Topic: *whisper it quietly* Pssst.....8th place or ya getting banned

[BCCC]

You'd love to believe that we can get 4th but it's a big ask. Never has the "one game at a time" mantra been more needed.

[kingkenny79]

i will stick my neck,hand,limb,head,finger and each of my anatomy out, that


we will get the 4th place.

[JP-65]

I'm curious about how many points everyone thinks we'll get to, to obtain the 4th place slot.

[CrazyHorseL8Derry]

I have

1st   Manure         82
2nd  Arse              81
3rd   Plastics         77
4th   Manchester City            74
5th   Arrys triffics  70
6th   Liverpool      70

Hard to call tho.

[classycarra]

i will stick my neck,hand,limb,head,finger and each of my anatomy out, that


we will get the 4th place.

we won't but at the same time i wouldn't feel too deterred. just having the europa league to concerntrate on in the first few months could be of benefit - as it was for city this year - so we don't have to overplay our best players and can afford to rotate a bit. this is something that, believe it or not, we've done well throughout this season. it would be nice if we can reap the benefits by having a good run in the cup and a decent run in the league

[Scouser_Ste]

Stranger things have happend than for Liverpool to finsih 4th, but like Kenny said one game at a time and this weeknd we are at home to Wigan, Spurs away at Sunderland and Chelsea away to Fulham.  So this weekend things could go in our favour again, but if we just keep winning then we are doing our job and whatever will be will be.

It is nice to be talking baout 4th place again and the teams above us, rather than taking about worst start in so in so years and looking over our shoulder, the difference a few weeks have made :-)

[Rock-N-Red]

I’ve been looking at the possibility of us gaining a Champion’s league spot. I even set up a spreadsheet so that I could try to predict likely results – always a mistake! The main problem is that Chelsea would have to drop a minimum of ten more points than we do over the final games of the season. So it doesn’t look likely to me - though, given their inconsistent away form and their desire to prioritise Champion’s League fixtures, you never know!

As others have said, lets take it one game at a time. If we keep our current form the pressure will be on!

[Dr. Venkman]

Looking at our own games

Brum
Newcastle
Wigan
All home, these are the bankers we have to win, no excuses

Aston Villa
Sunderland
West Ham
Fulham
West Brom
All away, no game is easy but we have to win these too if we are serious, at least 3 wins and a draw

Man U Home
Arsenal Away
Very tough games, to finish 4th you are looking at 3-4 points min

Spurs
City
Both home, taking maximum points out of these games is a must in my opinion

I make that at least 9 wins, with Carroll and Suarez to come into the team, but make no mistake about it we need to be bloody brilliant

[Dr Abismo]

One game at a time lads. The thing is if we can keep this run going then it is not impossible. We need to win virtually  every game for the rest of the season.

Nah. We're fans, not players and management. They have to do "one game at a time" because it affects how they play. It's the right attitude for them. But us, we can dream and hope and go for it. It's great to have something to aim for, however unlikely it is. Like Dr M, I just can't help myself!

[Joga]

The points gap, the goal difference and lack of games left suggest to me that we won't even get top five, let alone top four.

But you are a complete doom merchant and best ignored

[Joga]

The beauty of this is, there is absolutely no pressure on us to do it, no-one expects it and everyone anticipates that Chelsea will most likely get 4th. We can just keep going about our business, quietly winning games and ignoring the table whilst Spurs and Chelsea keep looking over their shoulders.

[Stan.]

I think it's too big an ask now.  Had we taken maximum points against Blackpool and everton, it'd have been a different story.  Looking at it, 5th will be difficult enough.  Still at least while there's still a chance it gives everyone something to fight for.

[Jakke]

The only game the players should be focusing on is the next one.  No calculating, no spreadsheets, nothing.  Just win the next game.  And the we'll speak again :-)

[Rexy]

The beauty of this is, there is absolutely no pressure on us to do it, no-one expects it and everyone anticipates that Chelsea will most likely get 4th. We can just keep going about our business, quietly winning games and ignoring the table whilst Spurs and Chelsea keep looking over their shoulders.

Spot on, my thoughts exactly.

