Drunk tramp writes off Liverpool's Premier League title chances

[Neil Young]

Possibly, but if he's asked to name who he thinks is THE biggest threat, then it's fair enough.

He's also right that last season was our best in 20 years, and it is therefore a massive ask to try and better it the very next season.

I'm not sure that makes sense really. In terms of getting more points than we gathered last season surely we are now in a better position than we have been for twenty years.

Anyway I don't care what he says. He's always been an undignified **** and time hasn't improved him.

[Craig_H]

I'm not sure that makes sense really. In terms of getting more points than we gathered last season surely we are now in a better position than we have been for twenty years.

Anyway I don't care what he says. He's always been an undignified **** and time hasn't improved him.

Are we in a better position? Not sure, selling Alonso is a blow IMO.

My main point though, was it's very difficult, having already bust a gut to achieve the best performance in 20 years, to then go on and beat it the very next year.

[Guest]

Are we in a better position? Not sure, selling Alonso is a blow IMO.

My main point though, was it's very difficult, having already bust a gut to achieve the best performance in 20 years, to then go on and beat it the very next year.

Agreed. But if we sign Villa (which isn't going to happen IMO) we're really going to improve the team and we'll be contenders for sure. Lucas can grow in the role but maybe this season will come too soon for him. As for Aquilani, well, he'll be new to this league and I'm not sure he can stand the rigours of the Premier league yet. It has certainly weakened our side unless, as I said, we sign Villa and push Gerrard back into that central position.

[Neil Young]

Are we in a better position? Not sure, selling Alonso is a blow IMO.

My main point though, was it's very difficult, having already bust a gut to achieve the best performance in 20 years, to then go on and beat it the very next year.

Are you simply saying it's harder to improve after a really good season than a not so good one? Or are you saying it would be easier to finish first if we had finished lower than second last season?

The first is undoubtedly true but the second is the crucial issue and that's clearly false.

[Guest]

Are you simply saying it's harder to improve after a really good season than a not so good one? Or are you saying it would be easier to finish first if we had finished lower than second last season?

The first is undoubtedly true but the second is the crucial issue and that's clearly false.

Not sure it's false Neil. It is very difficult to keep a high level and it is always the most difficult step to improve that little bit to be championship winners. That assumption is based on our past players who've been there and done it for themselves. Thing is, we need to improve straight away and with the loss of a crucial player we're going to suffer for it, albeit temporarily.

[dww]

Do people on here genuinely consider it as a foregone conclusion that we'll see off Chelsea this coming season, and emerge as the biggest contenders to take the title off United?

It could happen. Equally though, it may not. Sorry to go all ballague on it, but i cant really find justification for difinitively choosing us over Chelsea, or vice versa. If i had to stick my neck out, i'd have us as finishing 3rd, but it's very fine margins.

It's not exactly 'obvious nonsense' to suggest that Chelsea *might* be the biggest threat to United.

I'd suggest the obvious flaw is the assumption that United are clear favourites. I'd suggest given transfer activity in the summer and form at the tail end of last season it was until we lost Alonso difficult to separate the three teams - if anything I would have made Chelsea favourites.

For me how I feel about our chances relative to the others is dependent on who we bring in. I think we probably need two players (CM and an attacking option) for me to feel better and 3 (extra defensive cover) for me to be confident of our chances. At the minute I fear that we may have a traditional season that might stand us in good stead long term with young players stepping up and new players bedding in but without Alonso or a yet credible player to take his role I don't think we are likely to build on the progress we made last season.

[Neil Young]

Not sure it's false Neil. It is very difficult to keep a high level and it is always the most difficult step to improve that little bit to be championship winners. That assumption is based on our past players who've been there and done it for themselves. Thing is, we need to improve straight away and with the loss of a crucial player we're going to suffer for it, albeit temporarily.

Obviously the loss of Alonso is a potential factor but we don't know how that's going to pan out. While we're waiting to see what happens there then the logic of your argument seems to be that we'd be in a better position to challenge for first place if we hadn't challenged last season. The fact is we did challenge so our squad is surely better than it has been for twenty years. Not to mention the fact the players gained experience in what it's like to be challenging for the league late on in the season.

Of course perhaps last year was just a lucky season. Is that what you're saying?

[kris90210]

Are we in a better position? Not sure, selling Alonso is a blow IMO.

My main point though, was it's very difficult, having already bust a gut to achieve the best performance in 20 years, to then go on and beat it the very next year.

If we manage to keep Gerrard and Torres fit all season then we'll beat that points total. Big if though.

Anyway, we're not finished in the transfer market yet, so its far too early for him to be making such bold predictions.

Utd are a great team, but they have lost 2 massive players. They will be weakened. Chelsea will be strong again Im sure, but there is always an element of risk whenever a new manager takes over - especially at a club with as much expectation and so little patience as Chelsea. Just look at Scholari.

[Exiled_red]

The Purple Nosed **** is worried about us, FACT!

He wouldn't talk about us if he wasn't

[Guest]

I'd suggest the obvious flaw is the assumption that United are clear favourites. I'd suggest given transfer activity in the summer and form at the tail end of last season it was until we lost Alonso difficult to separate the three teams - if anything I would have made Chelsea favourites.

For me how I feel about our chances relative to the others is dependent on who we bring in. I think we probably need two players (CM and an attacking option) for me to feel better and 3 (extra defensive cover) for me to be confident of our chances. At the minute I fear that we may have a traditional season that might stand us in good stead long term with young players stepping up and new players bedding in but without Alonso or a yet credible player to take his role I don't think we are likely to build on the progress we made last season.

Buy one world class centre forward and move Gerrard back in CM. That's the best option. CM is a key position and we can't afford to go for potential if we are to win the league this season IMO. I think we can do with a makeshift and low cost signing for CB, that won't bite too much in our budget. Even if we don't buy central defensive cover, we've still got San Jose to cover and even if he's a bit raw, he'll learn. I'd be more confident of recovering from goals conceded if we've got the adequate ammunition upfront to kill off teams.

[kev776]

The Purple Nosed **** is worried about us, FACT!

Where is the FACT you speak of????

[Guest]

Obviously the loss of Alonso is a potential factor but we don't know how that's going to pan out. While we're waiting to see what happens there then the logic of your argument seems to be that we'd be in a better position to challenge for first place if we hadn't challenged last season. The fact is we did challenge so our squad is surely better than it has been for twenty years. Not to mention the fact the players gained experience in what it's like to be challenging for the league late on in the season.

Of course perhaps last year was just a lucky season. Is that what you're saying?

I wasn't referring to the fact that we're not going to challenge because we've done well last season, simply saying that we still came short and we'd still need to improve that extra little bit to win it, and it's a hard thing to do. Obviously Ferguson is playing mind games once again and he's using all the tricks he knows to try to undermine us. And by losing Alonso and replacing him with a player who isn't experienced to this league would have weakened us a little bit when we'd have needed to improve that little bit to be in a better position to improve that little bit. If this makes sense to you.

[Neil Young]

Where is the FACT you speak of????

link

End of.

[Imy]

Where is the FACT you speak of????

The Purple Nosed ****

[dom9]

I'm not sure that makes sense really. In terms of getting more points than we gathered last season surely we are now in a better position than we have been for twenty years.

Anyway I don't care what he says. He's always been an undignified **** and time hasn't improved him.

I actually think the points required to win the league next season will be fewer than last time.