Let's look on the positive side of things

[cream]

Torres literally only needs one chance on most occasions I am sure he could have made a huge difference, Still it is what it is the only way we can look now is forward. This is not a rallying cry just an alternative perspective

Whichever way you look at it, this season is another failure. All we have to look forward to is next season.

[Nicey]

Not really ... We have the FA Cup to Play for .. The first team to win the Europa to play for .. and technically if we beat the Chavs at Anfield which we should expect to do .. we are only 3 games behind them with our team getting stronger and there team due to weaken massively. This is a Fat Lady Free Zone

[cream]

Not really ... We have the FA Cup to Play for .. The first team to win the Europa to play for .. and technically if we beat the Chavs at Anfield which we should expect to do .. we are only 3 games behind them with our team getting stronger and there team due to weaken massively. This is a Fat Lady Free Zone

We see this kind of desperation every season, only to be painfully dissappointed when they continue winning. If they do slip up, the scum will be waiting to take advantage, not us.

The only two competitions that really matter is the Premier league and the Champions league, the others are not that important to a big club.

[Nicey]

Sure but i for one will be cheering the team on in the FA Cup and the Europa, we are in the start of Dec, theres plenty more football to be played, I am firmly focused on the team above us and lets see were we go from there, but like i say there is an opportunity now to go on a 5 match winning running. Which would see us 11 games unbeaten. If we can put that togther then going into the game with Villa it could be a whole new ball game.

Chelsea may slip again but judging by ManUs defender crisis so could they a lose and a draw in between now and Christmas and we have cut the lead by 5 whole points, which is not beyond the pale. Whilst i have had the stuffing knocked out of me, i am dusting myself down and getting right behind the team and club again. One game at time

[The Birdman]

Sure but i for one will be cheering the team on in the FA Cup and the Europa, we are in the start of Dec, theres plenty more football to be played, I am firmly focused on the team above us and lets see were we go from there, but like i say there is an opportunity now to go on a 5 match winning running. Which would see us 11 games unbeaten. If we can put that togther then going into the game with Villa it could be a whole new ball game.

Chelsea may slip again but judging by ManUs defender crisis so could they a lose and a draw in between now and Christmas and we have cut the lead by 5 whole points, which is not beyond the pale. Whilst i have had the stuffing knocked out of me, i am dusting myself down and getting right behind the team and club again. One game at time

I don't think we can/will win the league this year but i'll support the team to try and finish as high as we can and to win whatever is left for us to go after this season.
The 'Torres factor' isn't so much that we miss him when he is injured (obvious I know) but it's the fact that the whole dynamic of our team and the oppositions approach to us changes.
When Torres is fit teams sit deeper because they are scared of his pace and ability one on one, that stretches the game and creates more space for Gerrard and the rest so we pass the ball better, wear the opposition out and ultimately create more chances because everyone is a better player with more time on the ball.

[Molby]

Ok so this is and has been a very tough season for us all and we are only at the start of December. In a year many of us, me included hoped we would positioned to be the title favorites we have gone one step forwards 3 steps back....again ....again

There is no getting away from a couple of issues namely we have been savaged my injuries too important players and our squad it would seem is just not as good enough, presently.

But lets take a short break from all the doom and gloom and look at some positives. We have kept 3 clean sheets on the trot. We seemed to have calmed down defending set pieces, gone is the obvious edginess defending set pieces the expression of nervousness and inevitability which use to be painted on Carra's face has been replaced with that more familiar determination and confidence. Rafa has obviously mixed it up and we are defending set pieces differently, noticeably not putting someone on the line, which i think is an excellent idea.

We are undefeated in 6 now. Whilst the results have not been great we are slowly, begrudgingly moving in the right direction. There is no getting away from out current situation, with a combination of a new back four, a new system and horrific injury woes the team has lacked stability. Our players have been frustrated and heads have dropped, the customary slaughter onslaught from the tabloids has not helped but alas coming out of this weekend we have gained on the lg leaders and our squad is nearing coming back to full strength, just as the 3 main title contenders squads are due to be weakened.

United have a defender crisis brewing, Arsenal are without RVP which makes a huge difference to that team and Chelsea have the African cup to contend with. We obviously need to pick up the pace, but the there has been signs of improvement. Stevie looks to be returning to full fitness and is starting to play some nice football again. Carra has seemed to settled again. Benny is fit again, Reira is back, Torres may be on his way back, Aquailani may be about to start is first game, Masher is coming back to his best and Ngog has shown some real maturity and looks like he will make it into the senior team, not to mention Agger is back and Insua has been very solid.