One game at a time and see where it takes us 

[MoSzizlak]

I have

1st   the Mancs         82
2nd  Arse              81
3rd   Plastics         77
4th   Manchester City            74
5th   Arrys triffics  70
6th   Liverpool      70

Hard to call tho.

70 pts 

That'll be 14 wins and 2 draws from our last 16 games. (4/4 so far).

No chance of 70 pts IMO.

[WTF?]

One step at a time, true, but it's extremely plausible that we could end up on Saturday night just 3 points off that 4th spot, and that's going to start heaping a whole lot of pressure on other teams.

It's going to get interesting...

[JP-65]

70 pts 

That'll be 14 wins and 2 draws from our last 16 games. (4/4 so far).

No chance of 70 pts IMO.

At least he put some numbers up!

I'm in complete agreement with you of course.  

[lfcshaunod]

The fact that we are even discussing the possibility of finishing fourth is brilliant given the shitty start we had.  Good times! 

[shelovesyou]

Its so refreshing to see us all discussing the possibilities of finishing 4th. Who'd of thought that 6 weeks ago ?
Nobody is the answer.

But lets take it a game at a time, 3 points Saturday is all we can ask for right now. And then we'll see.

Never the less, what a positive thread and the place is a joy to read these days.

[justsean]

If we beat Wigan on Saturday at 1500 we'll be three points behind them till Monday when they play Fulham. That will really crank the pressure up on Roman FC. They barely beat Fulham 1 - 0 at the Bridge so it's not going to be an easy game for them.

[fowlermagic]

We will remain unbeaten for the rest of the season resulting in "We won it 4 times" (UEFA Cup) and some greeting cards to Fernando hoping he enjoys the Europa League next year with Chelsea while we play in the CL.

[Carllfc]

If we keep the spirit and drive that we are showing at the moment then its still a possibility we could sneak 4th.

[Mikuss]

Its going to take 70 points plus to get remotely close to 4th I'd think. It's too difficult to predic though, there is a lot of big games to be played yet.

[supaerheraw]

If we actually nick fourth place, and Chelsea gets the fifth, I'm really worried the Chelsea will win the CL for the first time in their crap history.

[SP]

A significant factor will be that the division is so tight, nearly every club will be fighting for something. Bolton is 8th are 7 points off the relegation places,  and only 3 wins off bottom. At the moment every club has a realistic chance of Europe or the drop. In circumstances like that, clubs are going to drop points. I think most of the predictions for the challengers for CL places have been way too generous. They will all score fewer points than that.  But then, so will we, probably.

[killerH]

At least he put some numbers up!

I'm in complete agreement with you of course.  

I agree with you that in all likelyhood, we'll finish 6th. But the reason that I still think 4th is doable is that on current form, and Chelsea's wobble over the past 3 months (and likely to continue imo), it is possible for us to get 4th. Spurs are dodgy too, they were on the verge of dropping points a few times against average opposition (like on Saturday V Bolton), they still have some very tough games coming up.

FWIW I reckon we'll get 68/69 points, and that if we are to get 4th, then we need Chelsea/Spurs to lose a few games and draw some more. The Chelsea V Man U games will be key too. Plus the effect of CL footy on those two teams (Chelsea/Spurs).

[supaerheraw]

A significant factor will be that the division is so tight, nearly every club will be fighting for something. Bolton is 8th are 7 points off the relegation places,  and only 3 wins off bottom. At the moment every club has a realistic chance of Europe or the drop. In circumstances like that, clubs are going to drop points. I think most of the predictions for the challengers for CL places have been way too generous. They will all score fewer points than that. But then, so will we, probably.

Probably, yes, but then again, we just have to hope that isn't the case and that we keep grinding out results. With that, I'd say 4th is still a possibility.

[snowlion]

This is what I want:

Win the next game

Then, the thread will go on and we can repeat from the start of this post.

[Fatbat1]

While it's nice to be talking bout Champions League places again, i think we're too far off now to seriously catch them, I just don't see us going unbeaten until the end of the season, Nor will Chelsea or Spurs, but i can't see them realistically dropping 7points more than us (not counting their game in hand but their goal difference is far superior to ours too).

