I'll start by saying not everyone is writing us off. Ive seen plenty on here that think we will win the league again. However there are still huge numbers including pundits hosts etc that believe we will regress to levels not seen by this team in 2 and a half years.
Neville not only feels city will win the league, (which is fair enough) but he also believes united will finish above us, a sentiment echoed by adrian durham last night. Whilst i take what he says with a pinch of salt I find these claims rather bizarre.
We have lost nobody from the squad that would make us inferior, this is not am aging team, of our 1st choice 11 the oldest is hendo at 30. Most are coming into their peak years.
City lost 9 times last season. We have lost that many in 116 league games. Whilst im all for freshening up a team, I really dont see why our levels will drop to the levels some seem to be suggesting.
Were city doubted when they hit 100 points? Have the others done enough to bridge the almighty gap there has been for 2 consecutive seasons now? Is our drop off just wishful thinking from some who cant bear us?
Why are we being written off
posted on 11/9/20
comment by *Robbing Hoody - Clandestine Boat Pleb (U6374)
posted 3 minutes ago
But our record without Henderson is truly woeful.
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Since the start of 18/19 season.
With Hendo:
Games: 65
Wins: 48
Draws: 11
Defeats: 6
Points per game: 2.38
Win rate: 73.8%
Goals per game: 1.98
Goals against per game: 0.7
Without Hendo:
Games: 43
Wins: 29
Draws: 5
Defeats: 9
Points per game: 2.13
Win rate: 67.4%
Goals per game: 2.2
Goals against per game: 1.18
Worse without Hendo, but definitely not woeful.
posted on 11/9/20
Well it looks like we lose one in four or five without him and less than one in ten with him which is double so...
posted on 11/9/20
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
I think the conclusion is that Liverpool haven't been written off, the OP has just over-reacted to one or two pundits with a different, and yet to be proved wrong, opinion
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I did say in the article that plenty on here are backing us but there are still plenty that dont fancy us and the point im making is I find this rather bizarre and probably never seen before given we just hit 99 points, won the league at a canter, and have a squad that is filled with players coming into their peak years mixed with youth.
I of course could be proved very wrong but in my own opinion there is absolutely nothing that suggests that this team will stagnate. And if it does for whatever reason I will be bitterly disappointed.
posted on 11/9/20
comment by *Robbing Hoody - Clandestine Boat Pleb (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Well it looks like we lose one in four or five without him and less than one in ten with him which is double so...
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FFS. I am not arguing against Hendo. I am saying that, of all the areas we need to strengthen, midfield isn’t one of them. Are you arguing that we need to strengthen in midfield before other areas or are you just arguing against something you think I said, but actually didn’t?
posted on 11/9/20
I of course could be proved very wrong but in my own opinion there is absolutely nothing that suggests that this team will stagnate. And if it does for whatever reason I will be bitterly disappointed.
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People are probaly forming these opinions based on LFC's (lack of)transfer activity so far and how they performed at the back end of last season and the recent community shield performance ,which hasn't been to their high standards so far.
posted on 11/9/20
Anyway in terms of the article I actually think we'll win it again. I don't think there is as much to go wrong with us as there is City. Utd could spring a surprise but I think they'll burn out again (just my opinion) and are a young side with not many players who have won something that will start, Chelsea have a great squad but I think Werner is going to score a lot so I have them third.
Window is not closed of course.
As it stands though I think our squad is stronger at the start of this season than it was at the start of last. Firmino has had a decent rest which was sorely needed, Keita too, Minamino could kick on and I rate Jones.
We'll also ditch the domestic cups as usual and we won't be playing in seven competitions across various countries and AFCON has been put back. We also have a team full of experience and leadership that's won major trophies.
posted on 11/9/20
comment by __19*__ (U22043)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by *Robbing Hoody - Clandestine Boat Pleb (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Well it looks like we lose one in four or five without him and less than one in ten with him which is double so...
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FFS. I am not arguing against Hendo. I am saying that, of all the areas we need to strengthen, midfield isn’t one of them. Are you arguing that we need to strengthen in midfield before other areas or are you just arguing against something you think I said, but actually didn’t?
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No I'm just saying that you said we cope when in reality we lose a quarter of our games.
It's not just to do with strength in depth but also how they work together. For example if I never see Wij and Miller in the same side ever again I'll be happy.
posted on 11/9/20
comment by *Robbing Hoody - Clandestine Boat Pleb (U6374)
posted 37 minutes ago
comment by __19*__ (U22043)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by *Robbing Hoody - Clandestine Boat Pleb (U6374)
posted 11 minutes ago
Well it looks like we lose one in four or five without him and less than one in ten with him which is double so...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FFS. I am not arguing against Hendo. I am saying that, of all the areas we need to strengthen, midfield isn’t one of them. Are you arguing that we need to strengthen in midfield before other areas or are you just arguing against something you think I said, but actually didn’t?
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No I'm just saying that you said we cope when in reality we lose a quarter of our games.
It's not just to do with strength in depth but also how they work together. For example if I never see Wij and Miller in the same side ever again I'll be happy.
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What I meant to say was that we should be able to cope.
I agree that there are combinations that don’t work. I also agree that we are a better side with Henderson playing. But I am concerned that we are lacking strength in depth in defence and across the front 3. Fitness pending, I do expect is to put in a strong title challenge. My biggest worry would be a length injury to TAA, VVD, Salah or Mane.....::and Hendo.
posted on 11/9/20
Retaining a title is very hard, you didn't look great at the end of last season and you haven't brought in many new faces.
I wouldn't really want to predict it, but I can see why people would make City favourites. I personally think Liverpool will drop off a little, City will improve a little and Chelsea will be a bit closer to the two of you.
posted on 11/9/20
Is this the same Gary Neville that predicted United would win a league tite before Liverpool?
He's a good pundit and he tries to be fair but its hard to escape the bias.