Title is a long race : Rafa

[Red Chilli]

That was only 7 points though.

BTW Any stattos out there know the biggest margin overcome since say christmas? Has someone already done what we are about to do?

SCUM were 12 points behind Newcastle in 1995/6

[El Jefecito]

SCUM were 12 points behind Newcastle in 1995/6

It'll be a cakewalk catching united then.

[dom9]

Steady on lads.

I can't see the scum and the chavs capitulating. If anything, they will drive each other on as the season progresses.

It's probably the most interesting title race since Keegan's lot blew it though.

[Mumsafan]

That was only 7 points though.

BTW Any stattos out there know the biggest margin overcome since say christmas? Has someone already done what we are about to do?

Yes but they eventually won by 7 points

[sean_lfc]

Rafa's strategy this season has been geared to finishing strongly. We all know that's how it happened at Valencia, as he mentions again here, and it can clearly be seen in his rotation policy. Ferguson's strategy on the other hand has been to play his strongest team whenever possible, get a flying start and put pressure on Chelsea. Pity about the stumble this weekend.

On top of that, I think many of us have underestimated the impact of last year's long season and we're now starting to see how well how Rafa has managed it. We now have all (or nearly all - of course HK is out but is anyone else?) of our World Cup players back and firing, including the ludicrously maligned Xabi Alonso. Chelsea meanwhile have got Shevchenko playing appllingly, John Terry with a messed-up back, Ballack playing fitfully (I'm not counting the Cech injury since that obviously has nothing to do with tiredness/overplaying). Arsenal are without Henry for weeks at a crucial stage of the season due to a collection of niggles and strains and judging by their performance against Portsmouth are way off the pace their form in the second half of last season. Man Utd have avoided loss of form of their key players, especially Rooney and Ronaldo but let's not forget that Rooney had an enforced six-week rest in late spring so effectively used the World Cup as a fitness exercise.

The cost of course has been all those dropped points at the start of this season and it's arguable that that is too heavy a price in terms of our title aspirations. However when you look at our fixtures (I know, we've been over this a hundred times) then I think it's possible that Rafa anticipated that we would struggle in those games anyway, given the excesses of last season, and that we should see what points could be picked up in that bad run of five away games (answer = 0, as it turned out) and concentrate on getting the players ready to play at full throttle from November onwards.

Brilliant post NY. It ain't over til the fat lady sings!

[Mumsafan]

Yes, for sure.

Mums panics that the picture on her sideboard is of her and NY

[Neil Young]

Cheers.

However I'd just like to point out that I am far from optimistic that we can win the title this year not least because Man Utd and Chelsea are very strong and unlikely to slip up. I just think it was probably always going to be beyond us because of last year's long season, exacerbated by players not having a chance to rest because of the World Cup.

I also think if we don't win the title, the points gap between us and the winners will be less than the current gap to the leaders.

[El Jefecito]

Yes but they eventually won by 7 points

Good point. It's a shoe-in then.

[Mumsafan]

Good point. It's a shoe-in then.

a what?

[twistnkuyt]

Were we not something like 17 points behind at christmas the season when Swansea were top then and we won it? Or was it that we were 17th ?

I believe if we can keep close to Chelski then we will finish either 1st or 2nd as scums best players are either old timers who will fall off the pace second half of the season or kids with no experience of winning anything.

I know it's only cups so far but we have a LOT of winners in our team and a lot of players hitting form at the right time, as Neil said.

[El Jefecito]

a what?

A done deal.

[Morph]

A done deal.

no mate thats a shoo-in

[Shaggy]

no mate thats a shoo-in

[El Jefecito]

Did I just Kurtangle myself