Now is The Time..

[SB]

Every point dropped now could cost us big time.

Can you hear my knees knocking?

[Matt]

His team did the talking on the pitch, like we should have done.

I missed yesterday's game and enjoyed Rafa's rant but I much prefer being top and going about our business quietly than getting involved in media wars.

Utd were excellent today and don't look like they'll drop (m)any points so long as they're in the mood so we need to up our game a bit. Hopefully with Torres back we'll be able to do that and hang on.

[Parm]

Every week is a big week from now on. I fear will draw too many tight matches.

5 games we drew when we could have had a go more. Its would be better to win 3 of them and lose 2 and have the 9 points in the bank.

fully agree with that, we need to just go for it every week, play with no fear,

[breffniboy]

We have failed to heed the warning signs since the start of the season. We've dropped points continually against hard working, well organised, average premiership sides and we knew full well what to expect at Stoke over the weekend it was hardly a secret, yet we went there and managed to make it look like their tactics were genuinely a surprise or something.

Contrast that with how we performed in 'big games' this year where we actually played a bit of football instead of that lumpen, uninspired ****e so mind-numbingly typical of Rafa's teams against lowly opposition.

Our top placing in the Prem has always looked vulnerable with only United's own patchy form keeping us there after our repeated impotent performances against weak sides, and we've all been guilty of "But hey look! We're still top!"

That was always built on a foundation of sand and ignoring the reality IMO, we are ALWAYS just 90 minutes away from a lifeless, dispiriting draw against a ****e team and I don't see this changing between now and the end of the year. We will drop points in backwater games, United will too but way less than us. The really depressing thing is not that this has been happening all season and we've failed to learn the lesson, it's that it has actually underminded Rafa's Liverpool from the word go and he still can't approach these games properly or get the lads up for it like the big matches.

I just really can't see us winning the title, there's always a ****ty 0-0 lurking with Rafa about. Sorry but that's undeniable and it'll cost us the best shot at the title in a generation.

[Craig_H]

We have failed to heed the warning signs since the start of the season. We've dropped points continually against hard working, well organised, average premiership sides and we knew full well what to expect at Stoke over the weekend it was hardly a secret, yet we went there and managed to make it look like their tactics were genuinely a surprise or something.

Contrast that with how we performed in 'big games' this year where we actually played a bit of football instead of that lumpen, uninspired ****e so mind-numbingly typical of Rafa's teams against lowly opposition.

Our top placing in the Prem has always looked vulnerable with only United's own patchy form keeping us there after our repeated impotent performances against weak sides, and we've all been guilty of "But hey look! We're still top!"

That was always built on a foundation of sand and ignoring the reality IMO, we are ALWAYS just 90 minutes away from a lifeless, dispiriting draw against a ****e team and I don't see this changing between now and the end of the year. We will drop points in backwater games, United will too but way less than us. The really depressing thing is not that this has been happening all season and we've failed to learn the lesson, it's that it has actually underminded Rafa's Liverpool from the word go and he still can't approach these games properly or get the lads up for it like the big matches.

I just really can't see us winning the title, there's always a ****ty 0-0 lurking with Rafa about. Sorry but that's undeniable and it'll cost us the best shot at the title in a generation.

Spot on unfortunately.

[red g]

We have failed to heed the warning signs since the start of the season. We've dropped points continually against hard working, well organised, average premiership sides and we knew full well what to expect at Stoke over the weekend it was hardly a secret, yet we went there and managed to make it look like their tactics were genuinely a surprise or something.

Contrast that with how we performed in 'big games' this year where we actually played a bit of football instead of that lumpen, uninspired ****e so mind-numbingly typical of Rafa's teams against lowly opposition.

Our top placing in the Prem has always looked vulnerable with only United's own patchy form keeping us there after our repeated impotent performances against weak sides, and we've all been guilty of "But hey look! We're still top!"

That was always built on a foundation of sand and ignoring the reality IMO, we are ALWAYS just 90 minutes away from a lifeless, dispiriting draw against a ****e team and I don't see this changing between now and the end of the year. We will drop points in backwater games, United will too but way less than us. The really depressing thing is not that this has been happening all season and we've failed to learn the lesson, it's that it has actually underminded Rafa's Liverpool from the word go and he still can't approach these games properly or get the lads up for it like the big matches.

I just really can't see us winning the title, there's always a ****ty 0-0 lurking with Rafa about. Sorry but that's undeniable and it'll cost us the best shot at the title in a generation.

Sorry, but is that the same best shot at the title that Rafa has given us?

[Craig_H]

Sorry, but is that the same best shot at the title that Rafa has given us?

What do you mean by 'best shot' ?

If we're in the mix come April and May, then yeah, fair enough, he'll have delivered a real challenge. If is the biggest two letter word in the world, though.

[red g]

What do you mean by 'best shot' ?

