I know I am Mr Grumpy but I can't understand why 2 points from 6 makes us title

[Dorset Gooner]

contenders according to Shearer? Man City have a far easier run in on paper.

[Berni]

Instead, we threw it away against Liverpool and clung on by our fingernails against Stoke.

I'm not convinced by us. But then I'm not convinced by City, Leicester, Tottenham or anyone else, either. I don't know. It's a ridiculous league. :shrug:

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

[Dorset Gooner]

but I just can't see it. But then again if we repeat our normal run in form who knows....

[Billy Goat Sverige]

a terrible away record.

[Dorset Gooner]

[71 Guns - channeling the spirit of Mr Hat]

[Berni]

It's that f**ked up at the top. They might as well have the league trophy this year sponsored by the phrase 'By Default'.

[Ashberto]

In fact we've never won at Stoke away when we've won the league. If those two tough games were spaced by a couple of home wins and and away win at a lower order side it wouldn't seem like a marker of doom.

[Berni]

Graham- and Wenger-era league-winning seasons.

And I agree that they're perfectly respectable results on paper and, were we simply going for CL qualification, I'd be happy with them. However, those results (particularly the manner of them) just didn't feel like league-winning form.

[Monty91]

It's absolutely ridiculous to assess the last two games without taking that into heavy consideration.

We should have three hugely influential players back within the next few weeks and two of them within days.

[Berni]

winners have to be able to do.

[Pokster]

[Ashberto]

[Monty91]

injuries?

I remember us beating Palace at home in 1998 with about 8 players missing. The thing is, we’ve had more than that missing for pretty much the entire season.

I remember us going to Wimbledon also in 98 with Chris Wreh upfront and people wondering how we’d cope, and scraping a 1-0 win. But still nothing to compare to our injury travails this season.

Anyway, we did get "results". Sufficient results to keep us top of the league, I might add :shrug:

[Berni]

That in no way invalidates my point, though.

I agree that we're top of the league and that's great. I'm simply saying that we're far from convincing and that our position simply reflects the fact that no-one else is either.

I stand by the statement that I can as easily see us finishing fourth as first.

[Monty91]

there, a collapse could see Tottenham sneak in and win it.

How f**king embarrassing would it be for the Premier League if Leicester won it :hehe:

[Berni]

I'd have to emigrate. :-(

[Luis Anaconda]

[Ashberto]

I was disappointed with the Liverpool result, but not yesterday. It's not a league where the leaders just romp away winning nearly every single game. Extrapolating 44 points from 22 games to be top so far basically means winning your home games and drawing the away ones. If we keep winning at home, stating with Chelsea, we can afford to draw some of the tougher away games.

If we don't beat Chelsea though, it's over. :frownynod:

[Berni]

Losing to them would finish it.

[Peter]

Us for the title. But it is never going to happen.

We are going to have to win games like this without some of our best players.

[Ashberto]

You ignored my point about this the other day, despite my repeated attempts to draw your attention to it.

[Monty91]

I believe things that I don’t.

[Ashberto]

provoke a response.

Though if you have nothing to say on the matter then so be it. I will be forced to draw my own conclusions. :sniff:

[Monty91]

[Ashberto]

To give up all hope of snatching a title from the hands of richer clubs is kinda similar in some ways to the SSFMmindset, in that it downplays the virtues of good management, and thinks that the *only* way to succeed is to spend spend spend.

http://www.awimb.com/fudforum/index.php?t=tree&goto=4079 419&rid=2804&S=ee5e796e44ff008ceacca90a8657f2bf (http://www.awimb.com/fudforum/index.php?t=tree&goto=4079419&rid=2804&S=ee5e796e44ff008ceacca90a8657f2bf)