Many supporters come on here talking about steady progress and how in a few years we will be challenging. But in todays football is a 3/5 year plan possible? We saw this season that Michael Carrick was tempted away by Man. Utd. and the chance of playing champions league football. He has now got a Premiership medal with possibly more to come, exactly the same situation that Judas Campbell found himself in. We need to achieve Champions league football next season to hold onto the very players we hope to build the team around. Who can deny that players of the class of King, Berbatov and Keane deserve to be playing champions league football. I know that we do not want to do a Leeds and go for broke but if champions league qualification is not achieved next season we could well be in a one step forward two steps back situation with our top players being picked off. Recent speculation surrounding Berbatov is worrying regardless of his comments and the clubs stance on the situation, but nowadays if a player does make his mind up to move there appears to be very little a club can do to stop him and have to just resign themselves to getting the best fee they can.
