Can we get third?

[Florida Blue]

Hahahahaha...Well in Slim...but I am sure that even you can find a bigger hypocrite than me...you're just not looking hard enough.

I am NOT bitching and moaning about lack of belief in this team Slim...I am bitching and moaning about the GROUNDLESS lack of belief in this team. I am bitching and moaning at the GROUNDLESS lack of hope that some fans have in our team, where for no reason, other than fear, they continually rubbish our efforts and our aspirations. Where without any rationality, they decide we CAN'T. Where they ALWAYS seem to pick the worst case scenario.
Given reasons for possible failure, I will respect them.

Forgetting the licking..I don't do licking...(not publically anyway). You must understand that the very core of our project, the seed that began this journey...was a dream, backed by imagination. When the Sheik bought this club, he 1st had to dream about where he could take it. It was from that dream that the planning came, the scheduling, the practical stuff that he planned for our future...but first was the dream. grounded by practicality, but a dream nevertheless.

We have had many years of failure and it seems to be deep rooted into the mentality of too many. One of the biggest critiques of the club over recent years has been lack of "winning mentality" that ability to believe in the possibility of success. It seemed hard wired from top to bottom. That has largely changed. New owners, administrators. management and players have been brought in to carry us on to the future...Sadly, though it was time to put the baggage down some time ago...too many fans still haven't woken up to the fact that the reasons for our failures of many years have gone.

We have so many reasons to believe, to enthuse, to dream. We sit 4th, with every chance of 3rd. We have reached our 1st major Cup Final for too many years...

I challenge you Slim...Give me reasons NOT to dream or enthuse...or even fuclin hope.

At your age with a heart condition, I would temper expecations. Maybe support Bury?

[john68]

Bury?....I've done enough shakin over the years watching city mate.

[Slim]

Hahahahaha...Well in Slim...but I am sure that even you can find a bigger hypocrite than me...you're just not looking hard enough.

I am NOT bitching and moaning about lack of belief in this team Slim...I am bitching and moaning about the GROUNDLESS lack of belief in this team. I am bitching and moaning at the GROUNDLESS lack of hope that some fans have in our team, where for no reason, other than fear, they continually rubbish our efforts and our aspirations. Where without any rationality, they decide we CAN'T. Where they ALWAYS seem to pick the worst case scenario.
Given reasons for possible failure, I will respect them.

Forgetting the licking..I don't do licking...(not publically anyway). You must understand that the very core of our project, the seed that began this journey...was a dream, backed by imagination. When the Sheik bought this club, he 1st had to dream about where he could take it. It was from that dream that the planning came, the scheduling, the practical stuff that he planned for our future...but first was the dream. grounded by practicality, but a dream nevertheless.

We have had many years of failure and it seems to be deep rooted into the mentality of too many. One of the biggest critiques of the club over recent years has been lack of "winning mentality" that ability to believe in the possibility of success. It seemed hard wired from top to bottom. That has largely changed. New owners, administrators. management and players have been brought in to carry us on to the future...Sadly, though it was time to put the baggage down some time ago...too many fans still haven't woken up to the fact that the reasons for our failures of many years have gone.

We have so many reasons to believe, to enthuse, to dream. We sit 4th, with every chance of 3rd. We have reached our 1st major Cup Final for too many years...

I challenge you Slim...Give me reasons NOT to dream or enthuse...or even fuclin hope.

A dream back by imagination? Now who's talking in abstracts?

The fact is, the grounded reality of expectation is not without merit. We aimed for 4th last season and fell short, we didn't win the tin pot and even this season we are out of the European tin pot without so much as a whimper. If people failed to believe they could achieve those goals, not only are they grounded in reality, they are right.

Now in this instance they are wondering if we can achieve 3rd, it even went without mentioning that we already have 4th(and we do, even City couldn't cock this up:) You know you love it.) so I fail to see an 'abandon all hope' pessimism. And if for the record, you have the ultimate belief in our team and daring to dream about lofty heights aren't you arguing we should be aiming for 1st? 14 points behind and 5 games in hand, still a mathematical possibility. Of course you aren't because it isn't realistic and while the OP's reality only stretches as far as 3rd, I think he is on the money with posing the question.

But being that in football we deal with possibilities all the time, anyone who say's we won't get 3rd is not only entitled to that opinion, they are odds on for being right.

