Come on mate, comparing the first games as opposed to the results against the same teams?
We're on exactly the same number of points if you compare like for like (like I did up there ^^^). That's not including West Brom.
There's more than one way to skin a cat. The method you're suggesting is certainly one, but jumbling up the schedule to compare results fails to take into account the pressure of time. If you start out losing matches, you're more likely to lose in the future because of the pressure and thinking you have to make enforced changes. You have to keep throwing your best players out there again and again to make up ground.
Whereas if you get off to a good start, the pressure's off, the mindset of the players is positive, you can take more risks in rotating your best players keeping them fresh, and you approach cup competitions with a different mindset, not having one nervous eye on the table.
Fact is, we started out scoring freely last season but conceding freak goals at the back (Assou Ekotto, Gerrard peno v Villa, two Carra missed headers against Spurs and Villa). This season, we are still giving up goals, but not scoring as much, and digging a hole in the league table that will have us severely under pressure to dig out of.
