03 Nov 2014 22:12:30
Jred,

In response to your post down the page, I agree our squad is better than 4th, but I think we are a couple of top players away from challenging for the title, also you can't expect to buy as many players as we did and win the league immediately, it just doesn't happen.

City had a 5 year plan when they got all the money, the first aim was to spend big and get in the champions league, this is a fact but I am sure you will still argue, their aim for the first year was top 4, I remember it well, crouch scored for Spurs and put them 5th. The season after they reached their target and got into the champions league. From there they pushed on.

You say 'are we arsenal because we want top 4?' And the answer to that is no, wenger has made it clear top 4 is success for him, top 4 is not success for united but it is a step in the right direction towards getting back where we want to be which will take a little bit of time, surely you can see the difference between us hoping for top 4 when we realise our limitations this season and being happy with top 4 every year.

Sorry if I sound like somebody saying 'don't panic' but I really don't think there is any need to panic at the moment. 3 home
Games in the next 4 should mean we pick up a bit of form and then let's see where we are coming into Christmas and the new year.

1.) 03 Nov 2014
About got to bed, but GDS2 - there is a massive difference between that City with major investment and this Man Utd with major investment. Where were City before that investment? Nowhere.

The existing squad was better, the mentality around the club, infrastructure, experience of winning, Europe, facilities, absolutely everything was better than what City had at the time of their investment, they came on light years, we are treading water, but due to global warming the water level is increasing at the minute, so we will drown if we aren't careful. Definitely time for bed.

2.) 03 Nov 2014
I'm definitely up for judging in the New Year - but if we are still not in the top 4 can we agree that LVG isn't doing a good job then, especially considering the form or Liverpool, Arsenal, City, Spurs?

None of this, "we have easier games to come, injuries, more signings, time to settle, new formation" Ad Nauseam, let's see where we are sitting on Jan 1st and until then I will try and bite my tongue about him.

3.) 03 Nov 2014
03 Nov 2014 23:40:06
Yes we can agree on that, if we are struggling around jan - feb then obviously we have major issues. In my opinion we will be alright by then.

You are right about City being a long way behind us when they got the money, but we have a different issue, we are on a hangover from having the best manager in the world and still trying to come to terms with the change in culture at the club that's been drilled into them for 25 years.

This will take a year or two to get over, not the 5 years city needed, but it is clearly taking the club a while to settle down.

4.) 04 Nov 2014
04 Nov 2014 01:40:05
The years under SAF were great, don't get me wrong. But whilst he spoiled us with success, he also dropped the ball with his forward thinking in his last few years and we're paying for it now.

Our squad at the start of the summer was the worst it's been for a long time, but much better at the end of the summer.

Yes LVG is still to plug some fairly major holes especially at the back, and the volume of new players will take a while getting used to each other. But ironically we wouldn't have needed to spend half as much if we started this rebuild a few years ago when it was due, and who knows Moyes might even have worked out.

Actually who am I kidding, last season was horrendous. This season hasn't been much better on paper so far, but at least I get that feeling that this run of indifferent results will be followed by someone getting a hiding soon and that was non existent last season.

That could be down to LVG, or could simply be down to the attacking options we now posses once all our fit. Either way, I'm certain we'll get Top 4 this season and kick on from there, and I'm also certain that is very different from the Arsenal annual quest for 4th.

LVG may work out in the long run, he may not. But regardless he had the guts to stand up and tell it like it was, we needed to invest (and wisely) or face 7th being a standard season ala Liverpool when they were "knocked off their perch".

Time will tell if the investment was wise, but ADM seems low risk, Falcao riskier and with high rewards if it works, Herrara looks graceful, Blind neat and tidy, Shaw full of potential and Rojo I'm waiting to judge as his start has been similar to Vidic and Evra.

It's still early days though, let's all just get behind the lads and enjoy the ride????

5.) 04 Nov 2014
Chelsea are 2 far away to catch after our bad start but 2nd place in up for grabs and if chelsea pick up a few injuries then who knows.
Psg madrid and other teams have shown you can add several players and continue to compete i think that sounds like a bit of an excuse.
I also think we should be thinking bigger than 4 but that's just my opinion.

6.) 04 Nov 2014
After the weekend a lot of City fans were crowing that we had spent £150 million and were still only mid table. The truth is, LvG has been here for a quarter of a season and though results could be better, performances are definitely on the way up. 2 weeks ago other fans were crowing how Chelsea and City were going to tear us to pieces. It didn't happen and had it not been for Smalling we might have got more at City.
Yes we have spent £150 million and yes we are midtable but how much did City spend to claim their first title and how long did it take?
I didn't expect trophies thisseason but I did expect a better brand of football and for me, this has happened. We will get there!!!!!

7.) 04 Nov 2014
Jred - Without doubt we should be going for the title, 13 points is not impossible and they will have a wobble at some point. I wouldn't put money on it, but I would at getting 2nd, we have too good a squad and rest time for us not to be there.

I suppose considering the start and the factors that the majority of our fans keep bringing up to excuse our points tally, 4th would be hmmm barely ok, any less than 4th and I would be amazed if he keeps his job. 2nd is likely this season especially with our competitors being off their games as well.

8.) 04 Nov 2014
Jred I think we should be hoping Chelsea stay strong and take points off the teams above us. I agree we should be aiming higher but one step at a time. CL was always the aim and we can achieve that. Anything else will be a bonus. I'm sure the signings we need will arrive and that should give us a better chance of top 4. By the start of next season we will be ready to mount a serious challenge for honours!

9.) 04 Nov 2014
04 Nov 2014 11:37:38
Obviously the aim is to win the league, I just feel we are a couple of players away from being able to do that this season. That is it though, only a couple. I used to get a lot of abuse for being over optimistic about our chances on here, but I do think some of the players we have are good enough to win the title, we are just a little bit of class, and maybe even a little but of luck so far (penalties at Burnley, penalty against us at Leicester etc) away from being champions this season.

Make no mistake though, we are almost there.