@bigblue Two things, saying 'no it isn't' isn't something I will bother putting effort into explaining to you, john saw it, I saw it. That you didn't is your problem. And john is interesting and has great opinions, if I want a proper footballing discussion you don't reply to Rag_Hater, DoomMerchant or RiG, you get into it with someone who actually has something worthwhile reading.

[DoomMerchant]

Hahahahaha...Well in Slim...but I am sure that even you can find a bigger hypocrite than me...you're just not looking hard enough.

I am NOT bitching and moaning about lack of belief in this team Slim...I am bitching and moaning about the GROUNDLESS lack of belief in this team. I am bitching and moaning at the GROUNDLESS lack of hope that some fans have in our team, where for no reason, other than fear, they continually rubbish our efforts and our aspirations. Where without any rationality, they decide we CAN'T. Where they ALWAYS seem to pick the worst case scenario.
Given reasons for possible failure, I will respect them.

Forgetting the licking..I don't do licking...(not publically anyway). You must understand that the very core of our project, the seed that began this journey...was a dream, backed by imagination. When the Sheik bought this club, he 1st had to dream about where he could take it. It was from that dream that the planning came, the scheduling, the practical stuff that he planned for our future...but first was the dream. grounded by practicality, but a dream nevertheless.

We have had many years of failure and it seems to be deep rooted into the mentality of too many. One of the biggest critiques of the club over recent years has been lack of "winning mentality" that ability to believe in the possibility of success. It seemed hard wired from top to bottom. That has largely changed. New owners, administrators. management and players have been brought in to carry us on to the future...Sadly, though it was time to put the baggage down some time ago...too many fans still haven't woken up to the fact that the reasons for our failures of many years have gone.

We have so many reasons to believe, to enthuse, to dream. We sit 4th, with every chance of 3rd. We have reached our 1st major Cup Final for too many years...

I challenge you Slim...Give me reasons NOT to dream or enthuse...or even fuclin hope.

A dream back by imagination? Now who's talking in abstracts?

The fact is, the grounded reality of expectation is not without merit. We aimed for 4th last season and fell short, we didn't win the tin pot and even this season we are out of the European tin pot without so much as a whimper. If people failed to believe they could achieve those goals, not only are they grounded in reality, they are right.

Now in this instance they are wondering if we can achieve 3rd, it even went without mentioning that we already have 4th(and we do, even City couldn't cock this up:) You know you love it.) so I fail to see an 'abandon all hope' pessimism. And if for the record, you have the ultimate belief in our team and daring to dream about lofty heights aren't you arguing we should be aiming for 1st? 14 points behind and 5 games in hand, still a mathematical possibility. Of course you aren't because it isn't realistic and while the OP's reality only stretches as far as 3rd, I think he is on the money with posing the question.

But being that in football we deal with possibilities all the time, anyone who say's we won't get 3rd is not only entitled to that opinion, they are odds on for being right.

@bigblue Two things, saying 'no it isn't' isn't something I will bother putting effort into explaining to you, john saw it, I saw it. That you didn't is your problem. And john is interesting and has great opinions, if I want a proper footballing discussion you don't reply to Rag_Hater, DoomMerchant or RiG, you get into it with someone who actually has something worthwhile reading.

if you think you are having a seasoned, well-argued debate then yr sorely wrong, as is often the case regarding your opinion about your ability to argue a point.

And, yes, you hurt my feelings. I'm going to put a tampon in right now.

cheers

[john68]

Thank you for your reply Slim.

I find myself agreeing with you on many points...Dream/ imagination = abstracts, the grounded reality of expectation has merit and the fact that those who failed to believe we could achieve the goals, were both grounded in reality and indeed turned out to be correct.
My frustration is born out of their negative reasoning, or lack of valid reasoning. Should their conclusion be reached because, because, because...and those becauses be valid and reasonable, I fully respect their opinion. It is the validity or the reality of some of those becauses or the very lack of them that I am challenging. There are even those who choose failure rather than success, simply because they fear feeling disappointed. Perfectly reasonable for them as an emotional defence mechanism but surely not valid in the wider argument?...and I also understand that their are those who are simply naturally pessimistic in their outlook on life. Some of that falls within the "Abandon all hope" category.

