Jimboola69 Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 All I can think about is how MUCH I want the Prem to start and see the boys in action, so as we approach the big day, lets get predicting for the new season. Plain and simple. I will 'go first'. English Premiership : Champions European Champions League : Final FA Cup : Semi's League Cup : Semi's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I think we'll win the league and win another trophy. Which one? I don't know :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Chelsea Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 we'll win them all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_mac Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 2nd in the premiership, winners of two cups...would love for it to be CL and FA, but think it will be FA and Carling. Will probably be knocked out of the CL by Inter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUENUT Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 English Premiership : R/U European Champions League : final - finger's crossed FA Cup : Semi's League Cup : Semi's / final, depending how seriously the manager takes the competition, would be nice to have won it 4 years in a row, but that's another story, another season. I think we may lose the boring tag this season, for sure, but does it win trophies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g3.7 Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 (edited) does it really matter? we could win less and enjoy the season more, perhaps? in any case, it's possible to win and play well, we've done it ourselves! also, the 4 league cups was never on as jose won his between that first round loss to charlton (on pens), remember? I think we'll win a trophy and play better all round. Edited August 10, 2008 by gullit4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomP Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I think that Scolari needs at least one trophy to keep his job, unfortunately. I will be happy personally if we put in a serious CHALLENGE for the Premiership and the Champions League. I think EXPECTING a win in either of them is too put too much pressure on ourselves, and it will set ourselves up for a fall if we don't achieve it. Especially the Champions League, as doing well in that competition is often as much to do with a lucky or unlucky draw as it is to do with quality of football. To be honest, as much as I would like to see us win the cups, I don't think it would be a bad thing for our season if we got knocked out early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishman Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I do think we'll win either the Premiership or the CL, and hopefully make a serious challenge for both. If we treat the Carling Cup as seriously as we did under Jose and Grant I think we'll win that too. Premiership : Winners Champions League : Final FA Cup : QF League Cup : Winners Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUENUT Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 (edited) does it really matter? we could win less and enjoy the season more, perhaps? in any case, it's possible to win and play well, we've done it ourselves!also, the 4 league cups was never on as jose won his between that first round loss to charlton (on pens), remember? I think we'll win a trophy and play better all round. It does matter about winning as we've got to a stage where we are in the top 2 clubs in this country, or Europe, so as fans, our expectations should be up there with the big boys. We only missed out narrowly last season on a league cup , league and CL treble remember?, by the most marginal of deficeits. I'm not pining for Jose, as some may believe, but if he was our manager for the run-in and those 2 finals I honestly think he'd have had Fergie's sweating for his life and we'd have done a treble, (without the Barnsley FA exit). Oh well..........let's move on.... I'm still gutted with the season we missed out when we lost to Leicester and West Ham (I forget the year) at home playing some of the best football I've seen us play. Yes I was entertained that year, yes I never thought we'd get where we did, but in hindsight, if we were a bit more ruthless and less nieve we'd have won the league that season. I'm all for us playing better football, but does beating Hull 6-0 at home compensate for drawing 4-4 with another Martin O'neill side?? or throwing away a decent lead to the likes of Spurs at the lane? Trophy wise it doesn't and some walk out of the Bridge with smiles on their faces at the prospect of an 8 goal thriller, but at the expense of the title!?!?! for a life long fan, I'm not so sure! I'm looking forward to the unchartered waters under FS but that's exactly what they are, unchartered and mysterious times. I'm all for free flowing football but at the expense of trophies, with us coming so close, again???? It'll be another hard pill to swallow that's for sure! I'm looking ahead, and not as pessimistic as you may think, but I just don't know what's around the corner and don't think the quad is as realistic as some on this site. But to end the season trophyless again does matter with the squad we have and manager we have , because it one of the best in the world, no matter how many tricks and flicks we encounter upon the way, I think were up there and want us to prove it, not just make us liked because we entertain the neutrals. BTW I'm not being a greedy fan who expects this or that, because I never thought I'd see us win the league, but I going on the expectations of our chairman, and I'm sure he expects more trophywise than last year, I not too sure he's going to have his cake and eat it thats all. Edited August 11, 2008 by BLUENUT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g3.7 Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 (edited) I don't care who does