1 Defeat

[Pigeonho]

That behind the operative word, because as long as that remains to be the case, we have a real chance of getting a top 4 spot, as Liverpool are the team who are most vulnerable for losing their top 4 place.

Except that it's not just a case of finishing above Liverpool is it ?? Are we in 4th ? Therefore it doesn't really matter how far behind us they are...

Is it the end of the season yet, or is it just half way? Put it this way, if we are this far up the league at half way point having had our slump, is it not the case then that with the team gelling more and more each game, (with perhaps a blip along the way), that we have more chance of winning more games in the second half of the season? Thats how I see it.

 

[bizzbo]

liverpool are the value bet. any team, with that track record, with gerrard and torres coming back, surely can't be the 'most vulnerable'. one of the others, probably tottenham or villa, will fall by the wayside towards the end. it's the lack of experience that counts in the second half of the season. betting against liverpool is like betting against the horse that's got 3 dnf's in a row, but has won countless times at the same length, on the same course, in the same class of race. if they are at a higher price now, it reflects two things, one, the fickleness of the market, and two, the importance of the points gained so far.

 

[Pigeonho]

liverpool are the value bet. any team, with that track record, with gerrard and torres coming back, surely can't be the 'most vulnerable'. one of the others, probably tottenham or villa, will fall by the wayside towards the end. it's the lack of experience that counts in the second half of the season. betting against liverpool is like betting against the horse that's got 3 dnf's in a row, but has won countless times at the same length, on the same course, in the same class of race. if they are at a higher price now, it reflects two things, one, the fickleness of the market, and two, the importance of the points gained so far.

I meant they are most vulnerable to lose their place out of the current 'top 4'. When the season started, based on their lack of signings, i thought Arsenal were the ones to displace, whether that be us, villa or Spurs. I think Villa have shown that it is them who can challenge, perhaps with us, as I think Spurs will implode sooner rather than later. Liverpool had Torres and Gerrard yesterday, and whilst I know they're not fully fit, their presence didn't exactly do much in terms of geeing up the other 9 players in that team.

 

[alera]

Liverpool are the worst of the established top 4 by a country mile. Torres and Gerrard are still nursing injuries as well so its not certain they will be available for the majority of remaing games.

Bizzbo is right though if you had to bet now you would still put money on Liverpool getting the 4th spot as they have the experience.

It shouldnt be that way though. If we had won the easy games we have had, Hull and Burnley at home, Bolton and Wigan away you could argue we should be beating Fulham as well with a 2 goal lead at home that would be another 10 points in the bag with a game in hand. 12 point lead over liverpool at this stage - we would almost certainly have finished above them in the table.

Thats why people are getting so frustrated, Liverpool look weak and vunerable this season we are fucking up the best chance in years to get into the top 4. The fact they are still so close and in touching distance after the terrible start they have had shows how close its going to be this year. They have some very easy games comming up as well.

 

[Wrighty Wrexham]

Liverpool are the worst of the established top 4 by a country mile. Torres and Gerrard are still nursing injuries as well so its not certain they will be available for the majority of remaing games.

Bizzbo is right though if you had to bet now you would still put money on Liverpool getting the 4th spot as they have the experience.

It shouldnt be that way though. If we had won the easy games we have had, Hull and Burnley at home, Bolton and Wigan away you could argue we should be beating Fulham as well with a 2 goal lead at home that would be another 10 points in the bag with a game in hand. 12 point lead over liverpool at this stage - we would almost certainly have finished above them in the table.

Thats why people are getting so frustrated, Liverpool look weak and vunerable this season we are fucking up the best chance in years to get into the top 4. The fact they are still so close and in touching distance after the terrible start they have had shows how close its going to be this year. They have some very easy games comming up as well.

Very good post agree with all this :)

 

[alera]

Liverpools next 4 prem games :

Liverpool v Wigan - Win
Portsmouth v Liverpool - Win
Liverpool v Wolverhampton - Win
Aston Villa v Liverpool - Draw

3 very very easy games there 2 of which are at home. Can see them taking 10 points from that lot.

Citys next 4 games :

Tottenham v Man City - Draw
Man City v Sunderland - Win
Man City v Stoke - Win
Wolverhampton v Man City - Draw

Thats 3 hard games for us 8 points for City max as far as I can see.

Villas next 4 games :

Sunderland v Aston Villa - draw
Aston Villa v Stoke - win
Arsenal v Aston Villa - loose
Aston Villa v Liverpool - draw

Some hard games for villa 5 points.


Spuds next 4 games :

Tottenham v Man City - Draw
Blackburn v Tottenham - Draw
Fulham v Tottenham - Loose
Tottenham v West Ham - Win

Games look easy but they are in poor form 2 derbys and us in there. Blackburn are looking hard to beat. 5 points.

Bottom line come January I can see Villa, Spuds, City and Liverpool all being on near identical points. Hopefully our form will improve and the owners will continue their immense genorisity so we can get in some more quality and have a realistic chance of keeping up with the top 4 challenging teams. Its going to be interesting but we there is no more room for error another couple of bad results against easy opposition and any chance of top 4 will be out the window for this season.

 

[bizzbo]

don't count on new signings in january alera. the solution to our defensive problems probably does not lie in yet another left back and central midfielder.

 

[Pigeonho]

Liverpools next 4 prem games :

Liverpool v Wigan - Win
Portsmouth v Liverpool - Win
Liverpool v Wolverhampton - Win
Aston Villa v Liverpool - Draw

3 very very easy games there 2 of which are at home. Can see them taking 10 points from that lot.

Citys next 4 games :

Tottenham v Man City - Draw
Man City v Sunderland - Win
Man City v Stoke - Win
Wolverhampton v Man City - Draw

Thats 3 hard games for us 8 points for City max as far as I can see.

Villas next 4 games :

Sunderland v Aston Villa - draw
Aston Villa v Stoke - win
Arsenal v Aston Villa - loose
Aston Villa v Liverpool - draw

Some hard games for villa 5 points.


Spuds next 4 games :

Tottenham v Man City - Draw
Blackburn v Tottenham - Draw
Fulham v Tottenham - Loose
Tottenham v West Ham - Win

Games look easy but they are in poor form 2 derbys and us in there. Blackburn are looking hard to beat. 5 points.

Bottom line come January I can see Villa, Spuds, City and Liverpool all being on near identical points. Hopefully our form will improve and the owners will continue their immense genorisity so we can get in some more quality and have a realistic chance of keeping up with the top 4 challenging teams. Its going to be interesting but we there is no more room for error another couple of bad results against easy opposition and any chance of top 4 will be out the window for this season.

What are Wednesdays Lotto numbers matey? ;-)

 

[alera]

So based on my guesses (all be it realistic ones) points come 1st Jan could be :

Aston Villa 34
Liverpool 34
Man City 34
Tottenham 32

Positions based on current goal difference. As for new players I was thinking new right back, new left back and another right winger. Seem to be the usual suspects. If we are in touching difference when the window opens I can see us making some moves in the market, no doubt the money will be there, if we can actually bring in the players we want that would improve us well thats another question.

Also I feel we can discount the current top 3 sides and anyone below Liverpool. I cant see Chelsea, Arsenal or Scum falling out of the top 4 this season or any of the sides below liverpool putting together the sort of run that would put them in the top 4 or even top 6.

 

[ColinBall]

We lost 18 times last season. I was saying then that we needed to turn those losses into draws at least.

All you can ask for is progress,it is frustrating but we need to be patient, it will come right.

You cant ignore that there is a fighting spirit in the club and that we are one of the hardest sides to beat.