You sticking a few bob on the Reds then Mick?
Liking the positivity, and it's deffo not out of the question, and everyone on here would die to see it happen.
You mentioned keys players. Imo, it comes mainly down to one - Suarez. He is the best player/striker in the league, no question. Can he keep up his current form, not get injured, keep slotting in goals? If he can, who knows were we can end up. Continue putting away the 'lower' teams comfortably, and really contend with the top6 or so. If he gets injured or suspended though, that is a lot of goals we'll be short and games get much tighter - we're back looking through the gaps in the fingers in the last 10 mins, wondering how we squandered that shitload of chances, and wearing down the fingernails (which actually have grown recently!).
Regarding the Shittys/Utds/Chavs, whatever about their form now, they DO have quality squads - and importantly they 'know how to win' - they've that mentality, or confidence, that having won it (PL) recently brings. I'd put a lot of store in that. Winning is a habit - but like any habit, you need to start, for to become a habit. So that BELIEF - this is something BR needs to instill in the players, that mental strength, to REALLY believe they can make it over that glorious line.
One advantage we also have is not being in the CL/fizzy euro
Yep, an advantage! (don't tell Luis) I thought the Arse looked tired against Utd, physically and mentally. Going to Dortmund must have taken a bite out of them. And I reckon in general, through the season, the teams in the CL will drop points after European nights. And rest players in the PL if they continue to make progress in those competitions. In theory, we 'should' be able to make that count.
The games against the top sides are important - but I think it's over emphasised. You get the same 3 points for beating Chavs as you do for beating Norwich. We keep putting away the middle/lower tier like we are now, we're in with a huge chance. The other top teams surprising we've seen em drop a fair few points unexpectedly, and if they keep that up, excellent.
It is great to be confident - and we should be. But I reckon BR will be trying to keep the lad's feet firmly on the ground, noses to the wheel, not get complacent. Game at a time. They're all cliches but that HAS to be the way BR approaches it, and comes down hard on anyone who's starting to get carried away.
So I'm going to tow that line
- we're doing great, but we've won jack yet. A good start won't console me at the end of the season if we finish 7th.
Then you never know, we might end up as the 'top top top top top' team at the end of the seaon