An attempt to be a bit less gloomy

[dww]

OK, so if we accept that we can't win the legue this year. Then what are our goals, I would suggest:

1. CL quailification
2. Quarter-finals of the CL at least
3. Be a better team/squad at the end of this season than we were at the end of last season.

So far this season we have in no way been as good as we were last year. We have bought in new players and the reason for our optimism at the start of the season was that they addressed most of our areas of weakness. So I think there is every chance that we can meet all of the above goals.

We have already qualified from our CL group which is an important step towards 2. We are only 4 points off 4th and hve got all of the most difficult away games out of the way. Despite our gloom we have been pretty good at home.

Although of itself yesterday was a pretty depressing performance I think in the bigger picture some positives can be taken. We have dominated an away game (we had 80% of possesion). We needed to do it and if it had been the first game of the season we would at least have thought that it was a step towards the creation of the much talked about "crushing machine" style of Valencia and our good runs last season. We need to add creativity and imagination to our attack but we have Garcia to come back into the side and by playing more games I think we will see more from Pennant and Gonzalez as they adapt to our system.

I think that Alonso is starting to show some better form and Gerrard was very disciplined in CM yesterday. Slightly miserable in the context of the game but it is something he needs to learn to do on occasion and so in the long run might be a good thing.

Well, I know it is an almost self delusionally positive spin, but I think that we will be better as the season goes on and that yesterdays terrible game isn't such a black day as has been made out.

[Red Chilli]

4th place isn't a goal, it's a necessity. Don't care about anything else but any silverware is nice

[glynner]

Well said Chilli.

I think we are back to the goals of the 2004/5 season.

We have to qualify for the CL. A trophy would be a bonus.

[dww]

4th place isn't a goal, it's a necessity.

Very true. But I feel fairly confident that we will do it.

[Red_hot]

We'll win the League Cup and finish 3rd/4th.

[dww]

We'll win the League Cup and finish 3rd/4th.

I still think that we could get 3rd too.

Silverware would be good, I would rather we used the league cup to develop some youngsters like Peltier. So it will have to be an F.A. cup, CL double I think.

[anfieldanfield]

The only way to 'save' our season is to finish in the top four and lift a trophy.

[Graybach]

The only way to 'save' our season is to finish in the top four and lift a trophy.

And that's well within our reach!!

I honestly think we can finish runners-up. I can't see Utd keeping up their amazing start. They just haven't got the squad. I can't understand how they're doing so well with the players they've got playing. As soon as injuries and suspentions kick in after christmas I'll be amazed if thay keep it up. Arsenal are getting better all the time but I think we can keep up and pass them. I'm very confident that we can put a good run together and get ourselves up there.

I think we capapble of winning ANY of the cups!

[Craig_H]

And that's well within our reach!!

I honestly think we can finish runners-up. I can't see Utd keeping up their amazing start. They just haven't got the squad. I can't understand how they're doing so well with the players they've got playing. As soon as injuries and suspentions kick in after christmas I'll be amazed if thay keep it up. Arsenal are getting better all the time but I think we can keep up and pass them. I'm very confident that we can put a good run together and get ourselves up there.

I think we capapble of winning ANY of the cups!

Well, obviously their players are better than many of us give them credit for.

And i'd be surprised if they dont buy in January too.

Mark my words mate, the title could very easily find its way to OT this season and that'd be the ultimate slap in the face for us, with the rubbish season we're having.

[andyinswinton]

If we can't finish fourth in this league then there is something ****ing wrong.

This is a very average league with the exception of the obvious three other teams that we should be battling for the title. Every other team is either making up the numbers or fighting relagation.

To think of another season where we finish fifth behind a team that overperformed massivly would be unthinkable and to be honest, disgraceful. We have the finances, the players, the manager and the support but to finish behind a Bolton, Tottenham, Portsmouth or god forbid Everton would be appalling.

[Craig_H]

We'll finish 4th, largely due to how rubbish and/or inconsistent the others are.

Even with our away record, we're only 4 points off 4th place now, and that's the saving grace. Unlike the other season, there doesnt seem to be an 'everton' who can sustain enough consistency to finish above us.

[Doc_Piptorious]

And that's well within our reach!!

I honestly think we can finish runners-up. I can't see Utd keeping up their amazing start. They just haven't got the squad. I can't understand how they're doing so well with the players they've got playing. As soon as injuries and suspentions kick in after christmas I'll be amazed if thay keep it up. Arsenal are getting better all the time but I think we can keep up and pass them. I'm very confident that we can put a good run together and get ourselves up there.

I think we capapble of winning ANY of the cups!

Why do people think that United are going to slip up? Last season it was the same story. United would fall away and we would be second. We keep hearing that they have no depth, no midfield and cannot keep their run going. Why shouldn't their run continue? It did last season and so far this season. They are top of the league, and much as I hate to say it, it is deserved so far. The best thing we can do is forget about them and just concentrate on ourselves. I do think that we have a good run in us, and I do think that we can snatch third place this season, but I think the title will be heading to Old Trafford, with Chelsea in second place. God I hated saying that last sentence.

[lfc4ever]

Why do people think that United are going to slip up? Last season it was the same story. United would fall away and we would be second. We keep hearing that they have no depth, no midfield and cannot keep their run going. Why shouldn't their run continue? It did last season and so far this season. They are top of the league, and much as I hate to say it, it is deserved so far. The best thing we can do is forget about them and just concentrate on ourselves. I do think that we have a good run in us, and I do think that we can snatch third place this season, but I think the title will be heading to Old Trafford, with Chelsea in second place. God I hated saying that last sentence.

Oh how we laughed, they sold RVN and bought an overpriced Carrick, who's laughing now? It's all about the right mix isn't it? I hope we can get to 20 before they reach 19!

[Morph]

Last time we had a ****ty mixed season like this we won the European Cup, couldn't give a **** if we finished 5th if thats the case, as long as we've got some major investment coming our way. Otherwise anything less than 4th would be a total disaster and could set us back years.