Topic: It's just a battle for the order of the first 4 spots now between 5 teams...

[kavah]

Let's fucking twat these welsh gobshites

[Pistolero]

How would you phrase it then

'Let us not count our chickens or tempt the football gods or indeed tempt providence of any sort, and let us not shouteth the odds and fall into the trap of believing or assuming that others may fall when they themselves are striving for their own means and ends and let us always, at all times remember to playeth one game at a time and that Pride comes before a fall...particularly at Old Trafford'

might need to use a smaller font...

[Roady]

lets just calm down a little.Concentrate adn win our game first before all of this we could be two off top spot etc etc.Too many people just assume we will win.Do our job and we can then start to do the calculations etc.Just concentrate on us going out and obtaining 3 points.Lets not forget its most likely theyll be pressure on us playign catch up from saturdays matches.Never easy despite the opposition

[rothers]

Cracking post mate.

Loving this post!

[Keita Success]

Oh no. You've tempted fate. Relegation scrap for us next season, folks.

[Syntexity]

All that matters is the three points against Swansea, we can only affect our own games. We can of course hope for others to lose points, but as long as we win I am happy. We have a very difficult game coming up against Southampton who we have really struggled against. Their pressing game has really been overwhelming for our team, we have not been able to cope with it.

[MihawkLFC]

Nothing can be ruled out. We can go and win 12 Games, we can go and loose the next 6. So to rule Spurs out if they're 6 points adrift is risky.
I think we can rule Spurs out after the Game at Anfield against them, if we happen to win it of course.

[Springbok]

One game at a time, if we continue winning then anything is possible. Lets see off Swansea first then look at how other results have affected us. Come on you Reds!

[Robotforaday]

why?

Rafa is a great manager but he is not our manager now,and if its got to do with how they play in Europe,did you not see the game last night?

Swansea could and should have won 2/3-0

I think you're missing a key point about Rafa's approach to Europe. He wins over two legs. I agree that Napoli didn't look so hot last night, but he's gone into the second leg in a position to win and go through - as so many times before with Valencia, Liverpool, and Chelsea. He's a master of winning over 180 minutes.

I absolutely agree that he would be dangerous to meet in the qualifying rounds.

[Kadian]

I think we'll finish 2nd or 3rd and fall short just like in 01/02 and 08/09. It's becoming a bad pattern, when we do challenge we seem to be a few points short. That one great season we have once in a while, just always seems to be that bit short.

We'll get something like 80-83 points and miss out on the title by 4 or 5 points is my prediction.

[nico 8]

All that matters is the three points against Swansea, we can only affect our own games. We can of course hope for others to lose points, but as long as we win I am happy. We have a very difficult game coming up against Southampton who we have really struggled against. Their pressing game has really been overwhelming for our team, we have not been able to cope with it.

Somehow believe that we are going to get a result here.Onus is on them to come forward. We may expose them on the counter. Don't know what style BR is going to deploy.

[Syntexity]

If we finish in between 80-83 points I will be delighted with the run in. Considering we were 7th last year that would be an amazing improvement. If Sturridge can keep his form and Suarez goes on a rampage form again anything can happen.

I hope you are right nico, the away game at stoke was a similar battle and we did win that one However Southampton is a better side who is better at attacking. I do think they will be aware of the threat that Southampton possess with their pressing game so maybe we will have a nice plan to overcome them. Only time will tell, we can worry about that game next week! We need to beat Swansea first, we can't take anything for granted.

[Kadian]

01/02 after 26 games - 49 pts (GD : +14)
Final total - 80 pts. Position : 2nd

08/09 after 26 games - 55 pts (GD : +25)
Final total - 86 pts. Position : 2nd

13/14 after 26 games - 53 pts (GD : +34)
Final total - ?          Position : ?

[pjshaun]

01/02 after 26 games - 49 pts (GD : +14)
Final total - 80 pts. Position : 2nd

08/09 after 26 games - 55 pts (GD : +25)
Final total - 86 pts. Position : 2nd

13/14 after 26 games - 53 pts (GD : +34)
Final total - ?          Position : ?

01/02 after 26 games - 49 pts (GD : +14)
Final total - 80 pts. Position : 2nd

08/09 after 26 games - 55 pts (GD : +25)
Final total - 86 pts. Position : 2nd

13/14 after 26 games - 53 pts (GD : +34)
Final total - 84          Position : 2nd 

[pjshaun]

why?

Rafa is a great manager but he is not our manager now,and if its got to do with how they play in Europe,did you not see the game last night?

Swansea could and should have won 2/3-0

Because Rafa is a master tactician and knows his business when it comes to Europe. Did you see how Chelsea played in away games in Europa league last season? They were absolutely dire away from home and still won the cup. Rafa's teams are most of the time second best in away ties but still come up with a positive result (clean sheets mostly). He deliberately plays cautious tactics in away legs and smash teams right, left and center in the return leg. I'm amazed I have to explain all this to a Liverpool supporter.

Having said all that, I trust Brendan and he has proven his tactical mastery already so even if we are drawn against Napoli, I fully expect us to win. I would just like to avoid confrontation with Rafa in Europe, that's all.