or does not like us, nor do I care for the neutrals- if I wanted to see us entertain it would be for entirely selfish reasons. but what I want to see, is better football. not "more attractive" football, but a better use of the players we have- long balls over the likes of joe cole, lampard and ballack was not the best kind of football for our squad. I do think as a result we'd be more entertaining, but that's a side affect rather than what drives the change in style. the last two seasons particularly have seen us fail to get the most from what we have, and that is the big thing I want to see change. a lot depends on what football is about to you as a fan- it's a personal thing so you may well have a different view than I have. I think football, as a fan, is about 2 main things- shared experience (travelling home and away, sharing in highs and lows with family to people you've never met..)- it's quite special and difficult to describe why. the other thing is glory, which blurs with the first point, but covers a lot- what glory is will be different to many- derby wins, great goals, avoiding relegation, trophies... whatever. but trophies for me, while great, are "just" physical proof of an achievement, and while a lot of pleasure comes from that, the journey, what makes up a title winning season for example, is massive. when I see man united fans, always, I've never been jealous, because they are so joyless. they expect to win, and their football experience is largely either meeting expectation, which is normal, or unde rperforming, which is the end of the world. they've become slaves to results. I feel some of us have already started to become like that- you wrote "It does matter about winning as we've got to a stage where we are in the top 2 clubs in this country, or Europe, so as fans, our expectations should be up there with the big boys"... but why should it? everything is fleeting, and world domination just isn't for me. I don't want to become like those smokers who hate smoking but are addicted to the nicotine, where the only remaining pleasures in football are FT whistles and spreadsheets. I hope we win everything, but I will never expect it, if you or roman or the papers or whatever do, IMO, it's your loss, and it shouldn't have to be mine too. when I see those fans who describe the league cup as "worthless", my overriding feeling is pity. Edited August 11, 2008 by gullit4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUENUT Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 (edited) I don't care who does or does not like us, nor do I care for the neutrals- if I wanted to see us entertain it would be for entirely selfish reasons.but what I want to see, is better football. not "more attractive" football, but a better use of the players we have- long balls over the likes of joe cole, lampard and ballack was not the best kind of football for our squad. I do think as a result we'd be more entertaining, but that's a side affect rather than what drives the change in style. the last two seasons particularly have seen us fail to get the most from what we have, and that is the big thing I want to see change. a lot depends on what football is about to you as a fan- it's a personal thing so you may well have a different view than I have. I think football, as a fan, is about 2 main things- shared experience (travelling home and away, sharing in highs and lows with family to people you've never met..)- it's quite special and difficult to describe why. the other thing is glory, which blurs with the first point, but covers a lot- what glory is will be different to many- derby wins, great goals, avoiding relegation, trophies... whatever. but trophies for me, while great, are "just" physical proof of an achievement, and while a lot of pleasure comes from that, the journey, what makes up a title winning season for example, is massive. when I see man united fans, always, I've never been jealous, because they are so joyless. they expect to win, and their football experience is largely either meeting expectation, which is normal, or unde rperforming, which is the end of the world. they've become slaves to results. I feel some of us have already started to become like that- you wrote "It does matter about winning as we've got to a stage where we are in the top 2 clubs in this country, or Europe, so as fans, our expectations should be up there with the big boys"... but why should it? everything is fleeting, and world domination just isn't for me. I don't want to become like those smokers who hate smoking but are addicted to the nicotine, where the only remaining pleasures in football are FT whistles and spreadsheets. I hope we win everything, but I will never expect it, if you or roman or the papers or whatever do, IMO, it's your loss, and it shouldn't have to be mine too. when I see those fans who describe the league cup as "worthless", my overriding feeling is pity. Being a slave to results, I'm afraid, is the order of the day at a club like Chelsea. 2 of our last 3 managers lost their job because they failed to deliver and Chelsea had another man waiting in the wings who they thought could do a better job. I'm talking about Ranieri replaced by Jose and Grant 'the plant' replaced by our new manager. Now you talk about wanting to get the best out of players or squad.......don't you think our first 2 titles under JM were about getting the best from his dispposal? In the 1st year , Carvahlo, (new signing) Terry, Gallas, Lampard, Makalele, Ferrera (new signing) (record breaking defensive record) Robben, Duff, Drogba (new signing) were all essential to our title win, without mentioning the likes of Crespo, Eidur, who all played to the best of what the were asked to do, every ounce of effort was squeezed from all of these players, and we won the league concedeing only 14 goals all season! Now the 2nd season we we signed Essien who, lets get