Mentality

[SouthAfricaRed]

We'll see how far ahead the league leaders are by that stage.

What kind of points gap between them and us do you predict, going into Easter?

If we are 6 pts or less behind leaders after Arsenal game at the end of March, then we can win it.

Our last 7 games look like this

Reading - Away
Boro - Home
City - Away
Wigan - Home
Pompey - Away
Fulham - Away
Charlton - Home

Utd Last 7

Pompey - Away
Sheff Utd - Home
Chelsea - Away
Boro - Home
Everton - Away
City - Away
West ham - Home

Chelski Last 7

Spurs - Home
West ham - Away
United - Home
Newcastle - Away
Bolton - Home
Arsenal - Away
Everton - Home

[Red_Al_77]

Chelsea have a nasty run in. 6pts. I'd go with that.

[Rigadon]

Its wrong to analyse player against player. It's a team game. At the minute Manure have been playing better as a team.

I agree Al. It's also down to the manager.

Serious question (and I expect abuse): If Ferguson had Liverpool's squad and Benitez had Utd's squad, who's team would be leading the Prem?

[Red_Al_77]

Fergie doesn't rotate as much...but that is down to having O'Shea and Fletcher. I suspect Manure would still be top. I doubt whether Fergie would have got anymore from SG and Alonso up till now. They have just been off form.

[Monty]

I agree Al. It's also down to the manager.

Serious question (and I expect abuse): If Ferguson had Liverpool's squad and Benitez had Utd's squad, who's team would be leading the Prem?

Man U surely.

[Rigadon]

I was intimating at the Premier League not the CL mate. As it is, CL football is more of a calculating game than the premier league, and Rafa is the master of the tactical game. You have to be aggressive in the PL, and got to have a winning mentality, that's what Chelsea have in abundance, and to a lesser degree manure.

It's the only thing that's lacking in our game imo ... agressivity away from home but we're starting to show signs that we're rectifying that.

I think you make some very good points Fredo. Benitez tends to play (away) with a ‘don’t want to lose’ mentality, whereas Utd and Chelsea play with a ‘win, win’ mentality. However, it has been Utd’s downfall in Europe because they don’t know any other way to play.

[nbryan1764]

I agree that half a season doesnt tell the whole story, that's clear enough.

But in the majority of cases, it gives you a fair idea. With regards to Bolton, aside from the top 4 and maybe Spurs, teams who occupy places 6 to about 14 are much of a muchness. They'll swap places from one season to the next, so it's hard to say who is, say, the 6th best side in the country.

As for us, i'm not saying anything particularly controversial, i'm just saying there's an obvious gap in class between us and Chelsea/United. Of course there's 20 games to go and i'd love to see us win them all.

I sincerely hope i'm wrong, but at the moment, it hardly seems radical to say that we'll probably finish 10-15 points off top spot and maybe 7-12 or so, from 2nd place.

I am not convinced ther is an obvious gap in class espcially between us and the mancs. I thought we were better than them from christmas on last season, I thought we outplayd them at OT in the league and at home in the cup. They have played us, Chelsea, and Arsenal at home and still have to play the reverse fixtures. We however are the complete opposite.

I will be very surprised to see their points tally from their second half of the season be within 8 points of their first half and I fully expect us to close the gap. I also expect us to only add real quality in a couple of areas at the season which will mean not so many new players settling in at the beginning of the season.

My belief is that we are coming to the tnd of the first phase of Rafa's job. We are now far stronger as a squad, we have better players and more depth. The next phase will be to add real quality and of course we have need investment for that and hopefully that will be round the corner.

Now the bottom line of my post is this. I am ****ing fed up of whingers and cry babies who constantly moan about this that and the other. We have for some time been at a huge disadvantage from the likes of Chelsea and the Mancs and yet stll brought home silver, and not just any silver but big silver. We have overachieved and the fact that we as a club are still competing at the level we are and have been is a testament to the men in charge and on the pitch. Now we are ready to attack the summit and become a dominant force again. **** the likes of DJS who just wants to taste the greener grass. Be patient for the tide is turning and the not too distant future is red and not manc red either. Remember Rome was not built in a day...but I tell you something if Rafa had been in charge it would have been built a lot quicker than it was.

Now DJS...whinge about that you moaning *******

[Rigadon]

Fergie doesn't rotate as much...but that is down to having O'Shea and Fletcher. I suspect Manure would still be top. I doubt whether Fergie would have got anymore from SG and Alonso up till now. They have just been off form.

I agree. I actually think that our squad is as good as Utd’s but Fergie’s style of play suits the Prem better than Rafa’s. Benitez, however, is a far better ‘European’ manager.

[Red_Al_77]

I am not convinced ther is an obvious gap in class espcially between us and the mancs. I thought we were better than them from christmas on last season, I thought we outplayd them at OT in the league and at home in the cup. They have played us, Chelsea, and Arsenal at home and still have to play the reverse fixtures. We however are the complete opposite.

I will be very surprised to see their points tally from their second half of the season be within 8 points of their first half and I fully expect us to close the gap. I also expect us to only add real quality in a couple of areas at the season which will mean not so many new players settling in at the beginning of the season.