Istanbul proved that anything is possible, and wit KK back i  cetainly wouldn't say it's impossible, but realistically we looking to finish no higher than 6th, but let's take 1 game at a time and pray to the gods that shone on us in istanbul to do the same and we sneak it in, rem theres also the possibilty that we could finish 4th and spurs could win it then we be back out of CL places again, kick in the nuts that would be lol

[Siannn.]

If we actually nick fourth place, and Chelsea gets the fifth, I'm really worried the Chelsea will win the CL for the first time in their crap history.

Not a chance, my man. Not a chance.

[StanBull]

The only game the players should be focusing on is the next one.  No calculating, no spreadsheets, nothing.  Just win the next game.  And the we'll speak again :-)

This

[MortyMan11]

was it 84 or 86 p we got in 2009? I believe it was 86. Anyhow, both last season and this season, 86 points would (and will) win us the title. We got knocked out of CL against the plastics in the QF, but were close to win when we were in front by 4 goals to 3. An absolutely fantastic season!!!!

One year later Rafa is sacked. One and a half year later Torres leaves saying; "we have not been up there the last two or three years."

FFS, where is the ability to see behind results (the sacking of Rafa) and the spirit to hang in there during difficult times (Torres leaving) ??!! And now we can see Reina maybe thinking of leaving.

Today we have 4 wins (and clean sheets) in a row. Maybe we dont reach top 4 this year but we are on our way back to winning and now is the time (more than ever) for everyone, players as well as supporters, to be positive and fight for the club!

[imnotcomingback]

I have

1st   the Mancs         82
2nd  Arse              81
3rd   Plastics         77
4th   Manchester City            74
5th   Arrys triffics  70
6th   Liverpool      70

Hard to call tho.

I think 4th will be less than 70 points this year.

[Citizen Kane]

If we beat Wigan on Saturday at 1500 we'll be three points behind them till Monday when they play Fulham. That will really crank the pressure up on Roman FC. They barely beat Fulham 1 - 0 at the Bridge so it's not going to be an easy game for them.

Fulham have found their feet recently and have hit a run of form, could be tough for Chelsea especially with the massive expectations on their shoulders for that game, 2 losses in a row would be crushing for them. I suppose their game in hand isn't for a few months, what with the champions league coming back?

[JP-65]

I think 4th will be less than 70 points this year.

On what basis?  Spurs got 70 last season and are 1 point better at this moment in the season, Man City got 67 last season and are 3 points better.

[macca888]

Its so refreshing to see us all discussing the possibilities of finishing 4th. Who'd of thought that 6 weeks ago ?
Nobody is the answer.

But lets take it a game at a time, 3 points Saturday is all we can ask for right now. And then we'll see.

Never the less, what a positive thread and the place is a joy to read these days.

I thought we'd finish 4th while the owl was in charge. 4th from fucking bottom.

JP, I love your statistics thread, it's one of the best on here and brilliantly informative. But this is an exception in an exceptional season. It isn't the stuff of probabilities, it's the stuff of dreams. And I for one am daring to dream.

[imnotcomingback]

On what basis?  Spurs got 70 last season and are 1 point better at this moment in the season, Man City got 67 last season and are 3 points better.

Wait and see fella, wait and see.

We may feckin hope it's less than 70 or we're fcuked lol

[JP-65]

I thought we'd finish 4th while the owl was in charge. 4th from fucking bottom.

JP, I love your statistics thread, it's one of the best on here and brilliantly informative. But this is an exception in an exceptional season. It isn't the stuff of probabilities, it's the stuff of dreams. And I for one am daring to dream.

Macca, I would love it as much as anyone, especially in the context of the "hell" all good reds have gone through over the past 6-9 months.

You're right it is the stuff of dreams, and once in a while the moons align and dreams come true, and it would be absolutely stunning if it came about.  If we are in the hunt at the death, those last few matches will be every bit as emotional as the one's we went to two seasons ago as we tried to chase Man Utd down for the title.

I still don't think it's going to happen though

[JP-65]

Wait and see fella, wait and see.

We may feckin hope it's less than 70 or we're fcuked lol

Cheers, I can laugh at that

[topcorner2345]

Getting fourth is utopia at the moment however Spurs have still not had a major slump and with the Champions league about to restart their resources could be well and truly stretched. Plastics are still the major threat in my eyes but with Kenny in charge Suarez to kick some ass who knows!