Cal?
CR7 fan
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2002
- Messages
- 34,977
It's very poor, but we did overachieve last season with the squad we had. Not to the extent where we wouldn't have won the title without Fergie, but 89 points probably exaggerated how good that side was. Don't get me wrong, we have been very poor and should be doing much better, but only by about 5 or 6 points at the moment.
And again, where's the guarantee Van Persie will have a better second half of the season? For all we know, he won't. For all we know, he'll get injured again. Hopefully he will have, but you saying that is like me saying Suarez will continue to perform as well as he has so far, which would make Liverpool favourites for the top 4. He might, but there's no guarantee and it's generally just wishful thinking to assume it.
Even if they struggle with their smaller squad, I doubt they'll fall apart. When Sturridge comes back, they'll receive a real boost up front, and they'll benefit from not having to play any European games.
I think we'll get top 4, but not to the extent where we should just assume we will and aim for 3rd. If we go and a great run then 3rd is a possibility, but unless a club in the top 3 really starts to play poorly, I don't see it. Liverpool have more than enough to sustain a top 4 challenge, and while we'll improve, I don't see us having a superb second half of the season either. If we get top 4, Liverpool won't be far behind us in my opinion.
So Sturridge will come back and slot right in and give them a real boost, yet much better Van Persie will struggle to find any form.
Failure in Europe doesn't really benefit any side, as we've seen in the last few seasons, the year Bayern kicked Rooney & us out of the CL, we capitulated in the league, whereas the seasons we go from strength to strength and make the CL final, we win the league. Last season one could argue we had the league won regardless of how we did in the CL.