Liverpool FC Forum

by **66-1112520797** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:49 am

Given the results this weekend, mainly the top four. I thought a little hope and optimism was due around here. So I've been looking at the table and the rest of the fixtures yet to come for all the four teams.

Okay this is where the ifs and buts start. So we'll take a look at Man Uniteds fixtures for the rest of the season. There is a possible 42 points up for grabs, and we're currently 11 points behind. Its going to be tight. Next to the games I've put a W=win D=draw and L=loss.

Sun, 21st A Arsenal (PREM.)
2 - 1 | L Match report
Sat, 27th H Portsmouth (F.A.)
17:15 -
Wed, 31st H Watford (PREM.) W
20:00 -
February
Sun, 4th A Tottenham (PREM.) L (theres the hope)
16:00 -
Sat, 10th H Charlton (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Tue, 20th A Lille (U.C.L.) (Go on Lille)
19:45 -
Sat, 24th A Fulham (PREM.) W
12:45 -
March
Sat, 3rd A Liverpool (PREM.) L
12:45 -
Wed, 7th H Lille (U.C.L.)
19:45 -
Sat, 17th H Bolton (PREM.) W
12:45 -
Sat, 31st H Blackburn (PREM.) L
15:00 -
April
Sat, 7th A Portsmouth (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Tue, 10th H Sheff Utd (PREM.) W
20:00 -
Sat, 14th A Chelsea (PREM.) L
15:00 -
Sat, 21st H Middlesbro (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Sat, 28th A Everton (PREM.) D
12:00 -
May
Sat, 5th A Man City (PREM.) L
15:00 -
Sun, 13th H West Ham (PREM.) W
15:00 -

Trying to be as realistic as possible, they've totalled 27 points out of a possible 42 in my rough calculations. Which leaves us three points behind, hopefully in there somewhere they'll drop another three points or more. Arsenal have given us a glimmer of hope IMHO now. Also ManU havent really gone through a rough patch this season, it doesnt mean they will but we can only hope. And after their game on Sunday hopefully there morale is down a tad and who knows. That tied up with their cup games in between and then who really knows anything can still happen.
That tally would leave ManU with a total of 84 points come the end of the season.

Chelsea's fixtures now, and although there is unrest and injuries amongst the Londoners. You'd still be a mug to rule them out. Here are their remaining fixtures.

Sat, 20th A Liverpool (PREM.)
2 - 0 | L Match report
Tue, 23rd H Wycombe (C.C.) (Up the Wycombe)
19:45
Sun, 28th H Nottm Forest (F.A.)
14:00 -
Wed, 31st H Blackburn (PREM.) D
19:45 -
February
Sat, 3rd A Charlton (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Sat, 10th H Middlesbro (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Wed, 21st A Porto (U.C.L.)
19:45 -
Sat, 24th A Man City (PREM.) D
15:00 -
March
Sat, 3rd A Portsmouth (PREM.) W
17:15 -
Tue, 6th H Porto (U.C.L.)
19:45 -
Sat, 17th H Sheff Utd (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Sat, 31st A Watford (PREM.) W
17:15 -
April
Sat, 7th H Tottenham (PREM.) D
15:00 -
Mon, 9th A West Ham (PREM.) D
15:00 -
Sat, 14th H Man Utd (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Sat, 21st A Newcastle (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Sat, 28th H Bolton (PREM.) W
15:00 -
May
Sat, 5th A Arsenal (PREM.) L
15:00 -
Sun, 13th H Everton (PREM.) W
15:00 -

Again, trying to be realistic I have managed to optimistically find a maximum of 31 points from the remaining 42. 11 points dropped thats believable given Chelsea's current predicement.
Thats a total of 81 points come the end of the season.

And here is our remaining fixtures.

Sat, 20th H Chelsea (PREM.)
2 - 0 | W Match report
Tue, 30th A West Ham (PREM.) W
19:45 -
February
Sat, 3rd H Everton (PREM.) W
12:45 -
Sat, 10th A Newcastle (PREM.) D
15:00 -
Wed, 21st A Barcelona (U.C.L.) W- but dont add it up.
19:45 -
Sat, 24th H Sheff Utd (PREM.) W
15:00 -
March
Sat, 3rd H Man Utd (PREM.) W
12:45 -
Tue, 6th H Barcelona (U.C.L.)

