February's games

[Jim D]

After another turgid performance away to a club at the bottom of the League, it seems to me Rafa doesn't have the ability to motivate his players any more when we play teams near the bottom. Against Spurs the team show character, commitment and effort but where was that tonight?

 

Our next game is at home to Bolton where the fans will be expecting three points, if we see a similar performance to the one tonight then more fans will be turning on the team and Rafa. Pressure goes up, stakes are higher. Now that leads onto what I believe will decide whether Rafa makes it to summer, our fixtures in February:

 

6 Feb 2010 Everton H

10 Feb 2010 Arsenal A

18 Feb 2010 Unirea H

21 Feb 2010 Man City A

25 Feb 2010 Unirea A

28 Feb 2010 Blackburn H

 

A UEFA Cup exit would be catastrophic, no matter how much people put emphasis on the race for 4th, it is our last chance for some silverware this season. As far as League games go we just have to be realistic, away to Arsenal we'd be happy with a point right now and away to City a defeat must be avoided at all costs. Of course we all know what is at stake for the Derby.

[Benzo-13]

After another turgid performance away to a club at the bottom of the League, it seems to me Rafa doesn't have the ability to motivate his players any more when we play teams near the bottom. Against Spurs the team show character, commitment and effort but where was that tonight?

 

Our next game is at home to Bolton where the fans will be expecting three points, if we see a similar performance to the one tonight then more fans will be turning on the team and Rafa. Pressure goes up, stakes are higher. Now that leads onto what I believe will decide whether Rafa makes it to summer, our fixtures in February:

 

6 Feb 2010 Everton H

10 Feb 2010 Arsenal A

18 Feb 2010 Unirea H

21 Feb 2010 Man City A

25 Feb 2010 Unirea A

28 Feb 2010 Blackburn H

 

A UEFA Cup exit would be catastrophic, no matter how much people put emphasis on the race for 4th, it is our last chance for some silverware this season. As far as League games go we just have to be realistic, away to Arsenal we'd be happy with a point right now and away to City a defeat must be avoided at all costs. Of course we all know what is at stake for the Derby.

 

Thats a month of hell fixtures.

 

I hate the Emirates and their diving imps.

[Andy-oh-six]

We'll get 3 points and get dumped out of Europe.

[Mooster]

I don't know why, but I feel more confident looking at that fixture list than I would if it was against Wolves/Burnley/Portsmouth etc - in fact out of those the one that worries me most is Blackburn at the end of the month! Maybe what we need is a run of big high pressure fixtures? (well, that and a few of our players staying fit and finding form etc)

[CarraLegend]

Everton 1-2 Gerrard 74, Cahill 90, Cahill 92

 

Arsenal 2-1 Johnson 15, Arshavin 65, Arshavin 91

 

Man City 3-2 The Greek 14, Kuyt 42, Ireland 84, Tevez 89, Benjani 97

 

Blackburn - 0-0

[Falconhoof]

I don't think we'll get more than 4 points from the next 4 games.

[Hassony]

 

Man City 3-2 The Greek 14, Kuyt 42, Ireland 84, Tevez 89, Benjani 97 (OG)

 

 

 

corrected that for you