with what have seen so far....

[floyd the barber]

and this is not a kneejerk thread....this is based on everything we have seen this season.

 

I still feel we are a long way off, and dont have the strength to seriously even challenge...weird to say that so early in with us not losing a game yet...just feel something isnt right at the club at the moment with our more experienced pros playing way below par.....add the uncertainty over who starts each week and you have a situation not idal for any team who seriously wants to win the premiership..

 

We have players like Riise and Pennant who are simply not good enough...pennant is no ronaldo, hes not van persie....and thats the level we need to be looking at, riise is shocking and i find it unbelievable how he started today ahead of benyoun or even babel (who looked quite good when he cameon)..

 

Would anyone disagree about us needing to buy a top class winger in january? ...no of course not....we need one bad, for the best crosser of the ball is our right back..steve finnan

 

Yes there is a long way to go....but we need to find out rythm, we need to find a FIRST 11....and we need quick or i can see us slowly slipping away.

[Cooldude]

A lot of things will have to go right for us immediately for us to have a chance

 

People keep saying how Arsenal will fall due to ANC later and their squad depth and s***, but I can't see how they will fall away too much. They'll definitely be there and there abouts

 

Mancs will come back into form, too

 

We can't get too far behind, it would be too hard to chase them down

 

What we must do is to take a lot of points in the next month with so many big games coming up

[Guest Ant]

No We cannot......

 

Benitez is too Stubborn

[Owen1978]

One thing that the other teams have, is that their possession play is much better, ours is well behind! At times when the team is going through bad form it is vital that we at least keep hold of the ball!

[RedHarvest]

I havn't seen the match today but there's no doubt we can win the title with the squad we have,,but it's obvious there's something very wrong if the players are not performing and showing such little confidence. Regardless of the rotation argument the buck still stops with Rafa. Just hope to f*** we get it sorted fast. There's still time.

[meepins]

I havn't seen the match today but there's no doubt we can win the title with the squad we have,,but it's obvious there's something very wrong if the players are not performing and showing such little confidence. Regardless of the rotation argument the buck still stops with Rafa. Just hope to f*** we get it sorted fast. There's still time.

Why is there no doubt? Has it crossed your mind that maybe this team is just a little overrated and people are expecting too much? I'd be waiting to judge on the performance of team and the way the play before I assumed that it could win the league.

Well we've seen how disjointed and poor this team have played and there are little signs of hitting the level thats needed. We know exactly where the bar is because Arsenal (of a few years ago), then Chelsea and to a lesser extent Utd have shown what it takes to do it. We aren't anywhere near the bar.

Edited October 7, 2007 by lfc-dub

[Guz]

I'm sticking with my original prediction that we'll challenge till quite deep into the season but fall short in the end

[Sion]

I'm sticking with my original prediction that we'll challenge till quite deep into the season but fall short in the end

 

We're not challenging at the moment though

[Guest RedLegend]

I doubt it to be honest. Given how we are playing and some of the fixtures coming up we could be out of by the end of October again.

 

This month really is s*** or bust.

[RedHarvest]

Why is there no doubt? Has it crossed your mind that maybe this team is just a little overrated and people are expecting too much? I'd be waiting to judge on the performance of team and they way the play before I assumed that it could win the league. Well we've seen how disjointed and poor this team have played and there are little signs of hitting the level thats needed. We know exactly where the bar is because Arsenal (of a few years ago, then Chelsea and to a lesser extent Utd have shown what it takes to do it. We aren't anywhere near the bar.

I believed at the start of the season that with the squad we had (including a fit Xabi and Agger) we could win it...apart from the lack of cover at CB I still believe it. Since Derby we've displayed a mystifying lack of belief and togetherness as a team. There's something wrong behind the scenes, there must be. Rotation and Rafa will take the blame as usual. Im not writing us off yet because it's early and we have the talent.

[Magic8Ball]

that was a spurs side that virtually everyone else is beating and we could only manage a draw

since the internationals, the loss of Alonso and Agger we've been less than average

 

that would imply to me that we are at least 2 players short ( ie the two we are missing), most likely we are 3 players short

top Winger, CH who can bring the ball out of defense , alternative striker to Crouch someone who can hold the ball up and score reguarly

[New York Red]

I had real reservations at the beginning of the season about our back four, and about our wingers.

 

I know we haven't been giving up a lot of goals, but I still think our position is precarious. Having to rely on a slumping Carra (through injury or overwork or whatever), Sami (through age) has left us wide open in the middle. Someone mentioned that Rafa had fannied about on the Heinze deal for too long was spot on. He was signing him because we needed someone there, so why bother with that for someone who was a long shot to actually get here? Heinze wasn't being bought as a luxury; it was a necessity and he was the wrong man for it.

 

Left midfield was a huge question mark. Kewell injured, Babel not really right for the position, Riise the wrong man for the position, Auerelio chronically injured.

 

At right midfield we have two decent players but not great players. Either one of them would be excellent back ups. Neither are good enough to start week-in, week-out.

