The Race For 4th

[AngerManagement]

Our game against Fulham will be a tough London derby, I don't think they will just lay down and die. Those of you expecting a route maybe in for a rude awakening come 3pm. An early goal and we could run riot but I agree this is the type of game that could resemble those frustrating Sunderland/Everton/Wigan home games and the Wolves/Stoke /Hull from seasons gone by.

We have more than enough talent to win the game, I just don't think we can afford to start looking past Fulham and on to Everton just yet as 3 points in this game is essential and it will be a more difficult task than many believe potentially.

I expect Man U to do a number on WBA, The Baggies are in very poor form currently and it's a good time for Utd to be meeting them.

An away game to Brum is a big test of Arsenal's title credentials, they have just lost 2points at Wigan and another draw (or worse) would make all their success against Chelsea in vein. On paper Birmingham away looks like a massive banana skin but I expect them to bounce back and win in style like they did against Cheslea following a disappointing result against Man U.

Chelsea and Villa see two teams in terrible form, Villa have a decent record against Chelsea though and they have the pace upfront to trouble them. I watched Chelsea against Bolton and was less than impressed. Home advantage would mean you have to expect Chelsea to win but hopefully there will be some added pressure by us over taking them into fourth again today and Villa can snatch a draw tomorrow.

To be fair we have the easiest fixture, especially if you take current form and home advantage into account. I can't see Man U slipping up twice in a row, not with WBA failing to reproduce their early season form but Arsenal is viable, Birmingham are very tough to beat at St Andrews (as we found out two years in a row and Man U last week they never give up) hopefully Arsenal will drop points and we can further close the gap on them.

Blackpool have been doing very well on their travels but it's very difficult to expect Man City to get anything less than a win against the likes of DJ Campbell and co.

 

[NEVILLEB]

There's a reason we're 5th and unless we strengthen then thats exactly where I think we'll end up

 

[$hoguN]

There's a reason we're 5th and unless we strengthen then thats exactly where I think we'll end up

Injuries?

 

[Wiener]

As long as Modric and VDV stay fit and we sign a 20+ a season striker I think we have the depth and quality to mount a serious challenge.

At this point Manure looks the most likely to win it.

No idea what is going at Chelsea, but I am sure they will find their feet again.

I get the feeling Man City have been riding their luck a little and there seems to a slightly fragile team spirit so with any luck their good run will end.

The Arse are not looking good enough defensively.

Our most realistic objective must be to finish top 4. Arsenal and City are there for the taking.

 

[spurs mental]

Rooney has just scored for United. Hopefully it doesn't start a flood like last season.

 

[StartingPrice]

A league is over 38 games. We don't have the consistency to get 85 pts.

To win the league we have to win more away games and consistently win them.

You mean...the type of consistency gained by being unbeaten in...the last 10:roll:

Firstly, have a look at Inter this year, it's not the same side. Not that I'm poo-pooing our achievement, there's every reason to be excited with our play, but for me, we ship too many goals and lose concentration to mount a serious title challenge. Our squad may be good, but we only use a few of those players, ask Niko about our 'squad'. We're not there with the Uniteds or even Arsenals yet. City are ahead of us now in my opinon.

We will struggle to finish 4th again this year, let alone mount a proper title challenge. I don't think this team has the experience required.

Let's look at other things:
If the teams who are (IMHO) not definitely better than us and not way ahead of us on points shrug:so that's the Goons, Citeh, Chelsea...oh, and United) are in a title race, then so are we. Are we favourites - NO. Are we outisders - YES. Are we in with a chance - YES. Are we in a title race - YES.

aim for the top and see where we finish, its the only way our players will get experience of a title race, by believing they are in one now.

if we had a 2-3 clean sheets in the next few weeks, the media would step up a notch, reporting how we've finally tightened up at the back just as we're in the hunt for a title.

