2016-17: 38 matches, 19 wins 5 draws 14 losses, 62 points. 72 goals scored 49 goals conceded. Rank 7th.
2015-16: 38 matches, 20 wins 7 draws 11 losses, 67 points. 50 goals scored 38 goals conceded. Rank 4th.
2014-15: 38 matches, 14 wins 13 draws 11 losses, 55 points. 59 goals scored 48 goals conceded. Rank 8th.
2013-14: 38 matches, 15 wins 15 draws 8 losses, 60 points. 62 goals scored 39 goals conceded. Rank 5th.
2012-13: 38 matches, 16 wins 6 draws 16 losses, 54 points. 55 goals scored 57 goals conceded. Rank 9th.
2011-12: 38 matches, 17 wins 7 draws 14 losses, 58 points. 58 goals scored 55 goals conceded. Rank 6th.
2010-11: 38 matches, 23 wins 7 draws 8 losses, 76 points. 68 goals scored 41 goals conceded. Rank 2nd.
2009-10: 38 matches, 24 wins 10 draws 4 losses, 82 points. 75 goals scored 34 goals conceded. Rank 1st.
2008-09: 38 matches, 25 wins 9 draws 4 losses, 84 points. 70 goals scored 32 goals conceded. Rank 1st.
2007-08: 38 matches, 25 wins 10 draws 3 losses, 85 points. 69 goals scored 26 goals conceded. Rank 1st.
2006-07: 38 matches, 30 wins 7 draws 1 loss, 97 points. 80 goals scored 34 goals conceded. Rank 1st.
2005-06: 38 matches, 23 wins 7 draws 8 losses, 76 points. 68 goals scored 30 goals conceded. Rank 1st.
2004-05: 38 matches, 18 wins 18 draws 2 losses, 72 points. 65 goals scored 37 goals conceded. Rank 3rd.
2017-18: 35 matches, 18 wins 12 draws 5 losses, 66 points. 58 goals scored 26 goals conceded. Rank 5th.
I compared the achievement of Spalletti this season with the last 13 seasons.
1. Look at the number of goals we used to concede since post-treble season. Even if we conceded 10 more goals in the next 3 games, we still have better achievement in the defence. We can argue that Skriniar has added much strength to it but is Skriniar-Miranda a better partnership than Lucio-Samuel? Maicon vs Cancelo? DDA vs Chivu?
Imo, like it or not, so far we have an evident that Spalletti has somehow managed to fix our defence.
2. The attacking force isn't good enough. Last season we had Icardi, Perisic, Candreva and Eder as our top 4 goalscorers. This season we barely have Icardi and Perisic to depend on. Could this be a compensation from making a better defence?
3. In the last 7 seasons, we have lost more than 10 matches except in 13-14 season under Grand Master Mazzarri. Spalletti has cut it down to half until now.
4. Spalletti has got 12 draws, 5 of them were against top 5 clubs in the league (2x Napoli, Juventus, Roma, Lazio). Followed by 4 of them against top 10 clubs (Fiorentina - last minute goal, Atalanta, AC Milan, Torino). The other 3 were Bologna, Crotone, SPAL (another last minute goal). Looking back at this, it is not a bad achievement actually.
5. Out of 5 losses, only 1 of them was against the top club which was the last minute turn over by Juventus, the other 4 were Sassuolo Udinese Genoa Torino. This shows how we are now able to play against better clubs, we do not simply get butchered. Two seasons ago, under Roberto Mancini, we lost 11 matches, 2x vs Sassuolo Fiorentina and Lazio, 1x vs Juventus Milan Napoli Torino Genoa.
6. If somehow Spalletti managed to gain 3 more wins and end the season with 75 points, bare in mind that 3 years ago it would be runner up. 5 years ago it would be 3rd place. This is just showing that Serie A is getting more competitive.
7. Obviously Spalletti is not the long term solution but I think the job done has been quite a significant improvement. Something we have not witnessed for many years. This season feels like 2004-05.
The question is whether we can build upon it.