Brendan Rodgers

[Maxiedge]

I was amazed to hear that utd have their biggest points tally at this stage of the season ever, and with a team many say isn't anywhere near their best ever.

Van Persie

[Neil Young]

As long as we get more points than last season its progress.

...there's no way the points total is the sole criterion of progress. For instance it's possible we could have fewer points but be higher in the table, or the other way round. So is that progression on regression?

And then there's things that aren't so easily quantifiable like improvement in the squad, and so on. Plus the other issues to do with value, average age, effectiveness, etc.

Football may be a simple game - in practice I'm not really sure it is any more at the highest level but let's leave that - but it's not a question of picking one yardstick and using that to measure everything.

We can reduce anything to its essentials but such descriptions rarely encompass everything we need, they just tell us why. Apollo 11 was a vehicle for getting people to the Moon but that doesn't help us understand how it worked.

We need to see tangible progress in the league. Even one more point than last season would be proof of that.

Five to eight more would be conclusive.

Oh yeah, I totally see what you mean now you've simply repeated your view.

[Trippendicular]

Yep. Just goes to show how piss weak the league is.

But why is that? We have two super-rich, talent-laden clubs and a flourishing Spurs and Everton. I'd argue only us and Arsenal are weaker now than any time over the last 5 years.

[Shaggy]

But why is that? We have two super-rich, talent-laden clubs and a flourishing Spurs and Everton. I'd argue only us and Arsenal are weaker now than any time over the last 5 years.

Chelsea are weaker, Utd are weaker, we're weaker, Arsenal are weaker. City are the obvious exception but even then, given their huge spending they're really not a very good side. Look at their abysmal performances in Europe.

In fact look at the performances of all Prem sides in the CL. It's piss poor.

Spurs and Everton are improved but they're nowhere near, for example, to what we were in 2009.

Look at all the quality that's left the league - Ronaldo, Alonso, Mascherano, Fabregas etc. All top quality players who've gone to the best two teams in the world. The defending is as bad as I can remember it too. It's still an exciting league, sure, but the standard has dropped big time - hence one of the weakest United sides in years (ask any of their fans and they will all agree they're not up to much, especially by their standards) breaking all sorts of records.

[tanner]

I was amazed to hear that utd have their biggest points tally at this stage of the season ever, and with a team many say isn't anywhere near their best ever.

and we're pretty much as good as utd according to some on here ;-)

They're far superior in every department besides between the sticks. Miles behind.

[Fredo]

I don't think they're miles better than us. We need to ensure we have stability and build our squad to catch up that gap over the coming two years. If we do that, there's no reason we can't compete with them as the FFP rules will kick in.

[Alex]

They are consistent. Which is something we lack completely.

[danperkins]

I don't think they're miles better than us. We need to ensure we have stability and build our squad to catch up that gap over the coming two years. If we do that, there's no reason we can't compete with them as the FFP rules will kick in.

They are 24 points ahead of us with 22 games played, we're hardly close.

They've been competing for the league consistently for a few decades, we haven't. They are bankers to qualify for the champs league every year and make a good run of it most years. We are playing in the Europa League and are lucky to be playing in the Europa League.

We are a long long way behind them and have been for awhile. Bitter pill to swallow but you can't argue that's it's not the blatant truth.

[Fredo]

They are 24 points ahead of us with 22 games played, we're hardly close.

They've been competing for the league consistently for a few decades, we haven't. They are bankers to qualify for the champs league every year and make a good run of it most years. We are playing in the Europa League and are lucky to be playing in the Europa League.

We are a long long way behind them and have been for awhile. Bitter pill to swallow but you can't argue that's it's not the blatant truth.

Points difference does not paint an exact picture of the quality between both teams. We're closer than you think. Over 38 games a thinner squad shows.

[danperkins]

Points difference does not paint an exact picture of the quality between both teams. We're closer than you think. Over 38 games a thinner squad shows.

The league does not lie

[tanner]

I don't think they're miles better than us. We need to ensure we have stability and build our squad to catch up that gap over the coming two years. If we do that, there's no reason we can't compete with them as the FFP rules will kick in.

I disagree, they have better players everywhere in my opinion. We're full of underachievers and potential. The gap will only increase over the remainder of the season.

[danperkins]

I disagree, they have better players everywhere in my opinion. We're full of underachievers and potential. The gap will only increase over the remainder of the season.

only seriously biased LFC fans would suggest that LFC are close to United.

It's ludicrous IMO.

[Fredo]

The league does not lie

That's another one of those myths or clichés that is being rehashed from time to time. Of course, the best team generally has more points and eventually wins the league, but it is not always as simple as that.

In our case, squad depth and adapting to a new system and manager plays a role definitely. United have had stability for 26 years.

[Fredo]

I disagree, they have better players everywhere in my opinion. We're full of underachievers and potential. The gap will only increase over the remainder of the season.

They make teams pay while we don't. We've dominated a majority of our games this season, home or away. We just don't have the efficiency. That is the difference.

only seriously biased LFC fans would suggest that LFC are close to United.

It's ludicrous IMO.

That's the kind of crap which pisses me off.

[danperkins]

That's another one of those myths or clichés that is being rehashed from time to time. Of course, the best team generally has more points and eventually wins the league, but it is not always as simple as that.

In our case, squad depth and adapting to a new system and manager plays a role definitely. United have had stability for 26 years.

But that is neither here nor there, you said we are close to United & closer than i think. The evidence over the past 2 decades or so and once again this season... would suggest otherwise. No their fault they've had stability and success.

Come on Nige seriously be realistic, we are nowhere near their calibre. I genuinely don't think 99.9% of football fans would even contemplate that comment.