 

Torres has been great. He needs to be a Stevie for us. If he is available, he plays, end of story. Kuyt is a workhorse. But, is he better to bring on if we are looking to hang on to a lead and to sub in up front when players are too knackered or injured?

 

That leaves the triumverate of Voronin, Crouch and Babel. I think two of them would be right for us, but not all three, Crouch clearly looks like the odd man out.

 

I know we haven't given up a lot of goals, I know we are unbeaten in the league, but we also won four as opposed to Arsenal winning seven. Its not the lack of losses, its the lack of wins. But, we have a fragile defense right now, we're not bossing matches, and other than the Derby game we haven't been scoring by the bucketful.

 

We made buys this summer but one of them was a GREAT one. Three of them should have been great ones.

 

We also need to be a lot more honest and stop sanctifying our players. Specifically I'm talking about Stevie, Carra and Sami. Stevie has been out of sorts, be it through injury or whatever. But he hasn't stepped up this season, that's a fact. He's our Ronaldo, the one who is supposed to terrify the other team. Carra has a lot of miles on him. He's a warrior but he's been slipping. Same for Sami unfortunately and he has to be a fill in at best at this age. He's starting to remind me of Pellegrino when I see him.

 

So, that's what I've seen so far. I'm not confident in us challenging this year and the CL is worrying me after our first two performances too.

[Gomez]

Not anymore. Can't say I know what's wring though. We were playing better than anyone going into the last international break then we completely lost momentum and have shown weakness of character since.

[Guest Finnan3]

and this is not a kneejerk thread....this is based on everything we have seen this season.

 

I still feel we are a long way off, and dont have the strength to seriously even challenge...weird to say that so early in with us not losing a game yet...just feel something isnt right at the club at the moment with our more experienced pros playing way below par.....add the uncertainty over who starts each week and you have a situation not idal for any team who seriously wants to win the premiership..

 

We have players like Riise and Pennant who are simply not good enough...pennant is no ronaldo, hes not van persie....and thats the level we need to be looking at, riise is shocking and i find it unbelievable how he started today ahead of benyoun or even babel (who looked quite good when he cameon)..

 

Would anyone disagree about us needing to buy a top class winger in january? ...no of course not....we need one bad, for the best crosser of the ball is our right back..steve finnan

 

Yes there is a long way to go....but we need to find out rythm, we need to find a FIRST 11....and we need quick or i can see us slowly slipping away.

 

No I dont think so.

 

Arsenal - play some great stuff and getting the wins,

Man Utd can play good stuff but grind out results at the very least,

Chelsea are less of a threat but seem to be grinding out results.

 

Don't think we have what it takes to win it, maybe if United and Arsenal start dropping points..

 

Reina, Carra, Agger, Finnan, Gerrard, Masch, Torres need to start EVERY league game when fit. Rotate the other 4 positions if he has to.

[San Diego Red]

Realistically, I think it's possible, but it's unlikely unless we get a player like Quaresma in the window. We dearly miss Alonso and Agger.

[Cunny]

Unlikely.

Our off the ball movement is appalling and a real wink link.

It's the main difference between us and Arsenal.

Hence, we don't keep possession well as the passing options are reduced.

 

Today was a game littered with basic passing errors from both teams. Best league in the world!? You must be joking.

[Rahul]

When are Xabi and Agger back?

[guernseygareth]

to be in there still by may is what i hope for, this year.

 

its still the first week in october.

 

we're unbeaten in the league.

 

have important players injured.

 

can only play better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

some of the above may be inaccurate.

[Stevie H]

we've got a good enogugh squad. i'm just not sure that the manager has the philosophy or the right mentality to win the league in england.

[Owen1978]

Why is our off the ball movement so miserable?, is it down to rafa, cos he likes to his team to keep to his tactical plan thus keep there shape? therefore not allowing players too much movement from their original positions?

 

Does rafa even sit down and formulate a plan of the way our attacking game should be or is he too bogged down with his defensive play?

[Owen1978]

we've got a good enogugh squad. i'm just not sure that the manager has the philosophy or the right mentality to win the league in england.

 

I disagree i don't think we have a good enough first 11 never mind a squad.

[shanklyn]

We will never win the Premiership with Rafa in charge, that was clear a year ago and is even more clearer now.

[Toe]

It's not looking good.

 

But...

 

A couple of results go our way and we beat the a***... confidence builds..etc etc.

[pjwy]

I really thought early in the season that we had a chance at the title but we looked so clueless in the last few matches that I dont now think we have any chance tbh!

 

The passing,movement and cohesion is non existant.Do these players actually 'play' together in training or do they train individually?

[The_Adder]

I really thought early in the season that we had a chance at the title but we looked so clueless in the last few matches that I dont now think we have any chance tbh!

 

The passing,movement and cohesion is non existant.Do these players actually 'play' together in training or do they train individually?

 

After watching them lately I think we need to ask "do they train at all?"