If we don't finish 2nd this year.....

[alunevans]

then the very nearest likely league title will be in 2009/2010

there are exceptions but its very rare these days for a team outside of the last year's top 2 to win the league.

so if we want the league, our first step is to finish 2nd.

if we don't do that this year then forget the league as a realistic ambition until 2009/2010.

we're currently on target for a 72 point finish if the rest of the season pans out the same points average per game as the first 11 matches.

based on previous seasons we're on course for a 3rd or 4th finish.

just thought i'd give you the top 2 stat as i think its an important one. and if we're not gonna be top 2 this year, then its not realistic to talk of the title next year. we really need to be hitting 85 points.

[The Glove]

Nah mate, everyone seems to think the title is Arsenals and they finished 4th last year.

[rage]

2nd is nothing!!

[alunevans]

Nah mate, everyone seems to think the title is Arsenals and they finished 4th last year.

it happens but its rare. besides, united will win it. and if they do, the stat will hold.

[alunevans]

2nd is nothing!!

i know, that wasn't the point

[Joe King]

We will finish fourth on current form.

[alunevans]

We will finish fourth on current form.

it depends on the others. on current form we'll be either 3rd or 4th but crucially we won't be in the top 2 - again.

[The Glove]

it happens but its rare. besides, united will win it. and if they do, the stat will hold.

Dont say that. If its not us then its Arsenal.

[einar]

We are coming out of our dip in form so I think we could go as high as 82, even 85 if we get players in Jan that make a difference.

Could well be enough for second.

[rage]

i know, that wasn't the point

well then i really don't care if we finish second, 10th or one from relegation. As far as I'm concerned short of a miracle Rafa will be sacked in the summer.

Not really sure what your point is my friend but i'm well pissed off with that stupid spaniard.

[The Glove]

well then i really don't care if we finish second, 10th or one from relegation. As far as I'm concerned short of a miracle Rafa will be sacked in the summer.

Not really sure what your point is my friend but i'm well pissed off with that stupid spaniard.

So then, what does he have to do to win your seal of approval?

[alunevans]

We are coming out of our dip in form so I think we could go as high as 82, even 85 if we get players in Jan that make a difference.

Could well be enough for second.

what evidence suggests we're coming out of our dip in form? it doesn't look that way to me.

plus, given that we're currently on target for a higher points total than usual, its just as likely that this is our purple patch.

we don't look like we're coming out of a dip in form to me.

[alunevans]

well then i really don't care if we finish second, 10th or one from relegation. As far as I'm concerned short of a miracle Rafa will be sacked in the summer.

Not really sure what your point is my friend but i'm well pissed off with that stupid spaniard.

my point was that unless rafa can get us into the top 2 we can basically say goodbye to the title the year after. almost always anyhow according to the stats.

you don't need to look deeper than that. a cigar is sometimes just a cigar

[Joe King]

We are coming out of our dip in form so I think we could go as high as 82, even 85 if we get players in Jan that make a difference.

Could well be enough for second.

I'm sorry, we are talking about Liverpool not Pompey or something

[The Glove]

what evidence suggests we're coming out of our dip in form? it doesn't look that way to me.

plus, given that we're currently on target for a higher points total than usual, its just as likely that this is our purple patch.

we don't look like we're coming out of a dip in form to me.

Evidence is that we have progressed from playing well in the last 5 minutes to the last 20.