Poll: Do You Believe We Can Win The League

[Shaggy]

'fraid not, although I expect us to at least put up some sort of challenge that goes beyond October.

[kop-al-74]

'fraid not, although I expect us to at least put up some sort of challenge that goes beyond October.

I think Rafa has realised that a good start is vital,and really believe he will come out with a different attitude this year,unlike last year at sheff utd.

He will play his strongest side from the start and i feel that he won't possibly rotate as much as he has done in the past.

Until now,the champions lge has always been his priority imo,and he has always concentrated more on that than the league.

He has nothing to prove in the champ lge now and i think that he will maybe swap priorities.

With the addition of a couple more players,we will have 2 quality players in each position,to challenge for both.

But i think he will concentrate more on the league.

[Frank Leroux]

Methinks we'll never win the league under Benitez....sorry.

Frank

[Johnny]

Rafa knows that with 26.5 splashed on Torres and more money to be spent that we have to be close to the title next May or he could be unemployed.I expect a whole different approach if we get quality wingers soon.

[Rigadon]

Realistic view - No. Come the end of the season, there'll be less of a gap between us and Spurs than between us and Utd.

Red tinted specs view - too damn right. We've got a far stronger squad this year than last, and our first eleven are much better than the Scum.

[TartanTerror]

Hopefully, Torres will be worth 6 "snatched" points (Thinking some of the sitters that were missed by Kuyt* and co. this year) and 2 new wingers could be worth maybe 3 points a piece (One game winning play from each next year). That would close roughly half the gap on the leaders. The rest of the team need to take their chances, along with new players bedding in and that could be worth another 5 - 10 points. Obviously these are best case scenarios, but based on the above I think we could challenge, but unlikely to win it next year.


* - not picking on Kuyt here, others also need to take their chances

[Marky]

'fraid not, although I expect us to at least put up some sort of challenge that goes beyond October.

Would make for a nice change wouldn't it?
We've had some horrible starts in the league in recent years, never really recovered from them.
A good/decent start is a must this time around.

[Craig_H]

Rafa knows that with 26.5 splashed on Torres and more money to be spent that we have to be close to the title next May or he could be unemployed.

That almost implies he's CHOSEN not to win the league so far...

[Morph]

That almost implies he's CHOSEN not to win the league so far...

No it doesn't what it implies is that when a manager has an outlay on player as big as that, he needs to justify his purchase as in getting closer to the title, or he might find himself out on his arse

[AFII]

Realistic, no but you never know.

It's a little early to be talking about that because we don't know which players Rafa will sign.

Lucas and Torres are two very good signings but we need more than that. We need another central defender, Hyppia isn't good enough to play week in week out if Agger or Carra gets a long term injury. Arbeloa can of course play there but he played **** the last two months of last season.

We also need at least a right winger. Pennant improved the last months last season but he would need to match his best performances week in week out and better them against the best teams.

We don't know how fit Kewell will be and that is probably a reason to why Rafa want to sign a winger that can play on both wings.

We need a high quality attacking playmaker to replace Garcia.

In short, we need one central defender, one winger that can play on both wings and one high quality attacking playmaker before we can win the league IMO.

[Morph]

I still don't think another defender is a requirement to win the league, sure you can't legislate for injuries, but Hyypia isn't exactly **** is he and while we he might need a rest from time to time he can perfectly cover Aggers position.

If we got an injury to Carra then that different situation, but i doubt any buy we made would be able to replace him comfortably, so therefore I think Hyypia is just fine, and if really needed we can bring in another in Jan.

The real requirement is a winger who is either two footed, or maybe 2. Don;t think we need a playmaker, don't think our formations alow for that type of player, not with the players we already have anyway

[vlahka]

Ofcourse we have a chance,whats the matter with you?

If everyone thought like you we may aswell just give the title to man utd or chelsea even before a ball is kicked.

Rafa has said he will bring wingers in and i believe him and in him.

Unless we sign 2 of the most awesome wingers in the next few weeks, there really is no chance of us catching them. Right now realisticly I think next season we can try for 3rd, maybe 2nd. Hopefully a couple trophies too like the FA cup. But winning the premiership? We dont have the needed quality. We'd have to hope the other teams do an Arsenal and just go into **** mode.

[Morph]

Unless we sign 2 of the most awesome wingers in the next few weeks, there really is no chance of us catching them. Right now realisticly I think next season we can try for 3rd, maybe 2nd. Hopefully a couple trophies too like the FA cup. But winning the premiership? We dont have the needed quality. We'd have to hope the other teams do an Arsenal and just go into **** mode.

what is we only sign 1 of the most awesome wingers? like the mancs had last season?

[Redspin]

No, lets withdraw from the premier league:whatever:

I think Utd are a shoe-in this year.

I think you mean shoo in

[vlahka]

what is we only sign 1 of the most awesome wingers? like the mancs had last season?

He would have to be as awesome as Ronaldo and come with a pre-programmed aimbot installed in his boot. Sadly finding 1 really good winger seems to be beyond us so far.