THIS.
I just want our fans to get with the idea of saying "we don't know where we will finish up", stop being so defeatisty and BELIEVE we are in a title race, and think nothing else until we either win the blasted thang, or it is mathematically impossible for us to do so.

 

[haxman]

City are not there for the taking imo, they look very strong and as long as they keep Tevez and if they add in January, I don't see us keeping pace with them.

Utd just keep on going, great start for them today and a goal for Rooney, didn't need him playing himself back into form ahead of our game.

Chelsea wont play bad forever.

Arsenal are the most likely to slip up I think.

 

[haxman]

Wow, what a great equaliser for West Brom!

 

[StartingPrice]

Citeh are, IMHO, in a hugely false position.

In every game I have seen them in (virtually...'tis a bit of an exaggeration), they have been battered by mediocre teams, and then helped out by the ref with multiple match-turning/goal getting decisions. They have zero team-spirit, and the Gargoyle is public about wanting out. They are obsessed with their front line, while having an incredibly negative midfield - which is liable to see them ditch another load of expensive strikers for more untested and untried in the Prem. I seriously believe that one or two negative results will see them stutter. I seriously believe we are far more viable title contenders.

There IS a reason we are 5th. Injuries, as stated above, adjusting to the CL, adjusting to a totally new system of play (4-5-1 - hasn't anyone even noticed this:shrug, adapting to the play of VDV (hasn't anyone noticed how him and Modders have been getting on the same wavelength in recent games:shrug. We are improving all the time (hasn't any noticed that:shrug, we have genuine momentum and are the only team in the top 5 to have this (hasn't anyone even noticed that:shrug, we have the best team spirit by a country mile (hasn't anyone noticed that), and :bang: we actually have a seriously good first 11 and a seriously good squad (hasn't anyone actually noticed that:shrug.

How anyone can be so negative in the face of all of these facts (if they are just my opinion they are deceptively close to being facts), is completely beyond me.

 

[spurs mental]

Citeh are, IMHO, in a hugely false position.

In every game I have seen them in (virtually...'tis a bit of an exaggeration), they have been battered by mediocre teams, and then helped out by the ref with multiple match-turning/goal getting decisions. They have zero team-spirit, and the Gargoyle is public about wanting out. They are obsessed with their front line, while having an incredibly negative midfield - which is liable to see them ditch another load of expensive strikers for more untested and untried in the Prem. I seriously believe that one or two negative results will see them stutter. I seriously believe we are far more viable title contenders.

There IS a reason we are 5th. Injuries, as stated above, adjusting to the CL, adjusting to a totally new system of play (4-5-1 - hasn't anyone even noticed this:shrug, adapting to the play of VDV (hasn't anyone noticed how him and Modders have been getting on the same wavelength in recent games:shrug. We are improving all the time (hasn't any noticed that:shrug, we have genuine momentum and are the only team in the top 5 to have this (hasn't anyone even noticed that:shrug, we have the best team spirit by a country mile (hasn't anyone noticed that), and :bang: we actually have a seriously good first 11 and a seriously good squad (hasn't anyone actually noticed that:shrug.

How anyone can be so negative in the face of all of these facts (if they are just my opinion they are deceptively close to being facts), is completely beyond me.

SP uses this smiley a lot. :shrug:

Hasn't anyone noticed that? :shrug: ;-)

On a serious note, I agree with everything you've said SP. :up: Good stuff as per usual.

 

[Boots22]

Citeh are, IMHO, in a hugely false position.

In every game I have seen them in (virtually...'tis a bit of an exaggeration), they have been battered by mediocre teams, and then helped out by the ref with multiple match-turning/goal getting decisions. They have zero team-spirit, and the Gargoyle is public about wanting out. They are obsessed with their front line, while having an incredibly negative midfield - which is liable to see them ditch another load of expensive strikers for more untested and untried in the Prem. I seriously believe that one or two negative results will see them stutter. I seriously believe we are far more viable title contenders.

