Does everyone else's summer really affect us that much?

[InOffMeLeftShin]

There is a lot of talk going on over in the transfer rumours forum about how Chelsea signing Hazard means it is the end of our chances to qualify for the Champions League (or the end of the world as some would have you believe). But are Chelsea's or anyone else's signings really going to make that much of a difference to the Premiership landscape that whatever we do next season is a right off?

I see it from a completely different perspective it seems. I am not going to automatically give a Champions League place to Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea and suggest that we are battling for 4th. That seems far too defeatest for me especially as Chelsea really have a lot of improving to do consistently and Man Utd weren't as strong as they were made to look but won some games simply on fear from smaller teams.

That being said for sure those teams will likely improve, but won't we as well? Aren't we close to signing Vertonghen, a top class centre back that is going to give us a stable partnership at the back not only adding quality but also more consistency which is something that we looked desperately short of particularly in the second half of the season when the defence seemed to chop and change every game. Surely that points to a big improvement to our side and if our fans are fearing Chelsea's moves, then I'd suggest they should equally fear ours especially as ours are likely to be adding to an already good young side with players who are going to get better as oppose to one that is adding flashy big name signings to try to paper over what is a rapidly declining core of players.

I think our summer is only going to get better and I am confident that we will build a very solid group that can develop together and push on a lot from last season. I'm fairly optimistic about our chances of competing with those teams in the league next season even if they do spend hundreds of millions.

 

[spudtrader]

Agreed. We have some of our best players coming into their prime.

Get Verts in and we have one of the best starting defences in the league. With an average age of 25. (IMO only behind City's)

Keep hold of modric and sign a goalscoring right winger and we have one of the better midfields in the league.

But then we are just left with sisco up front. Think we need two good signings up top if we are to really challenge, and i cant see us doing that. However i share your optimism, I do think Vertonghen signing will be key.

 

[Spurrific]

Play Sandro every game wherever he wants and we'll walk the league. Everyone else can sign who they want but they'll never have our Sandro. Also Vertonghen would be one of the buys of the season if it happens imo.

 

[SNAFU_Clarke]

Man Utd weren't as strong as they were made to look but won some games simply on fear from smaller teams.

Didn't they accrue the most points ever for a team that didn't win the title? So whilst they might not be as strong as they were made to look, they were certainly quite strong. One goal off winning the league basically.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Didn't they accrue the most points ever for a team that didn't win the title? So whilst they might not be as strong as they were made to look, they were certainly quite strong. One goal off winning the league basically.

They sure were. But are they so good that there is no chance of catching them? They are Man Utd and have earned the position they are in and they get the respect of every team that plays them but a number of teams definitely just lay down against them. They have some holes appearing in their team and positions where they are vulnerable. I am not sure that teams are just going to give up against them in games next season and maybe their air of invicibility will have disappeared a little. I'm certainly not ready to ink them into a top 2 position before a ball has been kicked.

 

[Spursidol]

Chelsea need to replace more than one player (due to age), so if Hazard joins them (and at the moment its not confirmed) then its a start but realistically they need probably 4 or 5 more.

Spurs need less players - arguably just one striker and a CB (although another striker and a long wish list could be added).

So in summary, Chelsea still need to sign more players than Spurs even if they have signed Hazard.

...and even then there is no guarantee that Chelsea will regularly win against the new top 6 or 7 !

 

[SNAFU_Clarke]

They sure were. But are they so good that there is no chance of catching them? They are Man Utd and have earned the position they are in and they get the respect of every team that plays them but a number of teams definitely just lay down against them. They have some holes appearing in their team and positions where they are vulnerable. I am not sure that teams are just going to give up against them in games next season and maybe their air of invicibility will have disappeared a little. I'm certainly not ready to ink them into a top 2 position before a ball has been kicked.

I won a bit of money last season on a reverse double Man City and Man Utd to fill the top 2 positions at the start of the season. It was 2/1. Ridiculous really. If I was offered 2/1 on the same bet again now, I'd have it. The only chance of a team breaking them next season really, (at this stage), is Chelsea.

I'm not saying we should write off our chances of finishing above them. I just don't think it will happen. No doubt someone will tell me that's because I haven't got the right attitude or winners mentality or some other bollocks. Really though, it's because United and City have stronger squads than we do and they pay them more.

