Next Season will be better because........

[Oberon]

It will be Rafa's first, untainted pre-season.
When he got here Euro 2004 wiped a few players for a while.
2005 was the farce of qualifying to defend our Trophy.
2006 large parts of the squad was wiped out from the world cup, I think Xabi was worst affected by this.

So one decent pre-season where Rafa and his gang can prepare the team as he wants and I think we'll notice the difference

[kev776]

Chelsea, Manure and the Arse also lost most of their squads to the world cup but they managed a few wins is the first half of the season.

[dww]

Chelsea, Manure and the Arse also lost most of their squads to the world cup but they managed a few wins is the first half of the season.

I don't think it was about the tiredness but more the mental aspects. All of our players were involved in disappointing campaigns. I think Carra in particular suffered in terms of confidence after teh way he was treated and getting stick for his penalty miss.

Chelsea to be fair can also point to the WC as having taken the edge off some of their squad - Shevchenko in particular. Man United had the advantage of having key players such as Giggs and Scholes not at the tournament.

However there is definitely an aspect to the fact that say Rooney and Ronaldo both came back wanting to prove something. I think we need to get our players to gain that mentality.

I also think that a preseason is more important to Rafa than many other managers as he is so tactical. Last summer that was exacerbated by the fact Rafa wanted to change the tactics from the previous season by adding width.

[Oberon]

I don't think it was about the tiredness but more the mental aspects.

I also think that a preseason is more important to Rafa than many other managers as he is so tactical. Last summer that was exacerbated by the fact Rafa wanted to change the tactics from the previous season by adding width.

That's the kind of thing I was thinking about. When Rafa gets time to prepare a team he sem to get it right more often than not. Barcelona away springs to mind!

[CJ]

ok so every other year we have either a world cup or the Euros so are we saying that we have a manager who can prepare the team properly only every other year?

BTW i think Rafa is great. i think the problem was the amount of new players and a world cup. if we had less players coming in we would have started stronger however it wouldnt be as good at squad.

[dww]

ok so every other year we have either a world cup or the Euros so are we saying that we have a manager who can prepare the team properly only every other year?

BTW i think Rafa is great. i think the problem was the amount of new players and a world cup. if we had less players coming in we would have started stronger however it wouldnt be as good at squad.

I think you have it right there it is not just the World Cup but the fact that every season since Rafa has come he has been attempting to change both the squad and the syle of play. It means that we really need to get a good preseason. Hopefully with the right purchases this summer we can get to the level of Man United and Chelsea where we are genuinely only looking to upgrade one or two players at most each year and have a well established pattern of play.

[Morph]

next season will be better because rafa will get the players he wants, simple as that really

[Eth]

There will be no world cup tiredness
We'll have a more settled squad
Rafa will not **** around with the teams at the beginning of the season (I hope)
We'll have new striker(s)
ITS ABOUT ****ING TIME WE WON THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

[dww]

There will be no world cup tiredness
We'll have a more settled squad
Rafa will not **** around with the teams at the beginning of the season (I hope)
We'll have new striker(s)
ITS ABOUT ****ING TIME WE WON THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

I don't think we will get away from Rafa chopping and changing the team. I think the difference is that we will have more settled players and better players meaning changes will make less difference. Remember that at Christmas Fergie had made the same number of starting eleven changes as Rafa.

[Diego]

masher, lucas and gonzalez might be playing in the copa america, don't think there are any others though...

[redblood]

It will be Rafa's first, untainted pre-season.
When he got here Euro 2004 wiped a few players for a while.
2005 was the farce of qualifying to defend our Trophy.
2006 large parts of the squad was wiped out from the world cup, I think Xabi was worst affected by this.

So one decent pre-season where Rafa and his gang can prepare the team as he wants and I think we'll notice the difference

I think you've made some very interesting points here mate I have said similar things before.
While Chelski Arse and Man ure had World cups to contend with same as us they didn't finish the the previious season as late as us (5 times)and also they didn't have to start the season as early as us.

Also not one of those 3 had as many comings and goings as us and unfortunately some of our dealings were last minute so didn't allow any pre season time to bed in.
Chelski were already on the rise, Man Ure are always there or there abouts as are Arsenal.

Rafa has himself had to adapt to the EPL ok so has Moaninhno but the latter had a team (as I've said) that was already on the up and an unlimited budget plus he took half of the players he had already worked with in Porto making transition much easier.

We have had to contend with the Mikey and Stevie saga's as well and although I don't want him back I think we would've pushed a lot closer had Mikey still been here.

I also think that because Rafa has had to be very crafty with his transfer budget and not knowing exactly how much he'd have he couldn't get his players in as quick as he would've liked to settle them in pre season.

We also need to look at the Gonzalez work permit situation and Kewells lengthy injuries.

I personally think Rafa has a lot of players already lined up this summer, he will fill a couiple of key positions early in the summer and we will be ready to fight from the start.

[DannyMan2006]

next season will be better because rafa will get the players he wants, simple as that really

Agreed.

[Lucky]

The most important reason we'll have a proper pre-season is because we'll win the champion's league and won't have to qualify, thus disrupting our preparation by playing competitive football so early. A first for Rafa.

[publiusscipio]

I think you've made some very interesting points here mate I have said similar things before.
While Chelski Arse and Man ure had World cups to contend with same as us they didn't finish the the previious season as late as us (5 times)and also they didn't have to start the season as early as us.

Also not one of those 3 had as many comings and goings as us and unfortunately some of our dealings were last minute so didn't allow any pre season time to bed in.
Chelski were already on the rise, Man Ure are always there or there abouts as are Arsenal.

Rafa has himself had to adapt to the EPL ok so has Moaninhno but the latter had a team (as I've said) that was already on the up and an unlimited budget plus he took half of the players he had already worked with in Porto making transition much easier.

We have had to contend with the Mikey and Stevie saga's as well and although I don't want him back I think we would've pushed a lot closer had Mikey still been here.

I also think that because Rafa has had to be very crafty with his transfer budget and not knowing exactly how much he'd have he couldn't get his players in as quick as he would've liked to settle them in pre season.

We also need to look at the Gonzalez work permit situation and Kewells lengthy injuries.

I personally think Rafa has a lot of players already lined up this summer, he will fill a couiple of key positions early in the summer and we will be ready to fight from the start.

Well written mate.

[Johnny]

I think you've made some very interesting points here mate I have said similar things before.
While Chelski Arse and Man ure had World cups to contend with same as us they didn't finish the the previious season as late as us (5 times)and also they didn't have to start the season as early as us.

Also not one of those 3 had as many comings and goings as us and unfortunately some of our dealings were last minute so didn't allow any pre season time to bed in.
Chelski were already on the rise, Man Ure are always there or there abouts as are Arsenal.

Rafa has himself had to adapt to the EPL ok so has Moaninhno but the latter had a team (as I've said) that was already on the up and an unlimited budget plus he took half of the players he had already worked with in Porto making transition much easier.

We have had to contend with the Mikey and Stevie saga's as well and although I don't want him back I think we would've pushed a lot closer had Mikey still been here.

I also think that because Rafa has had to be very crafty with his transfer budget and not knowing exactly how much he'd have he couldn't get his players in as quick as he would've liked to settle them in pre season.

We also need to look at the Gonzalez work permit situation and Kewells lengthy injuries.

I personally think Rafa has a lot of players already lined up this summer, he will fill a couiple of key positions early in the summer and we will be ready to fight from the start.

That Sir is an excellent post,well done!