If we're in the mix come April and May, then yeah, fair enough, he'll have delivered a real challenge. If is the biggest two letter word in the world, though.

i mean that Rafa has got us in this position and deserves our support till we are not in the position we are in. We are in a cracking position sat at top of the table and sure some of Rafa's selections will lose us games and some will win us games, but of course they get overlooked for the negatives. If and when we are out of the title race come apr/amy much of the negativity will have been proven correct but until then i am firmly behind Rafa.

[Craig_H]

i mean that Rafa has got us in this position and deserves our support till we are not in the position we are in. We are in a cracking position sat at top of the table and sure some of Rafa's selections will lose us games and some will win us games, but of course they get overlooked for the negatives. If and when we are out of the title race come apr/amy much of the negativity will have been proven correct but until then i am firmly behind Rafa.

Does the inability to score against Stoke (twice), Fulham and West Ham (360 mins altogether without a goal) not prove that he has still got a bit to learn?

[Kenneth]

We have failed to heed the warning signs since the start of the season. We've dropped points continually against hard working, well organised, average premiership sides and we knew full well what to expect at Stoke over the weekend it was hardly a secret, yet we went there and managed to make it look like their tactics were genuinely a surprise or something.

Contrast that with how we performed in 'big games' this year where we actually played a bit of football instead of that lumpen, uninspired ****e so mind-numbingly typical of Rafa's teams against lowly opposition.

Our top placing in the Prem has always looked vulnerable with only United's own patchy form keeping us there after our repeated impotent performances against weak sides, and we've all been guilty of "But hey look! We're still top!"

That was always built on a foundation of sand and ignoring the reality IMO, we are ALWAYS just 90 minutes away from a lifeless, dispiriting draw against a ****e team and I don't see this changing between now and the end of the year. We will drop points in backwater games, United will too but way less than us. The really depressing thing is not that this has been happening all season and we've failed to learn the lesson, it's that it has actually underminded Rafa's Liverpool from the word go and he still can't approach these games properly or get the lads up for it like the big matches.

I just really can't see us winning the title, there's always a ****ty 0-0 lurking with Rafa about. Sorry but that's undeniable and it'll cost us the best shot at the title in a generation.

This is very true. Predicted 3rd at the start of the season and I think this is still the most likely finish, Chelsea will find some form but we could pip them.

How long have we talked about the need for a right winger and a striker? Rafa spent mega bucks on the striker and it hasn't worked out, was a poor buy so our front line isn't good enough, this is really hurting us. Kuyt up front, come off it. Right Mid is still to be solved. Benny or Pennant, terrible options.

These weaknesses, coupled with Rafa's stupid team selections on occasions will cost us too many points. And Rafa's outburst means that failure to win the league will be mocked by all with real consequences on the team, rather than people viewing a strong 2nd or 3rd place as further progress. Play our strongest team every game, **** the cups and go for it ffs.

[S-RED]

This is very true. Predicted 3rd at the start of the season and I think this is still the most likely finish, Chelsea will find some form but we could pip them.

How long have we talked about the need for a right winger and a striker? Rafa spent mega bucks on the striker and it hasn't worked out, was a poor buy so our front line isn't good enough, this is really hurting us. Kuyt up front, come off it. Right Mid is still to be solved. Benny or Pennant, terrible options.

These weaknesses, coupled with Rafa's stupid team selections on occasions will cost us too many points. And Rafa's outburst means that failure to win the league will be mocked by all with real consequences on the team, rather than people viewing a strong 2nd or 3rd place as further progress. Play our strongest team every game, **** the cups and go for it ffs.

Spot on, i know it's simplsitic, but most of the best ideas are. I couldn't believe we didn't start with Torres oreven Babel upfront on saturday, it would have scared the **** out of them & put us on the offensive rather than defenisive

[breffniboy]

Sorry, but is that the same best shot at the title that Rafa has given us?

That's a fair point mate and I think we all feel he has, admirably enough, made a very good jigsaw on comparitively smaller resources, but this just increases my frustration that he refuses to put the last piece in when he needs to - play weak teams off the park and take the game to them and let them worry about you. If we can do it to Scum and Arsenal and come out tops, surely it can work at Stoke and v Fulham and West Ham and so on.

Too much chess and stratego going on.

A somewhat stubborn refusal to both identify the pattern and learn from these repeated, agonising failures against poor teams = United's title. They will drop only the points that all teams going for a title will do from time to time, we unfortunately will drop the same and then a little bit more.

[Joe King]

Lets put it like this against Stoke -

Liverpool, two games, no goals, two points

United, two games, six goals, six points.

Thats just one team. I hate to think what our other games in reflection would be like.

[Liverpool]

Lets put it like this against Stoke -

Liverpool, two games, no goals, two points

United, two games, six goals, six points.

Thats just one team. I hate to think what our other games in reflection would be like.

Well if the Mancs win there games in hand, then results against other teams will merit about the same amount of the points, no?

[Joe King]

Well if the Mancs win there games in hand, then results against other teams will merit about the same amount of the points, no?

Speak English boy