We Will Win The Premier League

[BrooklynRed]

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.

Exactly-- this is a plus and minus situation... We need more points and hope our competitors score fewer and we pass them somewhere in the middle. With each of the three main challengers possibly losing some major goal scorers (Ronaldo, Lampard, Adebayor, etc) I think they are more likely to drop points, just as we were when we lost important players.

What drives me MAD about this issue is that we don't need to do so much better against the big three; Better would be nice (dominant would be great), but we can do MUCH better against the smaller clubs;

0-0 and 2-2 to Birmingham (ugh)
1-1 Wigan
1-1 Boro
3-1 loss to Reading

That's 11 points right there... I can handle draws with Blackburn, Spurs, fine, things happen, but these (OK, Boro are competitive) are the stuff that drives me insane. Yes every dog has his day, but last year, that day was always against us. We can do so much better.

[einar]

[QUOTE=BrooklynRed;1097318]Exactly-- this is a plus and minus situation... We need more points and hope our competitors score fewer and we pass them somewhere in the middle. With each of the three main challengers possibly losing some major goal scorers (Ronaldo, Lampard, Adebayor, etc) I think they are more likely to drop points, just as we were when we lost important players.

What drives me MAD about this issue is that we don't need to do so much better against the big three; Better would be nice (dominant would be great), but we can do MUCH better against the smaller clubs;

0-0 and 2-2 to Birmingham (ugh)
1-1 Wigan
1-1 Boro
3-1 loss to Reading

That's 11 points right there... I can handle draws with Blackburn, Spurs, fine, things happen, but these (OK, Boro are competitive) are the stuff that drives me insane. Yes every dog as his day, but last year, that day was always against us. We can do so much better.[/QUOTE]

[Pacman]

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.

And you can see all this happening despite the fact that we haven't really signed or sold anyone yet?

11 points is turning a 1 point from Brum at home into 3, Villa into 3 points, Wigan into 3 points and beating Reading away.

It's not massive IMO.

[Red Chilli]

And you can see all this happening despite the fact that we haven't really signed or sold anyone yet?

11 points is turning a 1 point from Brum at home into 3, Villa into 3 points, Wigan into 3 points and beating Reading away.

It's not massive IMO.

We'll agree to differ

[Sean_LFC_1892]

Exactly-- this is a plus and minus situation... We need more points and hope our competitors score fewer and we pass them somewhere in the middle. With each of the three main challengers possibly losing some major goal scorers (Ronaldo, Lampard, Adebayor, etc) I think they are more likely to drop points, just as we were when we lost important players.

What drives me MAD about this issue is that we don't need to do so much better against the big three; Better would be nice (dominant would be great), but we can do MUCH better against the smaller clubs;

0-0 and 2-2 to Birmingham (ugh)
1-1 Wigan
1-1 Boro
3-1 loss to Reading

That's 11 points right there... I can handle draws with Blackburn, Spurs, fine, things happen, but these (OK, Boro are competitive) are the stuff that drives me insane. Yes every dog has his day, but last year, that day was always against us. We can do so much better.

Well demonstrated and completely correct.

The other top three had similar slips thoughout the year (i.e. citeh doing the double over the scum) but expect that to change this year, in which case it needs to change for us also to avoid the gap widening..!!

[Pacman]

We'll agree to differ

[Joe King]

We can win the Premiership if we have the belief, mentality and the confidence to become winners. Its not about winning against Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal. Yes, it gets us closer however its the niggling points against teams we simply should have beaten. At home, we should be rampaging against teams and make Anfield a very volatile and difficult stadium to go to. We need to steamroll teams to an extent that our next opponents have already lost the game in their heads. I know thats easier said than done but our early fixtures don't seem to be the most difficult- they can be difficult if we get complacent and achieve 'good enough'.

[Red Chilli]

We can win the Premiership if we have the belief, mentality and the confidence to become winners. Its not about winning against Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal. Yes, it gets us closer however its the niggling points against teams we simply should have beaten. At home, we should be rampaging against teams and make Anfield a very volatile and difficult stadium to go to. We need to steamroll teams to an extent that our next opponents have already lost the game in their heads. I know thats easier said than done but our early fixtures don't seem to be the most difficult- they can be difficult if we get complacent and achieve 'good enough'.

You missed out consistency although you implied it.

