The Title Race - 2024/25

[TinFoilHat]

Van dick will win the league for city ala Gerrard.

 

[thismeansfour]

Van dick will win the league for city ala Gerrard.

Is he going to magic up a team that can win a football match for us?

 

[TinFoilHat]

Is he going to magic up a team that can win a football match for us?

 

[thismeansfour]

Pep's worst season, the 1st, ended with 78 pts. I think 70 pts are likely to be enough for top 4.

Pep's system is ideal for league competitions. It might struggle every 5 years or so due to injuries, aging players, bad luck, etc., but it tends to deliver.

Points comparisons to other seasons is irrelevant. This form will not make top 4, if you consider the numerous games we just got away with too to gather our current points total. A poster previously said, we just had an international break, time to assess and find solutions to problems, the wave of a pep renewal and then the Rodri party. Even with all that going on our next two games, both at home have been horror shows. There isn't anything that suggests things are going to improve, other than past glorys.

 

[citizen_maine]

Points comparisons to other seasons is irrelevant. This form will not make top 4, if you consider the numerous games we just got away with too to gather our current points total. A poster previously said, we just had an international break, time to assess and find solutions to problems, the wave of a pep renewal and then the Rodri party. Even with all that going on our next two games, both at home have been horror shows. There isn't anything that suggests things are going to improve, other than past glorys.

You think we're going to continue in this form for the rest of the season?

 

[chesterbells]

Points comparisons to other seasons is irrelevant. This form will not make top 4, if you consider the numerous games we just got away with too to gather our current points total. A poster previously said, we just had an international break, time to assess and find solutions to problems, the wave of a pep renewal and then the Rodri party. Even with all that going on our next two games, both at home have been horror shows. There isn't anything that suggests things are going to improve, other than past glorys.

Agreed, but it’s not “past glories” as in a different era, different players. It’s actually quite recent glories, with many of the same players, so there is hope of some kind of improvement, even if not to title-winning form, certainly enough to win a game or two.

 

[Coatigan]

2nd but could easily be 5th and 11 points off top after this weekend.

It'd be easier to have some faith if we hadn't performed like we have in the last two games after most of the squad had a two week break and pep had some time to come up with a solution to the issues we had before the international break.

Instead we look even worse and it doesn't look like the rot is going to end anytime soon.

We could also find ourselves only 5 points off the top too, with two thirds of the season left to play.

I get your point on our performances, and a part of me shares your worries. But we could also click into gear as sharply as we have in past seasons, when going through an 'unrecognisable' stretch.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

We could also find ourselves only 5 points off the top too, with two thirds of the season left to play.

I get your point on our performances, and a part of me shares your worries. But we could also click into gear as sharply as we have in past seasons, when going through an 'unrecognisable' stretch.

Putting to one side form and the fact it's Anfield, it is remarkable that if we win on Sunday everything is left to play for.

 

[Coatigan]

Putting to one side form and the fact it's Anfield, it is remarkable that if we win on Sunday everything is left to play for.

Even with a draw, I'd say everything to play for.

A loss though, becomes far more difficult.

But then we were 12 points ahead of liverpool in January the gundo year, and people had called the title race over, and we found ourselves what 7 minutes from missing out on it.

Lots can still happen, let's just get some points on the board first.

 

[thismeansfour]

Agreed, but it’s not “past glories” as in a different era, different players. It’s actually quite recent glories, with many of the same players, so there is hope of some kind of improvement, even if not to title-winning form, certainly enough to win a game or two.

To win a game or two yeah, to consistently do it over a season I'm not sure. Hopefully, you would have thought the fortune change would have come after a break where Pep can work on the solution as well as the buzz of his renewal. Maybe a positive 115 outcome might kickstart us?

 

[BungleBear]

Even with a draw, I'd say everything to play for.

A loss though, becomes far more difficult.

But then we were 12 points ahead of liverpool in January the gundo year, and people had called the title race over, and we found ourselves what 7 minutes from missing out on it.

