Do we have what it takes?

The team top of the PL at Christmas has won the title in each of the last four seasons. Destiny.

However...

The last team to top the PL table at Christmas and not win the title were Liverpool in 2008-09. Warning.



THIS THREAD IS FULL OF OPTIMISM ONLY, NO "PESSISMISTS" / RED ALERT ALLOWED AFTER THIS POINT

Although, I may pop in if we do get a number 10 in the winter transfer window

2008-09 SIGH. Not only we gifted the trophy to MU, that was the start of our slide.

Don't know where we will end up come May. There are simply too many ifs. But I can tell you this, after 4-5 years, teams are not too eager to meet us.

Currently, our squad is too thin to compete especially in this run of fixtures and injury to anybody else now means we are in deep shit. We might want to give some fringe players like aspas to feature and probably others too so we can preserve some players with the exception of Suarez which I doubt has any form of replacement. If we can scale through the next two fixtures good for us. Second half of the season should be fun.

I think I read that on the previous three times we've been on top at Christmas we have not won the title, dating back to the '90-'91 season.

I don't think we'll win the title, but a top-4 place, please, let's make that happen!

there is no dominant team in epl this year. Only one that could develop into one is City imo... but short of that, i don't see why Liverpool couldn't win.

That said, depth is bad in several areas. So it will take some luck.

It's like everyone just ignored the second part.

DW Red, league is ours in the bag.

But seriously no, not even top 4 is guaranteed. We could be 5th or 6th by next year.   

And we could be 3rd, 2nd or 1st too.....its all about hoping for the best but at the same time expecting the worst...

I would really want Kelly, Alberto, Moses and Aspas get some minutes with Hull, Olham, Stoke and Villa. Not only our regulars need some break, those players must get some minutes if they are to be useful.

I hope we have already identified our targets (along with options) and close deals early in the winter window. We were really chasing shadows in the summer window.

If we can take atleast a point from our next two fixtures, then we can win the league. If we can't, we won't. (if you get what I mean)

I don't see our next two matches as title decider, they just complete the first half of the season. Anything can happen at the second half and besides that's when its hard to play relegation threatened teams.

iftikhar wrote:I would really want Kelly, Alberto, Moses and Aspas get some minutes with Hull, Olham, Stoke and Villa. Not only our regulars need some break, those players must get some minutes if they are to be useful.

I hope we have already identified our targets (along with options) and close deals early in the winter window. We were really chasing shadows in the summer window.

What? That's utterly untrue. We identified our targets (Aspas, Papadopoulus, Toure, Mkhitaryan) early and moved for them quickly... two were sorted and two ended up not working out, but they weren't missed out on because we didn't know what/who we wanted. Other issues arose despite our quick movement and targeting.

Tbh this reminds me of Juve 2010/11

Before the season started we were all hoping for a CL spot at most, and would have happily snatched it up were we given the choice

But half way through the season, we realised that we could actually go on and win the whole thing. Then the thought of 'only' finishing top 3 sounded disappointing. But in reality, it would have still been a success.


So, Liverpool have a chance of winning the title. Although probably not as the favourites. But pool fans shouldn't be too disappointed with a CL return.

We do have one big advantage over other rivals.Once the City and Chelsea away games are over we have an incredibly easy run in imoSo to be in this position (at worst 2 points of top 4 if we lose our next 2) after our incredibly hard first half of the season is in itself amazing.

We only play United Stoke and Southampton away of the top 11 team teams in the second half of the season.Compare that with City who will have to play away to Arsenal Liverpool United Spurs Newcastle Everton in the second half of the season.

If we can maintain the Anfield fortress form (P10 W9 L1) and keeping picking up points like this until Sturridge returns we have real chance imo.(Btw anyone know when he is scheduled to return?)

But our objective this season is Champions league football and i would be overjoyed with that.Hope we dont put ourselves under unnecessary pressure.

Edit:

We also need a decent january window which is crucial not just for title challenge but also to maintain our top 4 momentum .

What a beautiful video

Fit for this thread, got goosebumps all over

HOXTYGEN wrote:I don't see our next two matches as title decider, they just complete the first half of the season. Anything can happen at the second half and besides that's when its hard to play relegation threatened teams.

What I meant to say is that the next two games are arguably our toughest games of the season. If we can atleast draw one of these games, it will be a statement of our intent and the things we're capable of.

seriously who cares about winning the league and all,
All I care is that top 4 and then some stability to sustain so that we continue playing in CL and one day we will fight for League
Who gives a frrrack about anything, just win the league and i dont care if we play in third league for a decade or so

6 points off leaders and this is how the 2nd half of the season spans out!!!

Not bad ehhh!!   

The question is are we really good at home, or is it because we vsed all the shit teams at how that's making us look good, i guess we'll soon see   

Well point but then again we have proven to be sticking to our plans very solidly at home! So i guess we might just turn up more at home then away!

looking at that list it seems, Liverpool and Chelsea seem to be have favourable fixtures in 2nd half of the season.
Apart from that, if City dont improve their away form, they can be in deep shit, by that i mean their title contention will be in question