Who will win the Premiership 2007/8?

[Royal Rother]

Admittedly Man Utd have the easier run of games until 19th Jan...

[RG30]

Not looking good for Chelsea, Cech, Terry and now Carvalho injured;

Chelsea's Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho could be out for up to eight weeks after injuring his back in Sunday's 1-1 home draw with Everton.

Portugal national team doctor Henrique Jones examined the injury and instantly ruled him out of their Euro 2008 qualifiers with Armenia and Finland.

"It was not serious but he should rest for at least eight weeks," he said.

If confirmed, it will be another blow for Chelsea who already have Petr Cech, John Terry and Paulo Ferreira injured.

One grain of consolation is England left-back Ashley Cole's return to fitness after an ankle problem.

After Sunday's draw at Stamford Bridge, which leaves Chelsea five points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United, Grant conceded: "We have too many injuries.

"It is not easy to play without all the back four and goalkeeper from the last few months.

"This is the reason we have a big squad but it is unusual."

[Royal Rother]

Would you agree that Man Utd miss Rooney more than Arsenal miss Van Persie?

[Royal Rother]

That last question was mainly directed at the usually very informative Katie. Still in shock I guess.

[The Three Bears]

Would you agree that Man Utd miss Rooney more than Arsenal miss Van Persie?

I think they miss Rooney and Ronaldo when they don't play together but they can cope without either/or. The mistake comes when playing Carrick and Hargreaves together which leaves little creativity or a goal threat.

I can't understand resting Ronaldo when they've already qualified for the Champs League Last 16 and have two easy home games to come.

[Katie Marsden]

Spot on Three Bears.

Ferguson got it wrong by playing Carrick and Hargreaves, as a result they created very little never got a kick untill they brought Anderson on, a more attacking player. From then on it was one way traffic but too little too late.

RR, it's obvious United miss Rooney more than Arsenal miss Van Persie, for the simple reason he's a much better player. Scores more goals, creates more goals and works much harder.

[BR2]

I never understood why Man Utd bought Hargreaves and Carrick other than as cover for each other and I could never see the need for both to play in the same team . Now they are rumoured to be looking at another Portuguese player who apparently plays a similar role.
How many holding midfielders does any club need?

As for Van Persie and Rooney-rather different players but in my view about equal in ability and I would choose Van Persie (not just because he has no connection with Man Utd. )because of the dearth of left-footed strikers which means that in a 4-4-2 he could be part of a left-right duo whereas most sides have a right-right duo.

[Katie Marsden]

Two different players who play in the same area of the pitch. Same as Alonso and Mascherano or Pirlo and Gattuso. It's good to have options, that's why United have them. It beats John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher anyway

Van Persie is a good player but he's never had anything more than a decent season. He's 24 and he's never really fullfilled his potential. In contrast Rooney is the first or second name on the United teamsheet and has been since he was 18.

Also Van Persie has a good left foot but no right. Rooney has a much stronger 'weaker' foot. Van Persie is easier for defenders to stop and more predictable.

[cmonurz]

Another win for Arsenal despite the cold whether and it is United who freeze, bottling it at one of the worst sides in the division. Good away win for Liverpool – 6 away wins all of last season, and 5 already this. That said, Newcastle were atrocious, and if Torres had had his Madejski boots on then both Merseyside clubs might have hit 7. Expected win for Chelsea, but genuinely looks, despite alad’s protestations, that we might have a genuine four- (even maybe five-) horse race for the title.

[Kes]

When liverpool get knocked out of the CL their season is over.

[Katie Marsden]

Another win for Arsenal despite the cold whether and it is United who freeze, bottling it at one of the worst sides in the division. Good away win for Liverpool – 6 away wins all of last season, and 5 already this. That said, Newcastle were atrocious, and if Torres had had his Madejski boots on then both Merseyside clubs might have hit 7. Expected win for Chelsea, but genuinely looks, despite alad’s protestations, that we might have a genuine four- (even maybe five-) horse race for the title.

You can afford to have an off day when you've just taken 28 points from 10 games including away games at Everton, Villa and Arsenal.