19:45 -
Sun, 18th A Aston Villa (PREM.) D
13:35 -
Sat, 31st H Arsenal (PREM.) W
12:45 -
April
Sat, 7th A Reading (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Mon, 9th H Middlesbro (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Sat, 14th A Man City (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Sat, 21st H Wigan (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Sat, 28th A Portsmouth (PREM.) D
15:00 -
May
Sat, 5th A Fulham (PREM.) W
15:00 -
Sun, 13th H Charlton (PREM.) W
15:00 -

Firstly I'd like to say, is that I hope my Maths add up, feel free to scrutinise the numbers or whatever.
Secondly, in our remaining fixtures we'll have to go virtually unbeaten for the rest of the season. Whether its possible or not, I dont know. If we can take 36 points from 42, I hope so, but its a very tall order IMO. Even still that will only bring us to 82 points come the end of the season. Like I said hopefully ManU will drop another point or two on top of my already optimistic calculations.

We're still a long way off of anything yet, and I'm not getting carried away. But if we remain unbeaten and pick up the required points for the next two months TWO MONTHS UNBEATEN that sounds possible. By then then we'll be at the begining of April and can look out for ManU's results, it could be interesting. So for the next two months and from one game at a time if we can focus and do the job on our opponents April could bring a very different image on the league.

Here's to ifs and buts, and to hope and luck but who knows.

If my maths are sh.ite and dont add up, dont worry feel free to discuss this very optimistic thread anyway

By the way I couldnt be bothered to add Arsenal in, and for my money their a more dangerous outfit than Chelsea at the moment. And will be recently buoyed by results against us and ManU. They'll be there or there abouts I'm sure, but seen as their currently below us and the fact I'm tired from all the Maths I couldnt be bothered as said. No dissrespect to them.

by **Rafa D** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:46 am

Nice to see some optimism around here again after all the ridiculous threads about the cup exits.

I made a bold prediction in the Liverpool V Chelsea match thread that if we beat Chelsea then we would win the league. I know looking back it seems a bit far fetched and 11 points is a big ask, BUT if we can remain unbeaten till the end of the season I really do think the league is still a possibility for us. Gerrard and Rafa will not come out and say it, but I believe that they believe they can do it.

Our form is the league at the moment is the best. We had a bad start that has really dented our title challenge but Rafa's run in at the end of seasons is always strong - could this be down to the rotation?

Last year we were excellent in our run in and I read somewhere that we would of won the league if it started in October. The same with Rafa's Valencia outfit. They were 8 points off Real one season at Xmas and went on to win it by 7 points. This is where the fruitation of Rafa's widely criticised rotation policy comes into play. He has been hounded all season about not playing his best 11 and leaving form players out. However how strong and fit did our players look against the champions at the weekend. Chelsea who have become known as the strongest and fittest team in the league looked zapped and inferior to our side at the weekend. I remember last year Curbs saying how fit and strong they were and they wear teams down with it. Did they do that to us? No.

Chelsea did have a makeshift defence but make no mistake , ours was a brilliant team performance. They had class players all over the park, world class players. We were faster, fitter and stronger. Every 2nd ball we won, every loose pass they made, we picked up on it. We hassled them, played the ball better than them and in the first half especially they could not cope with us. Look back at the match and you will see how much fitter and stronger we are than them.

The rotation policy was widely criticised but I do think we are starting to see the benefits of it now, Bellamy, Kuyt and Crouch are all hungry for goals because a) they want to stay in the team and b) There very fit at the moment due to playing sporadicaly. Gerrard and Alonso show no signs of weakness at the moment and we still have the ever fit Momo to come back into the squad. Pennant - although not his biggest fan - is playing with renewed vigour and looking happy. I know a lot of you are not fans of the rotation policy but looking now we might finally see the light at the end of the tunnel with it. I personally sometimes did shake my head and wonder, but if we play like we did against the Champions against the rest of the league, I would be certain of number 19 coming to Anfield.

However Curbs might just put us in our place with a 1 - 0 loss at the Boleyn Ground and then t will be Rafa Out again.

I believe, do you?

by **Effes** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:01 pm

It's optimistic Bamaga man - but can't see Man U losing all thos points. (and not losing at home to Balckburn, even if it did happen last season).

We just need to concentrate on our own results and if we were to finish second I'd be well happy.

by **account deleted by request** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:20 pm

I can't see the mancs LOSING so many games, I can however see them drawing quite a few, 2 defeats against Chelsea and us and 4 draws against Bolton, Blackburn, Spurs and Man city will give them 1 more point than you predicted Bamaga and that is possible.

We will get an extra 2 points than you predict when we smash Newcastle.

I believe

by **stmichael** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:47 pm

We will see if Rafas rotation policy allows us to be fitter then our opponents allowing us to continue our great run.

I personally think the Mancs will slip up. They are a thread bare squad and have been relying on mainly Ronaldo and Scholes. These 2 have been carrying them over the last few months and have been the difference between a draw and a win. It doesnt take an injury just a loss of form or suspension in Scholes case.

