Whats the Point?

[Pacman]

Yep. He's raw, inexperienced and still learning.

But he also has the raw materials to be a match winner. If he has the right mentality and attitude, which means that unlike Cisse, he'll listen to what he is being told, and act upon it.

Cisse had all the physical attributes but not the mental ones.

If Babel has a footballing brain, he can go on to be a superb asset.

He's an example of what i've been crying out for since i cant remember - he's an IMPACT player. Not one who just trudges along slowly and reacts to what happens. He MAKES them happen. Like Gerrard and Torres, although granted Babel is still at an earlier stage of development.

But he has that spark. He needs to be allowed to use and devlop those attributes.

As Tomas and I have said earlier in the thread he needs time but could well be that extra match winner we need.

[Pacman]

BTW Pacaman...this is a worry in itself, if 'nothing' has happened to say the 21 point gap can be bridged.

What I mean by nothing is that it's too early to tell. We are still in October and I think we will only have a better understanding of how far we've come this season after Crimbo.

[CAD]

[Pacman]

Wenger won the double in his first full season mate...

I'm not jumping down Rafa's throat, but in 3 full years, he hasnt come close.

The standards we need to match are enormously high mate.

He has managed to get us our highest points total ever in the premiership though.

[Craig_H]

Just to clarify BTW, the reason i'm harping on NOW is because i DO think we can win the title. That's why i'm going on NOW, because NOW is still a time when we can rectify any problems.

If i didnt think we could win it, i'd just sigh and say nothing.

[AFII]

Wenger won the double in his first full season mate...

I'm not jumping down Rafa's throat, but in 3 full years, he hasnt come close.

The standards we need to match are enormously high mate.

Wenger really only had one threat his first season, Man U. Rafa has three, Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal.

[Craig_H]

He has managed to get us our highest points total ever in the premiership though.

See, this is our problem. We're working with our OWN standards and records, and comparing to them.

We need to be looking at the BENCHMARK, not our own previous failed league campaigns, as a frame of reference.

[Pacman]

Just to clarify BTW, the reason i'm harping on NOW is because i DO think we can win the title. That's why i'm going on NOW, because NOW is still a time when we can rectify any problems.

If i didnt think we could win it, i'd just sigh and say nothing.

That's a blatant lie.

[Neil Young]

Rafa has spent ****loads in his time. I'm saying my philosophy is either spend on quality, or keep your pennies in a handy place for next time. He hasnt done this, he's spent on lesser quality players.

Now, we're being told Rafa 'doesnt have the players he needs' to win the title.

Well, having spent all that money and still not having got the players he needs, perhaps it might've been better to wait, hang onto the funds and buy QUALITY players when the chance comes....no?

OK, I don't entirely agree but at least that's a solid argument. I do think you have to take into account that he hasn't had the funds to go after worldbeaters until Torres and who's to say he has any more?

[Craig_H]

Wenger really only had one threat his first season, Man U. Rafa has three, Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal.

It's just one excuse after another isnt it?

With this mentality, we'll never win it.

Whatever problem we identify, we'll find an excuse which makes it 'all ok'...

[Craig_H]

That's a blatant lie.

It's really not.

[Pacman]

See, this is our problem. We're working with our OWN standards and records, and comparing to them.

We need to be looking at the BENCHMARK, not our own previous failed league campaigns, as a frame of reference.

But the points total we had that season would have normally won us the league. Surely a bench mark is looking at previous points totals of recent league winners and seeing where we match up?

[Neil Young]

It's just one excuse after another isnt it?

With this mentality, we'll never win it.

Whatever problem we identify, we'll find an excuse which makes it 'all ok'...

Now you've got it. There's no point getting fed up about it so we might as well make ourselves feel better.



I'm only half joking.

[Craig_H]

OK, I don't entirely agree but at least that's a solid argument. I do think you have to take into account that he hasn't had the funds to go after worldbeaters until Torres and who's to say he has any more?

You're missing my point though Neil.

He DID have the funds, he just chose to spend them on numerous average players to come in and replace the average ones he shipped out.

[Neil Young]

You're missing my point though Neil.

He DID have the funds, he just chose to spend them on numerous average players to come in and replace the average ones he shipped out.

No, I do take your point. Maybe he felt they were better.