===============Played====Goal Difference===Points 1 Chelsea--------------------9-----------------+23------------22 2 Arsenal--------------------9-----------------+11------------17 3 Manchester United--------9-----------------+8-------------17 4 Manchester City-----------9-----------------+4-------------17 5 Tottenham Hotspur-------9-----------------+3-------------15 ================================================ 17 Blackburn Rovers--------9----------------- -2-------------9 18 Liverpool-----------------9----------------- -5-------------9 19 Wolverhampton Wndrs--9----------------- -7-------------6 20 West Ham United--------9----------------- -10-----------6 I know it feels like we've dropped a lot of points, but just remember how bad it used to be......... In King Kenny we trust
Fair point, some are still hurting after the weekend. Just to got to trust Kenny and the lads at the moment I'm sure things will pick up. Not seen you before so welcome to the board.
We were behind Blackburn this time last season! We have improved massively since them dark days but we still have a long way to go.
Nobody is denying that Chris. Kenny and FSG have promised us a journey back to the top - to the VERY top. As Karen Carpenter sang, "We've Only Just Begun"
So Man Utd were 5 points off the top with an inferior goal difference. I take it they were out of the title race this time last season too?
Welcome to the site. This is a good bit of perspective. Last year was so painful as Pool fan. I don't think it will ever get that bad again. One result of that is if we have a bad result people get very panicky/frustrated/angry, as we were all at the end of our tether last year and still have short fuses. We demand more which is a good thing, and we are gradually seeing better. Miles to go though. We need a a big win. When was the last time we scored 5 or 6 in a game? Or even 4?
To be fair Chelsea's demise was self inflicted. The only thing that can stop Man City now is the players fighting amongst each other or the owner doing something mad, which to be fair he doesn't look like the type of guy that intereferes.
Fair comment but I just don't see City collapsing the way Chelsea did. You still have a good chance of winning the league but I think you will need a good few more point's to win the league this season.
I think the panic over the weekends poor result is a little premature. I've said it before but I'd be much more worried if we weren't creating chances and drawing/losing games. It's only a matter of time before we start sticking the ball in the net, and if we had only turned a couple of those home draws into wins (Sunderland, United, Norwich) all of which we were the better team in, then we would be up there with Chelsea. 18th - 6th in 1 year is a hell of a jump and we just need to remember we aren't a 5* team at the moment so we are going to have the odd hiccup now and then.
If we'd have put our chances away against Stoke and against Norwich on saturday we'd have been 5 points better off and 3rd on the same points as Utd,plus we had enough chances to beat Utd at Anfield. Theres a fine line between where we are and where we could be. The old motto 'must try harder' seems apt for us.
I personally feel we have made a lot of progress since this time last year, Kenny has shifted a lot of the dead wood and brought in a lot of English players, which in turn has returned the identity of the club. Although the squad has been reduced, it is clearly stronger and a lot more balanced, left footed players playing on the left side. I think Jose Enrique has been outstanding so far, the same can be said for Charle Adam, his distrubution is excellent and he can surly only continue to improve as he build an understanding with those around him. I think the area where we are lacking currently is upfront, Carrol seems to want track back and help out in the defence, quality crosses have been whipped in and Carrol is ten yards further back than he should be. Suarez is top class but I think he wastes too much energy waving his arms around at the referee, he needs to chanel his energy into becoming more ruthless in front of goal. Also really like Bellamys energy and would love to see him given more game time, was quite dissapointed to see him come off on Saturday. Hopefully a bit of investment in January, combined with the lads getting to know each others ways better will continue to see us improve and push on.
Agree with this In Carrolls defence I do think he's being told by the management to be doing some of that donkey work/going back for corners etc and Enrique needs to learn to use his fecking right foot at least once a month The point of this thread is a very good one. At the end of the day we came from miles back last season (remember we were still in the **** at xmas never mind after 9 games) and at one point we had a chance of champions league albeit a very slim one. From here until the xmas period it is simply about picking up as many points as poss no matter how we play then if we can push on the way we did last year (Europe inevitability will take its toll on some squads) we'll be in with a shout for a top four finish. Lucas returning should also give us a better midfield platform against West Brum on Saturday as well.
Would personally like to see the old Rafa formation, two holding midfielders with Suarez, Gerrard and Bellamy pushing on. Carrol, stay up top lad and get your head in the mixer... .......Lucas ..... Adam Bellamy......Gerrard........Suarez .......Carrol
Exactly. Carroll needs to stay in the middle and stop wondering to the flanks, that should be down to the rest of the team. His job is to put the ball in the net, simple. So many times I've seen him wondering about on the right or the left and the ball comes in and he's nowhere to be seen. Even at corners he seems to take up ridiculous positions too far at the back post, he needs to be right in the middle attacking the ball. To be honest Kenny should use Soto's ability to attack a ball from a corner as an example of whats expected.
Exacly, Shearer said of Carroll " one of the best headers of a ball I have seen" We have players who can put a cross in, Downing, Gerrard, Bellamy, Adam etc so stop messing around on the wings, stay in the middle, get your head in there, use a bit of muscle and unleash that left foot bullet a bit more. I have not given up on him, just think he (and the team) needs to change his game to play to his strengts, literally.
please, please NO. We have been correctly labeled before as a on/two man team. The absolute last thing that I want to see is Liverpool adapting their play to meet the needs of just one man. It's far more important that he contributes to the style of play that we are proving is so effective in creating chances. If he can do that then brilliant. If he cannot then £35m or not - get rid of him!
