Fantastic Balance

[Darth Marty]

I would rather be the non-best team with the trophies than the best team without them

me too. However I too think we are in the top 3 teams in the world at present.

[Tee]

Unfortunately, claims of being the best side in europe need to be backed up by winning things.

[ronanm]

Unfortunately, claims of being the best side in europe need to be backed up by winning things.

Very true - but not really the point I was making.

[red g]

Well we've scored more goals than them in the league this year and have a better goal difference so the stats would seem to disagree with you.

I think this year they've probably had a better defence than us. The Vidic/Ferdinand axis is probably the best in the league. Didnt they set a record for the most 1-0's or something earlier in the season? The big difference is of course their options in the attacking areas - Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo and Berbatov. When plan A doesnt work they can chuck one or two of those players on the pitch to change things. We struggle when Torres and Gerrard are out and sometimes when they're fit as we dont have too many options from the bench.

So in short, as we all probably know, they have a stronger squad but in terms of the first XI the two teams are very close and with our superior head to head record you could argue we are better than them, they would counter that by saying league table never lies, European Champions etc etc

ao you agree then....we have a better team they have a better squad there team may have been built on a solid base but there victories of come courtesy of there quality in attack, there matchwinners.....we need more

[Neil Young]

[magicalbarnes]

Unfortunately, claims of being the best side in europe need to be backed up by winning things.

Totally agree.

What i will say though is that i think we are the 3rd best team in the world, behind ManU and Barca.

It points out the mammoth task Rafa has on his hands. To turn us into English champions, he has to make us into one of the top two teams in the world.

[Craig_H]

Very true - but not really the point I was making.

The point you were making was that you think we're the best team in europe - but you also agree with me about needing to win things to be the best.

So isnt there a contradiction in that?

[Rich]

Good film that

[Craig_H]

Totally agree.

What i will say though is that i think we are the 3rd best team in the world, behind ManU and Barca.

It points out the mammoth task Rafa has on his hands. To turn us into English champions, he has to make us into one of the top two teams in the world.

That's not a wildly inaccurate conclusion to draw. Chelsea arent too far off mind, but we're certainly up there with them, United and Barca.

[Rigadon]

Unfortunately, claims of being the best side in europe need to be backed up by winning things.

[ronanm]

The point you were making was that you think we're the best team in europe - but you also agree with me about needing to win things to be the best.

So isnt there a contradiction in that?

I believe we are, on our day, the best team in Europe, but, in order to win the things we should be, that we need to be more consistent through adding more firepower. That's the point I was making really. Badly perhaps, but it was 3am this morning :B

[Craig_H]

I believe we are, on our day, the best team in Europe, but, in order to win the things we should be, that we need to be more consistent through adding more firepower. That's the point I was making really. Badly perhaps, but it was 3am this morning :B

Nowt wrong with not having all your wits about you at 3am.

But it's 1pm now Being the best is basically all about consistency.

On their day, any PL team can be brilliant.

[ronanm]

Agreed - so I think adding more firepower will get us the PL next season

[magicalbarnes]

That's not a wildly inaccurate conclusion to draw. Chelsea arent too far off mind, but we're certainly up there with them, United and Barca.

Chelsea are not currently far off at the moment, however their team is ageing and in decline. They need a major a major revamp, just depends on the money Roman makes available.

We can finish with 86 points this season, and i honestly think that total will win it next season. Two extra goals in certain matches (home to Stoke & Fulham) would have put us on 90 points.

ManU won 18 of their last 20 games, and that is a freakish run of form even by their own standards. At least 8 of them games they didn't desreve to win (please dont respond saying 'thats what champions do'), and on any other day the result would have gone the other way.

[Neil Young]

Chelsea's primary aim must surely be the Champions League next season. Why else would they get in Ancelotti who has a very good record in the CL with an ageing team but not such a good record of rebuilding.

Of course that doesn't mean they won't buy new players nor does it mean they won't be a contender in the Premiership but I'd be quite surprised if we saw a major overhaul there this summer. Still, Kaka' would be a handy signing I suppose.