[redan]

01/02 after 26 games - 49 pts (GD : +14)
Final total - 80 pts. Position : 2nd

08/09 after 26 games - 55 pts (GD : +25)
Final total - 86 pts. Position : 2nd

13/14 after 26 games - 53 pts (GD : +34)
Final total - ?          Position : ?

Blimey have we only got 2 points less than 08/09?!

Also look at that goal difference! Fuck it I decided that we're going to win the league!!

[pjshaun]

Blimey have we only got 2 points less than 08/09?!

Also look at that goal difference! Fuck it I decided that we're going to win the league!!

We actually lost our 27th game against Middlesbrough (away) 0-2 and won 10, drew 1 of our last 11 games.

So even if lose against Swansea, we're going to finish 2nd at least. 

[Brentieke]

01/02 after 26 games - 49 pts (GD : +14)
Final total - 80 pts. Position : 2nd

08/09 after 26 games - 55 pts (GD : +25)
Final total - 86 pts. Position : 2nd

13/14 after 26 games - 53 pts (GD : +34)
Final total - 84          Position : 2nd 

Thing is, both the 01/02 and 08/09 sides had a terrific end to the season.

In 08/09 we took 31 out of a possible 36 points, losing once to Boro and drawing once in that crazy game against Arsenal. Basically to even match that season's points tally, we need to get 33 out of the next 36 points, i.e. win 11 and lose 1. That's if we just want to match it!

In 01/02 we also took 31 points out of 36. We lost that fucking game at Spurs and drew at home with Everton. We'll need 27 out of the next 36 points to match that season, i.e. win 9 out of the 12 games.

Both teams at that stage had come off bad runs and were just about to pick up. We're on a good run at the moment, what happens from here reamins to be seen. If we keep going like we have we'll end up with around 77 points. We need to seriously improve on that to win the league, and seriously start fucking up to finish outside the top 4.

Only time will tell.

[Red Genius]

Stop being so bloody pragamatic Brentie, we're gonna win the league, didn't you get the memo mate?

[Roady]

i think we will end up on 80 give or take a point.

[TobyLFC]

If Rodgers starts talking about 'facts' I'll be shitting bricks this weekend.

[Gods_Left_Boot]

i think we will end up on 80 give or take a point.

I think the same. Reckon we'll end up in the 78-81 range, battling with Arse for 3rd place.

[WraithXx]

If Rodgers starts talking about 'facts' I'll be shitting bricks this weekend.

[TSC]

Thing is, both the 01/02 and 08/09 sides had a terrific end to the season.

In 08/09 we took 31 out of a possible 36 points, losing once to Boro and drawing once in that crazy game against Arsenal. Basically to even match that season's points tally, we need to get 33 out of the next 36 points, i.e. win 11 and lose 1. That's if we just want to match it!

In 01/02 we also took 31 points out of 36. We lost that fucking game at Spurs and drew at home with Everton. We'll need 27 out of the next 36 points to match that season, i.e. win 9 out of the 12 games.

Both teams at that stage had come off bad runs and were just about to pick up. We're on a good run at the moment, what happens from here reamins to be seen. If we keep going like we have we'll end up with around 77 points. We need to seriously improve on that to win the league, and seriously start fucking up to finish outside the top 4.

Only time will tell.

But back in 0809 the winners (mancs) seemed to win so many games in the run in 1-0, interspersed with a couple of freaks like that Villa (Mecheda) game, and then the Webb debacle v Spurs.  You'd imagine the eventual winners won't win as many in this run in.

But as you say time will tell.

[Fitzy.]

We need to seriously improve on that to win the league, and seriously start fucking up to finish outside the top 4.

Is this if we only regard United as the main threat? For some reason I only care about United's results in the race for 4th. It may be follly, but I don't see Spurs or Everton sustaining a push.

[Fitzy.]

Just on the discussion about previous seasons and comparing form / points / potential points...I may be wrong but it's unusual for all top 4 teams to have dropped so many points by this point, is it not? Not a single team at 60 points yet shows that the eventual winners may not exceed 80 by a big margin.

[Brian Blessed]

Chelsea - Everton => draw (Not that unlikely, but tough)
Arsenal - Sunderlan => draw (Extremely Optimistic, but could happen - gooners would would be knackered)
Mancity-Stoke => City win (Cant see anything else, even with resurgent stoke)

AND the league table would be like this:

Chelsea: 58
City: 57
Arsenal: 57
Liverpool: 56

 

11 games to go and two 6-pointers at home! May be it is just the Friday morning giddiness but - Make Us Dream!

Fuck that, they all lose, we win and are a point off the top in second come Sunday night.

[the_red_pill]

Just on the discussion about previous seasons and comparing form / points / potential points...I may be wrong but it's unusual for all top 4 teams to have dropped so many points by this point, is it not? Not a single team at 60 points yet shows that the eventual winners may not exceed 80 by a big margin.

To be fair to those feckers- they're not in "the hunt for the title". If you look at the past 2 decades of League tables, you'll notice everyone from 2-4 have always had about the same amount of points at this stage... United though- were always a good few ahead of everyone else. Grudging respect- whether they're bent or not.

