Match Reaction: Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal

[Letters]

I wasn't saying the opposite last season either so how have I moved the goalposts? We were never in the title race so while the run was very good we needed Chelsea to slip up massively to get us back in the race and they never did.

Not caring what Chelsea are doing is ridiculous. They and City are the 2 sides who finished above us last year so they are the teams we have to finish above this year.

You are the one moving the goalposts even within the same posts. We have no chance because of our stuttering start. Chelsea do have a chance though despite being below us.

As I said above, your argument is basically we can't win it because of Wenger so stop pretending our results have any bearing on it.

[Injury Time]

I wasn't saying the opposite last season either so how have I moved the goalposts? We were never in the title race so while the run was very good we needed Chelsea to slip up massively to get us back in the race and they never did.

Not caring what Chelsea are doing is ridiculous. They and City are the 2 sides who finished above us last year so they are the teams we have to finish above this year.

You are the one moving the goalposts even within the same posts. We have no chance because of our stuttering start. Chelsea do have a chance though despite being below us.

As I said above, your argument is basically we can't win it because of Wenger so stop pretending our results have any bearing on it.

I think we need to beat ALL the teams on points to win the title, so long ago I might have got that wrong.

[Letters]

I think we need to beat ALL the teams on points to win the title, so long ago I might have got that wrong.

We do, but beating most of the other teams is a given. Utd are the only other credible contenders IMO after their splurge in the summer and they're looking awlful right now too.

[Power n Glory]

I wasn't saying the opposite last season either so how have I moved the goalposts? We were never in the title race so while the run was very good we needed Chelsea to slip up massively to get us back in the race and they never did.

Not caring what Chelsea are doing is ridiculous. They and City are the 2 sides who finished above us last year so they are the teams we have to finish above this year.

You are the one moving the goalposts even within the same posts. We have no chance because of our stuttering start. Chelsea do have a chance though despite being below us.

As I said above, your argument is basically we can't win it because of Wenger so stop pretending our results have any bearing on it.

Uhhhh....so the title isn't decided in the last 10 games, right?

No, Letters. Winning the league means you have to be above everyone not just Chelsea and City. I'm not going to take solace in the fact that we're above Chelsea when they currently reside in 13th place. Their bad start doesn't excuse our bad start. We set out to do things differently this season.

Please show me where I say we have 'no chance of winning the league'? If you read my posts you'd see I said we need to sharpen up quickly. We need to find our best starting 11, approach games with some sort of tactical nous, keep our players fit and avoid all the crap that's stopped us from winning it over the past decade. So far we don't look like title contenders when the aim was to come out the blocks flying and showing our intent. Don't start making up an argument and read. The performances so far haven't been good enough and we need to find our form and momentum early.

[Letters]

Uhhhh....so the title isn't decided in the last 10 games, right?

It is, but you have to be in the race. Last year we weren't. I've said over and over you can't win the title in the first 10 games but you can lose it.
Last year, we did. This year, I don't know yet but after 4 games we're doing OK, results wise.

No, Letters. Winning the league means you have to be above everyone not just Chelsea and City.

Wow. You could be a pundit with that kind of insight.
Yes, obviously. But are you worried about Leicester being above us? Will they be there come May?
City and Chelsea are the sides who finished above us last year, they're the teams we should be most concerned about.

Please show me where I say we have 'no chance of winning the league'? If you read my posts you'd see I said we need to sharpen up quickly.

OK, if that's your position then I agree. But meanwhile we need to pub results and stay in touch.

[Power n Glory]

Wow. You could be a pundit with that kind of insight.
Yes, obviously. But are you worried about Leicester being above us? Will they be there come May?
City and Chelsea are the sides who finished above us last year, they're the teams we should be most concerned about.
.

Obvious to most but you're a bit special.

You still can't rule out Man Utd and it goes back to what I said about excusing our bad results because our rivals are in bad shape. We should be taking advantage of these moments.

[Letters]

Obvious to most but you're a bit special.

I'll take that as a compliment

I wouldn't rule Utd out either, I thought before the season that any of the top 4 are credible contenders, I guess I still think that. Us, Chelsea and Utd have got off to wobbly starts at best, only City have come out of the blocks flying but it's early days yet and they tend to hit bad patches here and there.

We do need to pick up quickly, so long as we can keep pubbing the results and staying in touch though I'm not throwing in the towel just yet.

[Power n Glory]

I'll take that as a compliment

I wouldn't rule Utd out either, I thought before the season that any of the top 4 are credible contenders, I guess I still think that. Us, Chelsea and Utd have got off to wobbly starts at best, only City have come out of the blocks flying but it's early days yet and they tend to hit bad patches here and there.

We do need to pick up quickly, so long as we can keep pubbing the results and staying in touch though I'm not throwing in the towel just yet.

But after wobbly starts, who is more likely to correct the mistakes? Are the mistakes we're seeing from Chelsea usual? No.

Taking the attention away from our rivals, are the problems we're having the sort we've had before? Yes. People are annoyed because we should have carried the momentum from two FA cups and last seasons run into the league, playing with more confidence and conviction. You'd have to watch the games and see how we're playing to understand.

[Niall_Quinn]

But after wobbly starts, who is more likely to correct the mistakes? Are the mistakes we're seeing from Chelsea usual? No.

Taking the attention away from our rivals, are the problems we're having the sort we've had before? Yes. People are annoyed because we should have carried the momentum from two FA cups and last seasons run into the league, playing with more confidence and conviction. You'd have to watch the games and see how we're playing to understand.

Our manager doesn't even see the mistakes or the areas that need improvement, so for him there's nothing to correct. Just persist, persist, persist and when everything averages out it'll be good enough to finish 4th. And he hates momentum, loathes it. Whenever we generate any he immediately drains the tank.

But you know, next season it might be different.