vegnomeat wrote:I wouldn't want RAFA sacked if we don't win next year. I would ask for reason, this has been a challenging season (although empty ultimately) and can only serve to help the club forward. I remember the 05/06 season when we finished with 82 points, we then took a few steps backwards before finally progressing this year.
I would say though that in my honest opinion we won't take 12 points off Chelski and the mancs next year and we may have a tougher season. All the while though we will be gaining experience which will stand us in good stead.
regards
You have to judge Rafa (or anyone) on performance not necessarily on result. Obviously if we win the title few will care if it isn't the greatest season in terms of performance.
We probably won't take 12 points of the mancs and Chelsea, I think it's more likely we'll draw or lose away to those next season. They're not guaranteed points by any means, in fact we did exceptionally well to get to 82 points in 05/06 with 10 less points against the 'big four'.
05/06 82 points
vs 'Big Four' : P6 W1 D1 L4 PTS 4 (Won 16.67%)
vs Rest : P32 W24 D6 L2 PTS 78 (Won 75.00%)
08/09 83 points
vs 'Big Four' : P6 W4 D2 L0 PTS 14 (Won 66.67%)
vs positions 5-20 : P31 W20 D9 L2 PTS 69 (Won 64.52%)
05/06 was excellent against the rest of the league, poor against the 'big four', this season it is the games against the rest that have been the disappointment.
Mancs 08/09
vs 'Big Four' : P6 W1 D2 L3 PTS 5 (Won 16.67%)
vs positions 5-20 : P31 W26 D4 L1 PTS (Won 83.87%)
SIX more wins than us over the rest, perhaps a reflection of their squad depth. The mancs being able to spend the same sort of money we spend on 1st team players on kids and squad is definitely an advantage. Those two serbian kids, Nani and Anderson, Rafael and his brother, the reported £6m on a Dodo etc. That's no excuse for us though, for not beating Hull, Stoke, West Ham and Fulham at home. Isn't the gap between us and the mancs the same as the number of points dropped against Stoke (4) or Stoke and Hull at home (4)...........................? We've lost TWO less games than them, shows they aren't invulnerable. Also shows that they simply win games that we draw, they've picked up maximum points against Hull, WBA and Stoke so far and are likely only to drop points against Hull now they've sealed the title and have a final to prepare for. We've dropped six points against the newly promoted sides, we have always had that tendancy and we don't always pick up maximum points against sides that end up relegated either (11/18 last season)
