Genuine question, not a windup...

[Big Dave]

I really don't think that we're that far away. If Rafa gets the players he wants this Summer and they bed in well, I really don't see why we can't be really close this coming season and well amongst it the following season.

[Joe Le Toff]

I think we can win it within the next 5 years. Any more and we will find a manager that can.

I do believe that Benitez is the man to land the title though

I think it has much more to it than just the manager and without wishing to go off topic i think we'd be very hard pushed to find a better manager than Benitez to take us there.

[StevieG08]

We just need to be more creative and clinical in the final 3rd. How many games did we dominate last season only to go and lose 1 nil or by the odd goal. Some flair out wide and a striker to bang the goals in and we're sorted IMO. As with all great teams, Rafa has built the defensive side of our game first. I hope to see the creative players arrive this summer. I believe within the next 3 seasons for a title.

[El Diego]

Yes. Also don't put Pennant in the same pot as Gonzo and Bellers, he and Mascherano have been the only good thing to come out of the second half of the season

[Craig_H]

He's not done enough to be called top class though. And to win leagues, you need top class quality in those positions.

Players like Neville, Vidic, Evra, Carrick etc keep United in games. Players like Rooney, Ronaldo and Giggs WIN games for them.

Impact players need to be top drawer.

[kop-al-74]

Another thing we need to do is distinguish between positions that need solidity (which can be cheap) and positions which need 'impact' (which generally costs).

For example, Finnan at £3m ish and Agger at about £5.5m are spot on. Dont need to be amazing or flashy, just consistent and solid.

But Gonzalez (£2.5m), Bellamy (£6m) and arguably Pennant (£7m) are examples of the failure to make that distinction.

For those positions, you need IMPACT players and they generally cost.

I'd much rather have seen the £15.5m spent on ONE Ronaldo-level player.

They got him for £12m, Chelsea got Robben for £12m...so it CAN be done.

I truly believe we are 2 top class wingers and a world class striker eg:Eto'o,Henry,Ronaldinho,Drogba,Owen?,Teves,Berba tov,Huntelaar away from really challenging for the title.Our GK and defence is as good as anyones.

In central midfield,we have world class players for all occasions and oppositions.

Now the wings.The last time we had a truly great winger was Mcmanaman.We have never replaced him.But macca was never one to skin 2 or 3 players and cross with pinpoint accuracy,he was more dribble,cut inside and either finish himself or lay it on a plate for our strikers.

Berger was a very good player with a left foot as good as anyones but injuries robbed us of him from stepping upto the truly world class stage.

Harry Kewell is the best winger on our books and the best since Macca,and if he ever gets back to anything like his best,he could make aound a 10 point difference himself imo,he's that good.

We have players now who can play on the left as cover and Leto really does look like a great prospect.Aurellio was showing real signs of quality just before he got injured.

Pederson from Blackburn i would welcome as he is very good and will fit straight into the way we play and is proven in the premiership.

I think our weakness is definately on the right.Pennant,i have to admit,towards the later part of the season was proberbly one of our best players and having him in the squad really strengthens it.We need a truly world class,tricky winger on the right,someone like Queresma,J Cole,Guily or even Lennon.I havn't seen to much of Danny Alves but rafa really rates him so thats good enough for me.

My honest opinion is that if we can address these areas with real quality, than we will be strong contenders.And i believe that yes,we can win it next year.

[Craig_H]

I truly believe we are 2 top class wingers and a world class striker eg:Eto'o,Henry,Ronaldinho,Drogba,Owen?,Teves,Berba tov,Huntelaar away from really challenging for the title.Our GK and defence is as good as anyones.

In central midfield,we have world class players for all occasions and oppositions.

Now the wings.The last time we had a truly great winger was Mcmanaman.We have never replaced him.But macca was never one to skin 2 or 3 players and cross with pinpoint accuracy,he was more dribble,cut inside and either finish himself or lay it on a plate for our strikers.

Berger was a very good player with a left foot as good as anyones but injuries robbed us of him from stepping upto the truly world class stage.

Harry Kewell is the best winger on our books and the best since Macca,and if he ever gets back to anything like his best,he could make aound a 10 point difference himself imo,he's that good.

We have players now who can play on the left as cover and Leto really does look like a great prospect.Aurellio was showing real signs of quality just before he got injured.

Pederson from Blackburn i would welcome as he is very good and will fit straight into the way we play and is proven in the premiership.

I think our weakness is definately on the right.Pennant,i have to admit,towards the later part of the season was proberbly one of our best players and having him in the squad really strengthens it.We need a truly world class,tricky winger on the right,someone like Queresma,J Cole,Guily or even Lennon.I havn't seen to much of Danny Alves but rafa really rates him so thats good enough for me.

My honest opinion is that if we can address these areas with real quality, than we will be strong contenders.And i believe that yes,we can win it next year.

Intersting post mate, cheers. I dont really want Pederson, because i dont see him as a winger who'll be skillful, tricky and beat a man. For me, he's a left sided midfielder, but not a winger.

