"Respecting" Weaker Teams (Plus A Bit of Panto)

[Joe King]

Now whilst i do agree, you want to be winning every home game, especially the one against these 'weaker' sides, unfortuntaly it's not that simple this year as ourselves, United, Chelsea and Arsenal have found out this season.

United have dropped points against respectful sides such as ourselves, Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, Spurs, Villa and to lesser extent Newcastle at home.

Remember, those teams need to go to the Toilet in the second half of the season and with their home record, they are more than capable of going on a devastating winning streak.

In comparison, we have dropped points at home to Stoke, Fulham, West Ham and Hull. Teams, given any day in the week, United would and have already beaten.

[Elvoz]

What do you call respect Voz?

I am sure it was my rant yesterday that has irked you lol.

For me respecting the opposition means taking nothing for granted. Simple concept I know, but you seem to think we have a divine right to 3 points against so called lesser teams. I think and believe we have to earn those points and that it is now harder than ever to beat these types of teams.

That is all. Have a nice day Voz!!

and yeah i do think we should beat these teams -i expect us to win every game - if we were 4 points behind with a game left i would still fancy us for the league


maybe im a bad fan after all

[bobbyfallon]

And maybe our rivals keep slipping up because the so called "lesser" teams aren't as bad this year as people like to make out? Our result with West Ham was seen as poor, but now Chelsea have done the same thing and dropped points against them too so maybe West Ham aren't that rubbish?

I think that people are becoming too fixated on which sides we drop points against. At the end of the day dropped points are dropped points and it doesn't matter who they are dropped against. Yes Manure beat Hull, Stoke and West Ham at home and we didn't, but they also drew away at Chelsea and Everton and we won there. End result - we pick up more points than them.

I'm not being naive and the home form is a concern, but if we continue to be hard to beat and pick up points away, then we will be in the mix towards the end of the season which is what we all want. We've still got Torres to come back who can make a big difference in a tight game.

As for not showing opponents respect, well to me that is something I expected from classless ****s like Chelsea. We can show them respect and beat them in my opinion.

ye its fair to say your right they have improved. games with those in and around them should define their season not games against us. they will look at a point at anfield as a real bonus imo

[Elvoz]

What a load of cockcustard ...**** **** post

[Tee]

and yeah i do think we should beat these teams -i expect us to win every game - if we were 4 points behind with a game left i would still fancy us for the league


maybe im a bad fan after all

No, you are just desperate for the return to our true glory days that is all (as we all are mate!!).

4 points behind with a game left?!!! Hahahahaha.....

[PTP]

United have dropped points against respectful sides such as ourselves, Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, Spurs, Villa and to lesser extent Newcastle at home.

Remember, those teams need to go to the Toilet in the second half of the season and with their home record, they are more than capable of going on a devastating winning streak.

In comparison, we have dropped points at home to Stoke, Fulham, West Ham and Hull. Teams, given any day in the week, United would and have already beaten.

ah you see this is kinda of the point I was making - take Us Chelsea and Arsenal out of the equation - everyone must agree that we are the big four, the best teams etc - what i was saying is ok, Spurs Everton and Newcastle, on paper demand more respect than say Stoke Fulham and Hull, cause of their history, or financial support, or because they have a few more household names......but they all fall into the the catergory of the 12 teams seperated by only 9 points!!! so just because these lesser fancied teams might not have £12m players or random internationals etc doesn't automatically mean they are ****e and should be beaten comfortably. These lesser sides are good sides!! they may not have big history or big name players but they are set up now to really compete against the so called more respected sides.

I have been as frustrated as anyone this season, some of the games I have been to have been dreadful, and i really think we should have done more to try and beat some of these teams but every team in the prem now, doesn't go into any game thinking they are going to lose! they aren't going to just roll over and die - i know elvoz will come out with some commentt along the lines off "well i don't care about what united/chelsea/arsenal do against these teams we should be beating them" - cause thats bollocks you have to look at your closest rivals and compare yourselves to them otherwise we would never have any idea on how to compete/improve etc. -

I think what I am trying to say is - take away the big four, noone can argue that they are far superior - and take away west brom, who are the only 'poor' team in the prem.

That leaves you with 15 clubs in the prem - you need to forget about reputations etc etc cause what it comes down to is results and performances on the pitch and there is not much difference now between the weak teams like hull and stoke and these so called more respected teams like Newcastle and Spurs.

[Craig_H]

I love how a post becomes a '**** **** post' just because it offers a different view.

That's provocative IMO.

