Race for the Top 4 - 2018/19

[rez9000]

It's a saying mate. Refers to people throwing their arms and body all over the place like we see when the South Stand celebrates that goal

Oh! I'd never heard that expression before. Something learnt. Thanks, chaps.

 

[Lighty64]

Got to push for a 3-0 or 4-0 win against Huddersfield. That goal difference could prove crucial so no resting or cruising.

to be honest I really expect us to beat Huddersfield as I don't expect them to sit back in numbers to avoid defeat now they are relegated, so gaps might appear. the trouble is how we approach the game, and when I say approach I mean not going out thinking it has been won before a ball is kicked. I will never forget the 5-1 Newcastle match, we didn't get out of 1st gear until we was 2-0, and once they went down to 10 men we threw everything at it, and left ourselves open and was humiliated.

Not even one singular top 6 match (Chelsea's got two, ManUtd's got two) and a pedestrian list of mid-table teams who will have increasingly less of a reason to put of a fight as they cement their final league position. That's one smooth sailing of a PL run in.

mate Arsenal's biggest away win this season was v Bournemouth in 12th, and face 4 teams currently in the top 10 fighting for 1 remaining Europa League space, with 4pts separating all 4, and they haven't kept a CS away from home all season.

they play Everton next Monday so Everton are still going to go for it. they are Watford's next league fixture so they won't be on the beach, and the same with Wolves and Leicester all to play by the end of this month. they also have Napoli over 2 legs, a fixture that Emrey will also take serious, and if they get past that they could/will play 2 fixtures every week for the remainder of the season.

we they used to go on their amazing end of season runs it was because they never got past the round of 16 in the CL

 

[LeParisien]

Chelsea have to travel to Mab Utd and Liverpool which is probably 1 point. Home to Watford and Away to Leicester is probably 4. Total predicted ? 11 points.

Man Utd end the season with 6 points away to Huddersfield and home to Cardiff. But three games before that are home to Chelsea, home to City and away to Everton - generous 5 points ? Home to West Ham should be 3. Total predicted? 14.

Arsenal have home games at Brighton and palace - 6 points. But also away games at Everton, Watford, Leicester and Wolves. Little unfair to say their best away win was at 12th as they haven’t played 7-10th away yet. That said would you bet on more than 6 points from that? Let’s pessimistically say they emerge undefeated and get 8 points. Total predicted : 14 points.

That means we can be fairly confident that 14 points will leave us 3rd and 11 points 4th. Winning our home garmes will do it. Beat Bournemouth away and we’re 3rd. If Arsenal lose one of their tricky away games and a draw at Bournemouth will do.

Lads - we’re gonna finish 3rd.

 

[worcestersauce]

So to summarise, we will win the race for the top four. I agree.

 

[slartibartfast]

Chelsea have to travel to Mab Utd and Liverpool which is probably 1 point. Home to Watford and Away to Leicester is probably 4. Total predicted ? 11 points.

Man Utd end the season with 6 points away to Huddersfield and home to Cardiff. But three games before that are home to Chelsea, home to City and away to Everton - generous 5 points ? Home to West Ham should be 3. Total predicted? 14.

Arsenal have home games at Brighton and palace - 6 points. But also away games at Everton, Watford, Leicester and Wolves. Little unfair to say their best away win was at 12th as they haven’t played 7-10th away yet. That said would you bet on more than 6 points from that? Let’s pessimistically say they emerge undefeated and get 8 points. Total predicted : 14 points.

That means we can be fairly confident that 14 points will leave us 3rd and 11 points 4th. Winning our home garmes will do it. Beat Bournemouth away and we’re 3rd. If Arsenal lose one of their tricky away games and a draw at Bournemouth will do.

Lads - we’re gonna finish 3rd.

Agree with everything you've said except Arsenal picking up that many points away from home. Their away form is shite so to do that they are gonna have to improve drastically. They are capable of doing that but unlikely.

I wish more people, pundits especially, would realise Man U and Chelsea have to play each other. They cant both win lol. As you said Chelsea also have Liverpool, and Man U also have Man City.
Man U and Chelsea, they'll drop points and thats IF they win the rest which is also unlikely imo.

I think if we beat Bournemouth away, which I think we will, we can probably afford a draw at home but wouldnt want to be in that position.
I think Man U and Chelsea will balls up before then so we'll have a bit more breathing space.

 

[Danny1]

Clearly that first goal meant a lot to Danny Rose

Love this! It's definitely a sigh of relief for not scoring that chance in the first half. I can imagine that was eating away at him!

 

[aliyid]

Focus for the Huddersfield game has to be goals, obviously take care of the 3pts but with the four teams so close on points at this stage of the season we could do with inflating our GD.

 

[bomberH]

I’m sure this has been covered but if Chelsea or Arsenal win the Europa league and finish below 4th, and an English team wins the CL, does that mean 4th no longer gets in the CL? Or does that English team winning the CL have to finish below 4th too for 4th not to qualify, ie Utd winning it and finishing 6th.

I just re-read that and it’s confusing so.... if Chelsea win the Europa and finish 5th and Utd win the CL and finish 6th, does that mean 4th no longer qualifies for CL this year?

 

[Mouse!]

I’m sure this has been covered but if Chelsea or Arsenal win the Europa league and finish below 4th, and an English team wins the CL, does that mean 4th no longer gets in the CL? Or does that English team winning the CL have to finish below 4th too for 4th not to qualify, ie Utd winning it and finishing 6th.

