United's next 3 league fixtures before we play them

[Iver]

Fulham and Blackburn at home, and Newcastle away.

 

Does not exactly inspire confidence.

 

Even the most optimistic of us would find it difficult to envisage anything less than 9 points for them from those games.

 

That leaves us heading for Old Trafford five points, and an inferior goal difference behind them.

 

So nothing less than a win there will do, and even that might not be enough.

 

I fear we are going to really rue all those home draws come the end of the season.

 

Next Summer is going to be critical, in terms of our incoming signings.

 

For the first time in 18 years we are in a position where we are genuinely challenging for the title.

 

By bringing in the right players, we can realistically be champions next season, and in so doing, overtake the Mancs again.

[Toni]

Next Summer is going to be critical, in terms of our incoming signings.

 

For the first time in 18 years we are in a position where we are genuinely challenging for the title.

 

By bringing in the right players, we can realistically be champions next season, and in so doing, overtake the Mancs again.

 

we must first sort the terrible mess taking place behind the scenes. hopefully rafa will sign a new contract and he gets his wish to spend the budget allocated to him as he deems fit. also get rid of those yankee clowns and they can take parry with em.

[Maldini]

Fulham have one of the best defensive records in the league, you never know. Blackburn are a lot harder to beat now with Fat Sam there. Newcastle are a lottery.

[Zoob]

Fulham have one of the best defensive records in the league, you never know. Blackburn are a lot harder to beat now with Fat Sam there. Newcastle are a lottery.

 

So that'll be a dodgy pen to beat Fulham, an own goal to beat Blackburn, and Newcastle will be even more welcoming than they were for us, so the mancs will win 10-0.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

one game at a time & all that b******s. They've won their last 18,000, so the next time they drop points draws ever closer. If we were winning the way they are, we'd be very nervous. One goal against is quite likely to cost them points & they're not scoring for fun, nor looking like they will. It's very improbably they'll win all of the rest of their games - including or excluding the one with us - so there's always reason for hope

[Stevie H]

their defensive record this season is f***ing ridiculous.

[Andythered]

Grow some balls.

[madaboutlfc]

their defensive record this season is f***ing ridiculous.

it is but the thing is if we beat united away and are two points behind.. i would take that now as you never know what pressure does.. I think the reason we are not far ahead is down to the failed purchases or Robbie Keane and Dossena.Our squad was not improved at all with these two guys and we made marginal improvement. our squad is much poorer than them as well and that unfortunately is all down to the lack of spending.. I would go as far and say us being 2nd is all down to Rafa Benitez as our spending is quite obviously leagues behind the likes of Man United, Chelsea and even Tottenham.. Arsenals lack of spending is coming home to roost now as well. Man City will be a big threat in coming years so us being owned by two muppets has hindered us. I think even with David Moores in charge we would have had similar level of spending and the debt would actually have been put to building the stadium but lack of vision has cost us

[Farmer's Tan]

a couple of things have knocked back,1)torres being injured for so long,2)keane's failure to score anywhere near enough goals in his absence and 3)players like babel not rising to the occasion,matter of fact regressing.to win we need torres to stay injury free and bang on form for rest of season,fringe players to step up and score goals in games,benny seems to be rising to the occasion,has played very well in his last few games,lucas is another who needs to at least up his iq a few points,he has had a few good games though when used.we also could use a few goals from set pieces/corners,only sami seems to score from crosses into the box,carra,agger and skrtel need to chip in.

[Stevie H]

it is but the thing is if we beat united away and are two points behind.. i would take that now as you never know what pressure does.. I think the reason we are not far ahead is down to the failed purchases or Robbie Keane and Dossena.Our squad was not improved at all with these two guys and we made marginal improvement. our squad is much poorer than them as well and that unfortunately is all down to the lack of spending.. I would go as far and say us being 2nd is all down to Rafa Benitez as our spending is quite obviously leagues behind the likes of Man United, Chelsea and even Tottenham.. Arsenals lack of spending is coming home to roost now as well. Man City will be a big threat in coming years so us being owned by two muppets has hindered us. I think even with David Moores in charge we would have had similar level of spending and the debt would actually have been put to building the stadium but lack of vision has cost us

i think we're going to need to win at old trafford regardless. which will still be moot if they don't start conceding some goals and dropping some points.

[Maldini]

They haven't actually been playing well at all though.

[Stevie H]

which makes it all the more annoying that their defence seems to have become impregnable. we need them to lose a couple of matches never mind concede a goal or two.