Anyone who says we won't get 3rd is entitled to that opinion and may well turn out to be correct but anyone who out of hand says we CAN'T get 3rd, is very wrong, given the poor form of Arsenal, the quality of the teams thay have to meet and the pressure building on them by the media (as manifested by Wenger's recent behaviour).

Will we get 3rd...who knows?....Can we get 3rd...you bet we fuclin can!!!!

[lets all have a disco]

Can we get it? probably not,should we go for it? yes of course.

Are the rags in decline? No,I thought they were.

[john68]

@ bigblue,
Thank you for springing to my defence, it is acknowledged and appreciated mate...but unecessary.
Slim knows full well what he is doing. It isn't personal and even if it was, I wouldn't bite. Slim is an excellent poster on here, for whom I have a huge respect. His strategy is to explode a hand grenade into the middle of a debate. If you can gather the pieces and put them back together, he'll respect that. If you can only stand around looking at the mess, he won't. Not only that, You will know your idea was shit anyway.
The fact that he challenges your thinking and opinions and makes you look at your thoughts, is never a bad thing.

...and Doomie?...well, he just wants a cuddle and he'll be fine.

[DoomMerchant]

@ bigblue,
Thank you for springing to my defence, it is acknowledged and appreciated mate...but unecessary.
Slim knows full well what he is doing. It isn't personal and even if it was, I wouldn't bite. Slim is an excellent poster on here, for whom I have a huge respect. His strategy is to explode a hand grenade into the middle of a debate. If you can gather the pieces and put them back together, he'll respect that. If you can only stand around looking at the mess, he won't. Not only that, You will know your idea was shit anyway.
The fact that he challenges your thinking and opinions and makes you look at your thoughts, is never a bad thing.

...and Doomie?...well, he just wants a cuddle and he'll be fine.

your man-management skills are impeccable old man. just sayin.

cheers

[blues-clues]

If we win our game in hand over Arsenal we will be closer to them than we will to Spurs. If they lose to Salford at the weekend they will have no chance of winning the league and will have gone 4 games without a win. Their last three games include Stoke (reserves?) the week before the cup final, Villa at home and Fulham away A win and a draw from those three gives them 68 points so we would need 10 points from our last 5 league games!

Normally Arsenal would be favourites but they have hit a bad patch and maybe we could just scrape it with a win at Bolton on the last day of the season.

Fuck me, I am usually crap at that sort of thing and in fact it didn't work out the way I expected but it certainly worked out the way I hoped.

Pity I didn't have a bet on the Arse finishing on 68 points!

[Chinners]

Well in Seer

[blues-clues]

Its a bugger the season ended when it did!

Take a look at this baby

http://www.premierleague.com/page/FormGuide

[john68]

Yer just like my fuclin kids were...they never fuclin listened to me either.....:-)

[center]WE FUCLIN DID IT....YESSSSSSSS![/center]

[Manx Blue]

Yer just like my fuclin kids were...they never fuclin listened to me either.....:-)

[center]WE FUCLIN DID IT....YESSSSSSSS![/center]

Come On John....get these stats updated! I'm wanting to know whether this was our best ever league season or not!

[john68]

Yer just like my fuclin kids were...they never fuclin listened to me either.....:-)

[center]WE FUCLIN DID IT....YESSSSSSSS![/center]

Come On John....get these stats updated! I'm wanting to know whether this was our best ever league season or not!

Hahahahaha...I will sort all that stuff out at some point mate. can tell you rthat it wasn't though. But well up there with the best. I've been far to busy dancing round the house and celebrating Pal. Patience Mon Ami....all in good time.

Today is for dancing and singing...not analysing.

[Dronny]

Yer just like my fuclin kids were...they never fuclin listened to me either.....:-)

[center]WE FUCLIN DID IT....YESSSSSSSS![/center]

Come On John....get these stats updated! I'm wanting to know whether this was our best ever league season or not!

Hahahahaha...I will sort all that stuff out at some point mate. can tell you rthat it wasn't though. But well up there with the best. I've been far to busy dancing round the house and celebrating Pal. Patience Mon Ami....all in good time.

[highlight]Today is for dancing and singing...not analysing[/highlight].

Bit dangerous in the old Hansom's eh John?

[Chopper]

Said we would finish third at the start of the year when some folk were calling for his head. Second will be good enough for me next year.

[The Original Special One]

Said we would finish third at the start of the year when some folk were calling for his head. Second will be good enough for me next year.

not for me it won't!