League Title

[red g]

i also think that scum send out the same team week in, week out....with the same idea attack, attack and dont worry about the opposition.

we have over analyze our opponents and look for there weaknesses instead of playing to our strengths this may change this year as Rafa's confidence in our team grows.

[Flake]

who will sell more posters?

flake

[puredale]

4231 will not win us the league - just checkout what total points you need to win since Chelsea came on the scene (the trend upwards was already happening before then) - playing two DMs with our full backs is too defensive. If Rafa insists on two non-scoring midfielder s (and Momo/Masher/Alonso all fall into this category) then we have to go with Gerrard on the right - and even then we won’t win enough games to be serious contenders. There is a limit to what you can achieve with such a defensive minded approach.

If Rafa can be brave enough to play only one DM against teams that ‘park the bus’ YossiB would be a good option at the top of the diamond. We also need a ball playing center back if Rafa persists with two DMs. I don’t think the tactics that won La Liga will work in the PL where 89 points is the lowest winning total in four years (90,95,91) compared with 82, 84, 77, 76*max. He needs to demonstrate he has knows what it takes to win in this country. He needs a good mentality.

If Rafa preservers with a flat back 4 and two non-scoring DMs then we will only win the league if it returns to two points for a win. If we play three at the back and wing backs in Johnny Rockets and Alves then Rafa can keep his 2 DMs as long as we have a striker who can convert his chances.

Rafa has referred to the ‘English’ way of winning at home and not losing away - giving at least a two points per game average - if you look at the PL the last three years the Points per game of the winners was at least 2.2 - The way we play at the moment almost guarantees us finishing 3rd or 4th - but it’s time to move on and take a few risks in order to get the extra (38*2 gives 76 points, 38*2.2 gives 83) 7 or eight points.

When Rafa won La Liga his record was :

Season Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P
2001-2002 1D 1 38 21 12 5 51 27 75
2003-2004 1D 1 38 23 8 7 71 27 77

In his second winning season the team scored 71 goals - 20 more than the previous victorious team while keeping the same standard defensively.

77 points will not win our league - the standard now is 85+

20 extra goals only yielded two more points - you’d expect more, but it was enough to win the league.
I look at that record and think that if you give him a Sofa when he asks for a Sofa we’ll be back on top sooner rather than later.

[paulcooper4]

yozzer will win us the title