Who cares how we win as long as we win?

[Red_Polo]

All I'd say is that if our squad is better then they'd better prove it. Proof of the pudding and all that.

And if our squad is better on paper but not in fact, it will beg a few questions as to why an apparently improved squad delivers a worse points tally than two years ago.

But I take your point, we have more match winners in the team than we did then, and more depth in some areas.

Remarkably threadbare for a title winning side in others though in my view.

Our squad is still behind Man Utd's, that's for sure. I'd also agree with your points prediction, something around 78 is what I expect from us, our chances of winning this season are not great because we have to exceed expectations by a fair way now. Each game as it comes, a journey of thousand miles and all that...

[Roboklopp]

I think you are using the wrong metric. You should look at how close we are to the top IMO to gauge progress. That way you take the improvement of the mid table teams into account (Everton, Villa, Pompey, Man City, Blackburn are now much better teams than they were a few years ago and than the teams that occupied similar positions then).

That is exactly the point I was going to make & it is not just these teams that have improved, but also the others of the big 4 who we are competing with (although the Chavs appear to ahve regressed somewaht at least in the short term).

[alunevans]

I think rather than them kicking on they simply have an ability to maintain their level. Which normally leaves other title contenders in their wake. For example if they get 45 points again in the second half of the season they wont be caught.

This is the difference with us. We actually do kick on and get more points in the second half of the season. The question is 'are we close enough this year to make that count?'. I for one certainly hope so.

But we don't kick on. Look at the stats people have posted. We maintain our level too. But their level has just been better than our level.

[alunevans]

I think you are using the wrong metric. You should look at how close we are to the top IMO to gauge progress. That way you take the improvement of the mid table teams into account (Everton, Villa, Pompey, Man City, Blackburn are now much better teams than they were a few years ago and than the teams that occupied similar positions then).

Fair point that. What's the figures by that metric. I like the way you used metric by the way