Again, you come back to this idea about relegation when I'm talking about ambition. Used the word a fair bit and yet it's sliding under the radar.

You talk about spending £200 million which is a figure no-one has mentioned. The fact is we have spent £9 million this season. What level of ambition is that indicative of exactly?

Notice I'm not saying we should spend £200 million.

You throw up all these straw men to disagree with Chelsea supporters who want the same as you - to compete at the highest level. Yet you seem to be unable to understand their arguments that the problem wasn't just Jose. We've all conceded there were issues there yet we're looking beyond that. Your unwillingness or inability to do this is just sending us round in circles, and it's boring quite frankly. Sorry to be blunt but there it is.

If we were top of the league we wouldn't be having this debate about ambition.

You wanna throw up numbers about net spend but I'm pretty sure Roman's net spend over the last 10 years has shown that we are as ambitious as they come.

I fully understand that our failures are not just Jose. I also blame the players but it really is hard for me to sit there and blame the board who have pumped millions into this club.

Our net spend looks positive not because Jose was forced to sell star players to keep the club afloat or to pay for a new stadium. We made money from star players who he himself decided to outcast and ultimately force out of the club. I guess you could give credit to the board for getting such huge fees, making the best out of a bad situation.

You talk as if we are an arsenal spurs or villa whose board have sold assets and clearly not invested in the squad over a number of years.

The whole Eva saga just sums up our season. An absolute farce.

After reading all these posts no one knows what goes on at the club who buys the players and what really happened behind the scenes this season. The season has been a total disaster. The squad is totally unbalanced.

We have spent 37 million on 2 left backs in the past 2 seasons and neither could get in the team tho we did get some of the money back for Luis. Jose didnt seem to fancy Baba and Guus would rather play Kennedy who is an attacking right middle player at left back that speaks volumes as they see these guys Day in day out. Going buy reports in the summer We tried to sell Mikel only the total package was costing the Turkish side close to 30 million why is he still in the team. If the club expect such big things from the kids they should be playing every game until the end of the season. The new manager then will know what he has for next season and which areas to improve on. He should be given full control of the transfer dealings for players coming into the first team. The team should have a style of play and a formation that's played from top to bottom and mangers should only be hired who fits this remit.

I keep seeing fans saying Emenola done well signing de brune and lukaku. De brune played against us in the champions league anyone who seen the game could have told you he would have been a good player as for lukaku he had a host of top European sides watching him. it's not like he unearthed a gem.

It doesn't mean you have to go out and spend £200m in a market where there is no abundance of real talent that are easy to get.

 

We have so many players on loan and an amazing youth team. Surely we don't need a Pogba to keep us away from relegation in November?

Well apparently we can raise half that 200million simply by selling a player who has shown little desire to be here and despite being our alleged best attacking player, has 0 goals this season.

 

I also dont buy this "no talent" argument.  Footballers are like real estate....there are a ton of deals waiting to happen and not just the ones listed for sale. There will also be good markets (apparently Belgians a few years ago lol)  and bad markets (like British players..,) but it really doesnt matter because if you have good people (hello board) they will always be able to sniff out good deals for you.  Every deal might not be a winner, but they will find you some that are no matter the market conditions.

 

and that doesnt even factor in that in football, players almost always have an agent in there ear suggesting a move so the agent can get paid more.

 .

Edited March 22, 201610 yr by KonaKai Blue

Simply raise £100m?

 

How do we raise that  when we had no idea Hazard would suffer such a massive drop in form? Besides with his current form I doubt we would get the money that his potential deserves. We've seen how good Hazard is during the previous 3 years and it will be very hard to invest in a new player that will turn out just as good or better than him.

 

Yes he's having an absolutely shocking season, but I think he deserves a chance to regain his form next season rather than just sell him because hes had one terrible season, a terrible season mind you which has been not much or far worse than the majority of our squad anyway.

 

There are tons of deals but no one knows how they will turn out. We signed Baba and Pedro for the first team and fans are still not happy and moaning, so there may be tons of deals waiting to happen but there isn't much talent that warrants the asking price in todays market.

 

You would think signings like Cuadrado and Salah were good deals based on their past and post careers at Chelsea, only to show that they were wasted signings when at the club;.

Edited March 22, 201610 yr by KonaKai Blue

I fully understand that our failures are not just Jose. I also blame the players but it really is hard for me to sit there and blame the board who have pumped millions into this club.

