Meh, gotten used to it by now. Endless pages of conspiracy theories involved Utd, followed by the argument that any of the numerous decisions which go against us are some weird sort of cosmic justice, and can't come close to balancing out the thousands of decisions we've had in our favour, none of which can usually be identified or named. It makes me sad. So sad I almost failed to enjoy our 'dodgy' 13 league titles, our 'dodgy' CL wins, our 'dodgy' other cups and all the other 'dodgy' stuff we won thanks to referees, the FA and the freemasons. Almost. Guaranteed score draw for you then
The run in is going to be very interesting indeed. Here are remaining games for both Utd and Liverpool. I'm not ruling Spurs or Southampton out either but can't be arsed to do the same thing. Utd's Fixtures: Newcastle (A) 3 points Spurs (H) 1 point Liverpool (A) 1 point Villa (H) 3 points Man City (H) 1 point Chelsea (A) 0 points Everton (A) 1 point West Brom (H) 3 points C.Palace (A) 3 points Arsenal (H) 1 point Hull (A) 3 points Total 20 points - Utd to finish the season on 70 points LFC's Fixtures Burnley (H) 3 points Swansea (A) 1 point Man Utd (H) 1 point Arsenal (A) 0 points Newcastle (H) 3 points Hull (A) 3 points West Brom (A) 3 points QPR (H) 3 points Chelsea (A) 0 points C. Palace (H) 3 points Stoke (A) 3 points Total 23 points - Liverpool to finish the season on 71 points. Utd have a tougher run in than Liverpool imo. I've tried to be realistic with the points tallies, giving Utd one loss and Liverpool 2 losses in the last games. Obviously, this will all go to rat **** after tomorrows games but is an interesting exercise if you try to remain unbiased.
I cant see Liverpool or Arsenal beating UTD, its just not going to happen. But you will get 3 against Arsenal
BTW if Fergie came in right now - same squad, with those fixtures I absolutely guarantee we'd finish 3rd at least. That's what's so fcking disappointing about the thick pea soup LVG seems to be making of things.
What's your assessment of Arsenal's remaining fixtures then? It seems that everyone thinks they're guaranteed third but to me them falling away and being beaten by their top four rivals is OUR best hope of getting in there. Of Liverpool and Arsenal I think we're more likely to lose to Liverpool. To stand any chance whatsoever I think we need to beat Arsenal, City and Spurs and not lose to Liverpool. Or else, no chance.
So for the sake of completion: Here are the other contenders fixtures and my predictions. I've tried to apply equity here. i.e. assume that they'll beat the teams below and only drop the occasional points. Clearly, some/all of these team will have slip ups.....it's really to indicate who has the (potentially easiest run in)....we all know that this may change quickly. Arsenal QPR (A) - 3 points West Ham (H) - 3 points Newcastle (A) - 3 points Liverpool (H) - 3 points Burnley (A) - 3 points Sunderland (H) - 3 points Chelsea (H) 0 points Hull (A) - 3 points Swansea (H) - 1 point Man Utd (A) - 1 point West Brom (H) - 3 points Total 26 points. Arsenal will finish the season on 77 points Southampton Chelsea (A) 0 points Burnley (H) 3 points Everton (A) 1 point Hull (H) 3 points Stoke (A) 3 points Spurs (H) 1 point Sunderland (A) 3 points Leicester (A) 3 points Aston Villa (H) 3 points Man City (A) 0 points Total 20 points. Southampton will finish the season on 69 points Spurs Swansea (H) 3 points QPR (A) 3 points Man Utd (A) 1 point Leicester (H) - 3 points Burnley (A) 3 points Aston Villa (H) 3 points Newcastle (A) 3 points Southampton (A) 1 point Man City (H) 0 points Stoke (A) 3 points Hull (H) 3 points Everton (A) 1 point Total: 27 points. Spurs will finish the season on 71 points So, here's the table from 3rd place according to me at the end of the season. 3rd Arsenal - 77 points (this may actually be enough to get second with City dropping into 3rd but I really can't be arsed to work it out). =4th Liverpool - 71 points =4th Spurs - 71 points (There isn't much in it with goal difference right now) 6th Man Utd - 70 points 7th Southampton - 69 points As I said, it's gunna be real tight this year. Utd have the toughest run in by far imo, but they also have players who have won lots of trophies so perhaps that experience will count. Arsenal, I think are nailed on for top 4 given (a) their run in and (b) their record......They always seem to do it. that's not to say that they won't have an odd wobble here or there. Spurs have a relatively easy run in and may benefit, along with Liverpool, from their Europa league exit. Liverpool are the form team and as I'm a fan, I've scaled that back a lot....if, by chance, our form continues to the end of the season, we'd be close to 3rd.....I don't think that'll happen tbh, we will have a blip...everyone will! Southampton will just fail to miss out but it's tight. Again, I've made every mid/low table team beatable. This ain't gunna happen but in the interest of equity, I had to assume that the 'better' team will always win. In short, It's not just between Utd and Liverpool and if i'm honest, the sooner Southampton/Spurs or Utd (change these teams depending on your allegiance) drop a few points and represent less of a risk, the better. Who will hold their nerve most? What an interesting run in.
Against those team? Entirely possible. Though I too suspect they will slip up somewhere amongst that block and get a draw somewhere, maybe Newcastle Away.
Imagine if United get fourth ahead of Liverpool and then beat them in Gerrard's Cup final. Could be a great Cup final
Probably not but every set of predictions is optimistic versus mid/low teams so as to treat fairly. The only team in the top 7 or 8 that they play is Liverpool....it's just how it lands: Their 3 away games are very winnable as are 2 of their home games. The point is that they have an easier next 6 games (and run in) than everyone.
Agreed, we all need to take the predictions as a yardstick to the toughness of each teams run in. Form has not been accounted for very well so clearly it is quite possible that Utd will lose a few more, Liverpool average 2.5 goals a game, Arsenal win two lose one and Southampton score 5 more goals in the next 11 matches
You'd rather play United in the final though, right? Both sides should make semis, and if you avoid each other you would have an easy semi
If I'm totally honest, I think Arsenal will turn over Utd at OT. Not ignoring the fact that we'd still have 2 tough (but winnable games) to get there - yeah, an LFC v Utd game for Gerrards swansong would be great. Given how both teams are currently playing.....I'd strongly fancy us at Wembley in either the SF or Final against them. Not so confident versus Arsenal.....but like I said, let;s not count chickens quite yet!!!
