Positives from the season so far.

[G_Man]

So getting back to the original point you challenged me on, how many points do you think we've deserved so far? I said 4.

[kurtangle01]

So getting back to the original point you challenged me on, how many points do you think we've deserved so far? I said 4.

I'd say we deserved 5. Only one more than you think we should have I know but there have been many factors that have led to that.

I think we deserved a draw at Sheffield United but we could and probably would have won had we not lost Riise and Carra so early on. Rafa would have had more options later in the game and I feel that had he been able to make changes as he wished then the outcome could have been different.

We deserved to beat West Ham.

The blue****e game was a write off due to the fact that Poll got key decisions wrong almost all of the time. Their first and second goals came directly from fouls that should have been given in our favour and we also had at least 1 clear penalty decision turned down.

Today we deserved a draw at the very least and had Stevie or one of the other lads taken the chances that they were presented with then we would have been talking about a different result. We must be more clinical. We also had a clear penalty turned down today. Lets not forget that the only reason they scored was from a piece of absolute brilliance from Drogba. I don't remember them creating as many chances as we did today and I bet not many teams go there and do as well as us.

So I'd say that 5 points is about right but had we taken at least 2 of our chanes today then it would've been 7 points.

[G_Man]

Well I think we were lucky to get a point to Sheff Utd as we clearly got a dodgy penalty decision, which cancels out today's dodgy no-penalty decision.

[kurtangle01]

Well I think we were lucky to get a point to Sheff Utd as we clearly got a dodgy penalty decision, which cancels out today's dodgy no-penalty decision.

What about the penalty decision last week as well then?

There were a few factors that led to us only getting a draw at Sheffield United IMHO.

[G_Man]

What about the penalty decision last week as well then?

Irrelevant whether we lose 3-0 or 3-1

[kurtangle01]

Irrelevant whether we lose 3-0 or 3-1

So you don't think at 2-0 down getting back to 2-1 with 20 odd minutes to go couldn't make a difference? I'm not saying it would have changed much but it would have put us back in with a shout with a decent amount of time left to try and get level.

[G_Man]

Whatever, we can argue "what if's" all week.

I think we've only deserved 4 points so far this season based on performances. I don't think that's a particularly controversial view point but if you do then fair enough.

[Morph]

Think we deserved a draw today, asside from that I think we've got what our performances deserved. Although the Sheff one was a bit unlucky considering the injuries we picked up, but we should have been able to go on and get the win. It was just unfortunate we played them first game, cos they've been complete **** since.

[kurtangle01]

Whatever, we can argue "what if's" all week.

I think we've only deserved 4 points so far this season based on performances. I don't think that's a particularly controversial view point but if you do then fair enough.

Nah I don't think it's controversial I just have a slightly differing opinion to yours. I think the way we have played has deserved a bit more in the way of points on the board.

Differing opinons are what makes sites like this good. It would be quite boring if we agreed on everything!

[calvoboy]

We might not have deserved a 3-0 defeat to Everton but I haven't heard from 1 red who thought we deserved a point from that game. We were thoroughly outplayed.
As for today, if you can't dominate the game against 10 men for over 35 minutes then you don't deserve anything.
That's my view.

Rubbish! We made two horrendous individual mistakes for their second and third goals. There was a possible foul for their first too but I won't clutch at straws. Other than that they had nothing. Absolutely nothing. We hit the post twice, should have had two penalties and had far more of the play. We didn't deserve to win it, because we didn't take any of our chances (same as today). But to say that we were outplayed is bollocks plain and simple.

[Redlife]

For some reason after seeing the game today and letting the result sink in, I'm more convinced than ever that we're going to win the league this season. It's a prayer and a hope, and also a feeling that things will swing in our favour.


I think the Arse showed that the Scum have been flattering to deceive. Their reputation will still steamroller some teams, but not all, and not enough to win the title. Their best players - Rooney aside - are past it (Scholes, Solksjaer, Giggs) and altogether those three will miss most of the season through injuries which their age won't permit them to shake off.


The current Arse team is still potential and will probably do well again in the CL. Getting rid of Cole and replacing him with the far superior Gallas was a great move, but they'll wilt when opposing teams steam in and knock their heads together, as happened last year.


