Read the daily mirror today and tell me you`d

[Dhav]

Unfortunately, only Chelsea are really close enough to catch them, and they are imploding.

[Sir Bob]

I think there is a very real danger of them overhauling our record in the next 5 years or so. Even if the DIC money does come through, that doesn't mean we'll automatically win the league. United, Chelsea & Arsenal will always be a threat & all will win their share of titles over the next decade. We must match their ability on the pitch or the Mancs will pass our record.

[breffniboy]

I can see the *******s doing it as well to be honest. Every manager we've had from Evans on, we've all been chanting 'next year, next year' like a mantra, but it never quite happens. This year was supposed to be our 'next year', remember, and we've already tossed it away with our piss-poor start.

The only small crumb of encouragement I can cling to is the fact that traditionally, United start slow in the league and finish like a train. In recent years they've found that Chavs were too far ahead for it to mean anything. You'd hope that starting like a train this year means they might taper off towards the end this year, especially with injuries and a few veterans in key positions, which might leave some team or other, maybe us, in a good position to strike. But all that's dependent on us not dropping points between now and then and if I honestly ask myself the question, who is more likely to drop points in a ****ty midweek away game at West Ham or Fulham, us or United, I'm afraid I'd have to say us...

I used to taunt scum fans that at least it wouldn't take us 25 or 26 years to win another league but I'm looking over my shoulder a wee bit on that one now.

That said though, ratface uglybloke Neville will hopefully be retired before United ever potentially reach 18 titles. I hope he gets sent off at Anfield or something and gifts us a last minute peno to win the game...

[El Jefecito]

I hope he gets sent off at Anfield or something and gifts us a last minute peno to win the game...

We won't need a last minute penalty

[Red_Polo]

But our team DID have that start. So there's no evidence that our current squad is capable of winning it. None whatsoever.

Capable - i.e. possessing the capacity to do something, not necessarily favourites. Over the last 18 months we have put together sustained spells of championship winning form. Of course we are capable.

[Craig_H]

Sustained spells of championship winning form. Isnt that was sides down the bottom do when they string results together towards the end to stay up?

I'm not talking about these spells, i'm talking about finshing with the most point. Where's the evidence that we've been capable of that?

[disco]

Sustained spells of championship winning form. Isnt that was sides down the bottom do when they string results together towards the end to stay up?

No!

I'm not talking about these spells, i'm talking about finshing with the most point. Where's the evidence that we've been capable of that? Er, the whole winning 10 games in a row etc. etc. thing

DJS - your definition of 'capable' is simply bollocks. I can accept an opinion of 'you don't think we'll win it this year', but to claim we're not capable is laughable

[Guest]

DJS - your definition of 'capable' is simply bollocks. I can accept an opinion of 'you don't think we'll win it this year', but to claim we're not capable is laughable

Am trying to tell him that for the best part of two weeks. He's just so stubborn.

[disco]

Am trying to tell him that for the best part of two weeks. He's just so stubborn.

Possibly..... but I should go to bed

[Red_Polo]

Sustained spells of championship winning form. Isnt that was sides down the bottom do when they string results together towards the end to stay up?

I'm not talking about these spells, i'm talking about finshing with the most point. Where's the evidence that we've been capable of that?

No it isn't at all similar to that, no. I said 'sustained' for a reason, I'm talking about for much longer periods than that, you could span it out to close to a whole season even. In the last year or so quite a number of months we have been the league's form team, and only a moron would say we're not capable of doing better at the start of the season. That is evidence enough for me that we are capable of winning the league, not favourites for it, just capable of it.

[Craig_H]

Hang on a minute though mate - what we've done in those seasons hasnt been enough to win the league, has it?

We havent actually PROVEN that we're capable of winning the league for 17 years, because, for all those great runs we've produced, it hasnt been enough to see us with the highest points tally.

So, again - where is the proof that we're capable of WINNING THE LEAGUE?

