How will the season pan out?

[russe||]

I doubt I'm the only United fan who is starting to reassess our prospects for this season after the last two league results.

Up until Sunday I was convinced we would win the league and that Arsenal would run out of steam. Now I have to say they are favourites and we've their easier run in than ours we may need to win all 12 of our remaining league games.

Our next 2 games are crucial. The FA Cup game against Arsenal could make or break our season. At the moment they have the momentum in the title race but if we win next Saturday then IMO we'll steal the momentum back. We've seen it several times before - Arsenal loose to a title rival, their heads drop, they start fighting amongst themselves and generally go to pieces. They are the ultimate confidence team and if they were to win next Saturday the 5 point gap may prove to be insurmountable.

Of course we can't afford to take our eye off the ball in the CL either with a tricky away tie against Lyon next week (and with Arsenal facing AC Milan Champions League commitments could have a massive impact on the destination of the Premiership trophy). With any luck we'll be travelling to St. James in 2 weeks time, ready to humiliate the Geordie's again with 2 wins under our belt. Whatever happens though the next two games are key to the season.


The thing that is our favour and has been all season though is squad size - Arsenal's squad is a lot smaller than ours and while we traditionally are at our best as the season draws to a close I still expect this Arsenal side to start to run out of steam. It is no coincidence that Arsenal improved over Christmas and into the new year - with no CL commitments since the beginning of December their squad hasn't been as stretch - but with the CL starting up again next week I for one won't be surprise if Arsenal's form starts to drop.


In short I reckon there is still a long way to go and anything can happen but we'll make the task easier by winning next weekend and denting the Gooners confidence.

What does everyone else think?

[kyan]

Arsenal play Chelsea, Liverpool and United within 2 weeks towards the end of March/beginning of April. They only have Liverpool at home which is an advantage for us.

We have to play Arsenal, Chelsea & Liverpool but only Chelsea away. We do have tough fixtures, but luckily we have lowly teams to play away from home with the exception of Blackburn.

We can still win this, we might have to beat Arsenal but even Chelsea are still in the race, we have to hope they'll do us a favour and beat Arsenal too...

[russe||]

I'm still pissed off that Togo didn't qualify for the ACN. If they had the title would be all but ours by now.

[Olzy]

I see it going to Arsenal.

I just dont see them slipping up. They have dealt with the losses of Toure, Cesc, Van Persie & co when they've been injured, suspended, internationals.

Whereas with Man Utd when no Rooney you have suffered.

They seem very focused Arsenal, they will win all of there home games I'm sure.

[Sven]

Originally Posted by russe||

I'm still pissed off that Togo didn't qualify for the ACN. If they had the title would be all but ours by now.

I agree with that completely, Adebayor has been immense, clear that each prem team need a striker to lump it too. He has been my player of the season.

But you can't leave out Chelsea, who have players back now.

[dukeofdavinci]

But you can't leave out Chelsea, who have players back now.

one thing that i am glad to hear, so do us a favor and beat gunners kids to lump...lol

well i wanted to start a thread on our prospects right after the shamble show in the citeh game but i was tooo sober then, but none the less we all think alike here

i already surrendered the scudetti to inter as i see my roma cant match them but its a slight deflection wth united.i was point blank sure that there is no point in hoping rovers can at least snatch a point against the gunners so the moment ive left ot, ive come to terms we are already down by 5 pts.

as russell and kyan pointed out our next 2 games is huge in a point of view of the whole situation instead of the immediate 5 pts, we win that 2 games we will have one hell of a big momentum and NEED to carry it up to pace A.S.A.P

no more shabby plays like we did in the last 2 games then and only then we can make sure its down to the wire.

the only fear i have is now that our players to be too confident wth "we can reach catch them/or they will run out of steam"

we need to think we have 1 game b4 the season ends instead of 12.this way they make sure every single game won will take us right up to the balls of the gunners.every shot,pass,clearance needs to important and spot on.we need every bit of help we can muster from inside and take it all the way.


well it will be a nerve wrecking ride i just hope we can go all the way.i wont lie but my will has been shaken but not completely lost like whn we lost to the hammers(again my bad on that one ),but still rattled quite hard.wth next 2 games will see if my rattled will be strong back or......

[jlae11]

chelsea is definitely still in it... at full strength, i reckon they could be the best team in the league: cech, belletti, terry, carvalho, cole, cole, essien, lampard, ballack, drogba, and anelka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! plus, swp, alex, ben haim, ferreira, malouda, bridge, sidwell, mikel, sheva, pizzaro, and ballack on the bench!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is two full squads of full international players!!!! its really unbelievable. i hate to say it, but no one can match that lineup, even the "deep" united team... its actually not even close i dont think. (BUT, united have rooney, scholes, tevez, and ronaldo--all are better than anyone at chelsea (aside from drogba/essien perhaps).

saying that... i dont think chelsea can win it. arsenal are now clear cut favorites in my opinion, olzy said EXACTLY what i was going to say (nice post olzy). arsenal have done magnificently well this season... i actually dont see them giving it away, even though they are so young. ive pretty much given them the league... they have given NO indication otherwise.

as for united's season: 2nd in the premier league, fa cup champions (hopefully), and i actually think that the champions league could be ours!!!!! inter, arsenal, madrid/barcelona will be tough to beat, but i really think we are equipped... the only reason we wont win it: yellow card problems to rooney, ronaldo, tevez, rio/vidic/evra, or scholes

[Arsenal007]

I agree that Ade has been unbelievable, no stopping the Gunners now, I think because people wrote us off when Henry left that we have gotten so fired up to win and make sure we win!

*Still tough matches to be played but I think our determination will prevail!

[Sven]

Well I think Chelsea won't win EPL, too much struggle and everything going against us, 2nd place finish will be very impressive. I think United will win , I'm ok with that tbh.

But Chelsea will win 2/3 cups again, The team is full of winners, they know how to win, it's simple, I can see us winning Carling cup, FA cup, if we don't get Liverpool, the CL.

[c.ronaldo#1]

Originally Posted by russe||

I'm still pissed off that Togo didn't qualify for the ACN. If they had the title would be all but ours by now.

You need to spend 60 million on new players in the summer then need all Arsenal players to play in the ACON to lead the league.

[russe||]

Originally Posted by c.ronaldo#1

You need to spend 60 million on new players in the summer then need all Arsenal players to play in the ACON to lead the league.

We didn't spend 60 million in the summer; and since when are Eboue and Adebayor all Arsenal's players?

[russe||]

Originally Posted by dukeofdavinci

well i wanted to start a thread on our prospects right after the shamble show in the citeh game but i was tooo sober then, but none the less we all think alike here

that's brilliant.

[c.ronaldo#1]

Originally Posted by russe||

We didn't spend 60 million in the summer; and since when are Eboue and Adebayor all Arsenal's players?

All African players.

[kyan]

11 days later and the situation has changed considerably.

The advantage is still with Arsenal, but their form is stuttering, their injury list isn't getting much better and they have to go away to Chelsea and United.

[dukeofdavinci]

well our destiny is in our hands lets see if our players can grasp and capitalize every single luck or what ever comes our way.