Topic: How many points would you expect in the next 5 league games - 2014/15 edition

[sambhi92]

If we wanna win the league then we need to win all the games. hopefully 15 points. think we'll get 13 though.

[sikingthegreat1]

hoping for 15, think we'll get 13
below 13 will be a disappointment

[new-red]

I'm a worry wart. So I hope for 15 and expect 12-13. I want us to win so bad, as we all do but I am in a constant state of fear til the final whistle.

[rocco]

Possible 15

Thinking 11

[indlfc]

Hopefully Sturridge's injury doesn't affect too much.

[turkish kopite]

Hopefully Sturridge's injury doesn't affect too much.

Mario Balo can prove himself here, maybe...

[houkura]

Many of you have West Ham away marked down as a win, I think it is our most dangerous fixture over the next 5. Last year we scraped a win with two penalties, something that surely isn't gonna happen again. Plus West Ham do show signs of improvement. They create more chances and shots than before. Credit where credit is due, Fat Sam is changing their style of play. I can see them finish in the top half.

Think we have much better chance beating a West Ham team that tries to play on the deck than the brute strength physical maul they tried last year. Could still see Sam reverting to type though. Hard to call but expect a win. Head says 15. Heart says 15. Caveat that it's footy and anything can happen.

[MagicB8all]

Mario Balo can prove himself here, maybe...

We all hope that, but it's a bit early, we're not even sure Balo' is fully match fit yet, let alone integrated into the team

[vivabobbygraham]

Many of you have West Ham away marked down as a win, I think it is our most dangerous fixture over the next 5. Last year we scraped a win with two penalties, something that surely isn't gonna happen again. Plus West Ham do show signs of improvement. They create more chances and shots than before. Credit where credit is due, Fat Sam is changing their style of play. I can see them finish in the top half.

Have you read the first page?

[PhaseOfPlay]

Many of you have West Ham away marked down as a win, I think it is our most dangerous fixture over the next 5. Last year we scraped a win with two penalties, something that surely isn't gonna happen again. Plus West Ham do show signs of improvement. They create more chances and shots than before. Credit where credit is due, Fat Sam is changing their style of play. I can see them finish in the top half.

We will teach West Ham what an attack is supposed to look like.

There's nothing more vulnerable than a manager trying to change his core philosophy

[Keita Success]

For champions league, an average of 2 points a game is the general expectation. So, 10 points and any extra's a bonus

[Coutinholycow]

They need to at least match what they did last season to stay on track.  The way I look at it, with a home win vs Southampton they are already 3 points ahead.  Those 3 points will be massive later.

vs Villa - 1 point ; but no reason they can't turn that into a win, especially without Benteke.  Lets say 3
@ West Ham - 3 points; do it again
vs Everton - 3 points; do it again
vs WBA - 3 points; do it again
@ QPR - better be 3; Liverpool took all 18 points vs the relegated teams last season, therefore I expect 18 points vs the 3 promoted teams this season or they could be in the muck.  Can't lost their extra points from the Southampton win in those games.

I expect 15 points.

[gatcliffe]

For champions league, an average of 2 points a game is the general expectation. So, 10 points and any extra's a bonus

Spot on

[Twelfth Man]

We will teach West Ham what an attack is supposed to look like.

There's nothing more vulnerable than a manager trying to change his core philosophy

They made us walk, a mile to their ground, and played a un-watered pitch. We should reciprocate the gentlemanly behaviour.

[MerseysideBrum]

Spot on

going to need more than 76 points to get CL this season I'd put a lot of money on it

[ScouserAtHeart]

going to need more than 76 points to get CL this season I'd put a lot of money on it

I agree. It'll be around 80-82 for 4th place it looks like. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Arsenal miss out this year It was United's turn last year after 18 years to miss out, and it'll be Arsenal this year after 16.

[Kochevnik]

I agree. It'll be around 80-82 for 4th place it looks like. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Arsenal miss out this year It was United's turn last year after 18 years to miss out, and it'll be Arsenal this year after 16.

Out of curiosity, what makes you think this?  One of the teams will turn out to be a disappointment, probably United but possibly Arsenal (or us).  I would say there's very, very little chance that 77 points doesn't get you a CL place, much less 82.

[ScouserAtHeart]

Out of curiosity, what makes you think this?  One of the teams will turn out to be a disappointment, probably United but possibly Arsenal (or us).  I would say there's very, very little chance that 77 points doesn't get you a CL place, much less 82.

I just think that despite how much we'd all like United to fail spectacularly like last season, unfortunately they have a better manager than last season as well as a way better, if slightly imbalanced, squad. It's not good enough across the board for a title challenge, but it IS good enough to take the race for 4th down to the last 2-3 games of the season. At which point, Arsenal choke spectacularly and lose out (hopefully).

I also don't think we'll see as many surprise results as last season, where Sunderland and Villa beat Chelsea and Cardiff beat City. I know Stoke have already beaten City this season which shits all over the point I'm trying to make, but that's normal for City. They start off poorly, but once they get into their stride they won't be losing to teams 7th and lower.

The top 4 (plus United) are too strong for the rest of the teams this time around. United especially look like they'll be trying to do what we did last season. Compensate for an average defence by going for all out attack. They won't have it easy against the top-7, but the rest should fold.

Which is why I think 5 teams will get very close to, or surpass, the 80-point mark.

[rickardinho1]

We will teach West Ham what an attack is supposed to look like.