My belief is that we are coming to the tnd of the first phase of Rafa's job. We are now far stronger as a squad, we have better players and more depth. The next phase will be to add real quality and of course we have need investment for that and hopefully that will be round the corner.

Now the bottom line of my post is this. I am ****ing fed up of whingers and cry babies who constantly moan about this that and the other. We have for some time been at a huge disadvantage from the likes of Chelsea and the Mancs and yet stll brought home silver, and not just any silver but big silver. We have overachieved and the fact that we as a club are still competing at the level we are and have been is a testament to the men in charge and on the pitch. Now we are ready to attack the summit and become a dominant force again. **** the likes of DJS who just wants to taste the greener grass. Be patient for the tide is turning and the not too distant future is red and not manc red either. Remember Rome was not built in a day...but I tell you something if Rafa had been in charge it would have been built a lot quicker than it was.

Now DJS...whinge about that you moaning *******

[nbryan1764]

I agree Al. It's also down to the manager.

Serious question (and I expect abuse): If Ferguson had Liverpool's squad and Benitez had Utd's squad, who's team would be leading the Prem?

United by about 5-6 points

[SouthAfricaRed]

Serious question (and I expect abuse): If Ferguson had Liverpool's squad and Benitez had Utd's squad, who's team would be leading the Prem?

Knowing Ferguson we'd be in the relegation zone

[Craig_H]

I am not convinced ther is an obvious gap in class espcially between us and the mancs. I thought we were better than them from christmas on last season, I thought we outplayd them at OT in the league and at home in the cup. They have played us, Chelsea, and Arsenal at home and still have to play the reverse fixtures. We however are the complete opposite.

I will be very surprised to see their points tally from their second half of the season be within 8 points of their first half and I fully expect us to close the gap. I also expect us to only add real quality in a couple of areas at the season which will mean not so many new players settling in at the beginning of the season.

My belief is that we are coming to the tnd of the first phase of Rafa's job. We are now far stronger as a squad, we have better players and more depth. The next phase will be to add real quality and of course we have need investment for that and hopefully that will be round the corner.

Now the bottom line of my post is this. I am ****ing fed up of whingers and cry babies who constantly moan about this that and the other. We have for some time been at a huge disadvantage from the likes of Chelsea and the Mancs and yet stll brought home silver, and not just any silver but big silver. We have overachieved and the fact that we as a club are still competing at the level we are and have been is a testament to the men in charge and on the pitch. Now we are ready to attack the summit and become a dominant force again. **** the likes of DJS who just wants to taste the greener grass. Be patient for the tide is turning and the not too distant future is red and not manc red either. Remember Rome was not built in a day...but I tell you something if Rafa had been in charge it would have been built a lot quicker than it was.

Now DJS...whinge about that you moaning *******

Who's moaning, you embarrassing bellend?

[Monty]

I am not convinced ther is an obvious gap in class espcially between us and the mancs. I thought we were better than them from christmas on last season, I thought we outplayd them at OT in the league and at home in the cup. They have played us, Chelsea, and Arsenal at home and still have to play the reverse fixtures. We however are the complete opposite.

I will be very surprised to see their points tally from their second half of the season be within 8 points of their first half and I fully expect us to close the gap. I also expect us to only add real quality in a couple of areas at the season which will mean not so many new players settling in at the beginning of the season.

My belief is that we are coming to the tnd of the first phase of Rafa's job. We are now far stronger as a squad, we have better players and more depth. The next phase will be to add real quality and of course we have need investment for that and hopefully that will be round the corner.

Now the bottom line of my post is this. I am ****ing fed up of whingers and cry babies who constantly moan about this that and the other. We have for some time been at a huge disadvantage from the likes of Chelsea and the Mancs and yet stll brought home silver, and not just any silver but big silver. We have overachieved and the fact that we as a club are still competing at the level we are and have been is a testament to the men in charge and on the pitch. Now we are ready to attack the summit and become a dominant force again. **** the likes of DJS who just wants to taste the greener grass. Be patient for the tide is turning and the not too distant future is red and not manc red either. Remember Rome was not built in a day...but I tell you something if Rafa had been in charge it would have been built a lot quicker than it was.

Now DJS...whinge about that you moaning *******

Top post.

[nbryan1764]

Who's moaning, you embarrassing bellend?

embarrasing? me? how do you work that out? I have given rationale behind my reasons for optimism whether they prove to be right or not. You on the other hand just spout of negativity with no substance. When you are then challenged, e.g. punching above our weight, you deny that is what you meant. If you wish to insult me then fine give some good adult reasons. If you are the same DJS as Dunks little toy then you always have been an irritant so nothing changes. But if you wish to be an irritant at least back your drones with some real substance eh? Otherwise people think you are just a **** and I am sure you are not really

[SouthAfricaRed]

Chelsea have a nasty run in. 6pts. I'd go with that.

Arsenal have it no Better

Last 7

West ham - Home
Newcastle - Away
Bolton - Home
Tottenham - Away
Fulham - Home
Chelsea - Home
Pompey - Away