Topic: It's just a battle for the order of the first 4 spots now between 5 teams...

[SquirrelandGman]

So is it on or not 

whisper it quietly.

we might not even get 4th

we'll win the league

[Barneylfc∗]

So is it on or not 

Well it certainly isn't off that's for sure

[lfc_col]

whisper it quietly.

we might not even get 4th

we'll win the league

There's definitely something in the air at the moment

[Red_Rich]

We will win the league over Chelsea on G/D     It will be 79pts just like in 1990!

W9  W8  D2  L2  .... of our remaining

 

[Gods_Left_Boot]

So, next 5 fixtures coming up for the top 6 (Aways in CAPS).

Chelsea:
Everton; FULHAM; Spurs; VILLA; Arsenal

Arsenal:
Sunderland; STOKE; Swansea; SPURS; CHELSEA

City:
Sunderland (in hand); Stoke; Villa; HULL; Fulham; UNITED

LFC:
Swansea; SOUTHAMPTON; Sunderland; UNITED; CARDIFF

Spurs:
NORWICH; Cardiff; CHELSEA; Arsenal; Southampton

Everton:
Palace (in hand); CHELSEA; Hammers; NEWCASTLE; Cardiff; Swansea


Out of the 6, I reckon City has the easiest slate and they could go on a decent run if they shake off their recent poor form. They'll have to deal with the CL, though, and hopefully that might drain energy and cost them a few points.

We havent the easiest slate, but we could very well get a number of wins out of the next 5 if we fix our backline with Agger and Sakho returning.

It'll be interesting to see what Spurs will do: they might stick around as well as finally flush down. I really have no idea what they might do.

The bitters have a decent set of fixtures coming up for them and they might not be out of contention for 4th, yet.

Chelsea have three tough home fixtures and two winnable aways. They might well drop quite a few points.

Arsenal... Oh well, maybe it's their serial bottlers past and maybe it's their current bad run of form, but I really could see them struggling to stay in the top 4 by late March, also taking into account their CL tie. They seem to be running on fumes and they might've got found out a bit

[brownie 09]

On MOTD they were saying we won't win because of our away form. the way they were banging on I'd have thought the other teams especially city and Chelsea would have brilliant away forms.

City have two more points and Chelsea have three both played the same amount of games. Hardly amazing really.

Were right in this and it's fucking boss. All we need is for the defence to cut the mistakes out and fucking talk to each other. Bit of orginization and someone to grow a pair off bollocks back there would be nice.

[Red_Rich]

I don't buy this "size of squad" arguement.

That only really comes into play if you're playing 2 games a week till the end, something that we will not be doing.

We have as good a first team as anyone.  And with strong defenders to come back in, it will only improve.

We could basically play our best 11 from now till the end and barring injuries they would be okay.

Fulham tonight reminded me of 2009, benny and all that.  Hopefully this time we have a happier ending.

Brendan wanted us to be "in the conversation".  Well, we are doing nearly ALL the talking at the moment.

City have hit a wobble and their fixtures are about to pile up high (reckon they'll be replaying Chelsea too)

Arsenal CAN crumble and their next 6-8 fixtures are horific.

Chelsea have flattered to decieve in my eyes and are nowhere near as good as us up front (bar Hazard)

Of course we can win it!

[woof]

It's tight at the top and every game counts. While we're nipping at the heels of the top 3, Spurs are doing that to us. Just 3.5 points separating us (the 0.5 points is for our vast goal difference).

We need to keep up our mentality and build on the last 2 matches. We can't afford to slip up. Spurs have an easier run in. We have trips to Mancs, West Ham, Soton while we still have to host Chelsea and City at home. They are, by no means, easy games. Our away form isn't the greatest so it's going to be tough. Let's hope that none of our players get injured.

[Alan B'Stard]

I know we have a big cup game this weekend, but after this game I'm actually pretty annoyed we have to wait 10 days before we play in the league again!

Dont be annoyed we could probably do with the rest!
The CL starts again soon, the others will be galavanting across europe while we will have our feet up recharging the batteries.

[Asam]

On MOTD they were saying we won't win because of our away form. the way they were banging on I'd have thought the other teams especially city and Chelsea would have brilliant away forms.

City have two more points and Chelsea have three both played the same amount of games. Hardly amazing really.

Were right in this and it's fucking boss. All we need is for the defence to cut the mistakes out and fucking talk to each other. Bit of orginization and someone to grow a pair off bollocks back there would be nice.

We're not in it until we cut the stupid defensive mistakes out, we're like the boxer with a knockout punch but a glass chin

[brownie 09]

We're not in it until we cut the stupid defensive mistakes out, we're like the boxer with a knockout punch but a glass chin

of course were in it. Were four points off.

[oovavu]

Tottenham's away form is unbelievable, But I do think Sherwood's uprising won't last long though, as soon as a problem more difficult than ( defence defend, forwards attack, midfield "do a bit of both") comes along his team will struggle and his brain will dissolve.

We will get top four, we can win the league

[ThePeetmix]

We're not in it until we cut the stupid defensive mistakes out, we're like the boxer with a knockout punch but a glass chin

Our chin protection is about to come back from the repair shop.

