My rational side thinks that the reported row between Rafa and G&H is but a tempest in a teacup, and we'll all have forgotten about it in a month's time. But my emotional side is very worried.
I sincerely hope Rafa doesn't get the sack...he at least deserves the rest of the season, and more than deserves to stay if we show progress in the league. In my mind, considering how far off the pace we were last season, finsihing within 10 points of the top would be successful. Of course I'd like to see us do better, but we'd have to punch above our weight for the next six months in order to win the league. If we're still in it come mid-April I'll be happy, especially considering that our side would likely improve between this season and the next without any further signings--after all, the likes of Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Agger, Carragher, Mascherano, Gerrard, Benayoun, Babel, Pennant, Alonso, Lucas, Torres and Crouch are all either in their prime or yet to reach it. That being said, despite two solid months of cringeworthy football, we are only six points behind Arsenal going into December and, if we win the game in hand that we have over our other rivals, we would be in second place, ahead of United on goal difference. But I don't see any media articles on how Alex Ferguson got all this money to spend on Anderson, Nani, Hargreaves and Tevez and is already six points off the top...
Despite two months of sickening football, there's plenty to be optimistic about. The obvious thing is a certain Fernando Torres. How can you not love this guy? I know I'm not the least bit original when I say this, but he's got the potential to be a legend for us. Seeing him score his debut goal against Chelsea and stand up to that hideous cunt Terry brought joy to my heart. I was gutted for him on Saturday when he failed to score against Newcastle, but he looks to have rebounded well from that disappointment.
Another thing...Rafa has never had anywhere near the financial backing that his counterparts at United and Chelsea have had. Even this summer, when we broke our club transfer record for Torres, our spending wasn't that impressive when you take into account what we recouped through player sales. Furthermore, I don't see why it would be a financial strain to sign Mascherano to a permanent deal and pick up some much-needed defensive cover. The money was there to sign Heinze this summer and it wasn't spent. And, if the reports that Rafa had a free transfer lined up to provide defensive cover are true, then Hicks is a complete ****ing idiot. Moreover, we could recoup the reported 17 million for Mascherano by selling Carson and Momo...as much as I appreciate Momo's effort for us over the past 2+ seasons, Lucas is too ****ing good to sit on the bench watching Momo play.
I'll be absolutely gutted if Mascherano goes. He's only 23, and I can't name three defensive midfielders who are better than he is. What does that say about us as a club if we let him go? What club with credible title aspirations would let go of a player of his class, at that age? And do Gillett and Hicks ****ing recognize this?
Additionally, our lack of defensive cover is worrying. It was over the summer, and has become more so in my mind, as Hyypia's age appears to be catching up with him faster than I previously thought. This was obviously identified as a need over the summer, so why isn't Rafa being backed by the owners this time around, especially if they're expecting him to have success in the league? I've said it before and I'll say it again, Chelsea lost the Premiership last year because injuries forced them to give Boulahrouz a run in the side and play Essien as a makeshift defender. This is a SERIOUS issue, and one we don't have to break the bank to address...
Now, I'm not painting this as a black-and-white issue. Rafa's not been perfect. He's made some ****-ups in the transfer market, although some of that has certainly been related to his not having the necessary funds to land his first-choice signings. His team selection and tactics have also been puzzling at times. But, what Rafa has given us is belief..."make us dream," as that banner read. Our CL run in 2005 and FA Cup run in 2006, where we beat the sides the mattered, showed that we were a match for any opposition when playing to our potential. And it's this belief that, perhaps, leads to such frustration when we play poorly and drop points, because we know that our team is capable of better.
And G&H haven't been all bad. We needed investment, they provided it. We needed a new stadium, and they had the ambition to
I sincerely hope Rafa doesn't get the sack...he at least deserves the rest of the season, and more than deserves to stay if we show progress in the league. In my mind, considering how far off the pace we were last season, finsihing within 10 points of the top would be successful. Of course I'd like to see us do better, but we'd have to punch above our weight for the next six months in order to win the league. If we're still in it come mid-April I'll be happy, especially considering that our side would likely improve between this season and the next without any further signings--after all, the likes of Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Agger, Carragher, Mascherano, Gerrard, Benayoun, Babel, Pennant, Alonso, Lucas, Torres and Crouch are all either in their prime or yet to reach it. That being said, despite two solid months of cringeworthy football, we are only six points behind Arsenal going into December and, if we win the game in hand that we have over our other rivals, we would be in second place, ahead of United on goal difference. But I don't see any media articles on how Alex Ferguson got all this money to spend on Anderson, Nani, Hargreaves and Tevez and is already six points off the top...
Despite two months of sickening football, there's plenty to be optimistic about. The obvious thing is a certain Fernando Torres. How can you not love this guy? I know I'm not the least bit original when I say this, but he's got the potential to be a legend for us. Seeing him score his debut goal against Chelsea and stand up to that hideous cunt Terry brought joy to my heart. I was gutted for him on Saturday when he failed to score against Newcastle, but he looks to have rebounded well from that disappointment.
Another thing...Rafa has never had anywhere near the financial backing that his counterparts at United and Chelsea have had. Even this summer, when we broke our club transfer record for Torres, our spending wasn't that impressive when you take into account what we recouped through player sales. Furthermore, I don't see why it would be a financial strain to sign Mascherano to a permanent deal and pick up some much-needed defensive cover. The money was there to sign Heinze this summer and it wasn't spent. And, if the reports that Rafa had a free transfer lined up to provide defensive cover are true, then Hicks is a complete ****ing idiot. Moreover, we could recoup the reported 17 million for Mascherano by selling Carson and Momo...as much as I appreciate Momo's effort for us over the past 2+ seasons, Lucas is too ****ing good to sit on the bench watching Momo play.
I'll be absolutely gutted if Mascherano goes. He's only 23, and I can't name three defensive midfielders who are better than he is. What does that say about us as a club if we let him go? What club with credible title aspirations would let go of a player of his class, at that age? And do Gillett and Hicks ****ing recognize this?
Additionally, our lack of defensive cover is worrying. It was over the summer, and has become more so in my mind, as Hyypia's age appears to be catching up with him faster than I previously thought. This was obviously identified as a need over the summer, so why isn't Rafa being backed by the owners this time around, especially if they're expecting him to have success in the league? I've said it before and I'll say it again, Chelsea lost the Premiership last year because injuries forced them to give Boulahrouz a run in the side and play Essien as a makeshift defender. This is a SERIOUS issue, and one we don't have to break the bank to address...
Now, I'm not painting this as a black-and-white issue. Rafa's not been perfect. He's made some ****-ups in the transfer market, although some of that has certainly been related to his not having the necessary funds to land his first-choice signings. His team selection and tactics have also been puzzling at times. But, what Rafa has given us is belief..."make us dream," as that banner read. Our CL run in 2005 and FA Cup run in 2006, where we beat the sides the mattered, showed that we were a match for any opposition when playing to our potential. And it's this belief that, perhaps, leads to such frustration when we play poorly and drop points, because we know that our team is capable of better.
And G&H haven't been all bad. We needed investment, they provided it. We needed a new stadium, and they had the ambition to
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