[David Hodgson]

I'm not overly concerned by what they do. To be champions there has to be a phase where you play like Champions. What is it 13 games left ? Time to win 11 of those and see where we are.

 

And yes, it's a given that we have to win at Old Trafford, and even that will only have any relevance if we can stay with them over the next 3 matches.

[Stevie H]

I'm not overly concerned by what they do. To be champions there has to be a phase where you play like Champions. What is it 13 games left ? Time to win 11 of those and see where we are.

 

And yes, it's a given that we have to win at Old Trafford, and even that will only have any relevance if we can stay with them over the next 3 matches.

good to be talking like this in mid-february though isn't it? what we need to do across the final dozen games to have a chance of being champions etc?

[anny road]

and what precisley can we do about them until we play them?

 

lets get our own job done

[Jim D]

It was a freak run of results that denied us the Championship in the 2001-02 season, Arsenal went on an unbelievable run and won it. Come forward to present day and at this moment in time (25 games) we are having the clubs 4th best ever season (see below) in terms of points accumulated since the 3pts for a win system came in but it is still not enough to be top. This time it is the Mancs who are having a freak run of results, not conceded a goal in 13 games, won nine games by the scoreline 1-0.

 

Looking ominous isn't it? Despite all those draws we've accumulated having 54 points after 25 games is title winning form, problem is we've come across a Manc team who's defensive record is ridiculous!

 

Our best starts for the first 25 games:

 

1. 1987/88 - 63 points [finished 1st: 90 points from 40 games]

2. 1982/83 - 56 points [finished 1st: 82 points from 42 games]

3. 1990/91 - 54 points [finished 2nd: 76 points from 38 games]

3. 2008/09 - 54 points

5. 1983/84 - 51 points [finished 1st: 80 points from 42 games]

6. 1989/90 - 49 points [finished 1st: 79 points from 38 games]

6. 1996/97 - 49 points [finished 4th: 68 points from 38 games]

6. 2006/07 - 49 points [finished 3rd: 68 points from 38 games]

 

Just to add, IF we didn't drop all those silly points at Anfield, we would have actually been on par with the fantastic 87/88 team!

Edited February 9, 2009 by Jim D

[Swipe]

United will drop points unexpectedly somewhere along the line.

 

No reason why it can't be during the next few games.

 

Fulham are a really tough team to play against under Hodgson

[Flasher]

Need to concentrate on us. We need to win all our remaining games (probably).

 

Villa could have a lot to say in this title race yet, as will Arsenal, both of whom are still to play Man Utd and Liverpool away.

 

Arsenal is Man Utd's last home game.

[stressederic]

Bit of a shame that United haven't got Villa coming up in the next few games.

[DJS]

The timing of the remaining games is crucial and doesnt really do us favours.

 

If the mancs had Arsenal and Villa in March, that would've been better for us. As it is, they play Villa on 4th April and Arsenal second to last game of the season - by which point, they could've already won it.

 

We have to stick on their coat tails for the next 6 weeks.

[Hassony]

The timing of the remaining games is crucial and doesnt really do us favours.

 

If the mancs had Arsenal and Villa in March, that would've been better for us. As it is, they play Villa on 4th April and Arsenal second to last game of the season - by which point, they could've already won it.

 

We have to stick on their coat tails for the next 6 weeks.

 

I have said it before, United will bottle it in the last 5 games of the season and we will sneak it right at the end

 

the pressue of going for number 18 will be too much for them, and arsenal, man city, spurs and hull will all manage to get something from them.

[David Hodgson]

I have said it before, United will bottle it in the last 5 games of the season and we will sneak it right at the end

 

the pressue of going for number 18 will be too much for them, and arsenal, man city, spurs and hull will all manage to get something from them.

 

That is a major relief.

[Benzo-13]

My brief would be to win the next three at all costs and get to March 14th needing to win it to go top or get it back to two points.

If we won they'd be well rattled and limp a bit for a while.

 

I think all or nothing must win games are our speciality under Rafa.

[Sion]

My brief would be to win the next three at all costs and get to March 14th needing to win it to go top or get it back to two points.

If we won they'd be well rattled and limp a bit for a while.

 

I think all or nothing must win games are our speciality under Rafa.

If we win our next 4 PL games we'll be favourites in my eyes, even though we'd likely be a point ahead but played 1 more game. Due to our 'easier' run in, psychological boost and having less games to play.

 

Win the next 4 games to become favourites, that doesn't sound to hard does it?

[Jarg Armani]

their games after we play them are more difficult than ours. don't worry, we'll win the c*** at a canter, and spend all summer sitting up trees smiling at passers by.