Finishing outside The Top Four.

[phips]

Look at their next 5 league games. I would expect them to get maximum points from that run. Extremely early days

22 points after 10 games will probably put the scum in 2nd ,maybe 3rd spot.Way to soon to be predicting their demise no matter how much we all want it to happen.

[Tokyo Blue]

Poor Gollum is fucked and the World of football isn't gradually waking up to the reality that the rags are no longer invincible.

I am confused.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Jeezes these topics. Some people NEVER learn.

With you 100% on this.
We usually end up looking like idiots aswell. I've seen too many false dawns.
I do however have more hope than ever that they could be on the way down but it's way, way too soon to start predicting they will finish outside the top 4.
Things can change so quickly, we lose to Villa and they win their next game and suddenly we're on level points again with them having had tougher games..

[Original Dub]

With you 100% on this.
We usually end up looking like idiots aswell. I've seen too many false dawns.
I do however have more hope than ever that they could be on the way down but it's way, way too soon to start predicting they will finish outside the top 4.
Things can change so quickly, we lose to Villa and they win their next game and suddenly we're on level points again with them having had tougher games..

We look like idiots?

[Slim]

They will finish top 3, there is really no mystic powers at work here, I am thinking City, Chelsea, Scum in that order. Chelsea will be hurt by the fact they don't have the strikers, but their midfield is very impressive and that should see them over the line into 2nd.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

I too think they will finish third, though I hope for even worse (for them). We can't expect a dramatic collapse for them, more a long slow decline, which might be even more fun.

Until the last few games I was thinking there was no outstanding team in the PL this year. Another couple of good performances and I might dare hope it will be us.

The old adage of goals winning games and defences winning the league will likely hold true (even if last year was an exception), therefore I expect City (if Vincent stats fit) and Chelsea to be up there, with the 'Reds and Refs' in third.

If Chelsea win it will probably be without exciting anyone. If we win it will be in style.

A proper three-way battle for 4th – Dippers, Arse and Spuds.

Could be the most interesting year for a while.

[ross.mcfc]

I've seen too many of these threads over the years.

When Frank came in they were running scared - They won the league and European Cup that season.

When the Shiek came into town they were bricking it from us. - They have won 50% of the leagues since.

When we beat them 6-1 that was changing of the guard - We won the league by one goal only after they allowed us back into the race.

When we won the league we would dominate them - We lost the league by an embarressing amount the following season.

Now I do believe that with Ferguson gone that they will go into a slight decline and Gollam may be useless at this level but they are too big of a club on and more importantly off the pitch to go into a Liverpool type slide. If Gollam were to go they would only replace him with the best possible manager out there and arm him to the teeth with money. They are like the terminator, you can't kill them.

They will not finish any lower than third and I fully expect them to win thier next and very winnable five league games I'd be surprised if they do not top the league by that point at worst tucked in right behind us and Chelsea.

[Moonchesteri]

Jeezes these topics. Some people NEVER learn.

No need to say more