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[Mick]

....in truth we are probably about where Sven expected us to be at the start of the season. The start we had built up expectations maybe a little too much. Then again a win against the pie eaters on Saturday and we will be world beaters again...

I think that sums up the situation very well, certainly for me. I didn't start this season expecting UEFA Cup this season and CL next, and it wasn't what either Frank or Sven was talking about. CL/trophies in 3 years was the plan as I remember it. We're still on track.

Everton were better than us on Monday. Yes, we were poor, but credit also to them - Moyes is no fool, he's spent wisely and built a decent side - they don't concede many and they're better than us up front - he's had longer to build his squad than Sven has and it's no coincidence that they're where they are in the league. The surprise isn't that they're where they are, the surprise is that we are so close to them.

I'd have loved us to sustain our early season form, and I'll be delighted if we can snatch a European place this year, partly because it can't do us any harm in trying to attract players, and partly because I'd quite like a trip somewhere. But I won't be despondent if we don't manage that - I was hoping for a top half finish at the beginning of the season, and by Christmas thought we really ought to finish 8th or above. I won't be too dissatisfied with that, it still represents good progress and we have a young squad that I expect to see improved over the summer.

For the first time since we regained the Prem I think we can look forward with some optimism..

[wasp]

I agree Mick, a lot of good young players to buid with. Feck, though, it would be nice not to have to watch Vas on Saturday, wouldn't it.

[Paul]

To be honest I'm not overly pessimistic after Monday night.....................in truth we are probably about where Sven expected us to be at the start of the season.

Neither am I, and I'm sure you're right about where Sven thought we'd be, its probably better than I thought in August.

However my comments, which seemed to have niggled some, and negative as they may sound, are all about Monday night's game, we weren't good, and people can dress it up however they want, but neither were Everton, they were far better than us, but they still weren't that good, organised yes but good no. A colleague at work, who supports Ipswich, and looks out for Arsenal in the premiership was saying how poor he thought both teams looked, and he watches a lot of football, certainly more than I do.

Our recent results are not great, 11 points from 10 games is not much better than relegation form, yes it comes on the back off 33 points from 16 games, which was without doubt very good, and yes we've had some difficult games recently, but don't disguise the poor recent results, we've also had games that we should have won and haven't.

I'm also a long way from convinced that its all down to "missing Johnson", as I've seen claimed elsewhere, may be it is, but if it is then that's a worry, because we simply shouldn't be relying on a 19 year old in centre midfield. For me its much more simple than that, we're just not playing very well at the moment (united excepted), no matter what the team selection is.

[wasp]

Lets hope for some goals v Wigan. I'm hoping to see Corluka,Johnson, Elano and Castillofor Richards,Ireland, Vass and Petrov.Dont think we'll get a 442 unless we drop Hamman, which is a possibility.Then might see Benjani with Mpenza the invisible, or Caciedo(far from invisible)

[Mick]

FWIW, wasp, I seriously doubt we'll see 4-4-2, at least not until the second half if we're chasing the game, we're unlikely to see Castillo or Cacaido (however you spell it) except off the bench, we're definitely not going to see Petrov 'cos he's suspended.

And Vass is nailed on to start - I am convinced that he has a lovely missus who Sven appreciates, I can find no other explanation for his continuing inclusion in the starting line up.

Edit - sorry Dave, I misread your original post, thought it said you were hoping to see Petrov. Dunno why, you obviously weren't saying you wanted to see Vass.  What I said still holds, though.