 

I think this sums you up. One man has pumped a ton of money into this club, not the board. Now you can be thankful for what he's done and you can still criticise the performance of those he has hired if you want. I choose to go a step further and say that I think his hirings were poorly-handled.

 

But to give everyone a free pass simply because you're blinded by money....I think there's a credibility issue with your views in that case, and I apologise if that sounds rude. But there's a name for people who put their principles in a box for money.

I think this sums you up. One man has pumped a ton of money into this club, not the board. Now you can be thankful for what he's done and you can still criticise the performance of those he has hired if you want. I choose to go a step further and say that I think his hirings were poorly-handled.

 

But to give everyone a free pass simply because you're blinded by money....I think there's a credibility issue with your views in that case, and I apologise if that sounds rude. But there's a name for people who put their principles in a box for money.

 

It doesn't sum me up.

 

As i've said all along. If you want to blame one man blame Roman. It's like when Rafa came, everyone boo'd him but were too scared and not stupid enough to blame Roman. The same is happening now. Look for a scapegoat.

 

Roman is involved in the club more than any other owner in the Prem, I'm sure he knows whats going on and makes the ultimate decision over Emanalo. The owner is not some rich senile old man living half way across the world with no idea what is happening.

 

As I said before, you wouldn't be saying this if we were top of the league. There were no Emanalo out campaigns until this season went pear shaped and people didn't want to lay the manager accountable.

 

I'm not giving out free passes, I'm just smart enough to know the root cause of our problems this season and it wasn't Emanalo if thats the guy you want to pin majority of the blame on.

It doesn't sum me up.

 

As i've said all along. If you want to blame one man blame Roman. It's like when Rafa came, everyone boo'd him but were too scared and not stupid enough to blame Roman. The same is happening now. Look for a scapegoat.

 

Roman is involved in the club more than any other owner in the Prem, I'm sure he knows whats going on and makes the ultimate decision over Emanalo. The owner is not some rich senile old man living half way across the world with no idea what is happening.

 

As I said before, you wouldn't be saying this if we were top of the league. There were no Emanalo out campaigns until this season went pear shaped and people didn't want to lay the manager accountable.

 

I'm not giving out free passes, I'm just smart enough to know the root cause of our problems this season and it wasn't Emanalo if thats the guy you want to pin majority of the blame on.

 

I've pointed out to you before that Emenalo has been a divisive figure for a long-time now. This notion that we wouldn't be complaining if we were top of the league is facile and that is yet another straw-man.

 

In fact you've resorted to the one about me not pinning our problems on Roman again. You know, that's the one you used in that thread I started called 'We're in disarray and that's down to Roman'. I think the way he runs the club is a fundamental issue, and the hiring of people like Emenalo and Grant are examples of that.

 

Please don't let us add that to the list of things I'm repeating to you.

Whatever fella, you're just a waste of time.

 

Carrying on whinging about us having no identity and a weaker squad.

 

Poor old Chelsea, we have a net spend lower than Liverpool, Arsenal, United and City. They all strengthened their squads and have bright futures because they have identity and an abundance of leaders. They also have great owners and sporting directors too. Look at what great seasons they are all having and how wonderful their signings have turned out to be. POOR OLD CHELSEA.

 

Bore off!!

 

I'm done.

One thing that is really boring is that (some) people can't see us turning this around as quickly or easily as we went from champions to turd. The margins are so small. Tottenham of all teams is challenging for title never mind Leicester who is going to win it.

I still take our squad over every squad in this league par City. The foundation is so strong compared to anyone. String of good results and we are challenging for title and when our lads can smell the title they don't want to let it slip.

One thing that is really boring is that (some) people can't see us turning this around as quickly or easily as we went from champions to turd. The margins are so small. Tottenham of all teams is challenging for title never mind Leicester who is going to win it.

I still take our squad over every squad in this league par City. The foundation is so strong compared to anyone. String of good results and we are challenging for title and when our lads can smell the title they don't want to let it slip.

 

 

What do you define as a foundation?

 

For me, it's almost always the spine. JT, Cech, Lamps, Drogba for us. Valdes, Puyol, Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi for Barca.

 

Schmeichel, Pallister/Bruce, Keane, Cantona or Van Der Sar, Vidic, Ferdinand, Scholes, Ronaldo/Rooney for United.

 

What is the spine of our team at the moment? 