There IS a reason we are 5th. Injuries, as stated above, adjusting to the CL, adjusting to a totally new system of play (4-5-1 - hasn't anyone even noticed this:shrug, adapting to the play of VDV (hasn't anyone noticed how him and Modders have been getting on the same wavelength in recent games:shrug. We are improving all the time (hasn't any noticed that:shrug, we have genuine momentum and are the only team in the top 5 to have this (hasn't anyone even noticed that:shrug, we have the best team spirit by a country mile (hasn't anyone noticed that), and :bang: we actually have a seriously good first 11 and a seriously good squad (hasn't anyone actually noticed that:shrug.

How anyone can be so negative in the face of all of these facts (if they are just my opinion they are deceptively close to being facts), is completely beyond me.

:clap:

 

[Kendall]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not negative about us, I'm buzzing off this season and the way we've been playing. I just think it's hugely unrealistic to think we can take a title this year and only two months or so ago the vast majority would've been with me on the fact that we should be focusing on consolidating our position as a CL club and not being too over occupied with hugely optimistic talk of titles. It takes a lot to win a title, that's why only 4 teams have ever done it in the history of the Prem. I'm not convinced we're there yet.

 

[AngerManagement]

West Brom are really up for this game and a 1-1 half time scoreline flatters Man U.

It would be a real shame to see West Brom not get something out of this game now.

 

[StartingPrice]

SP uses this smiley a lot. :shrug:

Hasn't anyone noticed that? :shrug: ;-)

On a serious note, I agree with everything you've said SP. :up: Good stuff as per usual.

Problem:shrug::grin:

Oi use it 'cos it's funny

Don't get me wrong, I'm not negative about us, I'm buzzing off this season and the way we've been playing. I just think it's hugely unrealistic to think we can take a title this year and only two months or so ago the vast majority would've been with me on the fact that we should be focusing on consolidating our position as a CL club and not being too over occupied with hugely optimistic talk of titles. It takes a lot to win a title, that's why only 4 teams have ever done it in the history of the Prem. I'm not convinced we're there yet.

K...I said before season kick-off that we had an outside chance of the title, and backed that at the bookies. I'm even more convinced now...as in my post, above, I think we are improving all the time, have tremendous team spirit, resilience and momentum, and a good 11/squad.

 

[AngerManagement]

Worst penalty ever?

Man U do not deserve a thing from this game but you get the impression they will end up with all the spoils at this rate.

 

[Kendall]

Some may say the mark of champions... Turn up at a place like West Brom, play like shite and still potentially win.

 

[AngerManagement]

Fair play to Man U, this is what Champions are made of.

They may have got somewhat lucky with the missed penalty but they have turned a game that was slipping away from them on it's head and now look like they will win the match.

It's getting results in games like these where you have to dig in and grind out the result that is the true measure of a top team not being able to spank someone 4-5 nil when everything is going right for you.

Games like these are the reason Arsenal have not won the league since Vieria left and the reason the some of our recent results have been so pleasing to me (not least winning against Villa and Newcastle a man down and having lumps kicked out of us)

 

[spurslenny]

In fairness, I wouldn't have had WBA away as a game where Man U would potentially drop points.
I reckon that 78/80 points would be enough this season to win the Prem, based on the way teams are not stringing 6, 7, 8, wins together as is the norm in previous seasons.
And that is achievable.

 

[spurs mental]

We've done our bit today. Now let's hope the two sides from Birmingham can play their part too.

 

[AngerManagement]

Shame Man City held on to their win, but yea come on the Brum teams.

Ironic that 3 of our rivals were playing teams from the Birmingham area this weekend (well not ironic but you know what I mean)

If I had to pick one I would rather Arsenal slip up as even though Chelsea would move a point above us it would keep us on level points with Arsenal if they lost and I'd rather be 5th one point from 3rd than fourth 3 points behind the next team