Confounding expectations

[Bruce Wayne]

I can't help but cast my mind back to the 'can we catch Villa' thread from a few weeks ago and the general doubt over our ability to make up the gap to Villa. I'm then reminded of the widespread gloom when Arteta and Anichebe were ruled out for the season against Newcastle.

Yet here we are just one point behind Villa and still flying high in the FA cup. The team have shown character by the bucket load this season to keep going and keep believing that great things are still achievable.

Feel like I've said it many times this season but I sit here once more a very proud Blue.

 

[Dutch Toffee]

For me the glass is always half full. Ah well, at least regarding Everton.

 

[kenada_blue]

But wasnt that in context of getting 4th spot when they had about a 12 point lead over us?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Sure but Arsenal have been unbeaten in that same period. Not much you can do about that. Did many here seriously expect us to catch Villa, especially when Arteta got injured?

 

[Dutch Toffee]

Sure but Arsenal have been unbeaten in that same period. Not much you can do about that. Did many here seriously expect us to catch Villa, especially when Arteta got injured?

Was at the Newcastle match when Arteta got injured. Thought at the time it would effectively spell the end of our season. Not for long though, as I'm convinced we have a better team than Aston Villa. Really think our season got kick started once again, second half against Boro in the cup.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

It has been very satisfying to see how we've coped without Arteta and Yakubu. Moyes is assembling a very impressive squad.

 

[chicoazul]

You're setting yourself up for a fall when Villa humiliate us next week Bruce.

 

[steevie]

I can't help but cast my mind back to the 'can we catch Villa' thread from a few weeks ago and the general doubt over our ability to make up the gap to Villa. I'm then reminded of the widespread gloom when Arteta and Anichebe were ruled out for the season against Newcastle.

Yet here we are just one point behind Villa and still flying high in the FA cup. The team have shown character by the bucket load this season to keep going and keep believing that great things are still achievable.

Feel like I've said it many times this season but I sit here once more a very proud Blue.

I was one of a small minority believing that we could catch Villa but had reservations over claims that we could surpass Arsenal. We now have caught Villa and next weekend will have cup game feeling in a strange way. Still feel overtaking Arsenal is a step too far but you just dont know. A burning feeling i have is how far could we have gone with Yakubu and Arteta??

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I was a negative nancy.

I honestly couldn't see how we where going to replace Arteta and find the right balance. Fair play to Moyes though, he's found the right balance again with Cahill alongside Neville.

We haven't done it yet though, keep it up Blues.

 

[Goat]

I admit i didnt think we would catch Villa, but i always saw Arse as the team we had to catch. But fair play to all the believers, but we havent over-taken them yet.

 

[chicoazul]

I told you all along we'd be boss.

Same as I told you:

Yakubu is nothing but superb, Fellaini is most excellent and we'll win every game.

 

[Goat]

Fellaini, best player in the world. 1.5 years.

 

[TX Bill]

*holds hand up

I didn't think we had a snowball's chance of catching them.

 

[Goat]

Do you know what I liked most of all about today. Our bench, it was wonderful. We have still got Yak, Arteta and Vaughan out. And we still managed to fill the bench with quality players, apart from VDM ofc.

On a side note, I watched the subs warmup at HT and all the players where stretching and going thru some routines with the coach, all apart from VDM who wondered about kicking footballs at random places. That boy got some demons.

 

[Brownie]

If we win all our home games that'll do me.