[ThePeetmix]

Tottenham's away form is unbelievable, But I do think Sherwood's uprising won't last long though, as soon as a problem more difficult than ( defence defend, forwards attack, midfield "do a bit of both") comes along his team will struggle and his brain will dissolve.

We will get top four, we can win the league

Man City for them was a prime example.

[Haemoglobin]

We weren't really able to rest anyone tonight, and it was a tough slog. Those of us drenched in sweat and still shivering from the sheer tension should give some thought to what the players went through! That type of match is so damn draining, once the adrenaline and exuberance wears off.

I'd really be looking to give Gerrard and maybe Suarez or Sturridge the day off v Arsenal. And also get Agger back in the groove, Sakho too if feasible.

[Alan B'Stard]

It's tight at the top and every game counts. While we're nipping at the heels of the top 3, Spurs are doing that to us. Just 3.5 points separating us (the 0.5 points is for our vast goal difference).

We need to keep up our mentality and build on the last 2 matches. We can't afford to slip up. Spurs have an easier run in. We have trips to Mancs, West Ham, Soton while we still have to host Chelsea and City at home. They are, by no means, easy games. Our away form isn't the greatest so it's going to be tough. Let's hope that none of our players get injured.

When Spurs come to Anfield thats when we'll increase the diffrence on points between us. Thats IF we dont mess up before hand!

[Red_Rich]

We have trips to Mancs, West Ham, Soton while we still have to host Chelsea and City at home. They are, by no means, easy games.

True, not easy.  And I think Cardiff will be a tough away too.  And Palace near the end.

In fact all are going to be tough.  The entire bottom half of the table are scrapping hard for points to stay up.

There are no real dogshite teams getting vut adrift this year.  Look at WBA.  Bottom 3 yet they recently drew with Everton, us and Chelsea!

[Mr_Shane]

I think teams in the relegation scrap are also going to have a say.

We all saw how desperate Fulham got in injury time and what WBA did to Chelsea yesterday. They are fighting for their lives down there and possibly more points are going to be dropped by those in the title conversation against those teams.

Not to mention there are still those 6 pointer games to be played.

[bigbear]

The top 4 is most definitely not just a case of us and the 3 sides below us.

Right now they're all in the shake up and if we and Spurs keep going who knows who might miss out. Arsenal are starting to look very flat and short of ideas and especially pace going forward.

Ramsey and Giroud's goals carried them through the first half of the season and I really do think the Walcott injury has badly affected them. There is no pace on the counter now.

[rickardinho1]

If we look at the remaining fixtures in comparison to Spurs (I'm not saying Everton are out of the race).

Spurs:
Norwich A
Cardiff H
Chelsea A
Arsenal H
Southampton H
Liverpool A
Sunderland H
WBA A
Fulham H
Stoke A
West Ham A
Aston Villa H


Liverpool:
Swansea H
Soton A
Sunderland H
Man United A
Cardiff A
Tottenham H
West Ham A
Man City H
Norwich A
Chelsea H
Crystal Palace A
Newcastle H

We have two, what should be tough, away fixtures in Southampton and United. We also have 2 very tough home fixture when Chelsea and City visit, there is also the game against Spurs at home which will be very important. Spurs in comparison have 4 difficult away matches in West Brom, Stoke, Liverpool and Chelsea and a derby game at home to Arsenal. If we beat them at Anfield, we should get 4th place.

Have you learned nothing from the last three away games including tonight?! Every single away game is going to be tough as fuck and likely to set records in broken pacemakers

[rickardinho1]

Arsenal fans must be really looking over their shoulders now with away trips to Stoke, Spurs, and Chelsea in their next 5, and us and spurs charging at them

[Red_Rich]

I think teams in the relegation scrap are also going to have a say.

We all saw how desperate Fulham got in injury time and what WBA did to Chelsea yesterday. They are fighting for their lives down there and possibly more points are going to be dropped by those in the title conversation against those teams.

Not to mention there are still those 6 pointer games to be played.

Exactly why we are definitely in it.

No one has nailed on games.

You would have banked on City at Norwich, Chelsea home to WHam away to WBA etc.

Plenty of points to be won and lost.

Key games are our homes to Spurs, City and Chelsea.  I wouldnt even say United away is that crucial.

[Asam]

Our chin protection is about to come back from the repair shop.

It will be good to have more bodies back but we've not defended well all season

[sonnyred]

It's tight at the top and every game counts. While we're nipping at the heels of the top 3, Spurs are doing that to us. Just 3.5 points separating us (the 0.5 points is for our vast goal difference).

We need to keep up our mentality and build on the last 2 matches. We can't afford to slip up. Spurs have an easier run in. We have trips to Mancs, West Ham, Soton while we still have to host Chelsea and City at home. They are, by no means, easy games. Our away form isn't the greatest so it's going to be tough. Let's hope that none of our players get injured.

I think it's better that some team is nipping at our heels. If fourth was a shoe in then maybe standards would slip. But we have to fight for fourth every game, and by doing that maybe we could finish higher...maybe a lot higher.