It's odd to say it after losing today, but Jose has spent another ton of money, more than any other manager in the world, and somehow made his team weaker. The halfwit TV commentators today were saying that when Chavchenko settles in, he'll be dynamite. I'll be bold. Here it goes: he won't settle. He's 30 years old, he's spent the best years of his career playing in Italy, and this is the Premiership. It's faster, more physical, and he's too old to adapt. If he wanted to be a success in England he should have moved 3-4 years ago at a time dictated by his body, not his bank balance. He'll score some goals, yep, but he won't be twenty per cent of the world-beater Roman thought he was buying. Their midfield is full of hacks. The one world class player is Ballack, and whether he has the stomach to lead a new team to league victory is anyone's guess.


As for us, we started slowly last season too. We're going to go on one or two long unbeaten runs this season, so get ready. We're stronger in every department compared to last term. It's going to be a close one, but if we're there or thereabouts near the end, then we'll power on and win it. It's what Rafa's teams do.
I genuinely believe things will start to click together now. It was never going to be easy with so many new players in the team. It seems to take players a while to adapt to Rafa's system of play. The way we've started is only going to make it sweeter though.

[MrMichael]

Admire your optimism Redlife and I can see where you're coming from. It made me laugh when I heard someone say on the radio today that they can't see where the Chavs will drop any points this year... right, so they'll get 111 points, NOT! They've already been well beaten by Boro ffs.

Totally agree about Shevchenko too, I thought he was easily the worst forward on the pitch today, looked a good yard short of everything, and people can say he needs time to settle all they like but so far this season between him and Dirky (esp. for the cost difference) I know who I'd rather have. Don't get me wrong, he'll score quite a few here, but I can see him being litle better than Crespo was for them....

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

For some reason after seeing the game today and letting the result sink in, I'm more convinced than ever that we're going to win the league this season. It's a prayer and a hope, and also a feeling that things will swing in our favour.


I think the Arse showed that the Scum have been flattering to deceive. Their reputation will still steamroller some teams, but not all, and not enough to win the title. Their best players - Rooney aside - are past it (Scholes, Solksjaer, Giggs) and altogether those three will miss most of the season through injuries which their age won't permit them to shake off.


The current Arse team is still potential and will probably do well again in the CL. Getting rid of Cole and replacing him with the far superior Gallas was a great move, but they'll wilt when opposing teams steam in and knock their heads together, as happened last year.


It's odd to say it after losing today, but Jose has spent another ton of money, more than any other manager in the world, and somehow made his team weaker. The halfwit TV commentators today were saying that when Chavchenko settles in, he'll be dynamite. I'll be bold. Here it goes: he won't settle. He's 30 years old, he's spent the best years of his career playing in Italy, and this is the Premiership. It's faster, more physical, and he's too old to adapt. If he wanted to be a success in England he should have moved 3-4 years ago at a time dictated by his body, not his bank balance. He'll score some goals, yep, but he won't be twenty per cent of the world-beater Roman thought he was buying. Their midfield is full of hacks. The one world class player is Ballack, and whether he has the stomach to lead a new team to league victory is anyone's guess.


As for us, we started slowly last season too. We're going to go on one or two long unbeaten runs this season, so get ready. We're stronger in every department compared to last term. It's going to be a close one, but if we're there or thereabouts near the end, then we'll power on and win it. It's what Rafa's teams do.
I genuinely believe things will start to click together now. It was never going to be easy with so many new players in the team. It seems to take players a while to adapt to Rafa's system of play. The way we've started is only going to make it sweeter though.

I feel better already.

Positives; Daniel Agger, Kuyt looks a player, Crouch is scoring, Momo keeps improving.

Negatives; the new signings bar Kuyt (though Gonzalez has barely played yet to be fair), away results, finishing in front of goal.

[Redlife]

I am being optimistic. I think this is the very lowest point of our season, and from here things will get better and better.


For me the main concern today was Pennant. Some nice crossfield passes to Stevie G aside, he was really poor. He let them rattle him. If he doesn't feel the ref is giving him protection, he has to learn to put it aside and just go at them even harder. That's the way to get even. Not whine and bitch and give the ball away. He and Bellamy appeared to be playing in two completely different matches today.