Numbers game, and why its all over!

[AG7]

It's half way through the league ... we have played 19 games, they have played 19 games ...

We have lost 2 and drawn 6 already; they have lost 3 and drawn just 1 so far ...

For us to surpass 7 points on them, mathematically they'll have to drop points in 3 games ... and that's not 3 draws, at least 1 game where they have to lose all 3 points ... and for us to win ALL 19 games now on, THAT is one way of overhauling the 7 points.

Hmm, ok, let's say that 1 loss is the derby, they still have to drop two other games ... yeah sure they will play out two draws somewhere here on till the end ... BUT it's us winning 19 on the run which I don't see happening ... this is just to close that 7 point gap, any more points we drop, they have to drop exactly those many no. of games too ...

I just don't see this happening. Someone please tell me I am looking at this the wrong way and football will somehow defy all this maths ... am too drunk to be posting this tonight but am simply gutted for the results today. Had we won our game, I am very sure they too would have had dropped at least 2 points there ... but we're not doing our own job properly then expect others to drop points for us ... ain't happening this season I think. And I think Watford will beat us out the FA cup too ... or whoever we get in next round but don't see us going too far in that either.

Nothing's gong right, right now. I hope I wake up feeling better.

[dazby]

We're Dooooooooooomed.

Take solace in the fact that they are conceding a shed full of goals.

[Im_Spartacus]

It's half way through the league ... we have played 19 games, they have played 19 games ...

We have lost 2 and drawn 6 already; they have lost 3 and drawn just 1 so far ...

For us to surpass 7 points on them, mathematically they'll have to drop points in 3 games ... and that's not 3 draws, at least 1 game where they have to lose all 3 points ... and for us to win ALL 19 games now on, THAT is one way of overhauling the 7 points.

Hmm, ok, let's say that 1 loss is the derby, they still have to drop two other games ... yeah sure they will play out two draws somewhere here on till the end ... BUT it's us winning 19 on the run which I don't see happening ... this is just to close that 7 point gap, any more points we drop, they have to drop exactly those many no. of games too ...

I just don't see this happening. Someone please tell me I am looking at this the wrong way and football will somehow defy all this maths ... am too drunk to be posting this tonight but am simply gutted for the results today. Had we won our game, I am very sure they too would have had dropped at least 2 points there ... but we're not doing our own job properly then expect others to drop points for us ... ain't happening this season I think. And I think Watford will beat us out the FA cup too ... or whoever we get in next round but don't see us going too far in that either.

Nothing's gong right, right now. I hope I wake up feeling better.

So are you saying that united will only drop 7 points? Because I see a team who are getting some breaks but are leaking like a seive and their poor spell will come. I reckon they will drop points in at least 7 of the next 19, especially against struggling teams who have something to play for.

Our problem is that when they stutter, we dont appear to be in a position to capitalise at the moment.....but I think if we can win 14 including beating them, with a couple of draws and a defeat will win it. I'd say anything above 80 points will see us in the mix this year as t stands.

Long way to go yet mate, who knows, the players might decide to ignore Mancini again like they appear to have done at the end of last season, and actually set out to win the odd game on our terms.

[Ted Hughes]

It's half way through the league ... we have played 19 games, they have played 19 games ...

We have lost 2 and drawn 6 already; they have lost 3 and drawn just 1 so far ...

For us to surpass 7 points on them, mathematically they'll have to drop points in 3 games ... and that's not 3 draws, at least 1 game where they have to lose all 3 points ... and for us to win ALL 19 games now on, THAT is one way of overhauling the 7 points.

Hmm, ok, let's say that 1 loss is the derby, they still have to drop two other games ... yeah sure they will play out two draws somewhere here on till the end ... BUT it's us winning 19 on the run which I don't see happening ... this is just to close that 7 point gap, any more points we drop, they have to drop exactly those many no. of games too ...

I just don't see this happening. Someone please tell me I am looking at this the wrong way and football will somehow defy all this maths ... am too drunk to be posting this tonight but am simply gutted for the results today. Had we won our game, I am very sure they too would have had dropped at least 2 points there ... but we're not doing our own job properly then expect others to drop points for us ... ain't happening this season I think. And I think Watford will beat us out the FA cup too ... or whoever we get in next round but don't see us going too far in that either.

Nothing's gong right, right now. I hope I wake up feeling better.