Not that we can go on sustained runs of form that leave us 2nd or 3rd. But proof that we capable CHAMPIONS.

I'm not just being stubborn mate, i'm presenting the facts. Nobody can provide a factual argument to it, because there hasnt been one, yet, since 1990.

[Guest]

Hang on a minute though mate - what we've done in those seasons hasnt been enough to win the league, has it?

We havent actually PROVEN that we're capable of winning the league for 17 years, because, for all those great runs we've produced, it hasnt been enough to see us with the highest points tally.

So, again - where is the proof that we're capable of WINNING THE LEAGUE?

Not that we can go on sustained runs of form that leave us 2nd or 3rd. But proof that we capable CHAMPIONS.

I'm not just being stubborn mate, i'm presenting the facts. Nobody can provide a factual argument to it, because there hasnt been one, yet, since 1990.

No we haven't done it since 1990 but since last year, with Rafa in charge, we have been showing championship winning form consistently albeit with a poor start to the season.

Last season, after the 1st 8 league games when we were poor, we have been the best team in the league points wise. We've actually won 24 out of 29 matches, if that isn't championship winning form then what is ?

We've been undermined by our poor start to the season each time, but we're still closer than last year this time of the year, and if we can keep up that form (we've done it till the last game last season), we could still do it.

You have to take into consideration that winning league titles involves a fair bit of chance going our way, and certainly we've battered teams without getting our fair dues, and for matches against Blackburn, Portsmouth, Chelsea , Boro it was certainly that. That's 12 points lost.

There is a fine line in these things and as long as you understand that, you'll have a more balanced view on that instead of sticking to your guns and seeing it only in one perspective.

This team is certainly capable of winning it and don't forget we've been without Kewell (for the entire season) and momo, not forgetting Garcia who won't be there for the remainder of it. That counts a lot if you take into consideration that United have had an injury free season, with their best players (such as Scholes and Saha) not having a proper world cup under their belts.

[Guest]

And another point. Slagging off players such as Pennant, Aurelio and Gonzalez as not good enough isn't rational at all. You'd have to accept that these guys have come into a new league and for Pennant has had to digest a radical step up from his previous club.

Pennant was considered one the best players of his generation as a 15 year old when Wenger was chasing him. He has failed to show that promise since then I agree, but the talent is certainly there. He's steadily improved since the start of the season and I'm convinced that he'll be a success in the years to come. He still hasn't shown what he is truely capable of.

[Craig_H]

How is having an opinion equivalent to 'slagging them off' ?

In terms of winning the league, the final step will come down to the mentality. Firstly, whether the players actually believe deep down that they can do it. Secondly, the mentality of the manager, who, with 15 minutes to go in an away game at places like Boro, Pompey, Blackburn etc, must decide that the 1-1 isnt good enough, and have the balls to push on and get the winner. Even if we havent played well.

Title winning sides do that, they turn 0 points into 1 (or even 3, as Chelsea have done) and 1 point into 3, when the odds (and often time) are stacked against them.

This mentality issue is the most crucial of all.

[Joe Le Toff]

This issue is reaching the crucial point now, and if they win it this year, which they sadly will, it'll be a difference of two. Panic stations wouldnt be an exaggeration, BUT the Dubai people have come along just at the right time.

In order to be winning the league title again, and on a regular basis, we need to be in a position to look at young, talented classy players and say "How much? £10m? No problem. £15m for him? Sure thing"

I tell you what, even without billionaire backers, we're not a million miles off.

If we had £40m to spend in the summer, an example of where it should be going would be something like £15m on Lennon, £10m on Bale (if still available) and £15m on an out and out goalscorer - Klose perhaps?

We normally have £25m or £30m to spend a summer, so it's not the pipe dream many think. But we spend it on 10 £3m average players. If we can get out of this mindset, we could easily be back on track.

But it's about the mentality. You have to think BIG and have the balls to act big. They have been doing so for years. We dont.

Couldnt agree more with that.