophies would be better why?

Well...

1. We missed the second place by 3, but by how much did we lose the title? Oh yeah, 14 fucking points! This year, we are actually figthing for the title. Moreover, we have 7 games to play and we are only 2 wins away from having a better record than last year!

2. We didnt get into the Semi-finals of the FA Cup, but we went down to the same team and away from home. Had we not drawn City, we would have (most probably) advanced. You cant compare each year's performances on the domestic cups solely on how far we got. You have to see the teams we faced along the way and do a proper comparison in order to see who did better.

3. Yeah, we won the Europa League, but that was only because we failed to even advance to the knocked out rounds of the UCL. Now, we are in the QFs of the Champions League and with REAL chances of going through. So, theoretically, we could finish the season as the fourth best club in Europe! That would be significantly more difficult than beating the likes of Basel and Steua along the way...

4. Another thing that is important is the off-the-pitch advantadges Jose gives us. He can manipulate the media attention to our favour, while Benitez was extremely bad at it. Just look at what he did to Pellegrini and Wenger and what that has given us. I doubt Wenger would've brainfarted THAT horribly had Mourinho not pressured him with the 'specialist in failure' quote.

5. However, the most important thing Mourinho has given is was the better level of football. Balance to the squad, confidence, tactical awereness, unity, mental toughness, hard pressing, deadly counters, etc. We are a much better team than last year, despite any possible results!

In resume...More trophies dont equal to better a season!!! We dont necessarily need a trophy to have a good season because we have been winning them for the past decade or so. We are not in the state of Arsenal or Liverpool in which their fans are in desperate need of success. Besides, in the last 4-5 years we won almost all possible competitions at least once (there are clubs that take a whole century to achieve that). Chelsea going into a season without a trophy isnt the end of the world.

EDIT: Also, we play in the hardest country in the world and winning trophies inst a given!!!

[Tomo 21,751]

Explain?

We missed 2nd spot by like 3 points, Made Semi's in both cups and won the Europa!

so Jose and no trophies would be better why?

If Pep "only" wins 2 trophies instead off 3, does that means he has failed at Bayern this season because they won the treble last season?

Was Kenny Dalglish better than Fergie in 11/12? If Pool don't win the PL this season? Did Kenny do a better job 2 years back than BR this season?

The progress we have made this season has been incredible, we have spent the last 3 years floating about in a never ending transition with no real style off play, inconsistent result's, unbalanced team and a weak midfield that even shite sides over ran.

Jose has layed some real foundations this season and regardless off whether we win PL, CL, both or none, he has done brilliantly balancing the team out and getting more out off the players, look at Cahill.

If it weren't for Mou we would be 4th imo, that is how much a difference i believe he has made.

[Sheva. 5,373]

We're actually challenging for the title, right up there from start to the end, and no falling away in November.

Failure? ridiculous.

[zolayes 14,489]

If Pep "only" wins 2 trophies instead off 3, does that means he has failed at Bayern this season because they won the treble last season?

Was Kenny Dalglish better than Fergie in 11/12? If Pool don't win the PL this season? Did Kenny do a better job 2 years back than BR this season?

The progress we have made this season has been incredible, we have spent the last 3 years floating about in a never ending transition with no real style off play, inconsistent result's, unbalanced team and a weak midfield that even shite sides over ran.

Jose has layed some real foundations this season and regardless off whether we win PL, CL, both or none, he has done brilliantly balancing the team out and getting more out off the players, look at Cahill.

If it weren't for Mou we would be 4th imo, that is how much a difference i believe he has made.

EXACTLY

[Tomo 21,751]

The worst thing imaginable is being United right now - I don't give a crap who the winner is if it's not us

I have seen United win title after title, but the pain off seeing them win 10 won't be near as bad as seeing Liverpool win one.

I would rather see Tottenham win the league, seriously.

[Amblève. 4,995]

the best reply you can make . My point is not to win a trophy every year is not failure ..

If you must have that go support Celtic . I might be old but that's better than being a spoilt brat

I don't see the point in letting myself being insulted by some dude who knows jack shit about me simply because I disagree with him.

Not really. objectively speaking anyway.

There's a big difference between status and squad quality and the strength of the competition. the latter factors significantly dictates expectations and success not status afterall AC milan are also one of the biggest clubs in europe but no one expects them to win shit.

For example, a club like Bayern would be expected to win atleast one trophy per season because they have the luxury of 2 key factors which we currently lack. the best squad in their domestic league and arguably Europe plus the gap between them and the competition they face in the Bundelsiga is huge and the Dortmund's injury crisis further widens the gap . In contrast to the EPL where 4 teams are competing for the title.

Even if we miss out on winning the PL and the CL where we, admittedly, might not be up to our best yet, either the FA Cup or the Capital One Cup is a must (if not even both of them) because our squad is good enough to compete for these titles. A title is a title, even if it's a "lesser" one.

Fair enough, you're right in what you're saying but you're forgetting the 3rd factor: ambition. Not too long ago, when Bayern were second to Dortmund, were Bayern's front office and players safisfied with finishing 2nd? No, because even though their squad wasn't as good as Dortmund's being happy with coming second was not even an option for them as a club of their status aims for titles. Just like Chelsea do.

[Las7 951]

I have seen United win title after title, but the pain off seeing them win 10 won't be near as bad as seeing Liverpool win one.

I would rather see Tottenham win the league, seriously.

United could have had Jose as manager instead of Moyes but SAF chose Moyes due to his Scottish virtue.