Cech

Koscielny

Coqueline

Ozil

Giroud

Tibo

Zouma

Matic

Cesc

Costa

Ddg

Smalling

Schneiderlin

Mata

Martial

Lloris

Vertonghen

Dier

Ali

Kane

Migs

Sahko

Lucas

Couts

Sturridge

God help us

Edited March 22, 201610 yr by KonaKai Blue

It went wrong the moment they told Jose, No Pogba, No Varane, No Douglas Costa, No Stones.  Jose' said f**k that sh*t.

It went wrong the moment they told Jose, No Pogba, No Varane, No Douglas Costa, No Stones.  Jose' said f**k that sh*t.

And then he threw his toys out the pram.  Not the Jose I loved.

It went wrong the moment they told Jose, No Pogba, No Varane, No Douglas Costa, No Stones. Jose' said f**k that sh*t.

I've had enough of getting wound up that this comment genuinely made me laugh.

On a serious note to, ShedEnder and Co, this is the kind of comment which proves my argument correct. I'm glad this was said as it proves that people are just trying to protect Jose out of pure bias and loyalty.

Let me simple break each transfer down :

Pogba - stayed at Juve, not even Barca could prize him away so what makes us and more attractive?

Varane- A valuable asset to Madrid . They would be stupid to sell and he's not forcing a move

D Costa - went to Bayern. A bigger and certainly stronger club than Chelsea. No shame in missing out to them.

Stones - the board tried and tried until they were priced out.

This is not football manager and no one knows that thees players were not considered .

Cech

Koscielny

Coqueline

Ozil

Giroud

Tibo

Zouma

Matic

Cesc

Costa

Ddg

Smalling

Schneiderlin

Mata

Martial

Lloris

Vertonghen

Dier

Ali

Kane

Migs

Sahko

Lucas

Couts

Sturridge

God help us

IF our lot recaptured their best form, plus Hazard then they can be the best out of that lot. 

I've had enough of getting wound up that this comment genuinely made me laugh.

On a serious note to, ShedEnder and Co, this is the kind of comment which proves my argument correct. I'm glad this was said as it proves that people are just trying to protect Jose out of pure bias and loyalty.

Let me simple break each transfer down :

Pogba - stayed at Juve, not even Barca could prize him away so what makes us and more attractive?

Varane- A valuable asset to Madrid . They would be stupid to sell and he's not forcing a move

D Costa - went to Bayern. A bigger and certainly stronger club than Chelsea. No shame in missing out to them.

Stones - the board tried and tried until they were priced out.

This is not football manager and no one knows that thees players were not considered .

Valid arguments but in that case where is the back up option? I dont believe that Jose's shortlist didnt include an option b if main targets were not acquired, and i find it equally implausible that Varane and Stones were followed by Papy as the next best option. And we didnt get a midfielder in, so who was our option b behind pogba? Missing out on targets is fine, but if the manager identifies these targets, then we should have a contingency plan in case we dont get them. and we clearly didnt.

Valid arguments but in that case where is the back up option? I dont believe that Jose's shortlist didnt include an option b if main targets were not acquired, and i find it equally implausible that Varane and Stones were followed by Papy as the next best option. And we didnt get a midfielder in, so who was our option b behind pogba? Missing out on targets is fine, but if the manager identifies these targets, then we should have a contingency plan in case we dont get them. and we clearly didnt.

What if the likes of Pedro and Baba were the back up option? If not then who could they possibly be? What if the back up options weren't available?

When you look at the signings made by clubs in the summer you can tell that the quality in the market is poor. I mean who did Real sign of any importance?

Maybe our options behind pogba was those who we have on loan or in the youth team? Do we have to go through plan B and C in the transfer market before we start looking within?

We just don't know how business was conducted and it's very easy as a fan to just complain why back up options (of lower quality who fans still would probably complain about) were not signed. You could even class Moses and Cuadrado as back up options. Players of that mould and look what happened to them=

IF our lot recaptured their best form, plus Hazard then they can be the best out of that lot.

Absolutely. This is why it's frustrating to read our own fans down playing the likes of our spine as if we are somehow miles behind our rivals. Switch Henderson for Lucas and it still makes no difference. None of those spines are obviously stronger than ours. Only City have a stronger spine that spends half the season on the treatment table.

Everyone can see we've had a rubbish season but we have the players and the infrastructure to turn it around, starting with the appointment of a manager we are all excited about in Conte.

What if the likes of Pedro and Baba were the back up option? 

 

 

So the back-up options for a central defender and a central midfielder, were a left-back and a wide-player.

 

 

And you're defending the board's work correct? That's still your groove?

