We can win the league

[Mr. Biscan]

I've read comments saying we can't expect to achieve much this year due to the ownership issue, net spend and other such b******s. However if you actually look at what is going on, on the pitch as well as the state of our rivals, I see no reason why we can't be there at the end of the season and make a serious punt at the title.

 

This is not a thread to discuss the side issues, this is a thread to discuss what we have on the pitch compared to other sides. I look at our side and I see players like Yossi and Kuyt stepping up to the mantle, yes take away a player of Gerrard and Torres's quality but we shouldn't all be that weak.

 

Hopefully Aquilani can do the business and let us not forget we have Argentina's captain in Javier as well. People pointed to the fact that we missed Gerrard and Torres last season which is true, but it doesn't mean if they are injured again the same will be true this season. As mentioned Yossi is looking terrific and Kuyt has a knack of getting the odd goal and IF Babel can get his head screwed on I don't see why we should be missing Gerrard and Torres all that much if they are injured. Our biggest strength is our ability to adapt to certain situations, Yossi can play on either wing, Kuyt can play upfront and Babel has been played here there and everywhere so surely he can adapt as well, thats without mentioning Riera and Aurelio.

 

Our defence is a massive sticking point, I don't know how we can spend (Not net spend) 18 Million on Johnson and the greek, and look worse off over the summer. Whether we need to adapt a new defensive system or something else I don't know, but one thing is for sure we need s*** to be sorted out. I believe if we can sort it out we have a very strong chance of winning the league. Better teams will l exploit our weaknesses, however it's clear we can defend better it's just a case of finding out the wrongs and righting them, Benitez is well capable of this.

 

Look at our rivals, United have lost Ronaldo, they may have Rooney but I don't think they look any better nor do they look un-beatable. Chelsea have proven that they are beatable likewise with Arsenal, Spurs and to an extent Manchester City.

 

I don't see why we can't challenge, to say we can't underestimates the quality we have. I think if we don't challenge we would have failed. You can point to the net spend and what not but when it comes to quality we have it in abundance, and our rivals have been weakened, the same rivals we tonked home and away last year.

[Gerrardrules]

We can challenge, but we should stop talking about it (the players I mean). It will work against us!

[John am Rhein]

We have the best team so we'll probably win the League. The main obstacle will be Man United's 15-20 point bonus from referees, but chances are we've got enough to overcome even that.

[Rimbeux]

Of course we can challenge, I cant remember anyone saying anything else. The point about the spending that I've made and I've seen others make is that precisely because rivals were in transition, we had a great chance to move up a gear and become the dominant club rather than treading water and trying to stay where we were/are, waiting on a perfect storm and others to subside, when all the while at least two clubs are making huge efforts to catch us.

[Andy @ Allerton]

We can win the league if we got decisions like the Scum get week in, week out.

[Internationinteroperability]

We can win the league if we got decisions like the Scum get week in, week out.

 

You're saying we'll never win the league again then?

[John am Rhein]

We can win the league if we got decisions like the Scum get week in, week out.

 

if we had that we'd be 20 points clear

[allawee]

The chelsea game next week is pivotal. Win it and I will believe!

[richwilks]

We're picking up points in the games we were struggling in. At home we look so much better going forward and that's something we missed last season.

 

The key this year is winning those "big 4" games again, we did well in them last year, we need to make sure we win those games this year as well.

 

If Torres and Gerrard stay fit and if Aquilani is the top buy he looks like being then we could win it. We probably have the best first 13-14 players in the league. Squad is wafer thin though.

 

Utd have that nack of winning games when not playing well though.

[David Hodgson]

Suddenly our squad doesn't look so thin on the ground. Nothwithstanding Carra and Skrtel need to get their form back, the team that mudered Hull yesterday could beat any side in the world on it's day. In addition that 11 could be supplemented by the following, who didn't start yesterday : Aquilani, Agger, Mascherano, Aurelio, and Babel. We could start with all of those 5 in the first 11 and not be weakened at all.

 

I've said it before, but there's little wrong with our squad that one more world class striker wouldn't put right (and a competent deputy right back).

[DonRafa]

Suddenly our squad doesn't look so thin on the ground. Nothwithstanding Carra and Skrtel need to get their form back, the team that mudered Hull yesterday could beat any side in the world on it's day. In addition that 11 could be supplemented by the following, who didn't start yesterday : Aquilani, Agger, Mascherano, Aurelio, and Babel. We could start with all of those 5 in the first 11 and not be weakened at all.