Lots can still happen, let's just get some points on the board first.

The best we had was an 8 point lead with equal games and it was for a very short period.

This season Liverpool are going for our points record and we are not at the races. We haven't had a convincing PL win since August.

 

[thismeansfour]

You think we're going to continue in this form for the rest of the season?

Not losing every week no, but our form even when winning wasn't great. If you look at our actual performances over the season, last minute against a poor Wolves, crap against Newcastle, poor against Brentford and Fulham, stumbled over the line against Southampton. Our performances have largely been poor, even when we have picked up points. Factor in that we have gone behind in the majority of games too.

 

[Coatigan]

The best we had was an 8 point lead with equal games and it was for a very short period.

This season Liverpool are going for our points record and we are not at the races. We haven't had a convincing PL win since August.

Ok. Fair.

I'm not ready to give up quite just yet though, sorry.

And if we end up having a bad season, we will recover fairly quickly imo.

 

[Moss Side's Finest]

The best we had was an 8 point lead with equal games and it was for a very short period.

This season Liverpool are going for our points record and we are not at the races. We haven't had a convincing PL win since August.

They are going for our points record? After like 13 games? Did they call you to say? Weird statement to make...

 

[jimharri]

Are we out of the race? No. Will it be difficult now? Absolutely. We need a 180° turnaround in form and belief. Defend like we did in that last 20 minutes on tuesday, and you can forget it. But I have to believe we can do it. Deluded? Quite possibly. But where better to start than TMMfield.

 

[ali benarbia's studs]

Not over.....Liverpool are only in 2nd gear...briefly 3rd in games. But they have struggled in matches,been extremely lucky to swing games and scraped through matches.

Arsenal are in second gear, over a lumpy patch and with a run of wins.....back in the mix.

We on the other hand need a sharp turn around and a spirit and desire I've not seen in us in two seasons. Still love our squad mind, I think we ve been falling shy of our standards of late.....need something immediate and a momentus push.Starting this Sunday.

 

[ali benarbia's studs]

If we keep the pressure, their arse will fall out of their chase.

 

[citizen_maine]

Not losing every week no, but our form even when winning wasn't great. If you look at our actual performances over the season, last minute against a poor Wolves, crap against Newcastle, poor against Brentford and Fulham, stumbled over the line against Southampton. Our performances have largely been poor, even when we have picked up points. Factor in that we have gone behind in the majority of games too.

Again though, you're talking about our current form. I don't believe we'll play this poorly all season, and we're still 2nd even though we are playing poorly, so see nothing to suggest we won't make CL spots

 

[chesterbells]

To win a game or two yeah, to consistently do it over a season I'm not sure. Hopefully, you would have thought the fortune change would have come after a break where Pep can work on the solution as well as the buzz of his renewal. Maybe a positive 115 outcome might kickstart us?

Yeah, you’d hope. From catching up on some of the 115 thread today, it now looks like the outcome of that won’t be in the short term, probably after this season is over.
Re results turn around, the match on Sunday, no idea - might not be pretty - but I really hope that Forest at home the following Wednesday will be a confidence-boosting performance and result.

 

[thismeansfour]

Again though, you're talking about our current form. I don't believe we'll play this poorly all season, and we're still 2nd even though we are playing poorly, so see nothing to suggest we won't make CL spots

Our form is outside these last 6 games though, scraping by in games we should be winning a lot more comfortably, whilst playing poorly was worrying even when we was topping the league. Everything suggests we are on a downward spiral.

Yeah, you’d hope. From catching up on some of the 115 thread today, it now looks like the outcome of that won’t be in the short term, probably after this season is over.
Re results turn around, the match on Sunday, no idea - might not be pretty - but I really hope that Forest at home the following Wednesday will be a confidence-boosting performance and result.

We need a boost from somewhere as Rodri won't be back any time soon, KDB is always close to his next injury so it is hard to see what will get the lads going if a pep contract and a balon d'or win doesn't. Maybe a January shake up but it is rare we go into that market. Don't count your chickens with Forest....