They are definitely in the race, not sure how anyone could say otherwise. City are favourites obviously but I wouldn't rule out Liverpool especially with them having no other distractions
The Title Race 2013/14
- Thread starter Buchan
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
City and Arsenal probably only have two games in Europe.
Who do we want to lose on Monday? Chelsea lose and we are within 5 points of the fourth place, they win and we are 7 points behind fourth but 8 off the top.
I think Liverpool are definitely in it. They are winning the games they should and look solid enough. Wont be enough to beat City or Chelsea..... A lot depends on Arsenal's form next year if Liverpool are good enough for a CL place. As for us...if we keep winning...we should be in the mix.
still think they will be found out at that difficult end to the season. Let me put it this way...if they do win it, then for sure the Premier League is bloody weak this season. You need that depth in squad to deal with not only the physical demands of that run in...but the mental. Can't see them doing it this season.
I prefer a draw. which I think will be the result.
Chelsea losing for me.
Right now they are the team who look most likely to drop out of the top 4 which I think has now become out goal for the season.
Liverpool are going to have to prove what they can do at City and Chelsea.
What, in fairness to them, they are doing is absolutely dismantling teams at home that should be beaten.
The fixture list has been kind at home though - they're going to have to work harder when they play the virtually the entirety of the top seven at home in the next half of the season.
Still, they've got the best player in the league and a good manager who is allowing them to ride on their confidence. Signs are good. Top four, at least, is looking increasingly likely.
What, in fairness to them, they are doing is absolutely dismantling teams at home that should be beaten.
The fixture list has been kind at home though - they're going to have to work harder when they play the virtually the entirety of the top seven at home in the next half of the season.
Still, they've got the best player in the league and a good manager who is allowing them to ride on their confidence. Signs are good. Top four, at least, is looking increasingly likely.
Math says two points will be had if they draw and three if one of them wins. I'll be rooting for the draw now, it's so fecking tight at the top, never seen anything like it.
Liverpool are catchable. They got Man City and Chelsea in the next few games.
I thought so too but now I think Chelsea just have too many holes in their first 11 right now. No good striker, midfield not top class, suspect defense. There is only so much they can buy in Jan. City for me will win it if Pellegrini can learn how to play in away games in English league.
Actually a Chelsea defeat with a Everton win would put us 6 points behind 4th. So a draw is probably for the best
City looked ominous today, starting to win the away games, scoring goals for fun even without Aguero. We need a draw at least tomorrow.
City were poor. A better team would've punished them. Some of Fulham's goalkeeping and defending was awful.
The next 10 days or so will be very interesting, we just need to keep putting in performances like today and see how close we can get to the leaders. Suarez is in excellent form but City have been outstanding at home and if Chelsea get a result against Arsenal their confidence will also be very high.
The 3rd goal was poor goalkeeping but the 4th goal was quality. Fulham are a bit shite though so not exactly the best indicator of an improvement in away form.
City are still awful away from home.
Sides, including my own, just have to get the basics right against them. Their attack is excellent, but it's not some kind of super-human force of nature. There's no need for any team that defends properly to concede four goals in a game.
Sides, including my own, just have to get the basics right against them. Their attack is excellent, but it's not some kind of super-human force of nature. There's no need for any team that defends properly to concede four goals in a game.
If we can get to about 5 points by February then we are in it. Right now it's about the top 4
Aguero out is a massive blow. I hope they play with Dzeko and Negredo as they look a lot worse playing together.
Indeed.
I just don't get filled with any sense of confidence about them when they don't have the ball. I don't think they concentrate enough and against better sides, that's going to hurt. The dismantling by Bayern demonstrated exactly how to hold them at arms length and rip their shoddy defence apart. We were awful against them and still managed three goals(should have been five).
What about the dismantling of Bayern?
Lack of effort from them, lack of concentration. They did the same against us. I don't think it was some kind of tactical masterclass.
It really is as simple as getting to their back four, and then you can rip them apart. The problem is getting there without conceding six yourself.
They key is containing Yaya and Fernandinho. Stop them and without Aguero, you stop City.
I think their away performances are down to Pellegrini setting them up wrong in away matches. Midfield two of Toure and Fernandinho does not seem to work away from home. Toure nowdays is more interested in going forward, that's fine at home but not away.
It's a bit dire when you are checking on Newcastle's results and fixtures 
But we can only win what's left and hopefully other teams will feck it up. If we are near/in the top 5 come new year, it's something we can work with. Our aim now is to secure a top 4 finish, one or two cups and a strong run in the Champs league. In all my years of supporting United (only Fergie years mind you) , I've always checked for future fixtures to see how many points we'll probably end up with. This is the first time I'm just taking each game and not looking for the next fixture.
It's weirdly exciting.
But we can only win what's left and hopefully other teams will feck it up. If we are near/in the top 5 come new year, it's something we can work with. Our aim now is to secure a top 4 finish, one or two cups and a strong run in the Champs league. In all my years of supporting United (only Fergie years mind you) , I've always checked for future fixtures to see how many points we'll probably end up with. This is the first time I'm just taking each game and not looking for the next fixture. It's weirdly exciting.
It's a bit dire when you are checking on Newcastle's results and fixtures
It's weirdly exciting.
Newcastle still a level above United at present!
It's on, bitches.
I just want Liverpool to fall away now. Unless the others shoot themselves in the foot, Liverpool shouldn't be good enough to challenge all the way through.
If we spend some money next month , we will end in top4
Donkey Kong?Remind me where the term 'Its on' originated from?
Ahead of who? You're starting g to win, but so is everybody else.
I was worried the bullishness would be unbearable, but its not been too bad, think most are still realistic. After all United did win 3 in a row much harder games earlier in the season, but the expectations have been lowered since.
United may come out of this period only 5-6 points off top, but afterwards all the other teams will have played each other and have easier games whilst United are left with some hellish fixtures in the second half.
United may come out of this period only 5-6 points off top, but afterwards all the other teams will have played each other and have easier games whilst United are left with some hellish fixtures in the second half.
I'd rather we had those fixtures spare whilst we have van Persie and Carrick out.
I still think Arsenal look the weakest out of the current top 4 and if anyone will fall out, it'll be them. They're on a really poor run of form right now as well, right as the fixtures started getting tough. Liverpool are completely focused on the league and are looking the best right now, City are too strong at home and overall to not mount a title challenge, and Chelsea are in the mix despite not playing well, and will certainly strengthen and they have Mourinho. It'll be between United, Everton and Arsenal for 4th, 5th and 6th, but we desperately need a midfielder if we want top 4.
That's very simplistic. Even their second team has got better players than Hull. Silva is in great form, Negredo is doing great, Navas is quite good as well, etc. They could easily score 3 goals against your defence even without Aguero.
Not really. Everyone have played each other once after the 30th of december so we have already had our hardest first half.
The Chelsea and Liverpool cnuts here would make you laugh. Two-bob teams who now think they're cock of the walks just because they've had a decent run of results before Christmas.
We'll finish ahead of both. You can quote me on that, too.
We'll finish ahead of both. You can quote me on that, too.
City,Chelsea and Liverpool should be thinking the title is very much on.Arsenal will be doubting themselves, but a win on Monday will change that some.We should be concetrating on ourselves and not worrying too much about the destination of the title.If we put a good run together and add some real quality to the midfield in Jan and get within 5 points of the top spot then maybe.For now, let's enjoty the ride.Lots of positives again today!!
Let's start want to start looking at top spot. Given the concentration of Top6 head2heads over the next two months, it's not beyond the bounds of possibility.