stmichael wrote:I still don't see how some fans think we haven't improved. Ok the results havent really improved but the way we play certainly has in a lot of games. We just don't score enough goals for the chances we create. We've complately outplayed United, City, Spurs and Arsenal at home in the League but not had enough to show for it. We've beaten City, Chelsea (twice), Arsenal and Everton away from home. Our defence is as solid as I can remember. The only games this season when I've been seriously disillusioned with how we've played are City and United away, Bolton away, and Sunderland away. Every other game we've been the better team and had the chances to win the game.
People need to realise that unfortunately we are no longer as attractive a proposition as we used to be when it comes to signing the very top players. We nearly went out of business 18 months ago, we've sold our best players in recent years and the competition now for champions league places involves 6-7 teams as supposed to 4 in the past. The players who came in for me, were made to stabilise the club, whilst cutting the wage bill by getting rid of the deadwood in the process. The owners clearly have a long term plan, but it may take a while to come to fruition.
We did not outplay Spurs at home, we barely had a shot on target. Gareth Bale missed the best chance of the night when clean through. We were battered at their place. The Man U game at home a draw was about right. Scholes dominated the midfield, and they were camped in our half for the last 25 minutes. I agree we outplayed Arsenal and should have won that game easily. Where we sit in the league is our level, 6th/7th. A good indicator is goal difference. We have plus 4, Sunderland have better.
The history is irrelevant, the fact is we didnt go out of business and have new owners who have given Kenny more money to spend than any previous manager at the club. Going backwards is not stabilising the club. In Luis Suarez we signed one of the hottest properties in Europe, so don't excuse us signing dregs. We replaced cheap deadwood with very expensive deadwood.
Maxi last season contributed more than Downing this season
Ngog last season contributed more than Carroll this season
Merelies last season contributed more than Henderson this season
If you spend over 100million and make the squad weaker, and stand to finish with our lowest points total in the Premier League era, your position will come under intense scrutiny. To answer another posters question, i said no to Kenny being sacked in another thread as i believe every manager should get a second crack at getting it right.