Best away record in the league & 2nd place nearly wrapped up

[DannyMan2006]

I dont think that's true at all. You make it sound like they get breaks by good fortune.

The fact is, when teams come to Anfield and park buses, we have 2 real chances of breaking them. Gerrard and Torres. And they've rarely played together this season.

United have 4. If Ronaldo doesnt get you, Rooney will. If he doesnt, Berbatov will. If not him, Tevez.

If they lose one or two of those, they still have another two or three. We dont.

That's the difference. If teams stop our two best attacking players, we're often stumped. If they stop United's, the other two will usually pop up.

Their home record isnt by accident.

That said, had Yossi played all season like he is now I reckon we'd be top. In fact had we signed another player to Keane we'd likely be top.

[Shaggy]

I honestly think we've laid down a marker for next season and, despite the likely fact that United will be champions, we will be the team to beat. For the first time in years, I will be predicting us to win it. This campaign has given us genuine belief.

[Craig_H]

That said, had Yossi played all season like he is now I reckon we'd be top. In fact had we signed another player to Keane we'd likely be top.

Oh i agree.

But the problem is that Yossi, whilst in superb form, isnt in the same league as Torres, Gerrard, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Rooney or Tevez.

People say about teams or players, that they're brilliant but inconsistent - totally ignoring the fact that being brilliant is all DOWN to consistency.

Keane was just hopeless for us.

[Craig_H]

I honestly think we've laid down a marker for next season and, despite the likely fact that United will be champions, we will be the team to beat. For the first time in years, I will be predicting us to win it. This campaign has given us genuine belief.

My only fear is that it's so hard to produce a title challenge, as we've seen for years.

To do it twice in a row, is a massive ask for a side which hadnt done it for 2 decades. It's just being so used to not doing it, makes it hard to think differently.

But we certainly need to get out of that mindset, because on recent evidence, we should have a big chance.

Rafa needs to buy well this summer, without overdoing it.

It's not wholesale changes we need, just one more 'make a difference' player.

[DannyMan2006]

I'd still like to think that Wigan away isnt an easy game. Because generally, it isnt.

But Wigan are in **** form, the mancs are winning games on the bounce and they can smell it now.

I see little chance for Wigan.

Well I had Man City and Arsenal as games that could save us. That ship has sailed now and I have to look at Wigan and Hull and hope they can also do us a favour, as well as Arsenal.

I saw enough in todays Arsenal Chelsea game to suggest that first goal for Arsenal would result in a win for the gunners.

But even that is not enough. Wigan AND Hull to take points of the Mancs? Unlikely. So we'll probably need another one to win.

And even then, we'd need to beat a battling West Brom and tottenham at a nervous Anfield.

The odds are stacked against us.

[DannyMan2006]

Oh i agree.

But the problem is that Yossi, whilst in superb form, isnt in the same league as Torres, Gerrard, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Rooney or Tevez.

People say about teams or players, that they're brilliant but inconsistent - totally ignoring the fact that being brilliant is all DOWN to consistency.

Keane was just hopeless for us.

Bang on that.

Yesterday Liam Lawrence was fantastci for Stoke and if he played like that every week he'd be an England regular. The fact he doesn't is the reason he's at a team like Stoke.

But that same reason is why Liverpool still have hope in the League and on the flip side, the reason West Brom will not throw in the towel just yet. Because every team in the premier league has enough class about them to beat anyone on their day, especially if the other side has an off day.

[Liverpool]

I honestly think we've laid down a marker for next season and, despite the likely fact that United will be champions, we will be the team to beat. For the first time in years, I will be predicting us to win it. This campaign has given us genuine belief.

Being so close has been horrible in a way though, all the excitement and joy for the mancs to go and equal 18 makes my stomach turn.

Fergie wanted to equal our record would be great to go back one ahead next season.

[Craig_H]

Being so close has been horrible in a way though, all the excitement and joy for the mancs to go and equal 18 makes my stomach turn.

Fergie wanted to equal our record would be great to go back one ahead next season.

I think that would finish him off.

[Liverpool]

I think that would finish him off.

Next season will be his last according to his laddy, What a way to go watching us lift it eh?

[Craig_H]

Didnt Ferguson junior say he could see him quitting at the end of next season IF he wins the CL twice more? If that's the criteria, i'd rather he stayed.

[wiw]

I honestly think we've laid down a marker for next season and, despite the likely fact that United will be champions, we will be the team to beat. For the first time in years, I will be predicting us to win it. This campaign has given us genuine belief.

My only fear is that it's so hard to produce a title challenge, as we've seen for years.

To do it twice in a row, is a massive ask for a side which hadnt done it for 2 decades. It's just being so used to not doing it, makes it hard to think differently.

But we certainly need to get out of that mindset, because on recent evidence, we should have a big chance.

Rafa needs to buy well this summer, without overdoing it.

It's not wholesale changes we need, just one more 'make a difference' player.

It has been hard but we're over the mental barrier now. Belief is massive now like Shaggy says and the team and fans now genuinely believe we can win it

As for consistency that you guys are discussing, I think we're pretty much there. Our teamwork, pressing and such are never really in question, which is a huge plus week in week out. Everyone trusts each other which is brilliant, and every movement whether offensively or defensively is fluid and almost looks second-nature to the players now. They're bound to make the odd mistakes and **** things up, but we have a squad largely filled with players who have quality and a footballing brain who guarantee you a 7/10 game, if not more, for the whole of the season

[DannyMan2006]

Didnt Ferguson junior say he could see him quitting at the end of next season IF he wins the CL twice more? If that's the criteria, i'd rather he stayed.

You really think he'd quite on 19 league titles and 5 European Cups. He'd stay on another year to get 6 European Cups.

This is of course going on the basis that he wins the league and European cup both this season and next. But missing out on both next year could see him quit, especially if he flucks the European Cup this year.

[wiw]

You really think he'd quite on 19 league titles and 5 European Cups. He'd stay on another year to get 6 European Cups.

This is of course going on the basis that he wins the league and European cup both this season and next. But missing out on both next year could see him quit, especially if he flucks the European Cup this year.

I can see us drawing Utd in the CL next year, don't know why. We will of course **** them out of the competition, Fergie will continue on and win **** all and watch us dominate the world for the next decade

[squaddie]

This is the daft mistake so many people make - i'm neither positive nor negative, i just comment on things as they are. If things are good, i'll say so, if they're ****, i'll say so too.

The fact that people 'like me' when i post positive stuff but abuse me when i post negative stuff, is sad.

It's all reflective of what actually happens.

Who are we kidding your clearly more of a pessemist than an optimist.

Anyways, theres nothing wrong with playing devils advocate and trying to look at both angles. But you can do this without 'Its over!' or 'Its all a fix'........and for the record... i still dont 'like you'.

[reds123]

I dont think that's true at all. You make it sound like they get breaks by good fortune.

The fact is, when teams come to Anfield and park buses, we have 2 real chances of breaking them. Gerrard and Torres. And they've rarely played together this season.

United have 4. If Ronaldo doesnt get you, Rooney will. If he doesnt, Berbatov will. If not him, Tevez.

If they lose one or two of those, they still have another two or three. We dont.

That's the difference. If teams stop our two best attacking players, we're often stumped. If they stop United's, the other two will usually pop up.

Their home record isnt by accident.




Spot on! But though we don't match United in the amount of purchasing power, Rafa could have still done better this summer. Keane 20 million??? Dossena, a reserve 7 million? And Riera ... 7 out of 10. Certainly we need better!!!! And it's about time that we see another 2 great players added to this squad!