 

Absolutely. This is why it's frustrating to read our own fans down playing the likes of our spine as if we are somehow miles behind our rivals. Switch Henderson for Lucas and it still makes no difference. None of those spines are obviously stronger than ours. Only City have a stronger spine that spends half the season on the treatment table.

Everyone can see we've had a rubbish season but we have the players and the infrastructure to turn it around, starting with the appointment of a manager we are all excited about in Conte.

 

In the spine you've got listed, I can go along with Courtois, Costa and maybe Fabregas at a push. But even he's a doubt because we're supposedly looking at Pjanic.

 

Now in defence, as much as I like Zouma I don't think he's the guy to replace JT. For me he's the guy who replaces Cahill, or the next Carvalho if you like - he's the guy who plays next to the leader in that defence. That might be something you disagree with and that's fine, but I'm sure some people will understand what I'm saying and the need is clear for another central defender.

 

Then there's Matic, who not only isn't the same player he was last season but doesn't appear to fit the profile of midfielder that Conte has used in the past or has targetted in the future. That's why we've been linked with the likes of Nainggolan and Vidal (and why we should've gone after Imbula in either Summer or January) because he's always used players like that in his midfield - dynamic, energetic, agile, box-to-box midfielders.

 

So now we're talking about spending at least £100 million on the spine AND that's if we keep Courtois and don't look to buy a back-up or replacement for Costa in the form of Higuain, Cavani, Icardi or even Ibra.

 

Now you're talking about £120-140 million.

 

That is for me what it will take for us to even think about becoming a top, top club again and all the stories coming from Conte's camp seem to recognise that.

So the back-up options for a central defender and a central midfielder, were a left-back and a wide-player.

 

 

And you're defending the board's work correct? That's still your groove?

 

I didn't defend their signings correct or incorrect, I'm saying YOU HAVE NO IDEA what went on behind the scenes. You have no idea what efforts we took to sign player x y z and Jose's acceptance of the situation.

 

 

In the spine you've got listed, I can go along with Courtois, Costa and maybe Fabregas at a push. But even he's a doubt because we're supposedly looking at Pjanic.

 

Now in defence, as much as I like Zouma I don't think he's the guy to replace JT. For me he's the guy who replaces Cahill, or the next Carvalho if you like - he's the guy who plays next to the leader in that defence. That might be something you disagree with and that's fine, but I'm sure some people will understand what I'm saying and the need is clear for another central defender.

 

Then there's Matic, who not only isn't the same player he was last season but doesn't appear to fit the profile of midfielder that Conte has used in the past or has targetted in the future. That's why we've been linked with the likes of Nainggolan and Vidal (and why we should've gone after Imbula in either Summer or January) because he's always used players like that in his midfield - dynamic, energetic, agile, box-to-box midfielders.

 

So now we're talking about spending at least £100 million on the spine AND that's if we keep Courtois and don't look to buy a back-up or replacement for Costa in the form of Higuain, Cavani, Icardi or even Ibra.

 

Now you're talking about £120-140 million.

 

That is for me what it will take for us to even think about becoming a top, top club again and all the stories coming from Conte's camp seem to recognise that.

Forget the speculation about who we are supposedly looking at, That is our spine and it's not a bad one when you match it up against our rivals.

 

No one can replace JT. Zouma can be that leader, if not a leader he can be our rock in central defense. Again refer to the other spines I listed. You don't need a JT in central defense for it to work. You just need a solid CB. If he's the guy that plays next to the leader, who the hell is that leader going to be when JT leaves? Who is City's leader when Kompany leaves or injured half the season? The City that you claim have so much of an identity and are on the right path.

 

Your argument doesn't add up in that regard.

 

Matic has had one bad season (like 80% of the squad), lets see what Conte does before again speculating on what the next manager will do.

 

We have to spend, but look at our rivals spine. Would you say those spines are good enough and don't also require a £120m improvement?

 

This is my problem with you. It's fair to criticise our weaknesses (we are far from perfect) but don't talk as if the likes of Arsenal, Utd, Pool, City and Spurs have a bunch of leaders and have a solid spine miles above us. It simply isn't the case.

 

The landscape of football has changed. If you think we will get back to the standards of 2005 you can dream on. Man Utd fans are starting to figure out that their Fergie domination will not happen again in the near future such is the nature of this league. They are also seeing that spending money does not guarantee success. Despite all our spending when Roman came, it was the likes of JT and Lamps who allowed us to reach that next level. 

