Chelsea reach agreement to sign Cesc Fábregas

[Herman Van Rompuy]

Our squad, with a few additions, should be more than good enough to claim a top 4 spot without too much difficulty, and to suggest that we're more likely than not to fail getting there is utterly retarded.

Bizarre. we finished 7th last season. We didn't just fail to make the CL we never really even competed for fourth. David Moyes didn't improve the situation and that's why he was sacked, but we didn't fair that much better under Giggs either. 3 home games and 1 away game resulted in 7 points. It's not clear we'll make it back into the top four next season, though I hope we do. I think it would be undermining the achievement, should Van Gaal get us back there, to just say we expected it all along.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Yes but we'll be back after a year with a real chance of winning it. Arsenal won't win the CL with Wenger at the helm, and everyone knows it.

You know an awful lot it seems.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

David Moyes would turn anything to shit.

Moyes takes the donut but the squad needs a big rework as it stands.

 

[Brightonian]

No, it really, really isn't.

You finished 7th last year. You've signed no-one yet and top quality players are hard to get when out of the CL.

By the same logic, we won the league with that squad. Oh, you'll say, but Sir Alex Ferguson is a much better manager than David Moyes. Exactly. So is Louis van Gaal.

 

[PlayerOne]

Not easy, but possible. I just think we have the players for it.

It took you an extra 30 minutes to beat Sunderland in the final. You don't have the players for the CL. Like us, you need a big investment, just not as big.

 

[acnumber9]

No, it really, really isn't.

You finished 7th last year. You've signed no-one yet and top quality players are hard to get when out of the CL.

So if Utd signed a few great players they couldn't finish top 4? Stop talking shite.

 

[walsh]

Why do people take getting back into the top four so lightly? The top spots in the league are very competitive at the moment.

Because I think with a few new players and a good manager we will be better than Arsenal at least. Everton won't do as well as they did this year and Spurs will underwhelm as usual.

 

[alastair]

So if Utd signed a few great players they couldn't finish top 4? Stop talking shite.

Where are the great players coming from?

 

[Bubz27]

No I can't see Arsenal having a "tilt at the CL" at all, not at their current state. They'll get knocked out by the first classy side they come across. They'll burn out for the league like they usually do as well.

Still we are in a much worse position in terms of attractiveness to players.

Yep. And I think it's more likely that we will finish top 4 next season than Arsenal win the CL. But one poster had us at "70/30" to finish outside top 4 yet Arsenal can win the CL? I'm not even sure it was the same poster actually.

 

[peterstorey]

So that's fourth, fourth, nothing but fourth?

If we hadn't lost Walcott, Ozil, Wilshere and Ramsey after Christmas we might have won this year. Given a couple of signings and moderate luck with injuries we should win it next year. (10/1 get on now!)

 

[pocco]

Despite United not being in the champions league an incoming player will know with Louis' history there is the very real chance of competing for and then winning the league. Due to the central midfield problems United have had yet the formidable attack ahead, the central midfielder also knows he really could excel in the coming seasons.

I think Cesc is at an age where not being in the champions league is a huge deal however a younger player perhaps 25 or under probably won't mind one season out of it.

If I were a central midfielder though I would be very tempted by United, first and foremost the money but also the chance to supply the likes of Mata, Rooney, RVP, Januzaj and Kagawa allows a player to really shine.

What's with calling van Gaal by his first name all the time?

 

[Kostur]

No, it really, really isn't.

You finished 7th last year. You've signed no-one yet and top quality players are hard to get when out of the CL.

European transfer window is not open and we haven't signed anybody yet?!

That's it lads, we are so fecked.

 

[JohnDoe]

You know an awful lot it seems.

I'm not psychic if that's what you're alluding to.

 

[alastair]

Yep. And I think it's more likely that we will finish top 4 next season than Arsenal win the CL. But one poster had us at "70/30" to finish outside top 4 yet Arsenal can win the CL? I'm not even sure it was the same poster actually.

