I think we can all agree

[D.Boon]

Wherever the blame lies, too many changes? wing play being poor? shaky confidence defensively? new signings not quite lifting the team?

 

We can all agree its been a dissapointing start to the season. I thought we could be real title challengers this season.

 

Im having serious doubts

[Chili Palmer]

I think we have to remember that although we are having our poor run at the minute, we are still only 6 points off the top. Any type of good run would see us right in it. I haven't gave up all hope...yet.

[Sion]

I think we have to remember that although we are having our poor run at the minute, we are still only 6 points off the top. Any type of good run would see us right in it. I haven't gave up all hope...yet.

agreement, beat united and a few of the 'lesser teams' in the next few weeks and we're top 4 at least

[R A Softlad]

I think we have to remember that although we are having our poor run at the minute, we are still only 6 points off the top. Any type of good run would see us right in it. I haven't gave up all hope...yet.

 

Refreshingly positive and correct post.

[Barnesy_10]

Wherever the blame lies, too many changes? wing play being poor? shaky confidence defensively? new signings not quite lifting the team?

 

We can all agree its been a dissapointing start to the season. I thought we could be real title challengers this season.

 

Im having serious doubts

 

me too mate..

 

I am getting sick of the rotation stuff to be honest, I am one of Rafas biggest fans I like to think, but its obviously having an affect on results, so at what point does he change his tactics? does he carry on to prove it will work or does he admit defeat and sort it out?

 

The fans are questioning whther we could be title challengers as early as late September is a worry. Houllier had us out of title races in October and got slammed for it. Again, I am not comparing Rafa to Houllier, but its the less patient fans that will begin to turn that I am worried about. Once the media are aware that fans aren't happy then they are like bulls to a red rag.

[_00_deathscar]

I think we have to remember that although we are having our poor run at the minute, we are still only 6 points off the top. Any type of good run would see us right in it. I haven't gave up all hope...yet.

 

Question is, where would you draw the line for 'only'? 9 points? 12 points?

 

Remember, we've only played 7 games, and yes whilst we are still 'in it' (a couple of wins could put us back on track), 6 points is a heck of a large difference after only 7 games.

[Eskimo]

That's it chuck in the towel after 7 games...kin'ell. Too many people buying into the "can't afford to lose more than 2 games" Sky bollix

[Ombudsam]

we're only 6 behind. not too important if we address our form

[Paul]

Bad start but I'm confident we can bounce back.

We just need to get a little winning run going and we're back in business.

[D.Boon]

That's it chuck in the towel after 7 games...kin'ell. Too many people buying into the "can't afford to lose more than 2 games" Sky bollix

 

Im not chucking the towel in at all. But 3 defeats and conceding as many goals as we score in the first 7 games is a concern if thats ok with you?

Edited October 1, 2006 by gackwilliams

[CaptainXabi]

Chelsea and United slipping up has given us a get out of jail card. We're not going to get another one. Time to get the show on the road.

[Eskimo]

Im not chucking the towel in at all. But 3 defeats and conceding as many goals as we score in the first 7 games is a concern if thats ok with you?

 

My post wasn't so much aimed at you, just fed up with all the negativity on here in the past couple of weeks if that's ok with you

 

Chelsea and United slipping up has given us a get out of jail card. We're not going to get another one. Time to get the show on the road.

 

Chelsea lost 5 games last season as did United...

[Guest ritchie_50]

My post wasn't so much aimed at you, just fed up with all the negativity on here in the past couple of weeks if that's ok with you

Chelsea lost 5 games last season as did United...

 

They might have done but we've lost 3 already, so it doesn't give us much scope for error in the last 31 games.

[charlie clown]

 

I am getting sick of the rotation stuff to be honest, I am one of Rafas biggest fans I like to think, but its obviously having an affect on results,

 

 

 

I think that is bollix.... until the media a started banging on about the number of games since he played the same side twice no-one gave a thought to it, we just accepted that that was the way Rafa played his squad and kept them fresh and how we got results. Its a media fabrication.

 

There is a simple fact that everyone seems to be overlooking at the moment because they can't see past the ROTATION barrier that everyone's tripping over: there are about haf a dozen key players in the squad who are playing well below par, and that is not because of roation otherwise they would have been playing that badly all through last season and the one before. Gerrard, Alonso, Reina, Carra, none of them look anywhere near top form, if rotation didn't affect their form last year, its not that doing this time either.

