When do we start to believe ?

[Özim]

There's no doubt Chelsea and Man City will improve next season, I think Mourinho takes a season or so to get the right players and the right mentality in his players, in his 2nd second you can usually see a vast improvement.

Pellegrini too will improve things, he's only been with the players a few months and hasn't stamped his authority yet, he's a very good manager though you only need to look at his record and how he's done at the clubs he's been at.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well one of Chelsea and Man City won't be winning the league this season so one of them has the threat of being sacked. Mourinho more likely now they can't win the COC.

I think ascribing this idea of stability as something that will Chelsea and Man City attain is a bit short-sighted. They can't both do it based on the track record of what happens in a trophyless season.

[Letters]

Fine, but my point is we may also improve next season, our squad clearly needs another option up front, and neither City or Chelsea are weak this season.
They're both right up there and well in line with what they did last year when they both finished above us.
Those two clubs are the more likely beneficiaries of Fergie going than us.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Liverpool have a shown a massive improvement as well and it's down to them having stability. There have been some shock results at City and Chelsea this season and I can't imagine them starting off this slowly this time next year. The points tally doesn't tell the full story because it doesn't say whose played who and where they dropped points.

Mourinho even ruled out Chelsea's title hopes for this season. That's a mind game he's playing but he even realises they're not the title favorites by default. Again, if you're saying those teams are too strong for us now with all these blips, it won't be much better for us next season when they have their teams assembled.

Letters post essentially drives a coach and horses through your argument.

[Power n Glory]

Not really. His answer regarding the Chelsea game proves my point. Why are they there for the taking on Monday?

[Özim]

Well one of Chelsea and Man City won't be winning the league this season so one of them has the threat of being sacked. Mourinho more likely now they can't win the COC.

I think ascribing this idea of stability as something that will Chelsea and Man City attain is a bit short-sighted. They can't both do it based on the track record of what happens in a trophyless season.

I don't think either will get sacked after one season to be honest, they'll both get a couple seasons at least.

[Özim]

Fine, but my point is we may also improve next season, our squad clearly needs another option up front, and neither City or Chelsea are weak this season.
They're both right up there and well in line with what they did last year when they both finished above us.
Those two clubs are the more likely beneficiaries of Fergie going than us.

Yes we may also improve but it's always hard to tell with us as it all depends on whether we follow up on our summer spend or just go back to bringing in those lesser players.

I'd be more sure the other two will improve than us, simply because you feel their managers won't hesitate to go our and spend money on top players if they want them.

[Letters]

Not really. His answer regarding the Chelsea game proves my point. Why are they there for the taking on Monday?

I answered that. Your argument is that our competitors are in transition but
a) I doubt they'd have seen us as their competitors when we haven't seriously challenged for years.
b) Out of the 3 teams who finished above us last season only one (ManYoo) are well below where they were last year. City are about the same, Chelsea are fairly well ahead of where they were at this time last year.

[Letters]

Yes we may also improve but it's always hard to tell with us as it all depends on whether we follow up on our summer spend or just go back to bringing in those lesser players.

I'd be more sure the other two will improve than us, simply because you feel their managers won't hesitate to go our and spend money on top players if they want them.

I agree although having a blank chequebook helps.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Not really. His answer regarding the Chelsea game proves my point. Why are they there for the taking on Monday?

Yes, really. The relative performances of the teams in that sample demonstrate the lack of correlation between performance and the transition you are referring to.

In Man City's case, the transition in my view is a plus for them as they clearly had a Manager that was toxic last season.

When you add Everton's performance relative to last season, your argument holds even less water.

As for Chelsea, our league positions relative to them are materially unchanged over the most recent two and a half seasons.