So are you saying that united will only drop 7 points? Because I see a team who are getting some breaks but are leaking like a seive and their poor spell will come. I reckon they will drop points in at least 7 of the next 19, especially against struggling teams who have something to play for.

Our problem is that when they stutter, we dont appear to be in a position to capitalise at the moment.....but I think if we can win 14 including beating them, with a couple of draws and a defeat will win it. I'd say anything above 80 points will see us in the mix this year as t stands.

Long way to go yet mate, who knows, the players might decide to ignore Mancini again like they appear to have done at the end of last season, and actually set out to win the odd game on our terms.

And there is the problem.

Do we look as if we will go through without slipping ? Do we look as if we will win at Goodison, The Lane, the swamp, & The Emirates ? So no matter how average the rags are, how do we catch them over the season, even if they slip up & we are level two weeks from now, when we fuck up at places like Sunderland & they win at Chelsea ?

[Im_Spartacus]

And there is the problem.

Do we look as if we will go through without slipping ? Do we look as if we will win at Goodison, The Lane, the swamp, & The Emirates ? So no matter how average the rags are, how do we catch them over the season, even if they slip up & we are level two weeks from now, when we fuck up at places like Sunderland & they win at Chelsea ?

Nope, but after the Arsenal game we all said the same. It can be done, but a change of some sort is needed, whether that comes from the players of the manager It would only need a small improvement from us.

We have improved defensively of late, and so long as Mancini grasps the gravity of the problem before its too late, there is no reason that a more balanced approach to games would not see us have a considerably better 2nd half of the season and convert 4 of those draws or defeats to wins.

Small margins for both teams, but I dont feel we can do any worse than we have already this season and must improve, wheras they have been getting those small margins.........call it luck or whatever for them, but the days will come, like swansea, where teams defend reasonably resolutely and resist the last minute winner and their abject defence will really cost them dear.

Would fucking love them twats to get to the semis of the CL too.

[Lev Bronstein]

Sure we're second favourites at the moment - and might even struggle to finish above Chelsea - but, this is football we're talking about. If it was as predictable as you suggest every bookie in the country would be broke.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not happy with the way things are, but I'm not waving the white flag yet.

[Socrates]

It's half way through the league ... we have played 19 games, they have played 19 games ...

We have lost 2 and drawn 6 already; they have lost 3 and drawn just 1 so far ...

For us to surpass 7 points on them, mathematically they'll have to drop points in 3 games ... and that's not 3 draws, at least 1 game where they have to lose all 3 points ... and for us to win ALL 19 games now on, THAT is one way of overhauling the 7 points.

Hmm, ok, let's say that 1 loss is the derby, they still have to drop two other games ... yeah sure they will play out two draws somewhere here on till the end ... BUT it's us winning 19 on the run which I don't see happening ... this is just to close that 7 point gap, any more points we drop, they have to drop exactly those many no. of games too ...

I just don't see this happening. Someone please tell me I am looking at this the wrong way and football will somehow defy all this maths ... am too drunk to be posting this tonight but am simply gutted for the results today. Had we won our game, I am very sure they too would have had dropped at least 2 points there ... but we're not doing our own job properly then expect others to drop points for us ... ain't happening this season I think. And I think Watford will beat us out the FA cup too ... or whoever we get in next round but don't see us going too far in that either.

Nothing's gong right, right now. I hope I wake up feeling better.

So are you saying that united will only drop 7 points? Because I see a team who are getting some breaks but are leaking like a seive and their poor spell will come. I reckon they will drop points in at least 7 of the next 19, especially against struggling teams who have something to play for.

Our problem is that when they stutter, we dont appear to be in a position to capitalise at the moment.....but I think if we can win 14 including beating them, with a couple of draws and a defeat will win it. I'd say anything above 80 points will see us in the mix this year as t stands.

Long way to go yet mate, who knows, the players might decide to ignore Mancini again like they appear to have done at the end of last season, and actually set out to win the odd game on our terms.

Some sense from someone, taken me an hour to find some. AG7 thinks United will get 96 points, well if they do that is too fucking good and well done to them. I think 86 is more like it. We still have a chance of matching that. 47 points in 19 games is not impossible.

