bigmick wrote:I suspect we will see a fair bit of styling here. Assuming Alonso doesn't play, the midfield duo will probably be Lucas and Masherano, Gerrard will play off Torres I think and Keane will be left to rue once again that after he scored two goals, where did it all go wrong. Aurelio will be shooed back into left back, Babel might just get the nod over Riera on the left, while Kuyt will come back infor whoever played on the right last time. All told it'll be four or five changes to the team (which was quite a strong one) against Preston. Further, I wouldn't be advising anyone to get too comfortable because that'll be the way for the next few weeks if not till the end of the season I think.
All that said, I fancy us to win comfortably enough and put the other two challengers for the league under pressure. I then take Man Utd to beat Chelsea with a bit in hand, and put the "Landeners" almost but not quite out of it. They'll then be staring down the gun barrel at having to go on a huge run of wins, and also go to Anfield and take the points. They aren't capable of either though with the team they have this season, and by the end of the month it'll be a two horse race, a dogfight to the finish between us and the Mancs.
I'm still giving us the maximum opportunity to rub egg all over my face by saying (and believing) that a combination of slight over styling and a reluctance to go all out for the win in tight matches will see us come up 3-4 points short, but a distance clear of Chelsea in 3rd.
I think the pressure will be on us when mannure play consistently winning several matches on the trot. If we can grasp the pressure and shove it up the rear maybe we will cope. I still dont think we will be many points ahead of chelsea though. Still feel it will be a 3 horse race and towards the last few months one of the 3 will jump out the race. By mid march we will have a clear picture.
