Sport Today

> They are outscoring opponents by an average of nearly 3 goals per
> match. Their nearest competitor (Man U) is doing so by about 1.5 goals
> per match, or just a little over half of City's rate.

> They've trounced both the second place and fifth place teams on the
> road.

> They are 5 points ahead in the race.

> They are undefeated. Only Newcastle, who have yet to play a top three
> club have only beaten teams that are in 14th place or lower currently,
> can claim as much.

> They've won what would have appeared to be their toughest match going
> into the season if you consider that Man U won 18 matches, drew once,
> and lost zero times at home last year.

> Though they are supposed to be vulnerable in back, they have the
> second-most stingy defense in the league and are conceding less than a
> goal per match.

> They seem deep enough to absorb a normal amount of injuries, and also
> have the buying power to reload as needed should somebody crucial go
> down between now and the end of the January window.

> Probably the best hope for ManU or Chelsea is that a couple of key
> players (Silva, Aguero, and/or Hart?) suffer season-ending injuries
> shortly after the transfer window shuts.

> And yes... It is still early.

> They are outscoring opponents by an average of nearly 3 goals per
> match. Their nearest competitor (Man U) is doing so by about 1.5 goals
> per match, or just a little over half of City's rate.

> They've trounced both the second place and fifth place teams on the
> road.

> They are 5 points ahead in the race.

> They are undefeated. Only Newcastle, who have yet to play a top three
> club have only beaten teams that are in 14th place or lower currently,
> can claim as much.

> They've won what would have appeared to be their toughest match going
> into the season if you consider that Man U won 18 matches, drew once,
> and lost zero times at home last year.

> Though they are supposed to be vulnerable in back, they have the
> second-most stingy defense in the league and are conceding less than a
> goal per match.

> They seem deep enough to absorb a normal amount of injuries, and also
> have the buying power to reload as needed should somebody crucial go
> down between now and the end of the January window.

> Probably the best hope for ManU or Chelsea is that a couple of key
> players (Silva, Aguero, and/or Hart?) suffer season-ending injuries
> shortly after the transfer window shuts.

> And yes... It is still early.

>> They are outscoring opponents by an average of nearly 3 goals per
>> match. Their nearest competitor (Man U) is doing so by about 1.5 goals
>> per match, or just a little over half of City's rate.

>> They've trounced both the second place and fifth place teams on the
>> road.

>> They are 5 points ahead in the race.

>> They are undefeated. Only Newcastle, who have yet to play a top three
>> club have only beaten teams that are in 14th place or lower currently,
>> can claim as much.

>> They've won what would have appeared to be their toughest match going
>> into the season if you consider that Man U won 18 matches, drew once,
>> and lost zero times at home last year.

>> Though they are supposed to be vulnerable in back, they have the
>> second-most stingy defense in the league and are conceding less than a
>> goal per match.

>> They seem deep enough to absorb a normal amount of injuries, and also
>> have the buying power to reload as needed should somebody crucial go
>> down between now and the end of the January window.

>> Probably the best hope for ManU or Chelsea is that a couple of key
>> players (Silva, Aguero, and/or Hart?) suffer season-ending injuries
>> shortly after the transfer window shuts.

>> And yes... It is still early.

>> They are outscoring opponents by an average of nearly 3 goals per
>> match. Their nearest competitor (Man U) is doing so by about 1.5 goals
>> per match, or just a little over half of City's rate.

>> They've trounced both the second place and fifth place teams on the
>> road.

>> They are 5 points ahead in the race.

>> They are undefeated. Only Newcastle, who have yet to play a top three
>> club have only beaten teams that are in 14th place or lower currently,
>> can claim as much.

>> They've won what would have appeared to be their toughest match going
>> into the season if you consider that Man U won 18 matches, drew once,
>> and lost zero times at home last year.

>> Though they are supposed to be vulnerable in back, they have the
>> second-most stingy defense in the league and are conceding less than a
>> goal per match.

