Question for those who dont want rafa gone...

[AFII]

Are you seriously suggesting that we are on the same level as everton in the transfer market? Get a grip

No, we have spent more than them net, but not much more. The gap between us and them isn't as big as you think in net spend.

[Johnny]

Well i think so, purely because i think there's a better option out there...as you know

You make a big point that we havn`t improved on our 4th position since rafa arrived.It`s because Munure/Chelski have spent Tens of millions more than us on players Rafa wanted but was outbid for while Arsenil have reaped Wengers 10 yr academy project and spent millions.

[Craig_H]

RAFA = MARMITE

you either love him or hate him

you either beleive he can win us the EPL or you dont

me personally, i love him and think he can win us the EPL but i can see why others want him replaced (can even understand why some want mourinho...he prob would win us the EPL)

lets just stick by him for the remainder of the season, get behind the team and get that 4th place and win old big ears for the 6th time and judge him at the end of the season.

I love him. And i dont believe he can win us the PL.

Where does that put me?

[Johnny]

I love him. And i dont believe he can win us the PL.

Where does that put me?

In Jose Mourinho`s anus.
Joking mate

[Dhav]

You're a top fella mate, and i appreciate the fact that we can disagree and not go away frothing at the mouth at each other.

For the record, what i have a 'hard-on' about is the prospect of us winning the title...it turns me on greatly

I just happen to think JM would win it for us. I certainly dont fancy him

He's not really my type.

[Red Chilli]

No, we have spent more than them net, but not much more. The gap between us and them isn't as big as you think in net spend.

But the gap in terms of calibre of player we can recruit is a chasm

[Craig_H]

He couldn't make that gamble in case the big star got a long term injury. That would probably mean no CL and that would have meant no money.

Hold on though...

Without the big star, he'd use the average players.

If the big star gets injured, he'd have to bring in average players.

Either way, he's having to use average players.

Of course, there's a fair chance the big star WONT get a long term injury, and would be used regularly and fire us to glory. So you might as well sign him and hope that he wont get a long term injury - such injuries arent that common, percentage-wise.

I know which i'd prefer.

[Johnny]

Group Hug.

[Craig_H]

No, we have spent more than them net, but not much more. The gap between us and them isn't as big as you think in net spend.

So that we're not all just sat here speculating, can you just provide us with cold hard numbers for, say, the last 3 years?

[fah-q]

More than pace, we seem to be lacking in movement off the ball.

Watch our midfield/strikers in the last third (excluding Torres) and we pass and watch. Plenty of times (esp against teams that defend deep) there are players appearing to not know the basics of football i.e. finding space to recieve a pass and all too often they tend to stand back and and wait for it to come back to them rather than taking the initiative.

I think this is a major factor in why we have struggled to beat teams especially at home.

[Craig_H]

In Jose Mourinho`s anus.
Joking mate

it was reasonably funny though...for you

[Dhav]

Group Hug.

[AFII]

So which players have Rafa played out of position?

Babel is one but that is because he is our best option on the left.

Kuyt is another one and that is really the only one you can say is being played out of position and the team would benefit from it if he played as a striker instead of as a hard working attacking midfielder or on the right.

Another myth.

Sometimes you need to play players out of position because the other options isn't good enough.

[Johnny]

You make a big point that we havn`t improved on our 4th position since rafa arrived.It`s because Munure/Chelski have spent Tens of millions more than us on players Rafa wanted but was outbid for while Arsenil have reaped Wengers 10 yr academy project and spent millions.

Sydney????

[Craig_H]

So which players have Rafa played out of position?

Babel is one but that is because he is our best option on the left.

Kuyt is another one and that is really the only one you can say is being played out of position and the team would benefit from it if he played as a striker instead of as a hard working attacking midfielder or on the right.

Another myth.

Sometimes you need to play players out of position because the other options isn't good enough.

Crouch at reading? Gerrard right wing/in the hole? Kuyt on the pitch? Itandje at the club?

As for the other options - he's the one who signed them!!!

One post, you're saying how it's better to buy three mediocre players instead of one top player, because he *might* get injured.

Now you're pinpointing those mediocre players as not good enough...