To be honest i think a title charge is above the team for a few years yet, my hopes are that we become more of a challenge for the top four and along the way win a trophy as its been too long since we have done that. IF we manage a pot or two then we can start thinking of a title challenge.
Exactly, this thread is full of "I'm not criticizing/being negative but I'm criticizing/being negative" views, e.g. lets look at his record if we take away the good results .. literally wtf?
Reality? City, Pool and Arsenal exist, have much more established squads/systems with more key players
- That means the league is a long way off, even if we improve by margins of +15 points, +30 GD (e.g. -15 GA, +20GF) we would have been tied for 3rd, that's a massive fudging improvement needed for 2 league spots
- To get 4th, basically we either need to match that improvement above and/or beat off Chelsea, United, Saudi Sportswashing Machine, Villa, Brighton for one fudging spot.
Fans are absolutely deluded, the game is rigged/fudged and the fact that we are here and have been here, (i.e. challenging for 4th for some 16 years now consistently) is actually an achievement, despite the addition of Chelsea, then City, then Saudi Sportswashing Machine as outright cheaters plus Villa, Brighton, West Ham all significantly spending (fudging Ipswich & Southampton have spent >100M this window)
So what has Ange achieved
- Football I actually want to watch, having watched the dross of Jose/Conte/Nuno, I get to see my team actually try to win every game, regardless of opponent, people brush over that but it's a big deal.
- Working with club, deadwood out, youth back on table, system that can provide continuity in the future
- 5th in first season (again, as context, Arteta had money and got 8th, 8th and 5th, so Ange matched Arteta's 3rd season result already)
What are my hopes/expectations?
- We go for a cup, no guarantees but I hope Ange is smart enough to know when those little prioritizations need be made, get that monkey off the club's back and it buys a lot of credit, kills a lot of stupid narrative (although it will quickly be "well, was it an important trophy" brick)
- 5th with outside shot at 4th (injuries and Solanke's settling in will have a huge part of it, plus how well others do)
- We continue to add to squad next season and push from there
And the response will be ... I have no ambition
Angry fans are angry because they have unrealistic expectations (based on what football looks like today, plus Spurs historically). In my opinion unless Spurs is sold (in which case you might get a Chelsea or United type ownership, so fudge knows what that gets you) or ENIC manages to get partial investors and leverages that for a significant (300M+) investment in the squad, it won't change from the above.