>> They seem deep enough to absorb a normal amount of injuries, and also
>> have the buying power to reload as needed should somebody crucial go
>> down between now and the end of the January window.

>> Probably the best hope for ManU or Chelsea is that a couple of key
>> players (Silva, Aguero, and/or Hart?) suffer season-ending injuries
>> shortly after the transfer window shuts.

>> And yes... It is still early.

>Yes, I believe that they might not win the league. My reason is
>simple, they are riding a mega-hype wave from last weekend, things can
>change very quickly, they do for every team year after year. Just a
>few weeks ago some very experienced posters were saying that Man U is
>unstoppable and the EPL is a foregone conclusion, remember?

>Man U got beat down in the yard, they were destroyed by City, but
>there's no way they don't bounce back--again Ferguson.

>They have an easier stretch of games now--they've already played
>Spurs, City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea...I'm sure they'd have
>taken 2nd place at this point before the season.

>I always put it this way:

>Of the above six teams, which is most likely to win 10 games in a row--
>spectacular or not?

>Of the six teams above, which is LEAST likely to go on a run in which
>they drop say, 12/18 points?

>Of the above six teams which is LEAST likely to ***if there is
>still a title race in May?

>If you answer those questions honestly, then Man U are still the
>favorites.

> They are outscoring opponents by an average of nearly 3 goals per
> match. Their nearest competitor (Man U) is doing so by about 1.5 goals
> per match, or just a little over half of City's rate.

> They've trounced both the second place and fifth place teams on the
> road.

> They are 5 points ahead in the race.

> They are undefeated. Only Newcastle, who have yet to play a top three
> club have only beaten teams that are in 14th place or lower currently,
> can claim as much.

> They've won what would have appeared to be their toughest match going
> into the season if you consider that Man U won 18 matches, drew once,
> and lost zero times at home last year.

> Though they are supposed to be vulnerable in back, they have the
> second-most stingy defense in the league and are conceding less than a
> goal per match.

> They seem deep enough to absorb a normal amount of injuries, and also
> have the buying power to reload as needed should somebody crucial go
> down between now and the end of the January window.

> Probably the best hope for ManU or Chelsea is that a couple of key
> players (Silva, Aguero, and/or Hart?) suffer season-ending injuries
> shortly after the transfer window shuts.

> And yes... It is still early.

> Man U got beat down in the yard, they were destroyed by City, but
> there's no way they don't bounce back--again Ferguson.

> I always put it this way:

> Of the six teams above, which is LEAST likely to go on a run in which
> they drop say, 12/18 points?

> Of the above six teams which is LEAST likely to ***if there is
> still a title race in May?

> If you answer those questions honestly, then Man U are still the
> favorites.

> If/when they have an 8 point lead in January it's in the bag. They
> should win the EPL, you couldn't assemble this squad in Football Manager
> without a hack.

>>> And yes... It is still early.

>> If/when they have an 8 point lead in January it's in the bag. They
>> should win the EPL, you couldn't assemble this squad in Football Manager
>> without a hack.

> Just for kicks, United's 2nd team:

>                       Welbeck   Berbatov
> valencia    Cleverly/Giggs     Carrick/Giggs    Park
> Fabio     Smalling   Jones    Evans*
>                  Lindergaad

> *He'd start for any other team in the league remember.

>>> And yes... It is still early.

>> If/when they have an 8 point lead in January it's in the bag. They
>> should win the EPL, you couldn't assemble this squad in Football Manager
>> without a hack.

> Just for kicks, United's 2nd team:

>                       Welbeck   Berbatov
> valencia    Cleverly/Giggs     Carrick/Giggs    Park
> Fabio     Smalling   Jones    Evans*
>                  Lindergaad

> *He'd start for any other team in the league remember.
> Evans would start for any other team? How far has the EPL fallen this
> year?