Last season, for instance:

POS                                     LP   CLUB   P   W   D   L   GF   GA   GD   PTS
1      (1)   Manchester United   26   21   2   3   62   31   31   65
2      (2)   Manchester City       26   15   8   3   48   24   24   53
3      (3)   Chelsea                  26   14   7   5   55   28   27   49
4      (4)   Tottenham Hotspur   26   14   6   6   44   30   14   48

One last observation... We have more points at matchday 26 than all 4th-placed teams in all the seasons stretching back to 2004/2005 and even before that.

The amount of points after 26games(and sometimes 27) in each of past few seasons stretching back to 200/2001:

44, 51, 45, 41, 48, 46, 49, 47, 51, 45, 47, 43 and 45(2012/2013)

[stevienash]

Let's fucking twat these welsh gobshites

THIS

[the_red_pill]

...
One last observation... We have more points at matchday 26 than all 4th-placed teams in all the seasons stretching back to 2004/2005 and even before that.

The amount of points after 26games(and sometimes 27) in each of past few seasons stretching back to 200/2001:

44, 51, 45, 41, 48, 46, 49, 47, 51, 45, 47, 43 and 45(2012/2013)

So you fuckers were right! We're ACTUALLY CHALLENGING!

[justsean]

Interesting comparisons over the last few seasons ... Team in 4th spot at this stage having amassed a good few more points than teams in 4th spot in previous years. I'd say that would stay the same if you went way back, but that is just a hunch.

13/14 Season after 26 games
1st - 57
4th - 53



12/13 Season after 26 games
1st - 68
4th - 48



11/12 Season after 26 games
1st - 63
4st - 46



10/11 Season after 26 games
1st - 57
4th - 47



09/10 Season after 26 games
1st - 58
4th - 45

[Fitzy.]

To be fair to those feckers- they're not in "the hunt for the title". If you look at the past 2 decades of League tables, you'll notice everyone from 2-4 have always had about the same amount of points at this stage... United though- were always a good few ahead of everyone else. Grudging respect- whether they're bent or not.

Last season, for instance:

One last observation... We have more points at matchday 26 than all 4th-placed teams in all the seasons stretching back to 2004/2005 and even before that.

The amount of points after 26games(and sometimes 27) in each of past few seasons stretching back to 200/2001:

44, 51, 45, 41, 48, 46, 49, 47, 51, 45, 47, 43 and 45(2012/2013)

So does this not support my point that the winners will achieve not much more than 80 points? I

[justsean]

So does this not support my point that the winners will achieve not much more than 80 points? I

Not necessarily, but yes it is possible (or even likely).

Examples:
Team in 1st in 09/10 after 26 games had 58 points (this year it is 57 at the equivalent stage) and finished on 87 points.
Team in 1st in 10/11 after 26 games had 57 points (this year it is 57 at the equivalent stage)  and finished on 80 points.

[the_red_pill]

So does this not support my point that the winners will achieve not much more than 80 points? I

Oh it does! Sorry mate- wasn't disputing your point. I was just trying to point out that it's obvious that lot from Manchester aren't at the races this season. If they were, they'd prolly be on ~65 points by now(and in truth- any other league-leader that was nailed on for the title).

Once we get used to them without the Tramp, we'll see the others and hopefully ourselves, stringing up runs as they did(or our legendary selves) and be around the mid-60pt figure at this stage of the season..

[the_red_pill]

Not necessarily, but yes it is possible (or even likely).

Examples:
Team in 1st in 09/10 after 26 games had 58 points (this year it is 57 at the equivalent stage) and finished on 87 points.
Team in 1st in 10/11 after 26 games had 57 points (this year it is 57 at the equivalent stage)  and finished on 80 points.

Wasn't there a season where the league leaders had finished with something like 78pts?

EDIT: Oh I see- 2010/11.

[Fitzy.]

The treble winning United side won the league in '99 with 79 points. Interestingly, we finished that season in 7th on 54 points. One more than now!

[helmboy_nige]

The treble winning United side won the league in '99 with 79 points. Interestingly, we finished that season in 7th on 54 points. One more than now!

In 96/97 Utd won the league with 75 points.

[Kenny Coat]

All hinges on what we do against Chelsea and City at home. We stay in touch until we play them then we will do them down here.

I don't consider Arsenal to be a threat in the Title race, although they will make top four now.

[Hij]

All hinges on what we do against Chelsea and City at home. We stay in touch until we play them then we will do them down here.

I don't consider Arsenal to be a threat in the Title race, although they will make top four now.

If Chelsea could just draw at home to Arsenal and Spurs that would be fantastic!

[houkura]

If Chelsea could just draw at home to Arsenal and Spurs that would be fantastic!

Draws draws draws. All I want is draws between the top teams that aren't Liverpool. Todays lucky goal by Chelsea...actually a Howard own goal...really upset me but that's another story. My only question is why does the fella you quote think Arsenal are bang on for 4th? I'm not convinced they'll make the top 4 personally.