I agree. I said we could have a tilt at it - i.e. semi-finals, good run.

 

[DWelbz19]

If we hadn't lost Walcott, Ozil, Wilshere and Ramsey after Christmas we might have won this year. Given a couple of signings and moderate luck with injuries we should win it next year. (10/1 get on now!)

Heh, funny how teams suffer injuries, right?

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Yep. And I think it's more likely that we will finish top 4 next season than Arsenal win the CL. But one poster had us at "70/30" to finish outside top 4 yet Arsenal can win the CL? I'm not even sure it was the same poster actually.

Yeah it was alistair, but he is a bit of a WUM so wouldn't take his word for all Arsenal fans. There is a grain of truth in him saying that we can finish out of the top 4 and quite easily but the odds of 70/30 probably won't be right.

 

[alastair]

Most United fans, without wanting to be patronising, are still in Ferguson mode, believing in the illogical because he so often made the illogical happen.

It's a new world now. United are just another top level side, who have to make better decisions than the other teams in the league to catch up the deficit. This is hard, hard work now.

 

[acnumber9]

Arsenal aren't going to be selling United players any longer.

I love it when Arsenal fans start acting Billy big bollocks. It reminds me of when they were top in October.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

I agree. I said we could have a tilt at it - i.e. semi-finals, good run.

Any half decent team which Arsenal at their worst description are, can get to the semi-finals. Bit like saying Hull can get to the final of the FA Cup, it's all about the luck of the draw.

 

[Bubz27]

I agree. I said we could have a tilt at it - i.e. semi-finals, good run.

I understood it as having a good chance of winning, but fair enough. With the right draw, you may well have a run to the semi's.

 

[alastair]

Yeah it was alistair, but he is a bit of a WUM so wouldn't take his word for all Arsenal fans. There is a grain of truth in him saying that we can finish out of the top 4 and quite easily but the odds of 70/30 probably won't be right.

What would you say the odds are? I'd side 50/50 if you could get maybe 4 really good players in who could immediately help you. I suspect it'll be difficult in a world cup year though, so 60/40 or 70/30 seems closer.

 

[acnumber9]

Where are the great players coming from?

Who knows? You certainly don't.

 

[peterstorey]

Heh, funny how teams suffer injuries, right?

It's not funny, it's unfortunate when none of our rivals did so badly (esp Liverpool).

 

[Herman Van Rompuy]

Yeah it was alistair, but he is a bit of a WUM so wouldn't take his word for all Arsenal fans. There is a grain of truth in him saying that we can finish out of the top 4 and quite easily but the odds of 70/30 probably won't be right.

He did qualify it with 'possibly 60/40' lol. You can't really blame Arsenal fans for not really fearing United after last season. We were truly disgraceful last season and left an awful lot to be desired.

 

[acnumber9]

I agree. I said we could have a tilt at it - i.e. semi-finals, good run.

Pure fantasy. Even great Arsenal teams struggled to get that far. One that relies on Giroud up front isn't going that far.

 

[alastair]

He did qualify it with 'possibly 60/40' lol. You can't really blame Arsenal fans for not really fearing United after last season. We were truly disgraceful last season and left an awful lot to be desired.

There was still a fear of United last season. Right up until about Olympiacos away everyone was still thinking there could be some ridiculous renaissance despite there being no evidence of its arrival.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

What would you say the odds are? I'd side 50/50 if you could get maybe 4 really good players in who could immediately help you. I suspect it'll be difficult in a world cup year though, so 60/40 or 70/30 seems closer.

With no European football, I think it will be closer to 50/50 as it currently stands than 70/30.

 

[Bubz27]

What would you say the odds are? I'd side 50/50 if you could get maybe 4 really good players in who could immediately help you. I suspect it'll be difficult in a world cup year though, so 60/40 or 70/30 seems closer.

What would your odds on Liverpool finishing in the top 4 have been back in August?

 

[peterstorey]

Who knows? You certainly don't.