[Joe King]

ah you see this is kinda of the point I was making - take Us Chelsea and Arsenal out of the equation - everyone must agree that we are the big four, the best teams etc - what i was saying is ok, Spurs Everton and Newcastle, on paper demand more respect than say Stoke Fulham and Hull, cause of their history, or financial support, or because they have a few more household names......but they all fall into the the catergory of the 12 teams seperated by only 9 points!!! so just because these lesser fancied teams might not have £12m players or random internationals etc doesn't automatically mean they are ****e and should be beaten comfortably. These lesser sides are good sides!! they may not have big history or big name players but they are set up now to really compete against the so called more respected sides.

I have been as frustrated as anyone this season, some of the games I have been to have been dreadful, and i really think we should have done more to try and beat some of these teams but every team in the prem now, doesn't go into any game thinking they are going to lose! they aren't going to just roll over and die - i know elvoz will come out with some commentt along the lines off "well i don't care about what united/chelsea/arsenal do against these teams we should be beating them" - cause thats bollocks you have to look at your closest rivals and compare yourselves to them otherwise we would never have any idea on how to compete/improve etc. -

I think what I am trying to say is - take away the big four, noone can argue that they are far superior - and take away west brom, who are the only 'poor' team in the prem.

That leaves you with 15 clubs in the prem - you need to forget about reputations etc etc cause what it comes down to is results and performances on the pitch and there is not much difference now between the weak teams like hull and stoke and these so called more respected teams like Newcastle and Spurs.

These are teams who haven't really bought in new inforcements during the summer yet we were more than capable of beating these teams at a canter. So what has changed? The finger of blame has to be at the manager and the players. The initiative is on the players to force the issue especially at home. We should know how teams are going to set up so why not try something different? Why not use players who are unpredictable? Why not practise set pieces as it could be the only way of scoring against a stubborn defence?

I understand we should be glad we are in this position however there doesn't seem to be an improvement which has been somewhat guaranteed from the fans. Throughout the season so far, we have been far too inconsistent. You might say thats a credit to some of the teams. I personally think, the players get too hyped up in their own imagination and slip up.

[Nicey]

I love how a post becomes a '**** **** post' just because it offers a different view.

That's provocative IMO.

Who asked for your opinion ...

Twas a bit harsh .. just could be arsed to type all the reasons why .. we should not respect any team in the Premiership .. It might be a different view but it is obviously a incorrect one

[Craig_H]

It's more to do with the context that you take 'respect' in.

Of course you respect every opposition. I dont think you should let them dictate how you play though, especially at home. Being over cautious against sides like Hull is an example of what voz was on about i think.

Of course you have to respect them, but we should respect our own ability and have faith in it, by recognising that we ARE comfortably better than teams like this and just go out and trust in our footballing ability, rather than worrying what might happen if we 'go for it'.

[Elvoz]

Who asked for you opinion ...

Twas a bit harsh .. just could be arsed to type all the reasons why .. we should not respect any team in the Premiership .. It might be a different view but it is obviously a incorrect one

for a young un i dont like your attitude

[anfieldreds]

It doesn't help when you have 45000 scousers on your back if you make something like a back pass. The players can't cope with the pressure of playing at home. It seems as if once we do score at home, its a relief which shouldn't be the case. Since the game against United, the fans are now expected to play and win in the same manner which isn't going to happen. It doesn't help when you don't have the variety in the box. The static Kuyt with the very fallible Benayoun are going to restrict your chances of winning tight games due to their inability to stretch the opposition and exploit areas of the opposing defence. Last season, we could win easy at home, there was a sense that if we don't get a goal in the first half, we will in the second. Now it seems, soon as the team doesn't get a goal within the first ten minutes, we won't win and that gets transported to the players who we already know are mentally weak as it is.

totally agree, i would like to see the fans getting behind the team abit more.

[Craig_H]

To be fair, the fans did get behind the team on Saturday.

People hear a few moans on the telly and jump to conclusions about what went on in the ground.

[Elvoz]

It's more to do with the context that you take 'respect' in.

Of course you respect every opposition. I dont think you should let them dictate how you play though, especially at home. Being over cautious against sides like Hull is an example of what voz was on about i think.

Of course you have to respect them, but we should respect our own ability and have faith in it, by recognising that we ARE comfortably better than teams like this and just go out and trust in our footballing ability, rather than worrying what might happen if we 'go for it'.

your one of the few on here outside of meself who speaks sense and actually understands things mate

[Elvoz]

totally agree, i would like to see the fans getting behind the team abit more.

true just asking do you go yourself or can you tell that off the tv ?