
Anyway, my take is this. I think we've got a very good team, which while it it has inherent weaknesses does not have one glaring issue which will cost it. I'd go as far as saying if we could play our best team in every single game in the Premiership (which for me includes Gerrard on the right but leaving that aside for a second) we'd win it. I think our best team woud bring home the title.
Now before I have all the numpties reaching for their keyboards, let me say that I know we can't play our best team in every single game. I'm not even talking about rotation either. If you look at man Utd, they've got scholes out till Christmas, Rooney injured, Carrick in and out of injury and Hargreaves the same. If we had that, an injury to Gerrard and Mash/Alonso and we'd be gone for all money. We wouldn't even be able to muddle through, in the space of four or five games we'd be gone. Similarly Chelsea with Drogba being injured, last season Lampard and Terry. Take Torres out of our team, and/or Gerrard and carragher and it'll be all over pretty quick. Arsenal last season lost Rosicky and Van Persie which caused them to wobble, then that Croatian bloke whose name escapes me got injured as well and it just tipped them over.
So in conclusion, whilst in parts we have deficiencies in comparison to our rivals, I think that as an overall sum of it's parts the best team we have is plenty good enough. The trouble is, if even Riera gets injured we are instantly under pressure. Even if Kuyt gets injured Gerrard is out there probably, stick in a suspension for masherano and we are bang under. Agger hasn't convinced me yet that he will ever rediscover his best form after his "problems", while the jury is out on whether the Brazilian bloke could replace Reina.
What we do have is the best striker in the league, and the best central mdfielder ( and that is Gerrard, sorry guys) as well as one of the best goalies. We won't lose many as long as Rafa doesn't get all stylie, and Keane has definately improved a team which got within 11 points last season whilst throwing some points away with dodgy selections.
No, my feeling is that we'll get very close, but that a couple of injuries here and there will just be enough to cost us.