So does this season still count as a "title challenge"?

[JMARKH]

No another pathetic season domestically where you just want season to end.

[Moo]

it is fading but a win at OT and a slip up here and there from united will get us back into it again. A challenge is having a chance in May imo and that still may happen.

 

We just need to buck up our ideas and fast

 

I'd echo this I think.

 

We all know 99.999999% that we are not going to win the league but the extent to which we have challenged will not become evident until May, or until it's mathematically impossible which of course could be considerably sooner.

 

I feel I have to add though that if at the start of the season we'd know that we'd be without Torres for most of it (so far) and Gerrard for a large chunk plus the court case hanging over his head, I think our expectations may have been dampened somewhat.

[Glen C]

Definitely no. The fact is that there was so many games we drew that we could have won if rafa had the bottle to go for it rather than playing it safe and settling for a draw. Ive had doubts since the arsenal game as i felt that we really could have won that if we took a chance and was confirmed after the man city game. We're too negative and don't commit enough players when going forward in attack. Has been our problem for 5 years and doesn't look like changing. This is good in europe when you have a two legged game, but in the league its costs you after awhile and it has us.

[ScottyT]

We'll be lucky to finish 3rd. It's clear now that Chelsea are still way ahead of us and just had the wrong manager.

[t1971]

No this wasnt a title challenge. We havent really played well all season, and i mean we havent yet hit a bit of form. When we were top of the league we were playing poorly and scraping a lot of wins. Chelsea, Arsenal and the Mancs were all droppin points when we were so we were fotunate. I dont think we have been any better than we were last year.

[Trucker Paddy]

No, I said to a manc mate of mine before City game in October that if were still within 4/5 points in April i'll be happy, !st of March and were basically 10 points behind, so No this has not been a challenge.

[Zippy]

No. We finished 11 points behind United last season and if they win their game in hand they will be ten points clear of us this season. I can only see that gap getting bigger between now and the end of the season.

[109_ultra]

We are further behind now than we have ever been. The squad is paper thin and its now obvious that we were in a false position in the early part of the season.

 

My expectations were not even that high...i just wanted to be closer to man utd but as has been said were 10 points behind and that gap will only get bigger now.

[The 5th Benitel]

No.

 

Exactly the same as Arse last year who collapsed at a similar time & in a similar manner (mainly thru draws) which was also not a proper title challenge.

 

Only the Mancs or the Chavs have realistically challenged for the title in the last 5 seasons which is entirely predictable given their resources advantages.

 

But we haven't lost the league against the mancs or chelsea. We've lost it against Fulham, West Ham, Hull, Wigan, Boro etc. They've only got a fraction of our resources.

 

We've got a manger who thinks that if you're playing a team in the relegation zone and you're without you best forwad and your other quality attackers is half fit you can still rest your in form attacker and expect to win.

 

With Chelsea in transition and the mancs slow start we had as even a playing field as we'll get and he still go nowhere near challenging. It's not money that made him lay Lucas instead of Alonso when Gerrard was out or sell our 2nd top scorer and not bring in a replacement or any of the many other things Benitez has done to ruin our title push. I know what i've seen this season and 90% of the reason we were out of it in Feb is down to the manager. I'm more certain of that now than i've ever been.

[rebel23]

our aim should be to make sure we're in that top 3

 

worst case scenario is finishing 4th and Arsenal winning the CL which would get them in next year at our expense. even finishing 4th would give us a tricky early season tie against a tough opponent so we really need to avoid that.

[ScottyT]

our aim should be to make sure we're in that top 3

 

worst case scenario is finishing 4th and Arsenal winning the CL which would get them in next year at our expense. even finishing 4th would give us a tricky early season tie against a tough opponent so we really need to avoid that.

 

I want to finish 5th so you can't cling to your CL comfort blanket.

[Carra_is_legend]

No.

 

And we are heading to where we rightfully belong due to our dire performances on and off the pitch this season.

[rebel23]

I want to finish 5th so you can't cling to your CL comfort blanket.

 

then we lose all our best players but nevermind, we can just play the kids and storm the league under a new buccaneering manager

[ScottyT]

then we lose all our best players but nevermind, we can just play the kids and storm the league under a new buccaneering manager

 

Yeah, good eh. A few years in the Championship would sort out the men from the boys. What would you do for your real life FM fix then?

[Carra_is_legend]

then we lose all our best players but nevermind, we can just play the kids and storm the league under a new buccaneering manager

 

Kaka, Seedorf, Maldini, Pato, Maldini, Inzhagi all left AC Milan didn't they?

 

Not saying we should finish 5th - but it is silly to suggest ALL our best players will leave if we do finish 5th.

[Antynwa]

United have walked this league.

[rebel23]

Kaka, Seedorf, Maldini, Pato, Maldini, Inzhagi all left AC Milan didn't they?

 

Not saying we should finish 5th - but it is silly to suggest ALL our best players will leave if we do finish 5th.

 

AC milan are a well run club with a wealthy owner, i dont think Liverpool are in the same kind of position

[ScottyT]

AC milan are a well run club

 

Haha.

[Vivaldo]

Not even close buddy

[Juniper]

No, not anymore.

 

A couple of months ago yes, not now. I just dont see our league form being anything close to winning all of our last games. It will be the same old story from us, too little to late.

 

It was over a few games ago, not yesterday.

[23_Carra_Gold]

Ivan Drago challenged Rocky. We fought one good round and then allowed our opponents to punch us into a bloody retreat.

[RSM]

No.

 

Exactly the same as Arse last year who collapsed at a similar time & in a similar manner (mainly thru draws) which was also not a proper title challenge.

 

Only the Mancs or the Chavs have realistically challenged for the title in the last 5 seasons which is entirely predictable given their resources advantages.

 

Agreed.

[Antynwa]

But we haven't lost the league against the mancs or chelsea. We've lost it against Fulham, West Ham, Hull, Wigan, Boro etc. They've only got a fraction of our resources.

 

We've got a manger who thinks that if you're playing a team in the relegation zone and you're without you best forwad and your other quality attackers is half fit you can still rest your in form attacker and expect to win.

 

With Chelsea in transition and the mancs slow start we had as even a playing field as we'll get and he still go nowhere near challenging. It's not money that made him lay Lucas instead of Alonso when Gerrard was out or sell our 2nd top scorer and not bring in a replacement or any of the many other things Benitez has done to ruin our title push. I know what i've seen this season and 90% of the reason we were out of it in Feb is down to the manager. I'm more certain of that now than i've ever been.

 

Absolutely 100% with massive strawberry's on top correct.

[King Emlyn]

But we haven't lost the league against the mancs or chelsea. We've lost it against Fulham, West Ham, Hull, Wigan, Boro etc. They've only got a fraction of our resources.

 

We've got a manger who thinks that if you're playing a team in the relegation zone and you're without you best forwad and your other quality attackers is half fit you can still rest your in form attacker and expect to win.

 

With Chelsea in transition and the mancs slow start we had as even a playing field as we'll get and he still go nowhere near challenging. It's not money that made him lay Lucas instead of Alonso when Gerrard was out or sell our 2nd top scorer and not bring in a replacement or any of the many other things Benitez has done to ruin our title push. I know what i've seen this season and 90% of the reason we were out of it in Feb is down to the manager. I'm more certain of that now than i've ever been.

Bang on.

[Ace]

No.