[Nonex]

The fact that the Everton game got postponed will be beneficial to us for psychological reasons, even though, they have a game in hand, 8 points looks a lot worse than 5. A lot of people are disregarding spurs though which I don't agree with. Assuming we stay 3 points ahead of them until we meet them at Anfield, one off day could change everything. They are not a bad side and are capable of beating us if we don't play well.

[Nessy76]

I think the title to this thread has now been answered. Realistically, we could still finish 5th, but we could just as realistically now finish 3rd. If Everton are still in the mix with us and Spurs, then Arsenal must be too.

Maybe even City, for that matter. Game in hand, true, but when are they going to play it?

The way I see it at the moment:

City/Chelsea - Could finish anywhere in top 3, most likely 1st or 2nd.

Arsenal/Liverpool - could finish anywhere 3rd-5th. Outside chance of 1st.

Spurs/Everton - could finish anywhere 4th - 7th.

Man Utd - could finish anywhere 5th - 7th.

[Pidalow]

Probably get a negative reaction from this but it would not upset me too much if we lost to Arsenal. We would have plenty of time to rest between games whilst teams around us will be still be in cup competitions. If we had a bigger squad my opinion would be different of course.

[greasetigger]

Guys

Went to Corals this week to put a bet on Liverpool finishing third (look at Arenals' fixtures in March) they quoted me 1-3 on! Didn't do it!!

[redmark]

Probably get a negative reaction from this but it would not upset me too much if we lost to Arsenal. We would have plenty of time to rest between games whilst teams around us will be still be in cup competitions. If we had a bigger squad my opinion would be different of course.

I've wondered about that. I want to win, and it's always nice to be in the Cup draw. But I won't have the same nervous intensity on Sunday that comes with the games in a title chase.

[Smug Cassandra]

Top 5.  = 

Chelsea
Man C
Us
Arse
Totty

Speculation over

[Nessy76]

Probably get a negative reaction from this but it would not upset me too much if we lost to Arsenal. We would have plenty of time to rest between games whilst teams around us will be still be in cup competitions. If we had a bigger squad my opinion would be different of course.

Cross that bridge when we get to it. Not like it's a huge number of games left in the cup anyway.

[XabiAlonsosBeard]

I see they've been deleted, but can all the Toure snipers take a look back to the spot on performances he gave against Arsenal and Everton. Granted, he's ballsed up but we're here to SUPPORT our team. These things happen. Take the rough with the smooth.

I'm convinced we're going to win this. I don't know why. Nothing more than a hunch, a feeling. It feels like that Istanbul season. Everybody discounting our chances. Oh, Leverkusen are good. They'll knock them out. Maybe not, but Juventus surely will. Okay, they got lucky. Haha. Chelsea. Later Liverpool. Then before you knew it, we're in the final. And people wrote us off again. Before the game. And at half time. But we just fought on, dug in, and got the ultimate prize with a combination of skill, guile, fight, belief and, just a tiny little bit of good fortune.

This season reeks of an extended version of the Istanbul campaign. Ruled out at the start. Then our good start was discounted. They'll fall away soon. Then the Christmas period when we lost to Chelsea and City away. That's them done. Upstarts. Trying to muscle in amongst the challengers. Who do they think they're kidding?

But we're still there. Doing our thing, quietly. Again, that combination of skill, guile, fight, belief and, just a tiny little bit of good fortune. That little bit of being able to beat anybody on our day.

So, for me, it's very much on.

[oovavu]

Man City for them was a prime example.

Definitely, We have more firepower than the and someone who knows how to deploy our munitions.

[stevo7]

Win every game - we'll win the league.
Hand on heart I believe we'll finish third.

In my dreams we go top after beating Chelsea at Home and stay there...Make us dream.

[Pricey]

We've fucking smashed Tottenham already, and given Arsenal and Everton a good hiding at Anfield.

I'm not worried about the big games at Anfield against Spurs, Man City and Chelsea. The Kop will be rockin', we'll be fucking flying at them. They won't want to come to Anfield. Put yourself in their shoes looking at our team now, they don't want it, they'll come for a draw, and hopefully we'll beat them, i'm actually confident of it.

If we can win our away games agasint the likes of Cardiff we'll be in with a massive, massive chance of winning the league.

It's down to our away form, and hopefully this is the start of a historic run.

[Halcyon Lissome]

We don't play City and Chelsea until April. By then, they might need to win to catch up .

[macca888]

Top 5.  = 

Chelsea
Man C
Us
Arse
Totty

Speculation over

Top 5 =

1. Us
2 - 5. I don't give a fuck.


Speculation over.

[zip]

Get Agger and Johnson back in and we'll have the defense sorted and we'll be on our way.

[plura]

Get Agger and Johnson back in and we'll have the defense sorted and we'll be on our way.

Of course it's better when they are back, not sure if I feel that comfortable with Glen though, weird to say I would rather have Flanagan at either side ahead. But of course Cissokho will step off. Who has actually looked alright recently considering all his faults.

[Red_Rich]

Title dreaming is all well and good and no harm ... but seriously, I really really want us to finish at least 3rd now.

I want to eliminate any possiblity of those dirty Mancs snatching it from us by us finishing 4th and them fluking the CL.