Early this season there was a poll held where over 80% of our fans here on VC were of the opinion that we would win the BPL title by seasons end. In the thread of the response to that poll I had said then that this was a pipe dream and that in fact the sole goal Antonio Conte should be consumed with should be securing a top 4 finish which I indicated then would be a hell of a battle for us because in my mind 3 of those 4 top spots are essentially already taken by the Manchester cartel teams and the gunners.
As the season has unfolded so far it is now apparent to me that I had been way over optimistic about a top 4 prospects. Much can be said back and forth regarding the debacle today against the gunners but that is not what really worries me. Whether we like it or not the gunners are one of the elite teams of the BPL..they will be in the top 4 when it is all said and done..we are no longer an elite team..that is the harsh truth and it is way oast time that we the fans and our board come to grips with reality. What should concern the blue nation faithful is that whenever we have faced any side with half decent ability we concede ..generally first and that if Costa cannot save us with a timely goal we essentially are up a creek with no boat nor paddle.
I am seeing much clearer now. My earlier expectations for the season as much as I tried to be objective and realism based were still heavily tinged in fan boy hopefulness. Others may continue to be deluded but the reality is our side as presently constituted will be hard pressed to get into one of the europa league spots. The top 4..i am sorry folks that is not happening this year and Conte is not to blame. We can quibble about his substitutions in games and starting line ups but as one of my VC colleagues once said, one cannot be expected to have a chance of survival in a gunfight when you are thrust into the fray armed with blunt daggers which is the mess Conte finds himself.
The question we fans need to start asking is this; When May comes and we are once again out of the top 4 sides in the BPL rankings who will be the sacrificial lamb? This is an important question to ask because it appears for all intents that our board at the start of the season were also in the delusional state of mind that many of us fans were in when they declared Conte was expected to challenge for the BPL title. That is an absolute joke but what happens when the joke is up? who will Roman hold responsible? Who will have to fall on their sword?
With our past history and some of the comments I have seen recently on the threads here this does not bode well for Conte. I know what I feel but that does not count for much. What do others feel? Does Conte have a chance of surviving if we don`t secure a top 4 position because with the resources he has been given to achieve that will quite simply be miraculous. Any one who has watched teams like Liverpool, Spurs,and Everton play thus far knows that these are the teams who will be fighting for that last top 4 position.
Let me clear; obviously we must fight on and hope for the best but we need to begin asking now with the future ahead of 2 years plus building the expansion of Stamford bridge and the harsh reality that we are no longer an elite club in terms of financial resources nor ability to recruit top draw talent, if and when we fall short of a top 4 finish can we afford to do the “sack the manager” merry go round again? If Roman decides to sack Conte who is out there for him to hire? When will the board be finally held accountable for the state of our team ? When will Roman finally decide to change his modus operandi and actually constitute a board along the lines that serious top tier clubs like Bayern, FC Barcelona, Real, PSG and City have done?
These are the questions on my mind for the future of our club because I feel that what Roman does this coming summer will have major implications for our club for years to come. Your views and thoughts will be much appreciated. Let us hope and pray that wisdom rather than blind sentiment and syncophantic loyalty to staff who have not earned that luxury by their actual job performance will finally prevail. KTBFFH!!!
Share this article