I just re-read that and it’s confusing so.... if Chelsea win the Europa and finish 5th and Utd win the CL and finish 6th, does that mean 4th no longer qualifies for CL this year?

Yep.

 

[scat1620]

Unpopular opinion alert but I couldn't give a stuff if Arsenal finish above us as long as we make CL.

Trust me, on SC that is not an unpopular opinion. Try being in my shoes where I would genuinely prefer us to finish 5th and Arsenal to finish 6th than us to finish 4th and Arsenal to finish 3rd: then you'll know what unpopularity feels like, young padawan.

 

[bomberH]

Yep.

Thank fuck Utd have Barca then!

 

[homer hotspur]

Thank fuck Utd have Barca then!

If they get through that one, I will be convinced their name is on the trophy. ( like in 1999) I already feel a bit like that, after the ludicrous penalty they got at PSG. Pleased that Barca have secomd leg at home but will be nervously watching that tie. I also think Chelsea will win Europa League. If Arsenal get past Napoli, it would be helpful if they drew Chelsea in a 2 legged SF to add to those teams fixture pressures.

 

[SMW1985]

If they get through that one, I will be convinced their name is on the trophy. ( like in 1999) I already feel a bit like that, after the ludicrous penalty they got at PSG. Pleased that Barca have secomd leg at home but will be nervously watching that tie. I also think Chelsea will win Europa League. If Arsenal get past Napoli, it would be helpful if they drew Chelsea in a 2 legged SF to add to those teams fixture pressures.

They haven't - the draw for the semi finals was made (similar to the CL). Arsenal will play Villareal or Valencia if they beat Napoli.

https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2019/draws/round=2000993/

 

[homer hotspur]

They haven't - the draw for the semi finals was made (similar to the CL). Arsenal will play Villareal or Valencia if they beat Napoli.

https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2019/draws/round=2000993/

of course, forgot that, damn it!

 

[Kingellesar]

If Man United win the CL, Chelsea win the EL then Liverpool win the league....and we miss out on CL....I think it'd be time for us all to just give up with football and convert to a different sport.

 

[homer hotspur]

Chelsea have to travel to Mab Utd and Liverpool which is probably 1 point. Home to Watford and Away to Leicester is probably 4. Total predicted ? 11 points.

Man Utd end the season with 6 points away to Huddersfield and home to Cardiff. But three games before that are home to Chelsea, home to City and away to Everton - generous 5 points ? Home to West Ham should be 3. Total predicted? 14.

Arsenal have home games at Brighton and palace - 6 points. But also away games at Everton, Watford, Leicester and Wolves. Little unfair to say their best away win was at 12th as they haven’t played 7-10th away yet. That said would you bet on more than 6 points from that? Let’s pessimistically say they emerge undefeated and get 8 points. Total predicted : 14 points.

That means we can be fairly confident that 14 points will leave us 3rd and 11 points 4th. Winning our home garmes will do it. Beat Bournemouth away and we’re 3rd. If Arsenal lose one of their tricky away games and a draw at Bournemouth will do.

Lads - we’re gonna finish 3rd.

Its an encouraging view, but just a form of fantasy football unfortunately. The European cups will have an effect on games too as they reach the QF/SF stage. Its probably true to say that if we somehow manage to go through, it will adversley effect our league form and that should be true of the others . Even Man City may experience some drop off of performance. We certainly need them to beat Utd and Liverpool to beat Chelsea, that's for sure, but I do have concerns about both of those games.

 

[thePessimist]

Focus for the Huddersfield game has to be goals, obviously take care of the 3pts but with the four teams so close on points at this stage of the season we could do with inflating our GD.

Harry’s due a hatrick

 

[Lighty64]

Trust me, on SC that is not an unpopular opinion. Try being in my shoes where I would genuinely prefer us to finish 5th and Arsenal to finish 6th than us to finish 4th and Arsenal to finish 3rd: then you'll know what unpopularity feels like, young padawan.

you must only know 1 person in real life, your dad that's also a Spurs fan, and you both live in the Emirates car park, with the rest of the family and friends all being gooners.

finishing top4 is so important to the club, the goons are just the noisy neighbours. yes I understand the time you started supporting us you have only ever seen us finish above them for 2 seasons, but you wanting Thursday night football compared to CL is so poor

 

[scat1620]

you must only know 1 person in real life, your dad that's also a Spurs fan, and you both live in the Emirates car park, with the rest of the family and friends all being gooners.

finishing top4 is so important to the club, the goons are just the noisy neighbours. yes I understand the time you started supporting us you have only ever seen us finish above them for 2 seasons, but you wanting Thursday night football compared to CL is so poor

With all due respect, fuck you, Lighty. I'm not asking anyone else to feel the same as me, but in any given season the things that make me happiest are:

1) Winning something
2) Finishing above Arsenal (which is not winning something)
3) Qualifying for the CL (which is also not winning something)

I recognise that I'm in a minority in feeling like this (probably a tiny minority), but I'm not going to have a personal go at all the people who enjoy the pleasures of CL football (which I also like, of course) more than the highs and lows you get through our rivalry with Arsenal, and I don't feel I'm going out of my way to expect the same courtesy back from people who don't share my view.

 

[E17yid]

Finishing below the scum would be absolutely sickening, even if we do finish 4th.

I can’t say I’m in complete agreement with scat but I totally get where he’s coming from.