The race for the title

[G Ron]

Keep the faith! We are a quality side and improving all the time - the glory days will be upon us again soon. COYFS

 

[kriss]

Absolutely. I think that whilst we've all dared to dream a bit, the real feelgood factor has been the way that we bounced back from last season, the way that the team has coped so well with the injuries (not least with Kane) and the fact that the results have been backed up with great performances.

 

[NickHSpurs]

It's done. Let's just finish second and beat them in the Community Shield. No better way to start our season at Wembley!

 

[Hazardousman]

It's done. Let's just finish second and beat them in the Community Shield. No better way to start our season at Wembley!

Isn't it the winners of the FA cup and title winners that play in the community shield?

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

You're right about that, they don't like us crashing the "Top four" party at all, just look at the papers after the Chelsea semi-final, 6-7 players linked with moves away, already starting before the season has finished.

Imagine what it will be like during the summer, the issue I have is if we lose someone like Alli or Toby, that's a huge chunk of goals for and against right there, will have a significant impact on us.

I am trying to be optimistic but we are on a knife edge it seems because of the wages we pay and the lack of us winning silverware, hard to keep top players when clubs come around with an open chequebook and a promise of titles.

A new stadium isn't going to be enough to keep them and neither is champions league football because wherever they move they will have a big stadium to play in and champions league, we are deluding ourselves if we think either of those things will change it.

I am not being pessimistic here just trying to be as realistic as possible about the situation, there is a possibility we could lose an important player in the summer, that doesn't mean it is guaranteed we will but I am not going to convince myself it won't happen, I did that with Bale and then I woke up seeing him in a Real Madrid shirt.

I'm sorry but you aren't being realistic or pessimistic you are just buying hook line and sinker into the media nonsense. If you think players will leave because they aren't happy with their pay do you really think that changes if we win the FA Cup ?

Seriously some people on here need to man up and realise that the media don't know diddly squat beyond echoing the result of the last game.

 

[SandroClegane]

You're right about that, they don't like us crashing the "Top four" party at all, just look at the papers after the Chelsea semi-final, 6-7 players linked with moves away, already starting before the season has finished.

Imagine what it will be like during the summer, the issue I have is if we lose someone like Alli or Toby, that's a huge chunk of goals for and against right there, will have a significant impact on us.

I am trying to be optimistic but we are on a knife edge it seems because of the wages we pay and the lack of us winning silverware, hard to keep top players when clubs come around with an open chequebook and a promise of titles.

A new stadium isn't going to be enough to keep them and neither is champions league football because wherever they move they will have a big stadium to play in and champions league, we are deluding ourselves if we think either of those things will change it.

I am not being pessimistic here just trying to be as realistic as possible about the situation, there is a possibility we could lose an important player in the summer, that doesn't mean it is guaranteed we will but I am not going to convince myself it won't happen, I did that with Bale and then I woke up seeing him in a Real Madrid shirt.

JFC. A new stadium/CL might not be able to keep them, but they were all the ones that signed 5-6 year contract extensions this season. There's no leverage whatsoever. If anyone wants to throw their toys out the pram, they can just train with the reserves for the next 3 seasons.

 

[DIEHARD]

Isn't it the winners of the FA cup and title winners that play in the community shield?

If it's the same team ie Chelscum in this case then runners up in the league play them.

Woohoooo win a cup perhaps finally

 

[King of Otters]

To those of you worrying about top 4, Lollerpuddle are 5 points behind having played 2 games more. ManC are 7 points down having played the same number of games. ManU are 8 down with the same number of games and the 2 Manc';s clubs have to play each other. We can get second with a decent performance in our last games, and I believe they really want to do it for Ugo.

BELIEVE, COYS!

Second would be a monumental achievement for this club. Just a shame we're not a couple of points closer to Chelsea to potentially make things interesting.

 

[Mr Pink]

You're right about that, they don't like us crashing the "Top four" party at all, just look at the papers after the Chelsea semi-final, 6-7 players linked with moves away, already starting before the season has finished.

Imagine what it will be like during the summer, the issue I have is if we lose someone like Alli or Toby, that's a huge chunk of goals for and against right there, will have a significant impact on us.

I am trying to be optimistic but we are on a knife edge it seems because of the wages we pay and the lack of us winning silverware, hard to keep top players when clubs come around with an open chequebook and a promise of titles.

A new stadium isn't going to be enough to keep them and neither is champions league football because wherever they move they will have a big stadium to play in and champions league, we are deluding ourselves if we think either of those things will change it.

I am not being pessimistic here just trying to be as realistic as possible about the situation, there is a possibility we could lose an important player in the summer, that doesn't mean it is guaranteed we will but I am not going to convince myself it won't happen, I did that with Bale and then I woke up seeing him in a Real Madrid shirt.

Jesus you really need to stop being so negative.

Stop believing everything you hear and read in the media, it's Daniel Levy in charge ffs.

 

[Hazardousman]

I'm sorry but you aren't being realistic or pessimistic you are just buying hook line and sinker into the media nonsense. If you think players will leave because they aren't happy with their pay do you really think that changes if we win the FA Cup ?

Seriously some people on here need to man up and realise that the media don't know diddly squat beyond echoing the result of the last game.

I know you like to come in and just fire from the hip at me but are you seriously suggesting it's not a realistic way of thinking when saying that players don't leave clubs based on wages or trophies?

