If you look at the table

[Jezzman]

... are you satisfied with the progress we've made from last season?

[Dave_the_Red]

yes

[Guest PaulMcC]

Yes. Definitely.

[Stevie H]

very much so. it's a massive improvement.

[Guest Kev]

Great improvement but we could have done better. I don't think I'm being over critical either.

[bazz]

Yes - a great improvement.

 

Rafa has been given money for players and he has re-shaped the team. He will purchase another 2-3 players this summer and it will set us up for a genuine challenge for the title next year.

 

A great year of progress, which hopefully is topped off by a 2nd place finish and a nice shiny trophy at the end of the season.

[Lee W]

No - simply because last season should not be used as a benchmark for the club.

[Bootle Buck]

For the most part we are bossing games which is what Rafa wanted. We just don't have the clinical finishers this season. If we get a 20 goal a season striker and a decent set peice taker we would be challenging Chelsea. When I look at Chelsea the one thing that sets us apart is their ability to put the ball away even when playing below par. They don't boss games like we do but they convert chances. Last season we were pitiful away from home and you never knew which team would show up.

[jimmylibel]

Very happy with how we've been playing all season, however that is why I'm a little disappointed with our league position. We should be doing better than 1 point clear of the Mancs having played two more games... we are clearly a better side this season and that should be reflected in the table.

[anny road]

No - simply because last season should not be used as a benchmark for the club.

 

 

righto

 

so what is the benchmark then

 

you cannot take what has happened and ignore it because we didnt do so well

[Chili Palmer]

Goalkeeper - Improved

Defence - Improved

Midfield - Improved

Forwads - No improvement

 

Team as a whole - Improved

 

Manager - Improved (hard to improve greatness but he has a better understanding of the Premier League)

 

Fans - Improved (I get to more matches this season! )

[Lee W]

righto

 

so what is the benchmark then

 

you cannot take what has happened and ignore it because we didnt do so well

 

Sorry, I was taking more into account the bit that mentioned "look at the way we've played all season...". Happy with the League position and the football played, but the end hasn't justified the means for me and I'm 110% sure the manager agrees.

Edited March 6, 2006 by Lee W

[anny road]

Sorry, I was taking more into account the bit that mentioned "look at the way we've played all season...". Happy with the League position and the football played, but the end hasn't justified the means for me and I'm 110% sure the manager agrees.

 

 

youre not happy with the way we have played this season?

[G Richards]

Very happy. Good progress. Still obvious needs for the team in order to put up a sustained title challenge next season, but hopefully rafa is on the case and the board will back him to get the players he needs.

[Lee W]

youre not happy with the way we have played this season?

 

Very much so, but as I said our League position (and our goals scored column) doesn't reflect the our quality of our football.

[Big E]

No - simply because last season should not be used as a benchmark for the club.

 

That's irrelevant though, the question was 'have we improved from last season?'

 

And of course the answer in an emphatic yes - 2nd compared to 5th last yr, 3 points off last yr's total with 10 games remaining. However things could/should be even better on balance of our play this yr.

[anny road]

Very much so, but as I said our League position (and our goals scored column) doesn't reflect the our quality of our football.

 

 

sorry misunderstood your post

[Foo]

Not quite, the work done in the last third of the pitch isn't good enough. And it has cost us quite some points in February

[Nebraska Red]

Goalkeeper - Improved

Defence - Improved

Midfield - Improved

Forwads - No improvement

 

Team as a whole - Improved

 

Manager - Improved (hard to improve greatness but he has a better understanding of the Premier League)

 

Fans - Improved (I get to more matches this season! )

 

other than the fans, I would agree. with regards to the fans, the atmosphere at so many games comes across as terrible.

 

regarding the team, the improvements made by the manager and the players have been amazing in 3 out of the 4 parts of the team.

 

we are let down by our forwards and the inablity of our attacking midfielders to get some goals . it is a fact that getting a good striker is alot harder than getting a good defender or midfield player. it is to be hoped that the manager can weed out some of the current attacking options and bring in a few answers to our problem.

 

almost every other team in the league (and possibly Europe) would kill for our defence and midfield.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

I am very happy with the progress managed considering the squad.

 

Not fully happy with how the squad has been strengthened.

[Ginu]

With the fact we don't have a bonified goal scorer and are within 3 points of 2nd place, i think we're doing fabulous... an Owen would have given us another 5-8 points at least this season...

[Internationinteroperability]

With the fact we don't have a bonified goal scorer and are within 3 points of 2nd place, i think we're doing fabulous... an Owen would have given us another 5-8 points at least this season...

 

As a super-sub striker or as a right wing?

[Lee W]

sorry misunderstood your post

 

No probs mate.

 

Look, I think myself and a few others just have a few (of what I think) are valid concerns. It's not as if we're slagging players, the manager and his tactics unnecessarily - just voicing opinions. They are concerns that have been fairly decently articulated but seem to be getting shot down by a few for being too harsh or just a miserable, unsuppportive c*nt like me.

 

Anyway, onwards and upwards to the last 16....

[CaptainXabi]

Last season we were genuinely getting beaten in games. It very rarely happens these days. I think we've improved tremendously, and as soon as we get a good striker or two and a RW we'll be really challenging.

 

Think back to all the results, I can only think of 5 games that we didn't dominate and deserve to win. Those are:

 

Bolton (A) - Draw

Chelsea (H) - Loss

Chelsea (A) - Loss

Fulham (A) - Loss

Charlton (A) - Loss

 

That would be 14 points dropped in 28 games if we had strikers that could just put the ball into the back of the net. If we could do something like that next season we could have 65-70 points after 28 games next season. Chelsea currently have 72 and it's probably safe to assume they'll have a similar amount next season at this point. But if we're in the neighborhood around this time, within 5-7 points, you never know what could happen.

[sned]

yes, very happy.

 

we've improved overall as a team, no doubt about it IMO, although I would have hoped the improvement to be greater, particularly up front, but all in all, very happy with the league table as it stands.

 

as for next year, we'll be even better....

Edited March 7, 2006 by sned