Who cares how we win as long as we win?

[Red_Polo]

We didn't had the CL to worry about the last months of the 2005/06 season after Benfica knocked us out in the last 16.

And? We were still in a little thing called the FA Cup.

[Red_Polo]

I don't think the 51pts from the last 19 games is correct but check it out.

I take your point but I don't think he rested people for that many games or that he put our reserves out.

It'll have an impact but not as big as you're painting, plus how many of those games did we win anyhow.

I'll check on the stats at some point re the 51 points. Did a quick check on playing weakened teams at the end of the season though - last season we played weakened teams in the last three league games and got just 1 point. Two of those games were against relegation fodder.

[Kilteragh]

last season we played weakened teams in the last three league games and got just 1 point. Two of those games were against relegation fodder.

We were assured of a top 4 place and had a CL final coming up though.

[Konstro]

Here is how table looked on 31 of december 2005

http://soccer-stats.football365.com/2006/ENG/PR/todec.html

In last 20 games we got 52 points that season.

mancs did quite well that year too getting 49 out of 54 but they didn`t have to care about CL and FA cup .

If you care to remember last season mancs game vs Fulham, they were really, really awfull, Fulham could and should win quite easily but then 2 minutes before end ronaldo went on a run and scored winning goal and they never looked back. I believe that yesterdays game can have similar effect on us.

[dww]

I thought that in the last few seasons we had been top of the second half of the season table? I suspect the fact that variously all of the top 4 tend to give up at some point for various reasons skews all of these stats but I think we have a fair chance.

I know that the away games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United will be hard but unlike Marky I think that assuming we will loose them is overly pessimistic.

I think 7 points (assuming we win our game in hand) is a bridgable gap. It would be a huge achievement but to give up would be going against the traditions of our fine club.

[Red_Al_77]

85pts is within our reach.


2004-05 First 19 - 31pts Sec 19 27pts
2005-06 First 19 - 41pts Sec 19 41pts
2006-07 First 19 - 33pts Sec 19 35pts

[MindGuerrillas]

If you care to remember last season mancs game vs Fulham, they were really, really awfull, Fulham could and should win quite easily but then 2 minutes before end ronaldo went on a run and scored winning goal and they never looked back. I believe that yesterdays game can have similar effect on us.

I was thinking about that very game myself yesterday.

[Nicey]

Here is how table looked on 31 of december 2005

http://soccer-stats.football365.com/2006/ENG/PR/todec.html

In last 20 games we got 52 points that season.

mancs did quite well that year too getting 49 out of 54 but they didn`t have to care about CL and FA cup .

If you care to remember last season mancs game vs Fulham, they were really, really awfull, Fulham could and should win quite easily but then 2 minutes before end ronaldo went on a run and scored winning goal and they never looked back. I believe that yesterdays game can have similar effect on us.

Spot on

[Konstro]

My math let me down :whatever:

We got 42 points out of 60 of course and mancs 39 out of 54.

Anyway I had a look again and in january we only won one game, drew one and lost one. February wasn`t much better with "only" 10 points out of 18 but we were fantastic in march,april and may getting 26 out of 33 points. So there is plenty of room for improvement this year and title race is far from over IMO.

[StevieG08]

My math let me down :whatever:

We got 42 points out of 60 of course and mancs 39 out of 54.

Anyway I had a look again and in january we only won one game, drew one and lost one. February wasn`t much better with "only" 10 points out of 18 but we were fantastic in march,april and may getting 26 out of 33 points. So there is plenty of room for improvement this year and title race is far from over IMO.

I don't think anybody is saying the title race is over, however it's going to be a massive task to haul back those points. We've managed just 2 points against the other big teams at home and to reverse that trend away from home is asking a lot. I've not checked the facts but off hand i can't remember us winning at any of Stamford Bridge/Emirates or Old Toilet under Rafa and indeed are yet to beat the scum in the league. I want to believe and would love us to win the league but it's stacked against us now.

[The Glove]

According to SSN this time last year we had played 2 games more and were sitting proud in 6th.

[Red_Polo]

We were assured of a top 4 place and had a CL final coming up though.

Aye, well that's my point.

85pts is within our reach.


2004-05 First 19 - 31pts Sec 19 27pts
2005-06 First 19 - 41pts Sec 19 41pts
2006-07 First 19 - 33pts Sec 19 35pts

41, that sounds more like it. So if we won our game in hand and repeated that, we'd finish on 80. I'd like to think we're a more capable outfit now than back then, so it's definitely doable. So is going out with a whimper though, a lot of hard graft to be done game by game.

[StevieG08]

Aye, well that's my point.



41, that sounds more like it. So if we won our game in hand and repeated that, we'd finish on 80. I'd like to think we're a more capable outfit now than back then, so it's definitely doable. So is going out with a whimper though, a lot of hard graft to be done game by game.

I can't see 80 pts being enough though, the Mancs already have 45 pts and i cannot see them scoring 35 or less and having a worse goal differance than us in the second half of the league. I'm happy that we're closer this year but in reality we're still 1 or 2 top quality goalscorers away from winning the league. I would be happy just to beat the Mancs at Old Toilet this season, just to give them something to think about looking forward to next season.

[Red_Al_77]

I think we'll get close to 85pts. However in the last 4 seasons its needed nearly 90 and more to win it. Taking 5 or more pts from our 3 away games against Manure, Arse, and Chelsea is the reality of the situation.

[AFII]

To win the league this season isn't realistic but we can do it with a little bit of luck but at the same time a few injuries to key players could see us finish outside the top four.

It's a very thin line between success and fiasco.

Everyone that have seen us this season knows how important Stevie and Torres are for us.

With them we can beat every team in the world but without them we struggle to score any goals at all.

We need to sign more top quality attacking players so our success isn't depending on that Stevie and Torres stays fit the whole season because that isn't realistic.