Our next 3 games are all at home against teams that like to play open attacking football, Florentina, Arsenal and Wigan. I personally think its set up to really be the confidence shot we need to get things moving again and I am predicting 3 wins on the trot from these fixtures. Florentina need a win and the pressure is off us. The least our lads can do is put on a show for the fans who have traveled around europe with them this season. I have a feeling this could be a battering.

Then we have Arsenal who have a tough away trip to Olympiakos who need the win. Arsenal coming off back to back defeats to ManU and Chelsea need a result if they are going to keep in it and hopefully we can be at full strength for that game. Another Win in the same week against a top side with a squad growing in strength and perhaps we can start to build some momentum going into Chrimbo.

We have Pompey and Wolves after that before the last game of the year against Villa. By time we meet its very possible we have put 5 wins together on the trot and thats exactly what we need to do.

So lets all get behind the team Wednesday night and let it be the start of a 5 game winning streak leading into that game with Villa.

Dare to Beleive Red Brothers and Sisters

Walk on with Hope in your Hearts

Nice one Nicey!!

YNWA

[Nicey]

I don't think we can/will win the league this year but i'll support the team to try and finish as high as we can and to win whatever is left for us to go after this season.
The 'Torres factor' isn't so much that we miss him when he is injured (obvious I know) but it's the fact that the whole dynamic of our team and the oppositions approach to us changes.
When Torres is fit teams sit deeper because they are scared of his pace and ability one on one, that stretches the game and creates more space for Gerrard and the rest so we pass the ball better, wear the opposition out and ultimately create more chances because everyone is a better player with more time on the ball.

Agreed, can't remember which game it was perhaps the Toffees game, but as soon as Benny came on you could noticeably see that team sitting deeper. With Aquilani playing Tomorrow I have a reason to get up at 4.00 am and watch my team with bloody Thai commentary

[FatTony]

Spot on mate Look its not been Ideal but we still have time and goals to play for, You take Lampard, Drogba, Cole, Essein out of Chelsea or simular players out of Arsenal or ManU and see how they would fair. Its getting better . slowly but it is definitely getting better

I still think that Chelsea would cope well without them, Man Utd maintained their pressure on Chelsea with a lot of injuries on the weekend thrashing West Ham. Arsenal maybe, but then Wenger does seem to have a knack of introducing young players straight into the team and they continue to play the same football.

We have a couple of injuries and we look completely disjointed and the team looks somewhat makeshift.

[red g]

I still think that Chelsea would cope well without them, Man Utd maintained their pressure on Chelsea with a lot of injuries on the weekend thrashing West Ham. Arsenal maybe, but then Wenger does seem to have a knack of introducing young players straight into the team and they continue to play the same football.

We have a couple of injuries and we look completely disjointed and the team looks somewhat makeshift.

lets see how scum do tomorrow against a team that can attack

[FatTony]

lets see how scum do tomorrow against a team that can attack

Its irrelevent though isn't it? They're through to the next round and a couple of points off the top of the EPL.

[Nicey]

Not Ideal though

[FatTony]

lets see how scum do tomorrow against a team that can attack

well, with a load of 1st teamers missing, Man Utd stuffed them.

[Vermilion]

well, with a load of 1st teamers missing, Man Utd stuffed them.

And yet with all their 1st teamers fit Burnley managed to beat them, footballs weird eh.

I just can't understand how after being happy with Rafa for this long why any fan would wanto see him gone with this seasons run of results the reason, this is not what we're used to, it's not the norm at all, we were flying last season, especially the second half, playing good football, season on season progression, till this one season.

I trust the man to get it right, not blindly, but based on what i've seen for the vast majority of his time here.

[FatTony]

And yet with all their 1st teamers fit Burnley managed to beat them, footballs weird eh.

Well, the fact of the matter is that any team can beat any other over one match, its the course of the season that counts and Man Utd, who happen to have been beaten by Burnley and ourselves, are only a couple of points off the top of the EPL and in the next round of the CL. Its only just turned December and we're out of both. Thats not too funny.

[Vermilion]

Well, the fact of the matter is that any team can beat any other over one match, its the course of the season that counts and Man Utd, who happen to have been beaten by Burnley and ourselves, are only a couple of points off the top of the EPL and in the next round of the CL. Its only just turned December and we're out of both. Thats not too funny.

No it's not funny, but it's the first time it's been like this for years, it's desperate i know, but making judgements based on a bad run of form, which represents a small amount of a managers tenure at a club isn't the way to go, imo.

If Torres had a bad season, where he was badly out of sorts, would we all judge him soley on that season, or the other free scoring ones he''d have given us before that, and will likely do again, everyone has bad patches, players and managers alike, the good ones come through it....given time, i believe we have a good one in Rafa. Just my opinion, based on what's gone before ?.