Anyone happy to finish outside top 4, if it brings about real change?

I know the manager and the board view 4th place as the holy grail of football, the be all and end all when it comes to sporting achievement. However, for the fans, this sort of narrow financial determinism is depressing, and I know many people who have said they'd prefer to drop out of the top 4, if it meant having to rebuild from bottom up, as it may lead to a loss of many established players (who have failed to step up to the plate over the last 5 years), the manager leaving and perhaps even change in the boardroom, especially if Stan feels a club without the Champions League revenues is not worth "investing" in. I think this is the only way we'll succeed in the long run tbh.

However, there are others who think that such an upheaval will see us languish in mid-table for a long time, and that continuity is the way forward, and that once FIFA's financial fair play regulations are put in place, it will create a level playing field allowing our "prudent" business style to reap dividends.

What do you think?

No, I can't do it. It possibly means actively wanting us to drop points for some supposed greater good that might never actually arrive and there's no way I can bring myself to want that.

Ultimatley it's better for the club long term to be in the CL.

As a fan does merely getting 3rd/4th every year satisfy me? No, not by a long shot because I think we're more than capable of doing better. The club needs to change but it has to be measured and calculated. Missing out on the CL gravy train for the sake of maybe seeing change won't cut it. Look at the state of Liverpools squad now 3 years on from their last CL outing. Once we're out of it will be hard to come back.

I think there is change afoot anyway. The noises leaking out of the camp over the last few months are encouraging.

No, I want us to go for 3rd, and then regroup in the summer.

Also, it's well documented that a large chunk of the profit the club makes is from player sales. And that's WITH the added CL revenue. So fuck knows how many we'd flog if we didn't have that added cash boost.

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Originally Posted by LDG

I think there is change afoot anyway. The noises leaking out of the camp over the last few months are encouraging.

No, I want us to go for 3rd, and then regroup in the summer.

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No offence but IMO you're kidding yourself, I think little will change in the summer and that's despite a poor season overall for us.

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Originally Posted by ItsMe

No offence but IMO you're kidding yourself, I think little will change in the summer and that's despite a poor season overall for us.

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You may be right. I've seen a few signs recently which give me hope and I'm not going to over-react to one poor result, every team gets those from time to time. If we go on our 3rd poor run of the season then it will be fatal to our chances of a top 4 finish and show that the recent excellent run has been yet another false dawn. If we finish strongly, get a top 4 finish, sign Podolski nice and early, get RvP signed up and do some more decent business in the transfer market then maybe things will change for the better.

We'll see.

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Originally Posted by ItsMe

No offence but IMO you're kidding yourself, I think little will change in the summer and that's despite a poor season overall for us.

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I'm a football fan. I start every season optimistic.

This time round, it seems like we're trying to get business done early.

The fact that Champachs, Park etc are not getting games, it a usual sign that Wenger is gonna get rid.

So if we're actively looking to clears some space in the squad, and apparently getting players signed up already. It's a cause for optimism, IMO.

Also, we've played pretty well recently, with a supposed shit team. Add Wilshere back into that midfield, and a couple of quality siginings, I don't see why we won't be challenging next year.

We have been challenging over the last few years, this season being different for all kinds of reasons, but ironically, quite enjoyable.

I see more in this current side which leads me to believe they won't fall apart under pressure if we're going for a trophy.

But if I'm optimistic, it doesn't make me stupid.

I knew we'd get beat on Saturday. It was predictable after such a good run of form and luck. It happens to every team.

We are the 3rd/4th best team in Britain despite being really shit? Seems great to me. Could be a lot worse, look at Liverpool for instance

Also the two choices in the poll are just ridiculous, a lot like your face.