it right has been immense for us. Don't get me wrong, JM signed us some dubious players and they weren't used to their best strenght's, but when you have a midfield of Lampard, Essien, Makalele and the odd appearance from Cloe and Robben, the team starts to pick itself from what you expect from them. People slate Robben for his contribution, but in his last season he came from the bench and won us the League cup and Fa cup, and for me that was his best attribute, being able to change a game from the becnch, because his arrival strikes fear into apponants. Joe Cole has been a lesser player since JM's departure because the show pony has reappeared. In either of these season I don't remember long ball's over the midfield being the key to our sucess, I rememebr long periods of controlled passing grinding the opposition down. Lampard wouldn't have scored so many goal with the ball in the air so often!! Jose's 3rd season and he had Sheva and Ballack pushed upon him. Now how can a manager play to the strenghts of his side if players are being forced upon him? You cannot change your entire mentality or strategy to play to Ballack ot Sheva's strenghts if you don't want them originally, let alone as squad members, who you don't really know how to accomodate without changing your entire formation, 4-3-3 for 2 title winning years to 4-4-2 now and then!?!?! We had a side that was attributed to players strenghts, but that was interfered with. Now we have a manager who is used to getting to 1/4 finals and semi finals playing good football, and I hope he will be using players at their strenghts. Deco will do Eidurs old job from what I've seen, Lampard will do his, Essien will do his, or maybe have something taken away by filling in for Maka. Drogba will be a force up-front, and Anelka shouldn't be playing on the wing, but we have Lost Maka, so do we lose Essiens driving force to play him defensive or use the inexperienced Mikel. Can we afford to lose Maka, will playing Essien, or the young and rash Mikel there be using a player to the best of his ability? Can playing Ferrera at left back be ustilising his strenghts? Can Deco cope with the pace of our league? Can Ballack, Deco and Lampard be accomadated in the same midfield? Do we need Deco if Joe Cole is used correctly - something JM deciede agianst doing? There are many questions to be asked and it'll be an interesting season......but I havemore doubt's about Chelsea this term as I have reason's for Manu to fear us!! Edited August 11, 2008 by BLUENUT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueday3 Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 In a way it would be good to get knocked out of a few cups early, if by some shocking result, we are in no cup competitions in February/march then we will have nothing to focus on but the league whereas if man united are still in everything they will have a much harder time winning all the league games and we could very well take the league easy. That said I think we will be league winners and FA cup winners. As for less success and more enjoyment, I guess we could ask some Arsenal fans how they feel because they are regarded as playing the best looking football but haven't won for years. I guess it is a double edged sword in our scenario because we have had the recent success without the lovely looking football so we are willing to give up success for a more enjoyable season but there comes a point when you must win to enjoy things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimboola69 Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 I don't agree with the press angle of Scolari NEEDING to win a trophy to survive. I think a season where we progress into a team that is on the brink of winning the trophies and playing nice football would be fine. Grant did not lose his job because he did not win a trophy, lets dispel that bollocks right away. He did not have the dressing room and was not respected in his post. Even if the League Cup or maybe even ECL were to have been won...he would still be with a P45 in his hand right now. I do worry that people view playing good football as a bad thing. That it will neccessarily mean we win no trophies or that it is a 'prawn sandwich' thing to want. All I can say to that is that there are plenty of teams that have won things playing good football (incl the Guillit and Vialli sides) and after some of the football of the (mind numbing longball) last two years I would welcome going to a game and not being bored out of my brain and almost considering it a chore. I do not want to feel that way. Better football I think CAN win us trophies, can make us all entertained in the stands and makes Roman happy. If we are about to transform (and it may take a few months) then IT'S ABOUT FEEKIN TIME!!!! :D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelzdude Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Champions League - Winner! Premier league - Winner! FA and Leauge cup - Semi Will be fantastic if we could win all!! hehehe!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWestwayWonder Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I just want to win the league. The CL, in my opinion, is alot to ask for considering this past final and the difficulty in getting back there, and I think if Scolari puts his energies toward one task and brings it home, it would be a brilliant way to adjust. We have the squad to challenge for the CL for several more years. But to win the CL and lose the league would be ok if it meant Liverpool were no longer "the greatest team in English history" ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBosnian Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I can't see us losing any of those four, but for that same reason I'd rather not guess and just enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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