Where do you think we'll finish this season and why?

GStar said:
How coma all their players take so long to overcome muscle injuries, and why do they get so many of them? (genuine question)
Click to expand...

I honestly believe it's because their average age is so young, much younger than any of the other big teams. They haven't finished growing by the time they're thrown into the first team, and it leads to all sorts of muscle injuries. Look at the same players once they're a bit older - the ones who stay and the ones that leave - they're far less injury prone.
 
Pride_In_Battle said:
I honestly believe it's because their average age is so young, much younger than any of the other big teams. They haven't finished growing by the time they're thrown into the first team, and it leads to all sorts of muscle injuries. Look at the same players once they're a bit older - the ones who stay and the ones that leave - they're far less injury prone.
Click to expand...

There's no scientific evidence to suggest that the age of the player relates to risk of injury.
 
JC said:
Agree with this but could do with no injuries this season or we could well struggle for top 3
Click to expand...
I have read more of that David James article and his reasons for saying we won't make top 4 make no sense, all about splurging money and that being "the wrong model." I do actually worry a little for our top 4 status this season but not for the reasons that David James is going on about.
 
LHarper said:
There's no scientific evidence to suggest that the age of the player relates to risk of injury.
Click to expand...
Both interesting points.

On Wenger rushing players back, it's become a bit of an in joke that his players are always "two weeks away" from returning to fitness and seem to reamin at that 'status' for far longer than the fortnight suggested.

I've always thought his players are quick to pick up injuries and slow to recover, it's just surprising they've not addressed it, given how gravely it's impacted their recent PL campaigns.
 
JC said:
Agree with this but could do with no injuries this season or we could well struggle for top 3
Click to expand...

I don't think we will struggle for top 3. One thing we do have is a settled nucleus of players so they all know each other and how each other plays.

Hart, Zab, Kompany, Kolorov, Clichy, Yaya, Nasri, Silva, Aguero have all been with us for more than 4 seasons. Fernandinho is coming into his third season along with Navas and Demichellis.

8 of those players could easily make up the first team when all fit with 3 others.

We had injuries and loss of form to Kompany and Yaya last season and still came second.

Whether we have strengthened enough to challenge is debatable. If we don't sign anyone else then we are arguably weaker.
 
If a top class CM/LB come in along with possibly a CB(or VK rediscovers his form), then 2nd place or possibly a title win.

If not 4th.

Only because there are weaknesses that havent fully been adressed, where as rivals have.

You have chelsea who didn't need to do too much, arsenal have a good keeper finally, and UTD have signed 2 good CM's and are linked with pedro...and you'd expect them to be a bit better this season regardless, given the manager and time to adapt to a change in formation/style.

City will be glad of signing sterling for sure, but the gaping holes are not looking likely to be remedied properly, and they(more so than attacking) needed addressing.

Looking at liverpool now, despite thinking brenda is a fraud, i think the squad is way better than last season.

4th could be no easy thing.
 
Last edited:
LittleEgg said:
If a top class CM/LB come in along with possibly a CB(or VK rediscovers his form), then 2nd place or possibly a title win.

If not 4th.

Only because there are weaknesses that havent fully been adressed, where as rivals have.

You have chelsea who didn't need to do too much, arsenal have a good keeper finally, and UTD have signed 2 good CM's and are linked with pedro...and you'd expect them to be a bit better this season regardless, given the manager and time to adapt to a change in formation/style.

City will be glad of signing sterling for sure, but the gaping holes are not looking likely to be remedied properly, and they(more so than attacking) needed addressing.

Looking at liverpool now, despite thinking brenda is a fraud, i think the squad is way better than last season.

4th could be no easy thing.
Click to expand...

For me both United and Liverpool have too many new players to bed in. United have no pace and Liverpool have lost Gerrard and Sterling. I see those two battling for 4th 5-10 points behind the top 3.

