Title Race | This vs Last Season

[london blue 2]

we need to maintain the gap and then when the champions league starts up again we should be in a position to capitalise on any slip ups.

[IanWright]

I think, with you guys having a very difficult run in the next couple of months, ManUre having a relatively easy set of fixtures, and with your games always seemingly AFTER theirs on most weekends, you could go 11-13 points behind in the title race by March (a possibility, and only an opinion)

However, I believe that should such a gap open up, you can still claw back the deficit. It's all going to boil down to how OTHER teams play against the Rags. We, at the Haemorrhoids, are bound to raise our game this Sunday, but are we going to take the yellow, chicken-livered stance in April as we normally do when your neighbours from Salford come to visit? Will Sunderland play the same way at the Stadium of Light against them? Will Sam Allardyce actually want to play against Alex Ferguson this time?

The unsettling thing for any team taking on BaconFace's in a title race is their ability to bounce back handsomely from defeat. Real Madrid could tear them a new one in the ECL, but they seem to have this enviable capacity not to let it prey on their minds when it comes to their next game in the Premiership.

[Ted Hughes]

The number of things we did right in this game, that we've often done wrong for the past 2,3 years was astonishing. And we are only scratching the surface of this, IF we continue to place emphasis on it.

This incredible rocket science of basic,attacking football, that takes world class players years to develop. (my arse)

Had we spent pre season on this rather than playing 3/5 at the back, we would be top of the league now. It has taken an impending crisis, to focus the efforts on what we should have been perfecting 2 years ago.

There were still loads more opportunities for early crosses, little dinks to the far post, Aguero to 'play in' Dzeko etc etc but the difference a bit of focus, human intelligence & common sense makes, rather than just playing moves from a chessboard.

The fact that Mancini can change it like that almost overnight, when the shit starts to hit the fan, shows how good he could be if he took the feather out of his arse.

Even if we don't win the league, if we keep working on this stuff & also the high pressing Barca style football we played v Fulham etc, perfect it, then we have used this season properly, rather than it being the complete utter waste of space it has been so far.

The irony is that Stoke were absolutely drilled to stop our one usual attacking move (the little ball round the back) and often had two players on it, thinking that if they stop that & block the centre, we are fucked. We gave them so much else to worry about, that 2 mins before half time they forgot about it for a second, we did it & scored. That's what high tempo, simple, skillful, attacking football does to a team when played by quality players. Those who we are not allowed to mention have known this for years, & the original architect of it over there, at all levels, sits next to Bob, on our bench. Use him.

I am feeling much more positive about our chances of holding on to our title Ted .

Firstly we have responded very well since the Sunderland debacle , its like the shackles have come off and suddenly we are creating plenty of chances and scoring goals again and like you say the tempo has deffo increased in our play.

Arsenal away is going to be massive , if we get all 3 points there we have a nice run of games to crank up the pressure on the rags.

Lastly everything is going so well for Van Pussy ...... we all know football can bite you in the arse , the rags and purple nose are totally dependant on him this season ...... here is hoping Van Pussy has a mishap and the rags season takes a turn for the worse.

Pretty much agree with all of that BUT

I think, with you guys having a very difficult run in the next couple of months, ManUre having a relatively easy set of fixtures, and with your games always seemingly AFTER theirs on most weekends, you could go 11-13 points behind in the title race by March (a possibility, and only an opinion)

However, I believe that should such a gap open up, you can still claw back the deficit. It's all going to boil down to how OTHER teams play against the Rags. We, at the Haemorrhoids, are bound to raise our game this Sunday, but are we going to take the yellow, chicken-livered stance in April as we normally do when your neighbours from Salford come to visit? Will Sunderland play the same way at the Stadium of Light against them? Will Sam Allardyce actually want to play against Alex Ferguson this time?

The unsettling thing for any team taking on BaconFace's in a title race is their ability to bounce back handsomely from defeat. Real Madrid could tear them a new one in the ECL, but they seem to have this enviable capacity not to let it prey on their minds when it comes to their next game in the Premiership.

I also agree with much of that.

Personally, I don't think we can afford go any further behind as although the rags will slip up occasionally, so will we. I don't trust Arsenal to play as well v rags as they will v City, nor Mancini not to do something monumentally stupid in his tactics & team selection. He loses his mind every time we play Arsenal. I expect a truly gobsmackingly stupid selection in a key position as he tries to win the game personally (& his battle with Wenger) , rather than letting the players have a go. If however he resists that temptation, then I think we have a great chance & a victory there would convince me we are right back in with a shout.

Lose & it's over imo.

[City64]

Worst case scenario for the rags .......

We are just 3 points behind them with a better goal difference going into the game at the swamp !


Bring it fuckin on !!!!!!!

[Ted Hughes]

Worst case scenario for the rags .......

We are just 3 points behind them with a better goal difference going into the game at the swamp !


Bring it fuckin on !!!!!!!

Rags will shit themselves if we get close at the death. It's the getting close bit I'm concerned about.

[Blue Stu]

On the other hand our midfield is performing nicely just intime to cover for Yaya's absence (probably the best I've seen Barry play for us in the past couple of games, plus Milner is his usual robust self) - and when our midfield performs we get results.

[Beefymcfc]

On the other hand our midfield is performing nicely just intime to cover for Yaya's absence (probably the best I've seen Barry play for us in the past couple of games, plus Milner is his usual robust self) - and when our midfield performs we get results.

But when you take the heart of the midfield out.......

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Last season when Yaya went missing we won 5 out of 6 league games. And the two cup competitions we went out of was thanks to the referees, pure and simple. So I don't think we'll miss Yaya as much as some. However, we will miss him against Arsenal which is the fixture that Mancini seems to have most trouble being positive about. If we could win this one then I'd be confident of us retaining our title. A big IF....