Well done for taking my comments about Arsenal out of context. The tough run of games starts now. Trips to Newcastle, Boro, Villa, Everton and Pompey in the next 6 weeks and homes games against Chelsea and Spurs. We shall see what they're made of and where they lie in January when the real title race starts.

[RG30]

Credit to Wenger, the appointment of Gallas over Gilberton as captain seems to be paying dividends, he's showing his true value in his rightful position of central defence. All eyes soon to be on "Super Sunday", 16th December when the "big 4" do battle.

[The Three Bears]

Well done for taking my comments about Arsenal out of context. The tough run of games starts now. Trips to Newcastle, Boro, Villa, Everton and Pompey in the next 6 weeks and homes games against Chelsea and Spurs. We shall see what they're made of and where they lie in January when the real title race starts.

So the recent run of Tottenham, Blackburn, Liverpool away and United at home wasn't tough then?

Boro and Newcastle are hardly going to be two defeats are they? Arsenal will struggle at Villa on Saturday but you would fancy them to still be top on Christmas Day. If they're 1 or 2 points behind United come then they would still be happy seeing as though their entire starting XI cost around the same as one Rio Ferdinand.

[cmonurz]

Well done for taking my comments about Arsenal out of context. The tough run of games starts now. Trips to Newcastle, Boro, Villa, Everton and Pompey in the next 6 weeks and homes games against Chelsea and Spurs. We shall see what they're made of and where they lie in January when the real title race starts.

So the recent run of Tottenham, Blackburn, Liverpool away and United at home wasn't tough then?

Boro and Newcastle are hardly going to be two defeats are they? Arsenal will struggle at Villa on Saturday but you would fancy them to still be top on Christmas Day. If they're 1 or 2 points behind United come then they would still be happy seeing as though their entire starting XI cost around the same as one Rio Ferdinand.

You forget - Liverpool's league challenege is over, despite going above United if they win their game in hand, and Arsenal will choke, cos the weather is going to get cold, or something. And Chelsea are apparently an irrelevance, despite their good form under Grant. Oh, and any United defeat is affordable.

[papereyes]

At this point Aston Villa might be the dark horse.

I was about to say "Don't be silly", but they are right in amongst them, aren't they?

[cmonurz]

I think it is very easy to discount Man City too, given their historical shiteness, but you don’t win your first 8 home games, including United and Villa, without a bit of class. I think we have a genuinely open title race this season, and I would love it if Villa or City went close, or even won it.

[papereyes]

What's quite interesting is that our home form ain't all that worse than Villa's.

[cmonurz]

And our away form is the same as Derby's.

DeROFLby County - 2 goals in 10 games.

Only 5 goals in total so far (0.34 per game), Sunderland have the record lowest goals of 21 (0.55 per game), set in 2002-03.

[Katie Marsden]

Well done for taking my comments about Arsenal out of context. The tough run of games starts now. Trips to Newcastle, Boro, Villa, Everton and Pompey in the next 6 weeks and homes games against Chelsea and Spurs. We shall see what they're made of and where they lie in January when the real title race starts.

So the recent run of Tottenham, Blackburn, Liverpool away and United at home wasn't tough then?

Boro and Newcastle are hardly going to be two defeats are they? Arsenal will struggle at Villa on Saturday but you would fancy them to still be top on Christmas Day. If they're 1 or 2 points behind United come then they would still be happy seeing as though their entire starting XI cost around the same as one Rio Ferdinand.

The run hasn't been that tough. They've played 13 games and only 5 have been away from home and they dropped points in 2 of those.

Arsenal have done well, however they've got 9 games in December and that will test them. They should win at places like Villa, Boro and Newcastle but in the last few years they've dropped stupid points at those grounds. It will be interesting to see how they cope this season. I expect they'll win 2 of them but they'll drop points in the 4 tough games after against Spurs, Chelsea, Everton and Portsmouth. I'd be amazed if they were top on January 1st.

papereyes, Villa have had some tough games at home. After this weekend they'll have faced United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal at home. It's not surprising they've dropped points but that also shows how well they've done in the other games to be level on points with Liverpool. The win at Blackburn was probably the result of the season so far along with United's 4-1 win at Villa.

[cmonurz]

Carew has 6 goals in 20 games for Villa. Jury is very much still out, although he appears to have hit some good form.