Their fans saying how they never really wanted him and how Moyes was the Chosen One - forced to live with the hilarity of the situation.

Now that's desperate - as long as my club is not in a disastrous situation like United, I'm happy. Certainly won't be making a tragedy out of

scousers winning the league and I don't think they will. I said they would challenge but their defense and central midfield will let them down when the chips are down in the title deciding matches against us and City. Only an implosion by us and City would lead to a Liverpool title and frankly I'd be more pissed off at us failing to seal the deal rather than scousers winning the league.

The only thing which would bother me is the media wank fest but I'd just stop listening the rags and concentrate on the World Cup in the summer.

[Tomo 21,751]

I don't see the point in letting myself being insulted by some dude who knows jack shit about me simply because I disagree with him.

Even if we miss out on winning the PL and the CL where we, admittedly, might not be up to our best yet, either the FA Cup or the Capital One Cup is a must (if not even both of them) because our squad is good enough to compete for these titles. A title is a title, even if it's a "lesser" one.

Fair enough, you're right in what you're saying but you're forgetting the 3rd factor: ambition. Not too long ago, when Bayern were second to Dortmund, were Bayern's front office and players safisfied with finishing 2nd? No, because even though their squad wasn't as good as Dortmund's being happy with coming second was not even an option for them as a club of their status aims for titles. Just like Chelsea do.

I don't expect the club to be happy if we miss out on silverware this term, but at the same time they will surely ad knowledge we are heading in the right direction and (with a good summer window) are on the verge of something very special once again.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

If we don't win a trophy this season...Rafa did a better job last season, Truth hurts!

Dafuq did i just read ?

[blu35_army 551]

if liverpool win this league,,it's not only a short impact about the title. but we allow them to build their "winning mentality" comeback next season. gonna be difficult for us to get the silverware back...

[boshman 1,073]

No, in the position we're now, titles are simply expected. If Jose wasn't the coach people would be livid if we lose out on all trophies this season. We're one of the biggest clubs in Europe and winning nothing at all would be a failure.

where were you before Roman arrived ,,,,,This has been a GOOD season

Totally totally disagree and would like to echo what zolayes said.

There was a time up until very recently where Chelsea had no hope of winning any trophies at all. Now i am a very young supporter compared to others, 97-98 was my first year following us but from 00-05 we didn't win anything. I celebrated like mad just getting to the cup final in 02 and qualifing for the CL in 03. And obviously the likes of zolayes and the older generation have experienced much worse in the late 70's and 80's.

My point is, people shouldn't get carried away with our success. We don't have any divine right to win trophies, as fans pre Roman can testify (by saying that i am not in anyway thinking less of you for supporting the club after Romans arrivial) 15 years ago, a season with us competing for the title and reaching the 1/4 finals of the CL and maybe even further would be classed as an incredible season and i just don't see why that should change.

I still see us as the club i first started supporting back in 97, and i am sure that is the same for many of the pre Roman fans. Success doesn't go to my head, i have seen to a certain degree us without 'success' (00-05) and like i said the older generation have seen us at the lowest point in the clubs history. Compared to them times this season and every season in the last 10/11 years has been a success.

[LucienDillonCFC 77]

Totally totally disagree and would like to echo what zolayes said.

There was a time up until very recently where Chelsea had no hope of winning any trophies at all. Now i am a very young supporter compared to others, 97-98 was my first year following us but from 00-05 we didn't win anything. I celebrated like mad just getting to the cup final in 02 and qualifing for the CL in 03. And obviously the likes of zolayes and the older generation have experienced much worse in the late 70's and 80's.

My point is, people shouldn't get carried away with our success. We don't have any divine right to win trophies, as fans pre Roman can testify (by saying that i am not in anyway thinking less of you for supporting the club after Romans arrivial) 15 years ago, a season with us competing for the title and reaching the 1/4 finals of the CL and maybe even further would be classed as an incredible season and i just don't see why that should change.

I still see us as the club i first started supporting back in 97, and i am sure that is the same for many of the pre Roman fans. Success doesn't go to my head, i have seen to a certain degree us without 'success' (00-05) and like i said the older generation have seen us at the lowest point in the clubs history. Compared to them times this season and every season in the last 10/11 years has been a success.

Couldn't have worded(sp?) that better mate!

[Jase 43,479]

4. Another thing that is important is the off-the-pitch advantadges Jose gives us. He can manipulate the media attention to our favour, while Benitez was extremely bad at it. Just look at what he did to Pellegrini and Wenger and what that has given us. I doubt Wenger would've brainfarted THAT horribly had Mourinho not pressured him with the 'specialist in failure' quote.

Agree with all your points there and just to add on the one above, Mourinho also always defend his players and will often take the pressure off the players onto himself so that they can go out there to perform without any anxiety or tension. Unlike Benitez (or some of our previous managers), he doesn't do that and more often than not, leave the players hung out to dry in the public. Didn't defend Hazard after the ball boy incident last season or said anything to condemn Suarez after he bit Ivanovic and instead, did an impersonation of Arsene Wenger of "I didn't see it"!

[The only place to be 11,313]

I do sometimes wonder if people forget where we were just a year ago. Rafa's appointment was one of the worst moments I've ever had supporting this club and the Europa League really doesn't make up for that. The atmosphere at matches was toxic, we were directionless and really weren't going anywhere.

Now we not only have a manager that we all love, but we have a clear path laid out for us. There's a spine to this team being built with truly world-class talent stepping up and performing week-in and week-out.

This year was never about the title, but laying the foundations for the next 5 titles.