There's nothing more vulnerable than a manager trying to change his core philosophy

Without Mr Elbow-assault playing up top I think we'd breeze it against them as he's their only goal/foul threat against us. Upton Park is a slippery venue though, probably has something to do with all that soap they're always blowing onto the pitch at kickoff 

[rickardinho1]

For champions league, an average of 2 points a game is the general expectation. So, 10 points and any extra's a bonus

I disagree. Champions league teams are generally of a higher quality and bring a winning pedigree.

Dropping points away to west ham is much more frustrating than a draw at Basel for example.

[51cam]

We should get 15 if we can push on from the Spurs performance.

Would still be delighted with 13. Would mean we're exceeding targets and are maintaining momentum.

[jonnypb]

13

But 15 would be nice and 10 would be awful

[I-was-watching-it-on-Sky]

I agree. It'll be around 80-82 for 4th place it looks like. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Arsenal miss out this year It was United's turn last year after 18 years to miss out, and it'll be Arsenal this year after 16.

I doubt that there's much hard evidence to suggest this is true.

Over the last ten years the average points totalled by the 4th place side is 72pts [with not a lot of variation away from that 72pt mark] and if I'm not wrong [I'm working away from home n don't have my wee spreadsheet to remind me] over the last five years it's 70pts.

While there is evidence to suggest the sides at the top end of the table are getting stronger [relative to the mid-table teams] there's no evidence that they're achieving higher points totals [ten year average for 1st place has actually dropped from 89pts to 88pts at the end of last season].

Added to that, there is evidence that in the season after a WC the winning total drops by an average of 4pts.

I think it's reasonable to assume [at this stage] that the winner will be in the 84 - 86pts range with the next three places spread out below them between 2 and 13pts adrift.

[Black Bull Nova]

Villa, 3, nothing more at this stage

[Mali1]

In every 5 games, if we can get 12 out of 15 points then we will reach 90points. That will easily win us the league.

If we can win against Villa, Westham, and Everton then we are on track.

[Golyo]

I just think that despite how much we'd all like United to fail spectacularly like last season, unfortunately they have a better manager than last season as well as a way better, if slightly imbalanced, squad. It's not good enough across the board for a title challenge, but it IS good enough to take the race for 4th down to the last 2-3 games of the season. At which point, Arsenal choke spectacularly and lose out (hopefully).

You are basically rooting for United against Arsenal, right? I find it strange given your username and all.

[DanA]

I think 11/15 from the first 5 games could be considered title winning form (considering the opposition). Hoping for 12/15 which I think puts us ahead of the game in the title race.

From here though over the next five 13/15 is about par to maintain a title challenge. I'd love 15/15 but we've got a lot of players to bed in so I'd be happy just to hang in there till Christmas, it's then. I'd look to go on a long run similar to the last two seasons.

[ScouserAtHeart]

You are basically rooting for United against Arsenal, right? I find it strange given your username and all.

Oh, no no. Spurs sneak in but go out in the qualifiers And yes, I'm from the future.

[ScouserAtHeart]

Well that was a big kick in the balls, wasn't it?  It's now imperative I think that we HAVE to win thr next 4 if we are to keep pace with Chelsea before they come to Anfield. Won't be easy given the fact we play 6 games in...what...20 days?

[Twelfth Man]

15

[Anywhichwayicant]

7

[KForshaw]

 

[Durlmints]

4

[Hij]

7

7 from West Ham Away, Everton Home, West Brom Home, QPR Away, Hull Home

Which two are we losing?

[Haggis36]

8 from this block (so including the Villa game) so 8 from the next 4. Two wins, two draws. If we can sneak in an extra win to take us to 10 from 5 games, then we're back to that lovely 2PPG line and I'd be happy.

[Michel]

6 points from the first 5 games.
1,2 points per game.
This isn't good enough even for 10th place.

[indlfc]

 

[riismeister]

I'm gonna count the 3 first and go with 6 more in the next 2 for a total of 12 in the first 5 games, which would be a great start to the season (including away games to 2 of last years top 6).

Well, that didn't go too well.

So far..

01. Liverpool v Southampton 3p
02. Man City v Liverpool 0p
03. Tottenham v Liverpool 3p
04. Liverpool v Aston Villa 0p
05. West Ham v Aston Villa 0p

6/15

Next 5, expecting

06. Liverpool v Everton 1p
07. Liverpool v WBA 3p
08. QPR v Liverpool 3p
09. Liverpool v Hull 1p
10. Newcastle v Liverpool 3p

11/15

[Durlmints]

06. Liverpool v Everton 1p
07. Liverpool v WBA 3p
08. QPR v Liverpool 3p
09. Liverpool v Hull 1p
10. Newcastle v Liverpool 3p

11/15

You haven't learned the lesson have you?

Everton we'll beat because they fold at Anfield. 3pts
West Brom will probably shut us out, and we look too impotent to get anything. 1pt
QPR will raise their game, might surprise our lads and come flying out the blocks. 0pts
Hull will be typically Steve Bruce. 0pts
Newcastle will be determined under their new manager. Great performance sees them 3-2 winners. 0pts

4pts "would be Utopia". 

[invader_gir]

Well, that didn't go too well.

So far..

01. Liverpool v Southampton 3p
02. Man City v Liverpool 0p
03. Tottenham v Liverpool 3p
04. Liverpool v Aston Villa 0p
05. West Ham v Aston Villa 0p

6/15

Next 5, expecting

06. Liverpool v Everton 1p
07. Liverpool v WBA 3p
08. QPR v Liverpool 3p
09. Liverpool v Hull 1p
10. Newcastle v Liverpool 3p

11/15

we need to work harder and should be getting  at least 12 from those games to be honest.