Players who can run at pace, beat their man and be exciting to watch - that's what we need. It's easy to say Ronaldo. because he's obviously established at the highest level. But there are others who could do it.

I havent seen much of these players, but the likes of Quaresma, Nani (too late now), Mancini, Silva are ones who sound like they could do the business for us in that respect.

I'd LOVE to get Lennon, i think after Ronaldo and Robben, he's the next best winger in the league and is capable of devloping into a world class winger, with the right guidance. Funnily enough, it was about 12-18 months ago that i posted a thread on KT saying we should go the whole hog to get him, spend what it takes (I estimated it to be about £15m at the time) and get him.
I was laughed at by the majority but i still think he'd be excellent. Whether they'd take £15m or not now, i dont know but if the price is right, Spurs are a selling club. I'd go as high as £20m for him now and i think they'd accept.

SWP would be good too, if he played every week, he'd be brilliant. Little chance of getting him from Chelsea unfortunately.

There arent many out there, which makes it even more necessary to pounce when you find one, and you certainly cant afford to be tight with money, when it comes to signing an exciting impact winger.

[kop-al-74]

I just read somewhere that chelsea have sacked there entire scouting staff as there is no need for them.Abromovich has just realised that there entire network just go out and buy the tabloid newspapers and see who we are looking at and just bid for them.It has been costing Abro millions .Hahaha.

[disco]

I'm not sure when we'll do it, but we're on a par with any team in England IMO.

[Joe Le Toff]

I truly believe we are 2 top class wingers and a world class striker eg:Eto'o,Henry,Ronaldinho,Drogba,Owen?,Teves,Berba tov,Huntelaar away from really challenging for the title.Our GK and defence is as good as anyones.

In central midfield,we have world class players for all occasions and oppositions.

Now the wings.The last time we had a truly great winger was Mcmanaman.We have never replaced him.But macca was never one to skin 2 or 3 players and cross with pinpoint accuracy,he was more dribble,cut inside and either finish himself or lay it on a plate for our strikers.

Berger was a very good player with a left foot as good as anyones but injuries robbed us of him from stepping upto the truly world class stage.

Harry Kewell is the best winger on our books and the best since Macca,and if he ever gets back to anything like his best,he could make aound a 10 point difference himself imo,he's that good.

We have players now who can play on the left as cover and Leto really does look like a great prospect.Aurellio was showing real signs of quality just before he got injured.

Pederson from Blackburn i would welcome as he is very good and will fit straight into the way we play and is proven in the premiership.

I think our weakness is definately on the right.Pennant,i have to admit,towards the later part of the season was proberbly one of our best players and having him in the squad really strengthens it.We need a truly world class,tricky winger on the right,someone like Queresma,J Cole,Guily or even Lennon.I havn't seen to much of Danny Alves but rafa really rates him so thats good enough for me.

My honest opinion is that if we can address these areas with real quality, than we will be strong contenders.And i believe that yes,we can win it next year.

Good read mate not sure i agree with all of it.
Pedersen isnt of the standard we require, he's squad filler.
Id love Ribery on the left, havent seen enough of Malouda to comment.
Lennon is a good shout, ive always been a fan of his.
Chelsea would never sell us SWP.
Alves as a midfielder with defensive attributes on the right? A Rafa player if ever there was one.

[kop-al-74]

Good read mate not sure i agree with all of it.
Pedersen isnt of the standard we require, he's squad filler.
Id love Ribery on the left, havent seen enough of Malouda to comment.
Lennon is a good shout, ive always been a fan of his.
Chelsea would never sell us SWP.
Alves as a midfielder with defensive attributes on the right? A Rafa player if ever there was one.

Your proberbly right about him.I mentioned him as cover for kewell really.I can't see a truly world class winger coming to sit on the bench.Lets not forget our very own king luis to come back also.I really think we have missed his flair.

[Craig_H]

Alves as a midfielder with defensive attributes on the right? A Rafa player if ever there was one.

Exactly.

[Frank Leroux]

I'd hope w'll win it within the next 10 years....but I don't think it will be with Benitez.

A lot of the posts on this thread have focussed - understandably - on players. For me, unless you are hugely financed to have two capable teams in your squad (and even then, Mourinho had a job to do), the manager is pivotal to any side. I'm not convinced Benitez knows how to win the Premiership. Ferguson, Wenger, and probably, Mourinho do.

I fear Benitez is overtly a tactical, continental - type who mightn't fully understand the ugly, kick-and-rush aspect of the English game (teams). He's a chess master but, sometimes, you need to play a bit of draughts!

So, imo it'll be either our next manager or the one after that who will win us our 19th .

Frank.

[IrishPaul]

I don't think we're too far away from No 19 TBH, we just need that bit extra to kill off the frustrating games when things aren't going to plan, the same games like last season where we have battered teams, not taken our chances and lost 1-0 i.e. Blackburn Away, Man Ure at Anfield, etc. IMO we will win the premiership under Rafa

[Craig_H]

So far 73 (94.81%) have voted yes and 4 (5.19%) have voted no....

Make your minds up will ya?