[AG7]

Looking at the next few games ... I think if Liverpool manages to force a draw at the swamp and we manage to bring home 3 points from the Emirates, they'll crumble against Tottenham in their next game ... however if we fail to win at Arsenal, they'll just march on and we might find ourselves 10 points behind them by next gameweek, which will be, well, nothing's impossible and anything can happen still but well ...

Can't say what'd happen over the next crucial week but one things for sure, we'd be going to the swamp this year needing 3 points ... if those three get us ahead or equal to their points tally then, we'll retain the title ... if by then they are more than 3 points ahead of us, they won't slip after that ... even with the games they'd have remaining.

[Blue Stu]

On the other hand our midfield is performing nicely just intime to cover for Yaya's absence (probably the best I've seen Barry play for us in the past couple of games, plus Milner is his usual robust self) - and when our midfield performs we get results.

But when you take the heart of the midfield out.......

I would probably have classed Barry as the heart of the midfield in the last couple of games to be honest.

[Cocacolajojo1]

I would probably have classed Barry as the heart of the midfield in the last couple of games to be honest.

Me as well actually. As I've mentioned earlier, we're seeing a much more attack minded Barry this season and he's become even more important for both our defensive and attacking performance.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

I would probably have classed Barry as the heart of the midfield in the last couple of games to be honest.

Me as well actually. As I've mentioned earlier, we're seeing a much more attack minded Barry this season and he's become even more important for both our defensive and attacking performance.

Everything goes through Yaya, don't kid yerself it's about Barry.

[Beefymcfc]

I would probably have classed Barry as the heart of the midfield in the last couple of games to be honest.

Me as well actually. As I've mentioned earlier, we're seeing a much more attack minded Barry this season and he's become even more important for both our defensive and attacking performance.

Everything goes through Yaya, don't kid yerself it's about Barry.

Barry is dispensable compared to Yaya, that's why he plays every single game. That's no slight on Barry btw.

[AG7]

Once again, numbers don't lie ...

Last year they won over Liverpool 2-1, same as today, so their position remains exactly the same in fixture comparison. We however last year lost this 1-0 and this time won 2-0 so our goal difference plus points get better and we now go back into positive territory (in same fixtures comparison) ... what it means is that we go 1 pt better than against same fixtures last season but our goals for still is -4, but slowly and gradually getting better.

In the comparison by gameweek, again all differences stay the same as last year both had won their 22nd games as well.

Updated tables here:

Title Race at 22 - By Same Fixtures.JPG

Title Race at 22 - By Gameweek.JPG

[Beefymcfc]

Fine lines. Better yet we are playing worse, or is it that we have been down on first team personnel but have growned out results?

[AG7]

Fine lines. Better yet we are playing worse, or is it that we have been down on first team personnel but have growned out results?

We are just about where we were last season ... difference has been they have improved and are 7 ahead of us where as last year they were behind. That's what concerns me most ... the fact that they blew it last season, won't happen again ... Fergie would be reminding them that every training session.

They not only improved (RvP, Kagawa) but losing on goal difference last year is pushing them on ... we on the other hand aren't any better than last year so kind of feel stagnating a little ...

[Beefymcfc]

Fine lines. Better yet we are playing worse, or is it that we have been down on first team personnel but have growned out results?

We are just about where we were last season ... difference has been they have improved and are 7 ahead of us where as last year they were behind. That's what concerns me most ... the fact that they blew it last season, won't happen again ... Fergie would be reminding them that every training session.

They not only improved (RvP, Kagawa) but losing on goal difference last year is pushing them on ... we on the other hand aren't any better than last year so kind of feel stagnating a little ...

Without any real upgrade on the playing squad it was quite obvious we would stagnate a little. It was to be expected form us but I don't think anybody expected United to improve so much. They are looking at 90 points or higher at the moment, a tally that they have only achieved 3 times in 21 years of PL football.

[Dunnylad]

If RVP wins them the title then it could well spark our summer focus on a Falcao type player, however all is not over yet & if we keep plugging away at some point having RVP won't be enough & that defence will capitulate a couple of times - the frustrating thing is that they are still a poor Rag side in comparison to previous ones its just the challenge from the other Premiership sides (other than us) is worse than its ever been

[ruralblue]

Rvp is one hard knock away from a long lay off and it will come, wooney is a shadow of his former self and their defence is no where near as tight as it once was. Yes they have mental spirit but that alone wont carry them through the rest of the season without a loss or ebwn a couple and a few draws. This season still as a long way to go.

Keep plugging away grinding out occaaional results a rare thrashing of a team and with players still to come back into the fold we will continue to rack up points and stay close to their shirt tails. There will be more twists and turns to the rest of this season. We have the ability to see this through, the skill and now the imbedded belief that anything is possible even in the dying throes of extra time!

Keep the belief!

[patrickblue]

Rvp is one hard knock away from a long lay off and it will come, wooney is a shadow of his former self and their defence is no where near as tight as it once was. Yes they have mental spirit but that alone wont carry them through the rest of the season without a loss or ebwn a couple and a few draws. This season still as a long way to go.

Keep plugging away grinding out occaaional results a rare thrashing of a team and with players still to come back into the fold we will continue to rack up points and stay close to their shirt tails. There will be more twists and turns to the rest of this season. We have the ability to see this through, the skill and now the imbedded belief that anything is possible even in the dying throes of extra time!

Keep the belief!

You're not wrong there. So far, the scum have got away with so much playing pretty average stuff, that it's bound to come back and bite them on the arse. If we keep winning, they'll crack.