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

[SNAFU_Clarke]

When did football become so cold and calculated? Our performance isn't measured against other teams like it is a statistical evaluation of playing squads. Our performance is measured as a collection of results from individual matches where we play one team at a time. I agree that my statement was wrong, other teams improving is going to affect the table but improving our squad has far more influence on our performances. If we improve our side and play better football more regularly then I honestly couldn't care less who Chelsea or anyone else sign.

so basically what you're after is year on year improvement in the squad itself? that is commendable and not something i disagree with. it also could also, obviously, result in us slipping down the league. i can reconcile that and wouldn't regard that as failure per se, but i suspect that's not a view you would share mon ami.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

so basically what you're after is year on year improvement in the squad itself? that is commendable and not something i disagree with. it also could also, obviously, result in us slipping down the league. i can reconcile that and wouldn't regard that as failure per se, but i suspect that's not a view you would share mon ami.

Touche, ma cherie. What I want is for us to improve as a squad, play better football and fill me with joy every time I see the team in white playing against some other team that I don't care about. If we do that then I don't see the league table at the end of the year (the only time it matters) looking any worse for us than it did this season. Football is still all about the actual football to me and if we put ourselves in the best position to beat whoever we are playing (and with style) then I still don't care about the other teams.

 

[$hoguN]

Although I agree with you IOMLS I think we would remiss to just write off the affect other teams signing some great players can have. Our players obviously want to be right up there next season and if we make the right signings e.g. the likes of Vertonghen, Remy, Adebayor and Lloris, we have no reason to believe we will not be right up there again, but big signings for other teams means the number of points you need to finish high up the table increases and the scope for poor performances decrease which obviously has an affect.