Quote:
Originally Posted by Russ D
Quote:
Originally Posted by nffc
Maybe not a drastic fall but looking at Chelsea's young side, endless pit of money and investment in the Academy it may be a sign of things to come. Especially as Arsenal will continue to be there or thereabouts whilst Wenger remains at the helm... and Benitez looks like making moves towards success at Anfield.
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Not sure if you meant to do so but you've just backed up my point. Chelsea have an almost unlimited supply of money (and I don't for one moment believe Kenyon when he said the spending stops now) and their team is the best at the momentas will the Chelsea of tomorrow, considering their academy. Arsenal have raised their game and I still think Henry is one of the top 3 strikers in the UK if not europe. So they have improved as have Liverpool, Everton and others. The only top team to not make such advances is United.
So no, our standards have not slipped. Other teams have improved.
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I suppose it depends how you look at is. From a purely neutral perspective again, and casting my evident disdain for Ms aside, TBH, I feel that ManU have slipped and the other two have improved... well, not Arsenal really, they've not really spent big have they?
The present Man U team is nowhere near fit to lace the boots of their counterparts from 4-5 years ago. Apart from the players who have stayed, I can't see an obvious improvement.
GK is still a problem position, I honestly feel SAF struck lucky with Peter Schmeichel bearing in mind his predecessors and the awful faff he's had replacing him (Taibi, Howard, Carroll, Bosnich, etc etc) and there's no evidence of a young successor (that said, we've released Barry Roche this week lol).
Defence- I still can't see why Stam was sold. Good as he is Rio is a different type of player and not especially what you need. Heinze and the various young DFs you've had, good as they are, aren't the same either. I honestly feel you've missed the physical presence of Stam... and Laurent Blanc...
As for midfield... Ronaldo's a decent player but again, he's no Beckham- another stupid decision. As for Veron...
Forward is the only area I'd consider comparability. Rooney, Saha, Smith, van Nistelrooy, is as good a front four as Sheringham (former NFFC player
), Solksj*er (grr), Cole and Yorke...
You're definitely not as good as you are... but only now when Arsenal seem to have some self-discipline and some real attacking impetus, and Chelsea have stumbled across an affluent backer, has it become apparent.
And you have a local derby to look forward to with teh Dave Whelan empire next season