[quote author=keniget link=topic=39175.msg1064953#msg1064953 date=1267899513]
This does remind me of the Tevez threads in the summer to be honest. You can (and seemingly do) argue that there is a small chance of most things happening, but when the chances are as minute as they are in this case, I find it bizarre that anyone would go to such lengths to try and present a logical argument to support it happening.
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=39175.msg1064864#msg1064864 date=1267873073]
You must work to a different definition of "progressing rapidly" from mine then. Being consistently in the top four would have been a perfectly reasonable target, Hughes didn't achieve it and they're not pulling up trees under Mancini yet either.
[/quote]
I must do because your definition is insane. The Arabs have been in charge for only two summers and found themselves with a manager who, despite having a decent record in the transfer market, was probably a little out of his depth trying to break into the strongest and most consistent elite group in any league around the world.
When exactly did they have time to consistently finish in the top four, let alone make it a reasonable target? They gave Hughes a chance, binned him off in the second year and are now leading the race for 4th. What's more, in the last few years they have swapped luminaries of the game such as Kiki "Christmas Hamper" Musampa, S** Jihai and Paul Dickov for the likes of Tevez, Adebayor, Robinho and so forth.
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This is all over the place.
Firstly, Tevez. After he fell out with Ginsoak both he and Joorabchian made it clear that we were on the radar as a possible destination, and only when it became clear that we wouldn't have any transfer funds to speak of did the Citeh deal finally get completed. Besides, you then go on to talk about "when the chances are as minute as they are in this case", which indicates that you didn't actually think the chances were minute in the case of Tevez anyway.
Nor do things improve in the rest of your post. Being well aware of the fact that they haven't been there that long, thanks very much, I didn't say "finish" in the top four. I said "be" there, and I stand by that. When Abramovich moved in on Chelsea they gatecrashed the leading group in the Prem straight away and never looked like slipping back again. Being in the fourth place dogfight with three or four other teams, whether or not they happen to be currently leading it, is hardly equivalent.