One of our biggest problems is we are too inconsistent.

Some would say the cause is Rafa's tinkering, but that's a different thread. I think if we continue with the tinkering, we will never be consistent enough to win the league because we will always drop points to lesser teams

[Pacman]

You missed out consistency although you implied it.

One of our biggest problems is we are too inconsistent.

Some would say the cause is Rafa's tinkering, but that's a different thread. I think if we continue with the tinkering, we will never be consistent enough to win the league because we will always drop points to lesser teams

I would agree.

I do think that he tinkered a lot less in the 2nd half of the season hopefully he'll do the same next season.

Only time will tell.

[Joe King]

You missed out consistency although you implied it.

One of our biggest problems is we are too inconsistent.

Some would say the cause is Rafa's tinkering, but that's a different thread. I think if we continue with the tinkering, we will never be consistent enough to win the league because we will always drop points to lesser teams

I agree to some extent that we can be inconsistent. We play superbly in the Champions League yet in the league, the performance levels don't seem to be up to scratch. Whether thats fitness or mentality, well we don't know, only Rafa and the staff know.

In regards to rotation, both Chelsea and United constantly rotate players however they have the strength and depth in the squad unlike ourselves and Rafa knows this too. For me, as long as Rafa rotates outside of the spine (Reina, Carra, Skrtel, Mascher, Gerrard, Torres) we should be fine against so called weaker opposition. Rafa is someone who looks at the bigger picture, the long term future of his players. If Rafa picks the right matches to rotate players according to the oppositions strengths and weaknesses, I certainly don't see why Rafa shouldn't rotate.

[Woobus]

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.

Yup it is a joke that our players have confidence, if only they all had the same negative believe as some on here.
What is wrong with a player having believe, surely that is a good sign and not one to have an issue over?

[Red Chilli]

Yup it is a joke that our players have confidence, if only they all had the same negative believe as some on here.
What is wrong with a player having believe, surely that is a good sign and not one to have an issue over?

Gives the fans unrealistic expectations and heaps pressure on the manager

[rage]

I agree to some extent that we can be inconsistent. We play superbly in the Champions League yet in the league, the performance levels don't seem to be up to scratch. Whether thats fitness or mentality, well we don't know, only Rafa and the staff know.

In regards to rotation, both Chelsea and United constantly rotate players however they have the strength and depth in the squad unlike ourselves and Rafa knows this too. For me, as long as Rafa rotates outside of the spine (Reina, Carra, Skrtel, Mascher, Gerrard, Torres) we should be fine against so called weaker opposition. Rafa is someone who looks at the bigger picture, the long term future of his players. If Rafa picks the right matches to rotate players according to the oppositions strengths and weaknesses, I certainly don't see why Rafa shouldn't rotate.

we played **** in the champions league whilst rafa was player and formation rotation happy. It only got better when practically the same 11 players played in the same positions.

rafa just needs to stop rotating early in the season, build up consistency and confidence early on and then rotate after xmas. **** this saving them for the end of the season bollocks when we have nothing left to play for. how about just rest them when they're actually tired mid season? If the Spanish eric morcombe hasn't learnt this after 4 years he never will.

[Woobus]

Gives the fans unrealistic expectations and heaps pressure on the manager

So you would prefer him to come out and say I think we will finish 4th if lucky? So many people complain that we dont have a winning mentality anymore, as soon as one of our players get one fans shoot him down.
I am sure he really does believe we will win it, he has a winning mentality and believe in the other players round him. He is probably thinking of how great we were at the start and end of last season.
I cant see how it will add pressure on Rafa and I am sure Rafa is delighted to hear him being so positive. I am shocked and disgusted how comments like this have been used as a stick to beat him with. Fingers crossed all the team has the same believe, if only it would rub of on some fans.

[Johnny]

So you would prefer him to come out and say I think we will finish 4th if lucky? So many people complain that we dont have a winning mentality anymore, as soon as one of our players get one fans shoot him down.
I am sure he really does believe we will win it, he has a winning mentality and believe in the other players round him. He is probably thinking of how great we were at the start and end of last season.
I cant see how it will add pressure on Rafa and I am sure Rafa is delighted to hear him being so positive. I am shocked and disgusted how comments like this have been used as a stick to beat him with. Fingers crossed all the team has the same believe, if only it would rub of on some fans.