Search the Community

A chant that is often hurled in our direction by opposition fans but is there an element of truth in their it? We are still a big club with a huge global fan base and a rich history and tradition, but are we still a footballing super power and if not will we ever be again? Yesterday obysmal performance and result on the pitch we are an average side who face an uphill battle to qualify for the Champions League or maybe even Europa League this season. It has often been said that there are several divisions within the premiership but are we now in the same division as the likes of Everton and Aston Villa both on and off the pitch rather than at the top table competing against the likes of Manchester United Manchester City and Chelsea? We no longer pay the biggest fees or salaries for players we have not won the league since 1990 or a major trophy since 2006 we do not have a rich benefactor bankrolling us and we only have a 45000 seater stadium with 30 corporate boxes generating a very modest matchday revenue Manchester United look odds on to win a 20th league title and generated £331.3m in the year ending June 2011 so how do we compete? This is not a reaction following 2 defeats on this spin. I have long had these concerns. I genuinely feel that we are in real danger of being left behind and stuck in a faked. The bar has been raised and sadly we are so far behind both on and off the field. If we don’t qualify for the CL this season and spend big again next summer on proven talent and look to build a new 60000+ seater stadium in the next 5 years then I fail to see how we can compete.