There has a few cases (maybe half) in the past when predictions of mine have gone wrong, but it hasn’t been all bad actually. Recently I recalled predicting the 2008-2009 season to be a very close fight for the top four spots because of the emergence of Aston Villa which has showed strong promise for the past few years, Manchester City with their new wealthy owners and their ability to sign top players and a very un-Arsenal prediction of Spurs getting their breakthrough….plus Liverpool being under threat for their top four position. But the prediction went the opposite direction. Liverpool became Man Utd’s biggest title threat and could even have won it had Rafa not had his shocking rant at Fergie. Spurs and Man City didn’t quite make the grade last term and Aston Villa had a horrible ending to the season, surrendering 4th and 5th spots towards the end despite being in a very strong position in March. And of course, I didn’t predict Man Utd to win the title but at least I kept things open as long as Ronaldo was still in the team.
Would I concede it was luck? Maybe a little. But to my astonishment, those predictions last season are quite on the dot at the moment. The big four plus Villa, Spurs and Man City are only separated by less than 10 points. Even if things turn by quite a bit towards the second half of the season, this season tells a story that the ‘gap’ between the 4th and 5th is completely diminished. I wouldn’t bet against Liverpool making the top four but they will have one hell of task with what they have right now. A slightly out-of-form Gerrard and a not completely fit Torres spells disaster for Liverpool and Aquillani barely making a few appearances is a big problem. The unconvincing defence was one of the least of their problems previously, but it is a one to solve now. Rafa has to save his job in the coming months.
I didn’t realize until yesterday how huge January and February was until I had a look at the fixtures list. In short, in the two months, we play Bolton twice, play Aston Villa, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool . Oh ya, I forgot to mention a “mini detail”. From 27 January till 10 February, we play Villa, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool……….wait for it…………..CONSECUTIVELY!!! And we also resume our ‘quest’ in another competition called the Champions League right after going through those explosive ties. The traditional plotting of the run-in towards the last 10 or so games will not be fully applied this season. It is the next two months which will indicate whether we would finally be genuine title contenders. The aim now is to reverse the defeats against Chelsea and Man Utd and once again get another over Liverpool and Villa. A lot of football will be played plus the reopening of the transfer window in the next 24 hours. We should be getting a striker as Van Persie will not be playing any part in this campaign. It will be interesting to see whether we will get a goal-poacher to finish moves of endless creativity from the midfield.
Last time out, I wrote about Arsenal having the great opportunity this season and was immediately was dealt a huge blow with defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea. But it has been a good December and Arsenal are in the exact same position I have been hoping for, in striking distance. I have so much faith and hope over my lifetime as a fan of this club and I pray hard for this very special team to eventually succeed. There is no better time to do it and even the optimistic Arsenal staff has penciled the date for a possible meeting at the Bernabeau in May. Let the 2nd half of the season begin!
Happy New Year everyone!!!
Would I concede it was luck? Maybe a little. But to my astonishment, those predictions last season are quite on the dot at the moment. The big four plus Villa, Spurs and Man City are only separated by less than 10 points. Even if things turn by quite a bit towards the second half of the season, this season tells a story that the ‘gap’ between the 4th and 5th is completely diminished. I wouldn’t bet against Liverpool making the top four but they will have one hell of task with what they have right now. A slightly out-of-form Gerrard and a not completely fit Torres spells disaster for Liverpool and Aquillani barely making a few appearances is a big problem. The unconvincing defence was one of the least of their problems previously, but it is a one to solve now. Rafa has to save his job in the coming months.
I didn’t realize until yesterday how huge January and February was until I had a look at the fixtures list. In short, in the two months, we play Bolton twice, play Aston Villa, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool . Oh ya, I forgot to mention a “mini detail”. From 27 January till 10 February, we play Villa, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool……….wait for it…………..CONSECUTIVELY!!! And we also resume our ‘quest’ in another competition called the Champions League right after going through those explosive ties. The traditional plotting of the run-in towards the last 10 or so games will not be fully applied this season. It is the next two months which will indicate whether we would finally be genuine title contenders. The aim now is to reverse the defeats against Chelsea and Man Utd and once again get another over Liverpool and Villa. A lot of football will be played plus the reopening of the transfer window in the next 24 hours. We should be getting a striker as Van Persie will not be playing any part in this campaign. It will be interesting to see whether we will get a goal-poacher to finish moves of endless creativity from the midfield.
Last time out, I wrote about Arsenal having the great opportunity this season and was immediately was dealt a huge blow with defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea. But it has been a good December and Arsenal are in the exact same position I have been hoping for, in striking distance. I have so much faith and hope over my lifetime as a fan of this club and I pray hard for this very special team to eventually succeed. There is no better time to do it and even the optimistic Arsenal staff has penciled the date for a possible meeting at the Bernabeau in May. Let the 2nd half of the season begin!
Happy New Year everyone!!!
There will an ANTM post which is on the verge of completion and another investing topic which has another dimension to it.
~deyao~
