Rival Watch™ 2012/2013

who do you see as your rivals now? hope it does not seem rude to ask, just wondering if your looking at the mid table teams or the top six?

 

Your right, it is rude!

 

IMO our rivals are the teams realistically aiming for those top four spots.

Now,if you assume the two Manchester clubs will finish first and second (they may
not,still early on)then two places are up for grabs.
Chelsea,Arsenal,Spurs,Liverpool,Everton and Newcastle are favourites to fill those positions
but other's may surprise and hang around the Europa spots well after mid-season.
I don't see West Brom maintaining their early season form,and I think West Ham and Stoke
will drop off.
It's a difficult call to say who will take 3rd and 4th,at the moment I'd probably go for Chelsea
and maybe Everton on current form,but this will ebb and flow all season long.
The Prem. won't really 'settle' till January or even Feb. to sort out the real runners for those
CL spots.

As for Swansea,very impressed.Seamless transition from Rodgers to Laudrup and I think they
may sneak a Europa spot.

 

^^^THIS^^^

Are keeping tabs on what Arsenal and M.City are doing tonight,the first mentioned have fielded (in Arsenal fans eyes flops) a win would top them of their group and if City win they qualify for the Europa league

Oh dear what a miss by Ramsey that was comical to say the least hahahaha

 

Arsenal leading through a goal by Thomas Rosicky good strike

 

Only if Shalke don't win though

 

City going out of Europe at the moment:

They wont be able to overtake Liverpool in the rankings even if Liverpool don't qualify on Thursday:
http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method4/trank2013.html

 

Well ATM they are loosing 2-1 Shalke will be top

And it looks like Roberto does not want to be in the Europa league as they aren't even pressing the way we know they can a few chances but nothing worth talking about really Man city fans are saying that the team are giving a poor display in the game against Dortmund

 

Wouldn't fancy anyone in our league to get a result away to Dortmund at the moment TBF.

 

cheers for your nice words about the swans

i was a little suprised you guys have not given up on the top 4 for this season, saying that its only seven points above you and there is a long season ahead with many of the big teams not performing so you still have a chance. tbh with us i am not sure who we should be looking at as rivals as this season has gone better than expected.....its rweally uncharted waters for us.

 

Shame a few Swans have decided to permanantly WUM this board!

Because the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs have not done quite as well as expected it means we have an outside chance of top four. Depends what happens in January and how any incoming players settle. IMO we won't get top four, said the same before the season started and although we have played well at times, nothing I have seen as changed my mind

 

Not all on here agree with me regarding a top four finish but having Lucas back is massive,
and a shrewd signing or two in Jan. could make things interesting.

As for your rivals,yeah it's difficult.

Top half finish very much on atm.

 

Man U and Everton are our ONLY real rivals. Always have been always will be.

I keep an eye on Spurs, Arse, Newcastle because of the table standings and European places but their not our rivals their just competition for European places.

 

Spuds 1-0 up

Adebayor

 

If results go well for us this weekend could end up being 4 points off 4th place.

If Everton beat Spurs & Arsenal beat WBA, then those 3 will be on 26 with Arsenal on 24, a win over West Ham would put us above them and on 22.

If anyone put some consistent results together over 3 or 4 weeks then can easily move up from 12th to 5th.

 

it's unlikely you'll beat West Ham though ( not that you can't, in your day ,you can beat most teams) but you could be 7 points off and closer to 18th than 4th if we win tomorrow (if spurs win you'll definitely be closer to 18th)

Surprised Swans are getting thumped.

 

Pretty much sums up the league this season though. Apart from the top 2 and the bottom three, you think that anyone can beat anyone on their day.

Think without Bale you have a decent chance v Spurs and if you beat them it really will bunch everyone up from 4th down to 11th or 12th.

Swansea are getting thumped as I put Michu as my captain in my FF team this week

 

You must be gutted...

 

about time I had some luck!

 

1-0 United Rooney!