Just One Trophy – Serial Bottlers

In view of the rows going on about the transfer deadline, not winning trophies, failure, going backwards, etc etc etc

Why have we won nothing ? Yet have competed in europe 7 times in the last decade, played in the Champtions League, had senior England players including the greatest goalscorer and centre forward of his generation for a whole decade.

During the last 13 years, we have finished 2nd twice, 3rd twice, 4th once, 5th once, 6th once, 7th once.

As other teams have won trophies finishing in these position [and lower], we have had the quality in the team.

Listed are big games that were arguably important, and upon which our destiny was decided, and we could have gone on to win the trophy in question.

1995-96.

Arsenal (a) League Cup QF. Lost 2-0. Played crap. Verdict = Bottled.

Man U (h) League. Lost 1-0. Played brilliantly and lost. Verdict = unlucky

Chelsea (h) FA Cup 3rd round. Lost on pens. Verdict = bottled

1996-97

Forest (h) FA Cup 4th Round. Lost 2-1. Played crap. Verdict = bottled

1997-98

Arsenal. FA Cup Final. Lost 2-0. Played crap. Verdict = bottled

1998-99

Blackburn (h) League Cup 4th Round. Weak Team. Lost on pens.

Man U. FA Cup Final. Lost 2-0. Played crap. Verdict = bottled

1999-00

Birmingham (a). League Cup 3rd. Lost 2-0. Played Crap, with a Weak Team

Roma. UEFA Cup QF. Played quite well. Lost to a good side.

Chelsea. FA Cup SF. Lost 2-1. Played well. Unlucky.

2000-01

Birmingham (a) League Cup 4th. Lost 2-1. Played crap, with a weak team.

Villa (a) FA Cup 3rd round. Lost 1-0. Played crap. Verdict = bottled

2001-02

Chelsea (a). League Cup QF. Lost 1-0. Played very well. Verdict = unlucky

Arsenal (a). FA Cup QF. Lost 3-0. Played crap. Verdict = bottled.

2002-03

Everton (h). League Cup 3rd. Lost on pens. Verdict = bottled

Wolves (a) FA Cup 3rd round. Lost 2-3. Verdict = bottled

2003-04

Partizan Belgrade (h) Champs League. Lost on pens. Verdict = bottled

West Brom (h) League Cup 3rd. Lost 2-1 in extra time. Crap. Verdict = bottled

Marseilles. UEFA Cup SF. Lost on agg. Crap in away game. Verdict = bottled.

2004-05

Chelsea (h) League Cup 4th. Lost in extra time. Verdict = bottled

Sporting Lisbon (a) UEFA Cup QF. Lost 4-1. Verdict = bottled

Man U. FA Cup SF. Lost 4-1. Played crap. Verdict = bottled.

2005-06

Wigan (a). League Cup. Lost 1-0. Played crap. Verdict = bottled

By my reckoning, all of the "bottled" were accompanied by crap performances against opposition on the day could have all been beaten if we had played at all.

And it adds up to a total of 17 bottled situations where we have lost an opportunity go on and win something possibly within our grasp or capability.

What a state of affairs.

2006-07

We are currently, at the time of writing, about to play Chelsea in the League Cup quarter final

We are in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

The FA Cup starts in January.

[We also need some league wins and fast …..)

With Michael Owen fit for the latter part of the season [crossed fingers], if Kieron Dyer stays fit and if
Craig Bellamy or someone of similar calibre is signed in January, maybe this is the year ?