SO you have no idea who Man Utd are going to sign but your blind faith says they'll find some supa-dupa playas and you'll be back in the top 4 *delusional*. Even van Gaal said it might take a couple of years.

 

[DWelbz19]

It's not funny, it's unfortunate when none of our rivals did so badly (esp Liverpool).

The champions did, though. It's just a silly argument - almost every team is bound to have injuries. Besides, you'd
have found some way to bottle it even if everyone was fit.

 

[alastair]

What would your odds on Liverpool finishing in the top 4 have been back in August?

20% which demonstrates how these things can happen.

 

[peterstorey]

With no European football, I think it will be closer to 50/50 as it currently stands than 70/30.

I think that's about right if you sort the CM, if you don't Al's on the money

 

[acnumber9]

SO you have no idea who Man Utd are going to sign but your blind faith says they'll find some supa-dupa playas and you'll be back in the top 4 *delusional*. Even van Gaal said it might take a couple of years.

I was responding to a post from somebody who said if we get a few additions we should finish top 4 and Alastair, a man who thinks Arsenal can have a 'tilt' at the Champions League, accused him of being delusional. It might, it might not. We'll know better when the real stuff starts and we can see how big an issue a woefully out of his depth manager was. Don't draw too much from what happened last season.

 

[Siorac]

Not easy, but possible. I just think we have the players for it.

You don't. With good signings anything can happen but right now Arsenal are where they have always been in the last 8 years: top four in the PL, last 16 in the CL. And you don't even have the excuse of having David Moyes in charge for almost a full season.

 

[Bubz27]

20% which demonstrates how these things can happen.

And that after a summer where Liverpool signed no one of any real note. Even crazier, they managed to put a title run together.

I'm quietly confident we will finish top 4 next year and it's you or Liverpool who will drop out. Not wumming there, my honest opinion.

 

[alastair]

I was responding to a post from somebody who said if we get a few additions we should finish top 4 and Alastair, a man who thinks Arsenal can have a 'tilt' at the Champions League, accused him of being delusional. It might, it might not. We'll know better when the real stuff starts and we can see how big an issue a woefully out of his depth manager was. Don't draw too much from what happened last season.

I draw a lot from last season.

Last season, in my view, demonstrated the huge number of flaws in United's side. The cracks could no longer be papered over as your manager was not talented enough to avoid it from being a problem.

 

[alastair]

And that after a summer where Liverpool signed no one of any real note. Even crazier, they managed to put a title run together.

I'm quietly confident we will finish top 4 next year and it's you or Liverpool who will drop out. Not wumming there, my honest opinion.

That's fine - I happen to disagree.

 

[Dreaded]

Most United fans, without wanting to be patronising, are still in Ferguson mode, believing in the illogical because he so often made the illogical happen.

It's a new world now. United are just another top level side, who have to make better decisions than the other teams in the league to catch up the deficit. This is hard, hard work now.

Any United fan who thinks haven't changed since SAF left is deluded IMO.

But, the Moyes managerial reign has exaggerated our decline somewhat we are three maybe four top signings away from having a strong top for team again. Three signings in the CM and CB positions won't give us a perfect team but easily strong enough to challenge for the top 4.

 

[peterstorey]

The champions did, though. It's just a silly argument - almost every team is bound to have injuries.

Oh yes, City were without Aguero, Dzeko, Silva and Toure; Liverpool without Suarez, Sterling, Gerrard and Sturridge; Chelsea without Oscar, Willian, Hazard and Terry.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

I'm not psychic if that's what you're alluding to.

No, that's not what I was alluding to.

 

[Siorac]

And that after a summer where Liverpool signed no one of any real note. Even crazier, they managed to put a title run together.

I'm quietly confident we will finish top 4 next year and it's you or Liverpool who will drop out. Not wumming there, my honest opinion.

We obviously have a better squad than Liverpool. Only the likes of @alastair and the Liverpool fans can't see that. It's not wumming to say that we'll finish ahead of Liverpool; it will be another monumental failure if we don't.