The Gap

[Uncle Travelling Matt]

I do tend to look at any kind of statistic or analysis positively but looking at goals for and against this season, split home and away.....the gap between us and united comes down to how well they have defended at home.

Goals for, we are only 1 behind them at home. They have scored 10 more away from home but have gained only 2 points more from those goals, it seems the extra 10 points are from the fact that they conceded 7 less at home.....these are obviously our silly draws with Spurs, Villa, Chelsea, Wigan.

Obviously losing home and away to them played its part too but personally, I think Danny Agger has been sorely missed.

[Vladi]

Originally Posted by Uncle Travelling Matt

I do tend to look at any kind of statistic or analysis positively but looking at goals for and against this season, split home and away.....the gap between us and united comes down to how well they have defended at home.

Goals for, we are only 1 behind them at home. They have scored 10 more away from home but have gained only 2 points more from those goals, it seems the extra 10 points are from the fact that they conceded 7 less at home.....these are obviously our silly draws with Spurs, Villa, Chelsea, Wigan.

Obviously losing home and away to them played its part too but personally, I think Danny Agger has been sorely missed.

Definately mate, and not just in terms of defending either. If he can recover fully from this worrying injury and form a partnership with Skrtel, then I reckon our central defence is looking good for the next 6 years at least.

[bobhorse]

Has it has been for the last few years the two games against them decide the season when you see there spending power season after season i think we do well to keep pace with them

It is becomming frustrating that we are just a couple of players short of them every year but i think they are at a point now, that they arnt going to improve that much regardless of how they spend the money?
But if we spend ours well there is a good deal of improvement that could be brought out of the team and that could make the difference

[coop]

We seem to do well against Arsenal and improving against Chelsea but under Rafa whenever we play against Man United its a guaranteed 6 points for them each season.

Obviously that gives them 6 extra points but also silly draws against Birmingham and Wigan and the game against Aston Villa where we dominated the game but still failed to win.

Gerrard is a superb player and has formed a great partnership with Torres but we are desperate for a player who can unlock any defence either by a great pass or signing a winger who is fast and able to beat a ful back on a regular basis.

Until we sign a player of this ilk then we will always come unstuck in games where they play 11 men behind the ball.