 

I've said it before, but there's little wrong with our squad that one more world class striker wouldn't put right (and a competent deputy right back).

 

I'd add a 'really good in the air' centre back to that little list. We really miss Hyypia's (and Crouchy's) contribution in that regard. None of our current defenders fill me with any confidence at all when high balls come into our area, whether from set pieces or open play

[Jarg Armani]

We've got a slim chance, but we need chelsea and united to have poor seasons, as they did last year by their own standards, and for our 12 or 13 first team players to stay fit almost all the time.

 

As I say, a slim chance.

[Mike]

utd did not have a poor season last year by any stretch...they got 90 points.

[muleskinner]

We need to do match our record against the other 3 CL clubs but I will be very surprised if we do it. Going 6 points behind Chelsea even this early stage could be too much to get back. Massive game next Sunday.

[Jarg Armani]

utd did not have a poor season last year by any stretch...they got 90 points.

 

I think they played quite poorly, and rode their luck at key times. Spoken to united season ticket holders who thought they played very badly for large stretches of the season. Chelsea weren't far off 90 points either and they certainly didn't have a good season.

 

We need United to play similarly badly, not get the breaks and we need to take 4 points off them at least. I don't really see any of these things happening.

[Rimbeux]

I think they played quite poorly, and rode their luck at key times. Spoken to united season ticket holders who thought they played very badly for large stretches of the season. Chelsea weren't far off 90 points either and they certainly didn't have a good season.

 

We need United to play similarly badly, not get the breaks and we need to take 4 points off them at least. I don't really see any of these things happening.

 

Thing is regardless of the level they played at, the points total was what counted. A lot of that is winning mentality, regardless of playing well or badly they do enough and know how to do enough

[mrjunk]

and we ripped their ringer out at their place, that was a good day!

[Ombudsam]

We're picking up points in the games we were struggling in. At home we look so much better going forward and that's something we missed last season.

 

The key this year is winning those "big 4" games again, we did well in them last year, we need to make sure we win those games this year as well.

 

If Torres and Gerrard stay fit and if Aquilani is the top buy he looks like being then we could win it. We probably have the best first 13-14 players in the league. Squad is wafer thin though.

 

Utd have that nack of winning games when not playing well though.

 

You believe that?

 

Why is our defence sh*t now?

[carrafan]

You believe that?

 

Why is our defence sh*t now?

 

Individual errors.

 

Also, we're trying out a slightly different system from what we're used to without Alonso with Lucas playing higher up the pitch unlike Xabi and its bound to have its side effects till our players get used to the system. I have no doubts that we'll get it right by the end of the December once everyone's bedded in.

[Mr. Biscan]

Suddenly our squad doesn't look so thin on the ground. Nothwithstanding Carra and Skrtel need to get their form back, the team that mudered Hull yesterday could beat any side in the world on it's day. In addition that 11 could be supplemented by the following, who didn't start yesterday : Aquilani, Agger, Mascherano, Aurelio, and Babel. We could start with all of those 5 in the first 11 and not be weakened at all.

 

I've said it before, but there's little wrong with our squad that one more world class striker wouldn't put right (and a competent deputy right back).

 

Precisely.

[Knox_Harrington]

I've said it before, but there's little wrong with our squad that one more world class striker wouldn't put right (and a competent deputy right back).

We're crying out for a boss centre half. Absolutely crying out for one.

[Mike]

We're crying out for a boss centre half. Absolutely crying out for one.

 

agger...and although i've already come out and admitted that i don't rate skertl, i think 'crying out' is dangerous and dramatic.

 

Edited September 27, 2009 by Mike

[R A Softlad]

If we win the league it will because of the Johnson signing. If we lose the league it will be because of the Johnson signing.

 

You heard it here first!

[Mr. Biscan]

We're crying out for a boss centre half. Absolutely crying out for one.

 

Why?

 

We're crying out for some consistent defending, something which wasn't a problem before the summer.

[Mr Makaveli]

We've got a slim chance, but we need chelsea and united to have poor seasons, as they did last year by their own standards, and for our 12 or 13 first team players to stay fit almost all the time.

 

As I say, a slim chance.

 

we lost 2 timea and didnt win the league.... the team that does better than that does not have a poor season by any stech of imagination.