 

[ShelfSide18]

They sure were. But are they so good that there is no chance of catching them? They are Man Utd and have earned the position they are in and they get the respect of every team that plays them but a number of teams definitely just lay down against them. They have some holes appearing in their team and positions where they are vulnerable. I am not sure that teams are just going to give up against them in games next season and maybe their air of invicibility will have disappeared a little. I'm certainly not ready to ink them into a top 2 position before a ball has been kicked.

So many teams turn up at Old Trafford mentally 1 nil down, whereas when they turn up at WHL they know we have a reputation for being vulnerable. How many times d'you see teams come to WHL and score with their only chance, at Old Trafford - pressure is on because it's Man Utd. They are the reputations that have been built over a long time, and just another one of the hurdles we have to overcome.

It was interesting to see how Athletic Bilbao came to Old Trafford and played with absolutely no fear, and won well, they took Man Utd on not on their reputation - not saying Utd's side isn't a good one, but far from their best and they are vulnerable if they don't invest this summer, let's hope they can't afford Luka.

I'm always quite positive, Verthongen seems like a quality signing and we certainly will be investing in a forward or 2 which I'm pretty sure won't be Frazier Campbell and the word seems to be that Bale is staying put, and hopefully he will continue his upward trajectory. Even if we lost Luka, who I think is our best player it is far from curtains, and whilst we are below a select few clubs in the great football food chain, we are also above many too so we will always have a good pick of the best up and coming quality from around Europe.

We're in safe hands with Levy and not being in the CL next season is not going to see us drop off the map, as much as it's a blow and a setback, and keep going along the route we are then we will get our day in the sun eventually - even if it has to be bankrolled by a billionaire.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I won a bit of money last season on a reverse double Man City and Man Utd to fill the top 2 positions at the start of the season. It was 2/1. Ridiculous really. If I was offered 2/1 on the same bet again now, I'd have it. The only chance of a team breaking them next season really, (at this stage), is Chelsea.

I'm not saying we should write off our chances of finishing above them. I just don't think it will happen. No doubt someone will tell me that's because I haven't got the right attitude or winners mentality or some other bollocks. Really though, it's because United and City have stronger squads than we do and they pay them more.

Why do Chelsea have a better chance than us? I don't understand that, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me at all.

 

[tobi]

As long as we improve the first team (which will improve the squad), we can compete.

I see nothing to be afraid of but no more aiming for fourth, as we know it doesn't guarantee anything.

Improve the team and change the mentality.

 

[SNAFU_Clarke]

Why do Chelsea have a better chance than us? I don't understand that, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me at all.

It's my opinion. I think Chelsea will finish above us next season. To be honest I thought that at the start of last season too and I was wrong about that.

I've been through the reasoning for this many, many times. With only a few exceptions it seems that something I think is reasonably easy to understand is beyond the ken of most posters so I'm not that keen to waste my time on it again.

 

[Spurrific]

It's my opinion. I think Chelsea will finish above us next season. To be honest I thought that at the start of last season too and I was wrong about that.

I've been through the reasoning for this many, many times. With only a few exceptions it seems that something I think is reasonably easy to understand is beyond the ken of most posters so I'm not that keen to waste my time on it again.

Maybe you should try without your head lodged up your arse.

 

[SNAFU_Clarke]

no more aiming for fourth

this is the sort of thinking that i really don't understand at all. i can't see really that, as a squad, we do anything other than focus on winning the next game. whilst we might be thinking that 4th gets us into the CL i really find it impossible to understand why 'aiming' for 4th is any different from 'aiming' for 3rd. they all involve winning games and that involves focus on a game at a time.

simply by saying, 'we're aiming for 3rd this year lads' does not, categorically does not, make it any more or less likely that we will finish 3rd.

 

[SNAFU_Clarke]

Maybe you should try without your head lodged up your arse.

yawn

 

[Spurrific]

yawn

You can talk about "yawn" with your pompous fucking snooze-fest posts.