Edited October 1, 2006 by charlie clown

[Eskimo]

They might have done but we've lost 3 already, so it doesn't give us much scope for error in the last 31 games.

 

I donno I haven't got a crystal ball to help me predict the future...

[Stevie H]

There is a simple fact that everyone seems to be overlooking at the moment because they can't see past the ROTATION barrier that everyone's tripping over: there are about haf a dozen key players in the squad who are playing well below par, and that is not because of roation otherwise they would have been playing that badly all through last season and the one before. Gerrard, Alonso, Reina, Carra, none of them look anywhere near top form, if rotation didn't affect their form last year, its not that doing this time either.

dead right that. rotation isn't the problem.

[D.Boon]

Chelsea and United slipping up has given us a get out of jail card. We're not going to get another one. Time to get the show on the road.

 

This is what worries me too. Chelsea are still the team to beat and they gave us a chance to get right alongside them if not get a few points cushion on them with their start to the season. I dont see them having a major collapse of form and yet i expect us to lose another 3 games, maybe more this season.

[Foo]

Hmm, there was a lot of injuries early on and we have had some of the worst away matches this season while not being in full throttle yet. League champions we'll not be but this team is going to do ok this season too.

[R A Softlad]

we're only 6 behind. not too important if we address our form

 

I don't honestly think yesterday was down to form. I think it was all down to the injustice of their first goal - that knocked the wind out of our sails.

[Mike S]

It's not our form in general that's the problem, it's the away results. Last season we had a successful formula away from home, defending deep but pressing once they got into our half, and then either holding it up through Crouch or looking to play Cisse through. For whatever reason Rafa moved away from that vs Sheff utd and Everton and I think our confidence suffered from those 2 results.

 

I don't we're far off though, it took a scruffy win at Villa to get going away last year and we seemed to take a lot of confidence from that.

[Ombudsam]

I don't honestly think yesterday was down to form. I think it was all down to the injustice of their first goal - that knocked the wind out of our sails.

 

a great team (which you probably have to be to win this league) just wouldn't let that be the case

[Guest AnfieldGrass]

 

a great team (which you probably have to be to win this league) just wouldn't let that be the case

 

We are a great team.

 

But a team in form would have be inspired to correct the injustice.

 

 

 

They might have done but we've lost 3 already, so it doesn't give us much scope for error in the last 31 games.

 

We're about due for a 31 game unbeaten run I think.

[fyds]

Im not chucking the towel in at all. But 3 defeats and conceding as many goals as we score in the first 7 games is a concern if thats ok with you?

Bellamy, Gonzalez, Kuyt, Pennant, Agger, Aurelio - all new, all pretty much regulars. Most people I assume would agree they are an improvement on what we had or didn't have in the first place. We're playing with a more fluid attaking system as we always said we wanted to. You do that, the other teams will get more chances. How long do they all get to gel and develop a robust understanding of each other?

 

You don't really lose championships because you lose 3 games or so and drop a possible 9 points - you lose championships more often because you draw 10-11 games over a season and drop 20+ points.

 

This team is currently new and learning its new foramt and style - it's a bloody good team and has largely dominated even the games it has lost. It could still be good enough to win the title this year, but it will need to gel and show more bottle and faith than some of our fans.

[downunder]

Bellamy, Gonzalez, Kuyt, Pennant, Agger, Aurelio - all new, all pretty much regulars. Most people I assume would agree they are an improvement on what we had or didn't have in the first place. We're playing with a more fluid attaking system as we always said we wanted to. You do that, the other teams will get more chances. How long do they all get to gel and develop a robust understanding of each other?

 

You don't really lose championships because you lose 3 games or so and drop a possible 9 points - you lose championships more often because you draw 10-11 games over a season and drop 20+ points.

 

This team is currently new and learning its new foramt and style - it's a bloody good team and has largely dominated even the games it has lost. It could still be good enough to win the title this year, but it will need to gel and show more bottle and faith than some of our fans.

 

And after our next 2 away games, Mancs and Arsenal, all the games are 'easy'!!!!!

[fyds]

And after our next 2 away games, Mancs and Arsenal, all the games are 'easy'!!!!!

If we win those two, those whining now will be giving it - 'oh I never it meant it like that' etc...