I've noticed in the match threads we've had to date, and the polls attached, quite a few people predicting a draw. Some of the posts go on to say something along the lines of 'We shouldn't underestimate them & a draw would be a good result'.
I was just wondering exactly what peoples expectations are of the team going into each game this season, as personally I wouldn't have been happy with a point before the Pompey game like some people, even though I was glad to have come away with that after the performance we put in. My own opinion is that in the league anything less than a win against teams outside the big four is a bad result, and we can't be aiming for a point against any of these teams if we want to win the title. Obviously sometimes things won't work out as planned, but I feel we have to expecting to beat every team we line up against, that is the mentality of Champions. Against the other 'big three' I expect us to pick up at least 6 points at home, and to beat at least one of them on their own turf if we are going to challenge.
Going by previous seasons we can probably afford to drop 25 points max if we're going to win the league. Assuming that we drop 9 against Utd, Arsenal & Chelsea over 6 games, and through freak results (which everyone gets) we'll probably drop another 10, that only leaves us with a 6 point margin if we're going to win it. With this in mind, going to the likes of Portsmouth, Newcastle & Spurs expecting a draw isn't good enough for me.
In Europe again apart from the big teams, the likes of Milan & Barca who we don't usually meet, anything but a win in the group stage isn't acceptable to me unless we've already qualified, be it home or away. I don't want to see us setting up with a 5 man midfield against the likes of Porto away, and certainly won't be happy if we only come away with a point. In the knockout stages it's a bit different as away goals come into play, and then I am happy for us to play for a clean sheet away from home.
In the League Cup I would like to see us experiment a little, playing some of our youngsters to see what they're made of & probably giving Itandje a few games, but I want to see us taking the FA Cup seriously. Last season's promise to play Dudek backfired, and is a mistake I don't want to see repeated. I hope & expect to see us challenging on three fronts this season, and don't really mind what happens to us in the Carling Cup, but the priority for me definitely has to be the league & if players have to be rested I would rather it was in one of the other competitions.
Anyway, these are my thoughts on what we should be aiming for this season, what's everyone elses view? Are there any teams outside the big four you would take a point against beforehand, or are you like me & expect to win all these games? Are all the competitions just as important, or should we be focusing on one in particular? I'd be interested to hear everyone's opinion, so all thoughts welcome.
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