We Will Win The Premier League

[Pacman]

No, because if Ronaldo leaves, SCUM have got the funds to buy suitable replacement matchwinners. We have 2 at best, Gerrard and Torres.

We did finish 3rd without Torres but we had other strikers then. Torres is our only viable striker once Crouch leaves.

What other strikers? Bellamy yes but he hardly set the world on fire. I'm sure Crouch wont be allowed to leave until we have replaced him with somone suitable.

Ronaldo is their main match winner however even if the didn't replace him then I'm sure the scum would challenge. Just look at Arsenal last season they sold Henry yet they improved from the previous season.

Anyway what's to say Torres stays injury free? Like I said I'm not saying we wont win it but I also wont write us off before we have even started buying players.

[The Erectile Banana]

No, because if Ronaldo leaves, SCUM have got the funds to buy suitable replacement matchwinners. We have 2 at best, Gerrard and Torres.

We did finish 3rd without Torres but we had other strikers then. Torres is our only viable striker once Crouch leaves.

Too right.

Even if the ladyboy of Lisbon does leave they'll still have 2/3 top class attacking players with the funds to bring in another 2/3.

Crouch's imminent departure is going to leave us very thin up front in the unfortunate event of a Torres injury.

[Red Chilli]

What other strikers? Bellamy yes but he hardly set the world on fire. I'm sure Crouch wont be allowed to leave until we have replaced him with somone suitable.

Ronaldo is their main match winner however even if the didn't replace him then I'm sure the scum would challenge. Just look at Arsenal last season they sold Henry yet they improved from the previous season.

Anyway what's to say Torres stays injury free? Like I said I'm not saying we wont win it but I also wont write us off before we have even started buying players.

There's a lot of "what if's" flying around in this thread which shows how far we have fallen.

We'll see in May then Pacman

[Red Chilli]

Final point, I've got no issue with Pacman's belief we can win it, but I do take issue with Torres apparently saying we "are" going to win it.
That's where I'm coming from, he's saying that despite all the evidence suggesting the contrary.

[Reece]

Final point, I've got no issue with Pacman's belief we can win it, but I do take issue with Torres apparently saying we "are" going to win it.
That's where I'm coming from, he's saying that despite all the evidence suggesting the contrary.

I'm sure it was said in the heat of the moment though. Doubt he had time after being asked the question to sit down and make a list of all the evidence, put it into "positive" and "negative" columns, and then come out with a reasonable conclusion.

[einar]

Final point, I've got no issue with Pacman's belief we can win it, but I do take issue with Torres apparently saying we "are" going to win it.
That's where I'm coming from, he's saying that despite all the evidence suggesting the contrary.

Really? Nothing positive in your opinion?

[Red Chilli]

Really? Nothing positive in your opinion?

Can't see substantial improvement to the tune of 12 points to be honest mate

[einar]

Can't see substantial improvement to the tune of 12 points to be honest mate

How about 16 goals conceded from set peaces last season to 6 the season before? 10 goals less conceded, how many points?

[Pacman]

How about 16 goals conceded from set peaces last season to 6 the season before? 10 goals less conceded, how many points?

These are the fine details Rafa looks at.

We scored more goals than ever last season yet we let in **** goals at **** times. We need to put that right if we can and still score the same amount of goals then that's 12 points IMO.

[Red Chilli]

We can all look at stats and say "oh we will improve on that" but even SCUM can use "what if's".
What if we concede 26 goals next season from set pieces? That would follow the trend.

I can't see it, 11 points is a hell of a gap, I'd be happy if we got it down to single figures next season rather than looking at challenging.
We haven't challenged for 18 years, Rafa has never challenged, what makes this season any more likely?

[Reece]

11 points is a hell of a gap

Had we beaten the scum home and away last season, we would have finished above them. Not that much of a gap then really when you look at it like that.

Yeah I know it's more "ifs" just saying like.

[Red Chilli]

Had we beaten the scum home and away last season, we would have finished above them. Not that much of a gap then really when you look at it like that.

Yeah I know it's more "ifs" just saying like.

And we would have finished behind Chavski, but if we had beaten them home and away we would have finished above them too.

Actually, if we had beaten everyone home and away last season we would have won the league. Not that much of a gap....oh.....wait...... reality check.....we were never in the game against the SCUM home or away, they outclassed us and i can't remember VdS having to make one save from us. You're not going to win many games if you don't manage a shot at goal

[Pacman]

We can all look at stats and say "oh we will improve on that" but even SCUM can use "what if's".
What if we concede 26 goals next season from set pieces? That would follow the trend.

I can't see it, 11 points is a hell of a gap, I'd be happy if we got it down to single figures next season rather than looking at challenging.
We haven't challenged for 18 years, Rafa has never challenged, what makes this season any more likely?

We can't worry what the scum or anyone else do because we can't control that. We can control what we do and we should be looking at improving in all areas. It's up to Rafa to buy what he thinks are the correct players to make that happen and also the existing players to improve on their own performances.

One area is not concede as many goals from set pieces as we did last season that may mean an extra 3 or 4 points. Another area is to turn those 1 nil defeats and narrow draws to the other top 4 teams into wins.

It's fine lines and 11 points is not a massive amount to make up.

[einar]

These are the fine details Rafa looks at.

We scored more goals than ever last season yet we let in **** goals at **** times. We need to put that right if we can and still score the same amount of goals then that's 12 points IMO.

That was my point.

[Red Chilli]

We can't worry what the scum or anyone else do because we can't control that. We can control what we do and we should be looking at improving in all areas. It's up to Rafa to buy what he thinks are the correct players to make that happen and also the existing players to improve on their own performances.

One area is not concede as many goals from set pieces as we did last season that may mean an extra 3 or 4 points. Another area is to turn those 1 nil defeats and narrow draws to the other top 4 teams into wins.

It's fine lines and 11 points is not a massive amount to make up.

I accept that it is a possibility that we can improve, in fact I'm certain that we will improve in some areas and deteriorate in other areas. I would be surprised to see Torres afforded so much space next season and if he gets 30 odd goals again it would be a minor miracle.
I accept we could win the league, of course we could, we could win every game 10-0, I just don't think it's very likely, in fact I'd be reasonably impressed if we don't finish further behind (points-wise) than last season.

all the teams will be striving to improve, not just us.

Also I believe 11 points is a huge gap, it's 4 games nearly. Strange how some people don't see 11 points as being that huge.