EssexRob says hello. Unless I'm mistaking him with another Chelsea fan here.I don't think our squad depth has ever been questioned, has it? It's the quality of the first team players that has.
EssexRob says hello. Unless I'm mistaking him with another Chelsea fan here.I don't think our squad depth has ever been questioned, has it? It's the quality of the first team players that has.
We've two good players for every position, so the depth was never an issue anyway.EssexRob says hello. Unless I'm mistaking him with another Chelsea fan here.
EssexRob says hello. Unless I'm mistaking him with another Chelsea fan here.
Yeah, the problem is just we have too many players who are just squad players, and not enough who are automatic starters. From our squad, the only players who start whenever they are fit are De Gea, Rafael, Evra, Carrick, Rooney and RVP. The rest are pretty much squad players, and that's part of the reason we rotate so much.I don't think our squad depth has ever been questioned, has it? It's the quality of the first team players that has.
We've a better squad than Arsenal and Liverpool and will prove as much in the latter parts of the season.I have questioned the first team more than the squad really, I dont think its nearly as good as Citys or quite as good as Arsenal and Liverpools. Going on how players have performed this seaosn of course not on paper or how they performed last season or any other.
I have questioned the first team more than the squad really, I dont think its nearly as good as Citys or quite as good as Arsenal and Liverpools. Going on how players have performed this seaosn of course not on paper or how they performed last season or any other.
I agree with this. I saw that game against Wham and you ran circles around George Michael and Andrew ridley.We havent played worse, as at times we have played some excellent football, Sunderland and Wham away and at home vs City. The good results and performances have been masked by the away games vs United and games were we dominate but dont score more than 1, ie 2 days ago.
The thing with Arsenal, for me, is that they still have a lot of wishy-washy players. Great when they want to be.Arsenal have a great selection in midfield, but i'd certainly take our attack over theirs.
Title is highly unlikely..
Like I said a few weeks back, I'd be happy if we matched the top teams from now till the end of the season... That'd mean ending 7-8 points behind whoever wins the league..
That points tally should also guarantee a top 4 finish.
We messed up big time at the start of the season.. Getting it right is the most important thing..
Expecting the 2-3 serious title contenders ahead of us to have a slump while going on a great run ourselves might be too much to ask for.
Our squad depth is fine, it's the lack of quality in our first team that kills us. Too many players who are only good enough to be squad players, not enough who are good enough to be first team CL winners. Moyes has said something similar, that our squad is fine but we need a few players who'll walk straight into the first team.Any of the top League teams now would be fecking chuffed to have got 12 out of 12 with all the injuries and suspensions we had. Our squad depth is incredible but apparently it's not good enough for a top 4 team, right?
Whilst there is no point denying this, we could say the same about the Cardiff, Southampton and Everton/Newcastle results. Cardiff, Everton and Newcastle especially, we hit the woodwork numerous times and Newcastle got a lucky break, while Cardiff scored in injury time, and we even missed a grand sitter late on.On another day they could easily have been different results...
No, you questioned the squad. Whether you had the first team or the squad's depth in mind is not clear for any other than you. That's why you got laughed at then, you wouldn't have been for saying our first 11 is inferior to the one of City's.I have questioned the first team more than the squad really, I dont think its nearly as good as Citys or quite as good as Arsenal and Liverpools. Going on how players have performed this seaosn of course not on paper or how they performed last season or any other.
Doesn't get anymore unlucky then Dortmund this season, hence why they are struggling so much.And it would be easier to know the real value of our first eleven if we:
a) had one
b) could field one for a few games in a row without key players being constantly injured
I may be ignorant but, out of the top European teams, haven't we been the unluckiest team in that department in recent years?
Yeah, was adamant I gave Dortmund as a proof to what injuries may do to your performances. Look at them - that's what we've been well accustomed to in recent years.Doesn't get anymore unlucky then Dortmund this season, hence why they are struggling so much.
I think it's more to do with the fact that we have plenty of injury prone players, rather then just plain luck. The only players in our squad that you can rely on to last pretty much a whole season, or most of one, injury free is Giggs, Carrick (even he's been out for a bit this season), Valencia, De Gea and Evra really. Everyone else goes through spells on the sidelines with little niggles all the time. Really annoying.
Yeah I remember when we had to play 3 at the back that consisted of De Laet, Evra and Carrick or somebody away to Fulham and we got thrashed 3-0. It happens every season to us that its come to the point where I think we just have loads of crocks, rather then just bad luck.Yeah, was adamant I gave Dortmund as a proof to what injuries may do to your performances. Look at them - that's what we've been well accustomed to in recent years.
But the gap between the sides isn't breathtaking City have been as poor away as they have been outstanding at home, City will more likely win the league but it's not a foregone conclusion by any means.City have been absolutely stunning at home, their record is astonishing. Arsenal, even though they've trailed off, have played some brilliant football. And Liverpool have been playing some lovely football.
You need to take off your red tinted specs if you can't see that all those three have played much better then us this season.
Are you watching any of the rest ? There's only City that have the quality throughout to win this league other than united. Is it not a massive indication how poor the top teams have been that Arsenal without a recognised striker and Liverpool a one man band with that one man likely to hit his own self destruct button at any point have been the early front runners ? Looking at the state of everyone you can't even rule out Everton yet.
I'm not even looking at the top of the table. Just focus on one goal at a time. Get into that top 4 spot, then we can start talking about contending for the title.
No your decidedly average and then Suarez gets the ball, everything comes through him, Sterling and Coutinho missed guilt edged chances carved out by the flying squirrel against City. Sturridge early season form was superb but what is it now 19 goals in 13 games for Suarez. One man flying machine until his next episode.Without Suarez's goals we would be 10 points worse off, without Sturridge's goals we would be 12 points worse off. One man team indeed...
Gerrard, Suarez and Sturridge have scored 31 goals between them despite all being out for a while through injury- United have 32 goals.
You need to take of those red tinted specs, you are over inflating how good United are while simultaneously dismissing the teams above United.
And yea there is still this, keeps cropping up this does.To be honest, nothings changed. Everyone's shite.
No your decidedly average and then Suarez gets the ball, everything comes through him, Sterling and Coutinho missed guilt edged chances carved out by the flying squirrel against City. Sturridge early season form was superb but what is it now 19 goals in 13 games for Suarez. One man flying machine until his next episode.
Their own average yes, best of a bad bunch sums it up a little better.Liverpool have been well above average even taking out Suarez.
Not dismissing your victory, but we could play Suarez and 10 pub team standard footballers and Suarez would still score a hat trick against Norwich.I know Liverpool have got Sturridge and Gerrard out, but the equivalent of what we had out today, would also be Suarez, Coutinho and Johnson out on top.!
Yep. Our entire team is playing quite well, bar Johnson at the moment.Liverpool have been well above average even taking out Suarez.
Maybe. This year is the best year to get into the CL. Don't get in this year and I think we'll be waiting another 2 or 3 years for another opportunity.The big question, for me, is are Liverpool over performing to a standard they can maintain?
We've won as many away games in a fortnight as City have all season.3 away wins in the league is good form by anyone's standards