Arsenal also have a settled side as do Chelsea but you never can tell with Arsenal. They are still prone to the odd 1-0 loss at home to the likes of Swansea after having 75% possession and 20 attempts at goal.

We lost the league last season because our home form wasn't good enough, Our results against sides in the bottom 3 (end) was atrocious and our record against the other top 4 sides was poor. We lost 9 points against Burnley, Hull and QPR! We gained 6 out of 18 against Arsenal, Chelsea and United. Improve that and we will go much closer. Whether Pellegrini is the man to do it is debatable.
 
Until we know whether the likes of De Bruyne and Pogba are arriving it's very difficult to answer this. If I were to stick my neck out now I'd say we'll finish 2nd. We've got enough talent in the squad when it comes to retaining possession, and scoring goals, to see us finish high up, but I remain worried about the strength of our defensive players. When you compare our defence with the one Chelsea can put out there it's not really up to scratch.
 
Millwallawayveteran1988 said:
For me both United and Liverpool have too many new players to bed in. United have no pace and Liverpool have lost Gerrard and Sterling. I see those two battling for 4th 5-10 points behind the top 3.

Arsenal also have a settled side as do Chelsea but you never can tell with Arsenal. They are still prone to the odd 1-0 loss at home to the likes of Swansea after having 75% possession and 20 attempts at goal.

We lost the league last season because our home form wasn't good enough, Our results against sides in the bottom 3 (end) was atrocious and our record against the other top 4 sides was poor. We lost 9 points against Burnley, Hull and QPR! We gained 6 out of 18 against Arsenal, Chelsea and United. Improve that and we will go much closer. Whether Pellegrini is the man to do it is debatable.
Click to expand...


Pace isn't something UTD will struggle with too much i don't think, they have both depay, and pedro if reports are to be believed...both have bags of pace. Liverpool have lost gerrard yes, but i honestly think they will be better for it not least because he had been on the decline for a while, but others will come good(same as with city when yaya wasn't available last season), and furthermore milner is a better prospect for me. Firmino, and benteke will no doubt help them improve substantially on last year...

I agree with some of your points though.

City did lose points against lesser sides last season, the trouble is that last friendly was like a slice of dejavu...last game of preseason being like a highlight reel from the worst parts of last season.

Pogba will help, but i think he's only part of the answer. Organization and defensive discipline need improvement.
 
Theres a solid argument to say we can win the league. Chavs havnt strengthened, Arsenal have but theres some gap for them n scum to breach. All the rag tops have been busy soiling their y fronts over pigsheister who i think is a nothing signing outside him though they have improved significantly and perhaps more to the point, like us i suspect theyre not finished yet but as with arsenal i think a sustained challenge is beyond them. so realistically i thinks its down to us and maureens mob. Who wins imo is dependent primarily on the very reason we failed last term and thats the form and fitness of key men. We need yaya to have the type of year he tends to have when that cursed acon doesnt interfere. Ee need kaptain back to his best and we neef kun ALL season. If we get that i think we will sneak it. If (a big if) we add the pog and de bruyne and perhaps do some late wheeler dealing to tweak our defensive options then the margin could be a bit easier on the heart than our recent triumphs. Conversly if wr dont add AND we lose either to injury or form any combination of those mentioned i see a struggle to even get 4th
 
I believe it's far too early to predict what's going to happen and where we'll finish.
Ask me after we've played 10 games, i'll have a better idea how we are playing.
Not how we were playing. History counts for nothing in this game.
 
stonerblue said:
Can't believe some of the negativity on here even before a ball has been kicked in anger.
If they don't think we can win the league then why bother at all ?
Click to expand...

I know your intentions are good but we bothered for 44 years before we won the title again... Just because people think we will finish 3rd or 4th doesn't mean they will be any less passionate at matches or supportive of the club.
 
I'm going for 3rd with an FA cup win! Defence too ropey and I think pellers will unfortunately play certain formations that don't help our defence or central midfield. We will score a shit load though!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top