We could well have a significant slip in that period, as it also coincides with some massive fixture congestion on our part. However...Man U is struggling to field anything resembling a defense, and they have yet to win an away match this season (one of only three teams with that distinction; the other two are propping up the table). Should we be penciling in two losses against them? Arsenal has been similarly uneven; are we nailed on to lose both there, as well?
By the way, you are right... horrible December/Xmas/New Year but do you know what? Bring on January to May and the title decider at the Etihad on the last game of the season
Ok, so here is my maths: We have played 11 games. There are 19 teams we can play (as we can't play ourselves). From the top half we have played 4th, 5th, 8th & 9th (4 games) From the bottom half, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 18th & 19th. (7 games) We have taken maximum points from the top half teams, but have lost 2 and drawn one from the bottom half. Therefore we have taken maximum points the same times from the top ten than from the bottom 10 (4 games won from each segment). How is that 'only playing easy teams?' Seems pretty even to me.
What is the point of that reply SaintsForTheWin? The guy has put his point in an intelligent manner and he likes us. Or did until you came up with that reponse?? I think you should apologise to him for such a crass remark.
your maths is wrong - many of the teams you list as being in the bottom half wouldn't be there if they had beaten us. So us beaten them has helped make them seem like "easy teams"
I've been doing some maths of my own. We have played 11 games, lost 2, drawn 1 and won 8. That makes 25 points and puts us on second in the league
..another way of looking at it - we have played two of the other four teams in the top five (and away from home) and beaten them both. But apparently we haven't played any top teams.
And now the problem is that we can only beat teams below us, apart from Chelsea. Since 'teams lower than us' equates to easy games, we should have only two hard games this season (or fewer, depending on whether Chelsea can maintain their lucky run of results)
I guess we're all pretty used to, and immune to, the whole "they've had an easy start but wait until they play the big teams - they'll bomb down the table then" line now. I personally am at the stage now where I find it quite comical hearing it. We've played 11 of the other 19 teams, with Villa to come next. Exactly how many "big teams" do these people think are in this league?! Are there eight more of them hidden away somewhere? Have Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern transferred into this league without me knowing? That's quite a few defeats we'll need to suffer to suddenly find ourselves down in 7th or 8th etc at the moment. Last time I checked, Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool made up just 25% of this league. And right now, you can pick holes with four of them.
I'm starting to get really excited now. Watching Arsenal (twice), Liverpool, Man City and Spurs this week has convinced me we are serious contenders for the top 4. Spurs are ****ing ****e pretty much all over the pitch apart from in goal. Without Lloris, it would be even worse for them. Arsenal's defence is frankly a joke right now, City are a one man team at the moment and Liverpool spent a ****load of money on average players and it's showing.
Arsenal-Man Utd draw each other next. We beat Villa. Excitement can ramp up even more. Even Man City-Swansea and Everton-West Ham are win-win matches for us, but maybe not as much as Arsenal-Man Utd is.
The other great thing is that next time around, it doesn't even matter that we're playing on the monday after everyone else, we'll still be 2nd at that point!
we'll have a chance against all the top sides because they'll be resting players against a **** side like Saints. p.s. Arsenal. lol
We'll come either 4th or 5th, it's us or Man Utd for 4th. Utd are favourites but no means certain with their weak defence.
Exactly so. I began thinking about this around mid-October when the not played big teams phrase had first got underway. My reaction was... but, on the whole, they [the big rivals] are getting worse results and playing worse than us, against same or similar quality teams. So playing the big teams at home holds no real drama for me. they will be competitive games, but I'm looking forward to good games where Saints really show their mettle and win. Against the top teams away, it might be a different matter, but nothing to get incredibly concerned about. I think Saints are for real and are in this for real. The pundits are just beginning to realise this as well.