We should all know by now that any team in the Premier League can win any other team on their given day so hope is eternal on both the mancs and chelski dropping more points.

There is one thing i can assure you, neither Ferguson or Mourinho will be discarding Liverpool out of the title race. Realistically though I just can't see both Chelsea AND Manure dropping enough points.

by **LFC #1** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:53 pm

Too optimistic for me, it's not impossible but I just don't think we'll quite get there. With CL commitments I can't see us going on a run like that tbh, we lost the league at the start of the season. I still have a slight glimmer of hope, but being realistic I can't see it (Although who woudl've predicted what happened in Istanbul).

Basically the heart says yes but the head says no. Next season is the one (so long as we get off to a good start).

by **crouchaldinho** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:59 pm

Two top posts there rafa & BM - i for one was a bit disillusioned with all of the doom & gloom posts that have been evident on here a certain points this season. Its extremely refreshing to see some optimism on here again!

I definately believe - Chelsea are having a dire run of it at the moment, plus i think even when they get Terry back, its going to take him a couiple of games at least to be back to his best. And United? well i think the WAY they lost that game to the gooners will have cut them deep. To concede 2 in the last 10 mins has got to be mentally crucifying! I fully expect both of them to drop more points over the next few games.

Number 19 on its way guys! you mark my words!

I BELIEVE!!!!!

by **peterc1992** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:04 pm

i can see chelsea beeting them and us beeting them which means it will be 5 points,and they have to go to spurs and everton,hopefully they might slip up on one or two other teams ,they deserve a beating....
i was always optimistic and i will be and i think we can still win it even though some of my friends told me off today,but if we think we can do it we MUST beat man utd,arsenal and utd must lose to chelsea and slip up somewhere else too,we need to take one game at a time next week we play west ham and they play portsmouth,if they lose to portsmouth next week i can see us definitely in around there but we need to win every game,and we have to believe we can ,we are good finishers pity we could be better starters and be in with a better chance now

by **Zi-Dan Agger** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:13 pm

gonna be tough... but i believe!!!

by **Sabre** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:21 pm

Effes wrote

It's optimistic Bamaga man - but can't see Man U losing all thos points. (and not losing at home to Balckburn, even if it did happen last season).

We just need to concentrate on our own results and if we were to finish second I'd be well happy.

Spot on. 3 weeks ago we were too pessimistic, now too optimistic .

by **weringo** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:42 pm

Asking us to go unbeaten for the rest of the season is way to much imo, all we can do is look at our next game and work out how we're going to beat the opposition. I know I sound like Rafa but its the best way to do it, by April lets see where we are and then just put everything into it from there.

by **red37** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:39 pm

Dont lets get too carried away. Results went (almost completely) in our favour this weekend...thats not going to happen every week. I still say, 2nd spot is 'achievable' but only if the fortunes of others continue to hit a rocky spell. The upshot is (a familiar tale) that, had we come out the blocks a bit livlier...we could well have been postulating the consideration of finishing even higher than that. Great weekend yes. Though the 'tortoise and the hare' theme is admirably being mistaken for nothing less than optimism borne out of an excellent, yet 'one-off' set of circumstances. Having said that, the momentum must be maintained on the challengers around us...and in doing so, that will afford the opportunity to capitalise on any future blips on their behalf. If/when thats the case.

Fantastic idea in respect to the TC's explanation...and nice to hear. But lets just concentrate on consolidating our own interests. Anything else is a bonus.

by **Scottbot** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:25 pm

Agree it's nice to see some optimism on the boards. Some posters are saying it's the impossible dream but when you saw Henry score that late winner for Arsenal yesterday tell me you didn't think 'hey this isn't over, there's some hope'? even if it was just for a second. Agree that we would need to go unbeaten and beating the mancs is obviously a must but pressure can do strange things to footballers and there's a fair few in the current manc side who haven't really experienced it before. Rafa's (and the team's) job is to put them under some pressure and see what happens from there on in.

by **Marianne** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:31 pm

hey we can beat the best, so we can win the league!!

by **Bad Bob** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:22 pm

I'm not ruling anything out but it's a big ask to haul in Man U this season. They'd have to self-destruct pretty badly and then we'd have to put up with all the sh!te about how they lost it instead of us winning it (not that I wouldn't take it!).

For me, we need to stay focused on beating who's in front of us and look to get ahead of Chelsea. If that happens and the Mancs start leaking points, then we'll see.

One thing's for sure, though--we shouldn't write off our season just yet. In fact, I read today that we have one more point this season than we had at this stage last season and last year we ended on 82 points. Who knows?

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