While some may think it's damn near amazing that we are in sixth, I was wondering what we should do for the remainder of the season. With no cup to fight for, and the league apparently out of reach, most would say we should aim to solidify our place in Europe.

Should we wait till the end of the season to dictate our destiny for next season, or should we do whatever it takes to make a push for the CL, since there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't.

Surely we can not be willing to say once we make 40 odd points and ensure our place in the PL for next year is that going to be good enough, put the rest of the season on auto and finish wherever.

Personally I'd like to see the board loosen the purse strings for some squad strengthening. We can not guarantee what shape Cort will be in, and furthermore we have no idea if he'll even work out.

As I said before the main difference between us and the teams ahead of us is the ability to maintain high quality depth coming off the bench.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Answers

The strategy from a board point of view might be quite involved.

From a team point of view we should be all out to win every match and a CL place should be the objective. To this end a signing or two would help but we are not in a position to know what the financial position is at present. A major factor, as I see it, is how to sell all the ST's next season. Would it help to keep the purse strings tight at present and splash out in the close season on 2 or 3 very tasty signings to fire the enthusiasm? Or is there cash available and players we want/need up for sale at present? Signings now, and a tilt at Europe would be preferable as it helps to solve the issue of selling the ST's next season, but would we be in a better financial position come Summer? Always assuming that we can afford someone at present who would improve our chances - we are - after all, playing pretty well despite carrying a huge injury list which should improve a little at least.

I think it's a complex issue which changes almost on a daily basis as we assess the injury situation, how well the existing players are doing, how much is available now and how much in the Summer, which players can be bought etc etc.

Even sticking with the existing playing staff, it must be evident that this is a good, improving squad and the CL should be the target, even if that might be a tad over ambitious. A near miss on that target will put us in Europe anyway.

So the short answer is Sparxx, I don't know (and I don't think any of us can) but I reckon that those are the issues that YBR and the board should be weighing up.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

We are sixth but teams below us have games in hand so a more realistic position is around eight, where we have been for a few months now.

Taking that into account we should really be looking to qualify for Europe. In the current transfer climate we should sit tight on the signings and save the money to entice players once a resolution has been reached.

At the end of the day if we qualify for Europe then I think the club will have no trouble selling season tickets at least up to the present allocation if not more. If we finish above 11th then surely there would be a greater anticipation level than at this time last year.

We have a squad of players who have the talent and more often now, have the desire to pull results off and there is no reason why they cannot attain a European place.

The spending will happen once the system is sorted out, as I believe that Robson has targeted the players he really wants and is waiting to sign them.

Lets just concentrate on beating Chelsea. If we lose we could slide three or more places and then our targets are moved once again.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

I can't believe some of the stuff one here. We are six points from the champions league, we should make sure we try our best to get in. No consolodation here please, we have old scores to settle, we played the three of the four best teams away. Six points shouldn't be too hard to make up.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

We should always be playing as well as possible and aiming to finish as high up the league as possible, with Europe a very realistic goal. It's something we should be doing every season. But we seem to have developed the habit of a late season slump. The past couple of season's our FAC involvement was the (lame, imo) excuse. No excuses for getting lazy this season.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

I'd love us to be back in Europe, but it isn't a necessity unless someone nearby sneaks in too.

I hate the "we're a team in transition" phrase that managers everywhere bring out when they are failing. (Terry Venables was ALWAYS two players away from a great side at Spurs). But we are in transition. The older guard who we've dicussed over the last few weeks will become less and less relevant, more than likely still there but less and less first team regulars. We have to move on, and the transfer kitty and its size probably dictates the rate of change.

What would excite me these days anyway ? I feel we've become old and cycnical (older and more cynical ?) having seen foriegners come and foriegners go. All better domestic players will have some baggage associated with them that makes them somebody's unfavourite player, for some misdemeanour in the past.

I seem to be only exhilirated by pace these days, no pace no good. For me I'd say the squad depth is okay, in that we have average Premiership players in every position. What we need is quality in key positions. We also need to be buying players at 25 year old max. Only English I've seen are Clinton (miss the ball) Morrison and Michael Carrick. In Scotland there is Keigan Parker at St Johnstone. Outside those you have to bow to Robson's knowledge.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Surprised that no-one has mentioned finishing above the makkems as an objective. Or are we resigned to waiting until next season for that pleasure?

