21 games to go-

[dude8]

if i counted correctly, there are 21 matches left, for a total of 63 possible points. isn't it a bit early to give up hope? the way some of you are talking, we should just wrap up the season now. we are not the man u of old, where we could just beat teams by showing up, and some of the team needs to figure that out quickly. on the other hand, we are a few finishes away from really pounding teams; we are starting to get a bit of a swagger back. we don't need to lament the team of old, but rather become the new team that we can be if we are all on the same page. it's there, it just hasn't happened often enough yet.

my glass is half full.

[Achtung]

Last night's game really felt like a turning point. You could just feel the tension there and I think there is enough big game, late season experience here that it should help us. I'm just not sure what kind of turning point it will be.

[Father Ted]

I don't know what some of you guys are drinking, but in my mind there isnt a hint of the season being over. In fact I am much more confident than I was a month ago. Man oh man, do I have to explain everything around here? It doesnt matter who is leading in September, December or February for that matter. Sir Alex knows how to pace the team. He knows how to get them playing well when it counts.

Check back in 5 months.

[Achtung]

I don't think anyone but the most plastic fans are calling the season over. All I'm saying is that yesterday's game felt like a turning point, and that the team could either take the positive out of it (controlled the midfield well, created lots of chances) or the negative (unlucky with the scoring touch, controversial foul calls). I know SAF has been here many times before and I know he still feels we have a very good chance to win it. Whether the team knows this and plays like it is left to be seen. While we blew a chance yesterday, it hopefully won't be our only one, and we will need to start taking advantage when we can.

[Father Ted]

hopefully won't be our only one

I hope it will be our only one....!

[Achtung]

I hope it will be our only one....!

Ah, I meant I hope it wouldn't be our only chance to pick up points--I do of course hope it'll be our only missed chance. ;)

[Mac_Howard]

The problem with this weekend's game was it revealed we haven't yet recaptured the killer instinct. The players are back, the attacking abilities are there but we played for all but the last 3 minutes of the second half at three quarter pace and happy with the one goal lead.

I've said twice elsewhere that someone is going to cop a 6 goal thrashing but it won't happen until the instinct to bury the opposition returns.

[dude8]

that picture of alan smith's bloody face comes to mind when thinking about the level of intensity that is needed. that guy just doesn't quit. bottle that, have everyone pass the jug around before kick-off, and it would be game over.

[Mac_Howard]

The reason the Fulham result has caused such concern is that we choked. We knew we could pull Arsenal back to a 2 point lead and Chelsea back to 7 points and we blew it.

If there's one thing that sustains our belief that we can drag it back is that when it comes to the crunch it's the other teams that wilt.

But this weekend, we choked! And that's what hurts :(