 

Look within your own youth squad instead of always looking to buy a foreigner who you praise one season and then as soon as they have a bad one ala Matic, Cesc, Tibo, Costa, you want replaced and are looking for the next bunch of players to spend £150m on.

 

I will say it again, the market for players is very very tough!!!! There are an abundance of top clubs (including Chelsea) and hardly any recognisable talent. Yes we could take a risk like Utd did with Martial but if the risks do not pay off, fans like you will end up complaining anyway.

 

Just look at the signings made my Real Madrid and Barcelona this summer. Between them the only notable signing was Arda Turan who joined in January. You would especially expect Madrid to make some big signings as they need to catch up to Barca, but like I have been saying, the talent is not in abundance in todays market, so you're better off taking a punt on players you have on loan and youth!

I didn't defend their signings correct or incorrect, I'm saying YOU HAVE NO IDEA what went on behind the scenes. You have no idea what efforts we took to sign player x y z and Jose's acceptance of the situation.

 

 

Let's just say that's true, am I allowed to judge them on the results of their signings? At what point is is allowable for someone to question the board or is it forever verboten to speculate on such things because 'you weren't there maaaan!!'.

 

 

No one can replace JT. Zouma can be that leader, if not a leader he can be our rock in central defense. Again refer to the other spines I listed. You don't need a JT in central defense for it to work. You just need a solid CB. If he's the guy that plays next to the leader, who the hell is that leader going to be when JT leaves? Who is City's leader when Kompany leaves or injured half the season? The City that you claim have so much of an identity and are on the right path.

 

I like how you spent maybe 3 seconds saying Zouma could be a leader.....and then conceded that maybe he might not be BUUUUT that's not important. Nothing like committing to a view and then defending it stoutly.

 

I don't know who the leader will be when JT leaves and that's one of our biggest problems, and you highlight it beautifully when you say that City lack it when Kompany leaves or is injured. Neither Otamendi, Mangala or Demichelis is that guy - they're all the guy who plays next to the guy. 

 

He represents their identity, as I've said before, but you can't always plan for injuries. That is the issue facing them.

 

 

 

Matic has had one bad season (like 80% of the squad), lets see what Conte does before again speculating on what the next manager will do.

 

 

That was half the argument I used, the other being the fact that he's not like players Conte has used to my knowledge....but ok, let's just skip that bit because.....

 

We have to spend, but look at our rivals spine. Would you say those spines are good enough and don't also require a £120m improvement?

 

This is my problem with you. It's fair to criticise our weaknesses (we are far from perfect) but don't talk as if the likes of Arsenal, Utd, Pool, City and Spurs have a bunch of leaders and have a solid spine miles above us. It simply isn't the case.

 

 

Those aren't our only rivals. We're a big European club (I believe that's still in the marketing spiel) and our rivals extend beyond these shores. All those clubs you mentioned, with the exception of Spurs, are in a period of transition of one type or another and Liverpool, Arsenal and United need to deal with those issues. City do have an issue with Kompany's fitness and Toure's age but I expect them to do something about that this summer based on their spending in previous years.

 

 

 

The landscape of football has changed. If you think we will get back to the standards of 2005 you can dream on. Man Utd fans are starting to figure out that their Fergie domination will not happen again in the near future such is the nature of this league. They are also seeing that spending money does not guarantee success. Despite all our spending when Roman came, it was the likes of JT and Lamps who allowed us to reach that next level. 

 

Look within your own youth squad instead of always looking to buy a foreigner who you praise one season and then as soon as they have a bad one ala Matic, Cesc, Tibo, Costa, you want replaced and are looking for the next bunch of players to spend £150m on.

 

I will say it again, the market for players is very very tough!!!! There are an abundance of top clubs (including Chelsea) and hardly any recognisable talent. Yes we could take a risk like Utd did with Martial but if the risks do not pay off, fans like you will end up complaining anyway.

 

Just look at the signings made my Real Madrid and Barcelona this summer. Between them the only notable signing was Arda Turan who joined in January. You would especially expect Madrid to make some big signings as they need to catch up to Barca, but like I have been saying, the talent is not in abundance in todays market, so you're better off taking a punt on players you have on loan and youth!

 

This to me is a slight lack of ambition. I agree that we should utilise our Academy more but it's hard to coaches to do that when they're under pressure to deliver immediate results. Even now we're shy about using some great prospects.