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

everybody loves new signings, but the transfer situation apart, who the hell do you think we are going to sign.

look at west ham, 18 mil burning a hole in his pocket and harry gets dailly, camara, some japanese bloke. conclusion: not much quality about or even abaaaaat in harry's case

have a bit more faith in the players at sjp especially the kids. hughes has established himself this season and ameobi looks promising. if one or two more get a successful start between now and the end of the season it will prove far more valuable long term than a titi camara type signing, and an early uefa cup exit at slava bratislava

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

If you read what Aaron Hughes says on the other thread, finishing above the hackems is a very real motivational factor for the players and I would guess privately amongst the management team.

If we do finish above them it will be a great achievement because they are flying and showing no real signs of falling, hopefully they will but I'd rather pip them for the final place in Europe or the CL

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

hmmmm, playing devils advocate, say by standing pat with what we've got we don't qualify for Europe? What then? How can we improve or continue to improve if we are not allowed the resources to do so? We need to capitalise on a weak EPL and try and make the move..... NOW!!!!!!

As much as I trust YBR, I would feel a lot more comfortable if the team (the board included) did more to inspire confidence.

Certainly, last weekend at Leeds none of us thought it was going to go our way, as a matter of a fact most of us thought we'd only get a point if we were very lucky. We can not continue to presume we'll do enough to get by.

Once again, it's what separates us from the likes of the scum.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

There is no point in spending mooney on players for the sake of it. Players that come in should seriously raise the standard of our team and I would guess that those sort of players are not being made available by teams at such a point in the season.

The summertime is when the deals will start to happen as the players Robson wants becomes available. If you're talking about strengthening the squad then there is only one way to do it that would benefit the club long term. Demote current players to squad players by signing better alternatives.

To do that we would have to spend serious money and the board are not going to do it and I'm sure Robson undertsands that too.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

We'd have to 'gamble' approx £15 million on replacements for Goma and Marcellino (if they leave) and another striker. To improve o match what we have each of those players is likely to cost around £5 million each and at that price is a gamble. £5 mill gets you a good British player or a very good European/South American.

That's before we've sorted out left back and left wing!

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

A Hackem supporter I know was saying last Friday that after last weekend the gap between the two sides would be 11 points not 8. Well we beat a Cl team and they managed a draw against the league's bottom side so the gap is 6 points after last weekend; and we were away and they were at home. We should try for every point (I'm sure we do) and finishing above the Hackems is a very realistic target. This will also bring UEFA football. Why put off a challenge til next season? I've been doing this since 1955 with a bonus blip in 1969.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Bear in mind that we may struggle to attract players at this stage - not in Europe and not in the Cup. I don't think we should go for anybody on the basis that they are available. Anyhow, wasn't Ronaldo meant to be convalescing with us??

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

More satisfying, if we can't get high enough in the league, would be to finish below the Mackems with both of us not in Europe, but for us to qualify due to topping the fair play league. That would bring a smile to my face. Imagine the whinges and the moaning from the Stade de Shi*e if that happened.

Saying that, I'd much prefer to finish above them and get in the Champions League.

Sunderland are a bad team for the CL though. Their one dimesional long ball style would be easy to counter act for the Continental sides and they'd be out in a flash.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Forget selling next seasons ST's, forget the mackems - the one adnd only target must be CL's place - QED.
The financial rewards are simply massive, it would firmly resolve the ST situation at a stroke, and improve our ability to improve the squad.
As someone else has said, if we just failed in that objective, we'd still be in the UEFA Cup which would form a successful season, despite everything.

Considerations of strengthening the squad should run entirely in parallel to the immediate playing objectives. If the injury situation is contained and continues diminishing, this reduces the pressure on signing new players, and significantly improves the chances of whatever money is available being used wisely.

It is probable that more quality players will be available in the close season, when hopefully this transfer system nonsense will have been finally sorted out.

So, we should go flat out for a CL place, and work to improve the squad as entirely separate and parallel issues - that is the luxury that will be afforded us by achieving safety from any relegation concerns as early as possible.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

>>>>>forget the mackems

Well said Clarky - getting ahead of the Mackems is a pretty small time ambition in my book. It's a bit like Scotland whose sole objective in life is to win against England. It's the Mackems who have to worry about us - what kind of a motto is FTM for goodness sake?

As for the rest of what you said I think we agree almost to the letter - that has to be something of a first on here!

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

I'm delighted to have finally made the grade Jonno - even if it proves to be transient!
I'll buy you a pint on the strength of it when I get the opportunity.

;-{)

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Would agree that our aspirations shouldn't begin and end with overtaking the SMB although, qualification for Europe may well have finishing above them as a most serendipitous side effect.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001

Don't get me wrong Dougal - I'm not saying it wouldn't be a blast, but it definitely should not be our main objective.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2001