 

[ShelfSide18]

It is still likely that Chelsea will undergo a period of transition that may hamper results on the field, that is what precisely what happened this season under AVB, and although Chelsea are investing heavily in new players (Hazard, Marin, De Bruyne, Hulk etc) they will take time to adapt to the EPL, and we still don't know who their manager will be next season. If it is RDM, I don't think he is the one to oversee the transition Roman wants and if they do bring a new guy in they may not be keen on their new purchases (ok I'm pretty sure they'll like Hazard) but it's certainly not a given Chelsea are going to improve beyond recognition. Especially with the forces that are Terry and Lampard who resisted AVBs changes and are unlikely to accept being phased out like Fergie has done so well with Giggs and Scholes. The thing is with Abramovich, we all know what he wants but he seems utterly clueless in how to implement it successfully.

They could click instantly and push City and United, but I wouldn't say it's for certain and regardless it doesn't change our situation in that we want to improve and push for the top spots.

 

[SNAFU_Clarke]

You can talk about "yawn" with your pompous fucking snooze-fest posts.

no one is forcing you read them. if you simply can't tear yourself away from them, that's not my look out.

 

[SNAFU_Clarke]

It is still likely that Chelsea will undergo a period of transition that may hamper results on the field

i agree. they may well take some time to gel. they also haven't installed a permanent manager yet, so that will have an affect. which is why, at the moment, i'd have man utd and man city as the top two. chelsea, in my opinion, will be a lot less flakey than they were in the league last season. they have the wherewithal to strengthen their squad with the most highly sought after players. whilst that doesn't guarantee success on the pitch, it's a good reason, in my opinion - (have to keep chucking this in there in case spurrific is reading) - to think they'll be finishing in the top 3 somewhere.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

i agree. they may well take some time to gel. they also haven't installed a permanent manager yet, so that will have an affect. which is why, at the moment, i'd have man utd and man city as the top two. chelsea, in my opinion, will be a lot less flakey than they were in the league last season. they have the wherewithal to strengthen their squad with the most highly sought after players. whilst that doesn't guarantee success on the pitch, it's a good reason, in my opinion - (have to keep chucking this in there in case spurrific is reading) - to think they'll be finishing in the top 3 somewhere.

OK so they've signed Hazard. Don't think he'll be as strong as Bale next season. Mata, good player but so is VDV. Marin isn't as good as Lennon. Even spending a lot of money player for player they aren't that special. If they keep Di Matteo which is likely they'll set up quite defensively but I don't think they have the players to defend so much. Ramires was really excellent for them last season and will improve again but Lampard, Terry, Essien and Drogba have been the foundation of their squad for some time and will still be a main part of their side next season (with the exception of Drogba) but they aren't going to get it done.

I like the way we are developing. We have some great attacking talent which is still developing. If we have Adebayor again next season the understanding between our forward players will be better. Sandro will likely play a lot more next season and become a key component of our side which is a huge plus and if we sign Vertonghen we will have a better central defence than any of those other sides at the top of the table.

So in my opinion we'll be finishing above Chelsea somewhere.

 

[SNAFU_Clarke]

OK so they've signed Hazard. Don't think he'll be as strong as Bale next season. Mata, good player but so is VDV. Marin isn't as good as Lennon. Even spending a lot of money player for player they aren't that special. If they keep Di Matteo which is likely they'll set up quite defensively but I don't think they have the players to defend so much. Ramires was really excellent for them last season and will improve again but Lampard, Terry, Essien and Drogba have been the foundation of their squad for some time and will still be a main part of their side next season (with the exception of Drogba) but they aren't going to get it done.

I like the way we are developing. We have some great attacking talent which is still developing. If we have Adebayor again next season the understanding between our forward players will be better. Sandro will likely play a lot more next season and become a key component of our side which is a huge plus and if we sign Vertonghen we will have a better central defence than any of those other sides at the top of the table.

So in my opinion we'll be finishing above Chelsea somewhere.

Don't get me wrong, I like the way we're developing as well. I just think that we have to continue our development at our own pace and we can, realistically, do nothing about how other clubs choose to carry out their own development or redevelopment.

Chelsea will be stronger than they were last season in my opinion, but like I said, I've been wrong about many things before.

Also you might have to keep your posts down to a paragraph if you want spurrific's opinion about anything. His attention span won't hold up for anything over that.