 

The market is very tough too because every club in this country can outspend all but a few top European clubs. That is why you need to be savvy and even if you want to defend the amount of money we spent this year I think it's impossible to defend the acumen used to make these purchases. 

 

I think the worry is that the mentality you display might become something of an epidemic amongst our supporters who defend a lack of ambition because 'it's hard being good at something' and 'well, we could be worse'. Those are reasons not to do something and the funny thing is that by showing that lack of ambition last summer we actually lack the resources to fix it this summer because we don't have Champions League money.

 

Now that is funny. Shambolic, but you have to laugh at just how far we might have set ourselves back in the space of one year. You can comfort yourself by blaming Jose but that doesn't change where we are now and it would be lovely if we could actually find something to agree on so we could discuss where we go from here but I think you've painted yourself into a corner and it's probably not going to happen. 

 

So we'll leave it there.

 

I like how you spent maybe 3 seconds saying Zouma could be a leader.....and then conceded that maybe he might not be BUUUUT that's not important. Nothing like committing to a view and then defending it stoutly.

 

I don't know who the leader will be when JT leaves and that's one of our biggest problems, and you highlight it beautifully when you say that City lack it when Kompany leaves or is injured. Neither Otamendi, Mangala or Demichelis is that guy - they're all the guy who plays next to the guy. 

 

He represents their identity, as I've said before, but you can't always plan for injuries. That is the issue facing them.

 

I didn't concede anything, I'm giving you the option to give me an example of who the leader could be if Zouma isn't. As I said, he could be that leader in the defense, but if not like you're suggesting then who is? Why can't it be Zouma. Besides, hes a solid and good enough defender for us and this leader tag is far over emphasised when you have someone of Zoumas ability in defense.

 

Those guys playing next to Kompany have all been shocking especially Mangala and Demichelis. So much for City improving their squad. Spent a bunch of cash and their defense is still pants.

 

When the leader leaves, it's up to someone else to take charge whether that be in defense, midfield or up front. You can slightly see that from Cesc trying to gear up the players and fans.

 

Kompany represents City's identity alright . On the face of it, quality on paper but damaged goods which always break down.

 

Those aren't our only rivals. We're a big European club (I believe that's still in the marketing spiel) and our rivals extend beyond these shores. All those clubs you mentioned, with the exception of Spurs, are in a period of transition of one type or another and Liverpool, Arsenal and United need to deal with those issues. City do have an issue with Kompany's fitness and Toure's age but I expect them to do something about that this summer based on their spending in previous years.

 

 

This to me is a slight lack of ambition. I agree that we should utilise our Academy more but it's hard to coaches to do that when they're under pressure to deliver immediate results. Even now we're shy about using some great prospects.

 

The market is very tough too because every club in this country can outspend all but a few top European clubs. That is why you need to be savvy and even if you want to defend the amount of money we spent this year I think it's impossible to defend the acumen used to make these purchases. 

 

I think the worry is that the mentality you display might become something of an epidemic amongst our supporters who defend a lack of ambition because 'it's hard being good at something' and 'well, we could be worse'. Those are reasons not to do something and the funny thing is that by showing that lack of ambition last summer we actually lack the resources to fix it this summer because we don't have Champions League money.

 

Now that is funny. Shambolic, but you have to laugh at just how far we might have set ourselves back in the space of one year. You can comfort yourself by blaming Jose but that doesn't change where we are now and it would be lovely if we could actually find something to agree on so we could discuss where we go from here but I think you've painted yourself into a corner and it's probably not going to happen. 

 

So we'll leave it there.

No our direct rivals are not Barca, Bayern and Real. Our rivals are those on these shores. Arsenal are not in transition even their fans will tell you that. Whilst clubs are chopping and changing managers, they have stability and this is their chance to take advantage which they don't seem to be doing - This is just another example of you again trying to make excuses for other clubs.

 

Utd are not in transition. They are just dissaray. They have spent big and it has not paid off. Liverpool are in transition now but they achieved nothing when they were not in transition.

 

Go onto Bluemoon and read City fans comments towards their boards spending who I'm sure you admire. They have blown money on Delph, Bony, Sterling, Mangala, Ottamendi. Thats over £140m wasted on players they themselves class as "dross", and they are holding these football men they have on their board (you know those footballing me you speak so highly of?) accountable.

 

Managers may be under pressure to not use youth but it is not lack of ambition, there is no correlation between both. Liverpool spent £30m in Benteke meanwhile Rashford is the one lighting up the league for Utd because he was given a chance to show his own ambition to succeed.