Trophies give leverage to a club, if a club is winning trophies and enhancing the reputations of the individual players then, of course, it means they are more likely to stay, sometimes even when receiving lower wages, sportsmen and women get into sports for two reasons, money and to be the best at what they do the latter of which means winning things and the latter of which, for most people in sports, is more important than wages, for most, not all.

If you are a 21-28-year-old with the world at your feet and the wind in your sails, playing for a club that isn't winning trophies (the things you look back on as a player when you are older) and you are wanted by clubs that have a high percentage chance of winning them and who are willing to pay double what you earn at your current club then it's a no-brainer isn't it?

Then you add in the factor of agents pushing for moves, the pressure the media put on clubs to sell players, the media who, like it or not, can make or break a player with the words they print.

I think you underestimate the power and influence of the media on this game and on sports in general.

 

[Hazardousman]

Jesus you really need to stop being so negative.

Stop believing everything you hear and read in the media, it's Daniel Levy in charge ffs.

I am not being negative mate and I know Levy is in charge, I am just looking at what happened with Bale, none of us believed that would happen either.

We never think it's going to happen until it does, I am not going to set myself up for more disappointment.

 

[shelfmonkey]

I agree with Hazardous man.

 

[SpursDave88]

We need to keep believing an fight till the end. Win our games. If Chelsea manage to hold us off so be it. But if we can't win our games, we didn't deserve it anyway. Let's just hope the players have more bottle than you lot.

 

[Mr Pink]

I am not being negative mate and I know Levy is in charge, I am just looking at what happened with Bale, none of us believed that would happen either.

We never think it's going to happen until it does, I am not going to set myself up for more disappointment.

We weren't competing for the title two seasons running then with s new stadium on the horizon - and that will change the landscape for us by the way.

We're a tighter knit group with an exceptionally good manager who the squad seem to love.

You've got to remember that Levy will know all too well the repercussions of letting one player go, which could have a very damaging affect in terms of others agitating for moves.

There is no way he's going to allow a key member of this squad to go this summer imo, and to listen, or take seriously, any links domestically is completely absurd - Not going to happen.

We're on the brink of consolidating our position in the top tier in this League having spent over the last decade in that second tier.

 

[eddiev14]

They conceded twice again tonight against a pretty crap Saints team.

I expected them to win that one.

Let's see if we can win all 6 and see if that's enough. All we can do!

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

I know you like to come in and just fire from the hip at me but are you seriously suggesting it's not a realistic way of thinking when saying that players don't leave clubs based on wages or trophies?

Trophies give leverage to a club, if a club is winning trophies and enhancing the reputations of the individual players then, of course, it means they are more likely to stay, sometimes even when receiving lower wages, sportsmen and women get into sports for two reasons, money and to be the best at what they do the latter of which means winning things and the latter of which, for most people in sports, is more important than wages, for most, not all.

If you are a 21-28-year-old with the world at your feet and the wind in your sails, playing for a club that isn't winning trophies (the things you look back on as a player when you are older) and you are wanted by clubs that have a high percentage chance of winning them and who are willing to pay double what you earn at your current club then it's a no-brainer isn't it?

Then you add in the factor of agents pushing for moves, the pressure the media put on clubs to sell players, the media who, like it or not, can make or break a player with the words they print.

I think you underestimate the power and influence of the media on this game and on sports in general.

I don't remember replying to you before other than in the thread you don't like to discuss anymore

I don't underestimate the impact of wages but to suggest the media can actually influence a player to change clubs is to give them credit they absolutely don't deserve. As to the impact of trophies, only Chelsea and possibly Arsenal are going to win trophies from this point forth this season, assuming of course we don't confound your exceedingly low expectations and win the title. Do you think Citeh will be unable to attract players because they didn't win anything in the last 2 seasons ? Of course not, because they pay top dollar, just as United signed Pogba last summer. Do you seriously think any player has ever been influenced to join a club by what the media were saying ? If so please tell me who.

 

[Hazardousman]

We weren't competing for the title two seasons running then with s new stadium on the horizon - and that will change the landscape for us by the way.

We're a tighter knit group with an exceptionally good manager who the squad seem to love.

You've got to remember that Levy will know all too well the repercussions of letting one player go, which could have a very damaging affect in terms of others agitating for moves.

There is no way he's going to allow a key member of this squad to go this summer imo, and to listen, or take seriously, any links domestically is completely absurd - Not going to happen.

We're on the brink of consolidating our position in the top tier in this League having spent over the last decade in that second tier.

I admire your optimism mate, I truly do, I hope you are right.

 

[jurgen]

I can't believe the shitty spin we're getting in the press right now. I guess this is the second time now that we are challenging the media's fairytale Hollywood narrative..

The first time it was a load of donkeys who suddenly started playing like Sacchi's Milan team on speed.

This time it's a grand old tale of redemption, the 'three rats' who played like shit to get their manager sacked, turning it around after mugging off the club's fans for a year while still earning 250k a week. Heartwarming stuff. I can see why the media are so enthralled by them.

 

[Roynie]

Amazed that anyone expects anything other than a Chelsea win tomorrow.


Second would be a monumental achievement for this club. Just a shame we're not a couple of points closer to Chelsea to potentially make things interesting.

Err, sorry but I'm not sure what your getting at. I was suggesting that whilst getting top 4 wasn't certain it was very likely. The title is in Chelscum's hands what we have to do is play one game at a time and see where we end up.

 

[thinktank]

We're a better team than chelsea, right now, imo. Fucking ****s. I think Everton will beat them and then it's Brom or Watford to nick a point.

If we win all our games we win the title. Will take that to do it.

Can just feel that chelsea will leave the door open.