[Chinners]

Im not quitting giving up smoking in the New Year ... I ain't quitting on City to retain the Championship either

<thread duly bookmarked>

[RodneyRodney]

Sure we're second favourites at the moment - and might even struggle to finish above Chelsea - but, this is football we're talking about. If it was as predictable as you suggest every bookie in the country would be broke.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not happy with the way things are, but I'm not waving the white flag yet.

I SERIOUSLY think Chelsea will win the League. New manager. Torres confident and scoring. Whole team confident and winning. Certanly in better shape than we are at the moment. They have more chance of catching United.

[Chinners]

Sure we're second favourites at the moment - and might even struggle to finish above Chelsea - but, this is football we're talking about. If it was as predictable as you suggest every bookie in the country would be broke.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not happy with the way things are, but I'm not waving the white flag yet.

I SERIOUSLY think Chelsea will win the League. New manager. Torres confident and scoring. Whole team confident and winning. Certanly in better shape than we are at the moment. They have more chance of catching United.

If they win their game in hand Chelsea will still be a point behind us, therefore they do not have more of a chance in catching United than us ... maths is great

[Nigels Tackle]

if we lose all our remaining games there's a good chance we could go down...

[AG7]

Some sense from someone, taken me an hour to find some. AG7 thinks United will get 96 points, well if they do that is too fucking good and well done to them. I think 86 is more like it. We still have a chance of matching that. 47 points in 19 games is not impossible.

I didn't say they will get 96 points (or will win all their next 19 games) ... what I said is that they'll need to drop points in 3 games more than the no. of games we drop points in over the next 19 fixtures ... I was merely pointing how that is highly unlikely this season, given that in the 19 played so far they have dropped points in only 4 games to our 8 ...

And my question was, tell me seriously which games from now on in do you expect us to drop points in and then tell me that many no. of games + 3 for them?

Don't get me wrong pls. I will be the happiest and am still hoping (against hope) that they drop points in 10 of their next 19 ... but well.

[Beefymcfc]

Did somebody say this to the Rags last year, that they were home and dry? What about Newcastle or Arsenal, did they get the same message?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Did somebody say this to the Rags last year, that they were home and dry? What about Newcastle or Arsenal, did they get the same message?

True last season the rags folded and we played some great games for 6 in a row. Can both happen again?

[City64]

THE ONLY THING THAT IS PREDICTABLE IS THE WAY WE ARE PLAYING AND WE WILL WIN FUCK ALL THE WAY WE ARE PLAYING I CAN PREDICT THAT !

[Beefymcfc]

Did somebody say this to the Rags last year, that they were home and dry? What about Newcastle or Arsenal, did they get the same message?

True last season the rags folded and we played some great games for 6 in a row. Can both happen again?

It could do mate, or it may not do but we've seen it happen before on a number of occassions so the precedence is there. We all know that the league is unpredictable and that's why we love it so much. The highs with the lows, and all that. Personally I see us battling for 2nd and 3rd with Chelsea.

You got training this morning or are you giving it a miss? I wouldn't have thought there'd be too much happening today.

[Blue Since 76]

Looking forward to revisiting this when we don't beat Norwich on Saturday. Wonder which of his players he'll publicly criticise after that game?

If he wants to deflect attention from his own failings, he should try having a go at the ref rather than the players he needs to perform a few days later. Maybe then they'd look like they were playing for him.

[Beefymcfc]

Looking forward to revisiting this when we don't beat Norwich on Saturday. Wonder which of his players he'll publicly criticise after that game?

If he wants to deflect attention from his own failings, he should try having a go at the ref rather than the players he needs to perform a few days later. Maybe then they'd look like they were playing for him.

It's interesting to see that the players do seem to be putting the effort in, we just don't seem to be scoring as freely as we'd like.

[RodneyRodney]

Sure we're second favourites at the moment - and might even struggle to finish above Chelsea - but, this is football we're talking about. If it was as predictable as you suggest every bookie in the country would be broke.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not happy with the way things are, but I'm not waving the white flag yet.

I SERIOUSLY think Chelsea will win the League. New manager. Torres confident and scoring. Whole team confident and winning. Certanly in better shape than we are at the moment. They have more chance of catching United.

If they win their game in hand Chelsea will still be a point behind us, therefore they do not have more of a chance in catching United than us ... maths is great

Yes they do ; they're playing better than we are ; form is great - at least their is . . .

[Chinners]

Playing better but still a point behind at best ... form is great, both will change again this season as it will for the rags, long way to go yet