Not if you can manage your expectations.
It is very tight this year.
Are we expected to beat MancsC? I suggest not.........


Manchester City 4 - 0 Newcastle United
Manchester City 2 - 0 Hull City
Manchester City 4 - 1 Manchester United
Manchester City 3 - 1 Everton
Manchester City 7 - 0 Norwich City
Manchester City 6 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City 3 - 0 Swansea City
Manchester City 6 - 3 Arsenal

1 point is good from Etihad. but we always do miracle right?

1 point is a big bonus. It means

a) we played beyond expectations
b) we stole a point off MancsC our top 4 rival

Plus we STILL have not beaten a team above us in the table!

This post has been edited by prophetjul: Dec 24 2013, 08:42 AM

the curse continues

where's cherroy?

A perspective of Top at Christmas

2012/13 - Utd were 13 points clear of 5th
2011/12 - City were 12 points clear of 5th
2010/11 - Utd were 7 points clear of 5th (with a game in hand)
2009/10 - Chelsea were 8 points clear of 5th
2008/09 - Liverpool were 8 points clear of 5th
2007/08 - Arsenal were 10 points clear of 5th
2006/07 - Utd were 14 points clear of 5th
2005/06 - Chelsea were 16 points clear of 5th
2004/05 - Chelsea were 11 points clear of 5th
2003/04 - Utd were 15 points clear of 5th

That's just the last 10 years. We are TWO points clear of 5th. This is unprecedented in the 20 game premier league. It has NEVER been this close at Christmas.

Interesting times!

Are we expected to concede against ManCity Yes
Are we expected to score against ManCity? Yes
Are we expected to outscore ManCity? very possible

everton and citeh haunted us more

I shall be very motivated to watch arsenal games from this point onwards
Just to piss the troll

Man City has obliterated everyone at the Ettihad. We'll do well to come away with a draw. I won't be too upset if we do lose by a slim margin either to maintain our healthy goal difference. Let's come back down to earth for awhile boys.

Festive leaders Year Finished

Norwich City..............................1993 3

Manchester United....................1994 1

Blackburn Rovers......................1995 1

Newcastle United.......................1996 2

Liverpool...................................1997 4

Manchester United....................1998 2

Aston Villa.................................1999 6

Leeds United.............................2000 3

Manchester United....................2001 1

Newcastle United.......................2002 4

Arsenal......................................2003 2

Manchester United....................2004 3

Chelsea.....................................2005 1

Chelsea.....................................2006 1

Manchester United.....................2007 1

Arsenal......................................2008 3

Liverpool....................................2009 2

Chelsea.....................................2010 1

Manchester United.....................2011 1

Manchester City.........................2012 1

Manchester United.....................2013 1


we have 95% chance to finish in top 4!

Me here...

Ya, one point from Etihad is a Big achievement.

Actually the margin is very thin only, draw at Etihad, can easily see Liv from top become 4th on Boxing day.
Another draw with Chelsea can see Liv out of top 4.

Glad to see Liv on top going into Christmas, but don't overjoy it, the race is half way, long to finishing line.
Top 4 is the target of the season.
Not something easy to achieve, it is so competitive this year in the table, the difference in points is so little from top to 5th.

The only way to get point from Etihad is to score or outscore against Mancity.
It is hard to imagine Liv can get a clean sheet.

Well if we won't finish in the top 4, it won't be for the want of trying.

My personal expectation at the start of the season was for us to finish in the top 6 especially if you consider that sides like Spurs and Everton are also going strong and let's not even mention the obvious contenders in City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd who have been dominating the top 4 spots of late. Finishing ahead of any of those sides is a massive achievement given where we finished last season. Brendan has done an admirable job so far this season despite a couple of hiccups.

because there is nothing above us?

Ok seriously, this season the league favourites has all screw up too much, have a look at Seria A / La Liga / Bundesliga - the title leaders are all with 40+ points already



This post has been edited by bearbear: Dec 24 2013, 10:04 AM

Merry X'mas and Happy New Year to all.

Long time we din finish at the TOP on X'mas Day ~ exactly 20years .

really?? i thought we were 8points clear at top in 2008/09 season??
Anyway, lets enjoy this moments... hope we can enjoy frequently in coming years go go go BR!!

This post has been edited by manx: Dec 24 2013, 10:12 AM

i think we were all good for first 12 games (11W1D if i remember correctly) that season and a string of draws allow MU to catch up.

after the "FACTS" press conference... we were doomed

we juz cant finished off lower teams when they played defensive against us...main reason why we came second that season

Yes

Its that tight this Christmas. And that makes the league all the more interesting.
However, I rather lead it at this stage than be in 8th position.

Even if we lose the next two, it wont be the end. we would have played most of the biggies away cept for MancsU.
So our run in the 2nd half may be easier than theirs.
That said, of course some points form the next 2 will be damaging to them.