From the same games last year (QPR not included as they we didn't play them) we got 11 points. This season we got 10 points.
People will point to our 4 defeats in late september/october (having been unbeaten in the same ones last season), but against Blackburn, Fulham, Wigan and Villa we got 3 points last season, and 10 points this season.
We won't be relegated, nowhere nere. I'd be happy with top half, expect to finish around 12th.
Also, our good record over the champions league teams in recent seasons, was bound to end eventually, even against United (h) and City (A) last season we didn't play particuarly well, and scrapped results.