The race for the title

[Dov67]

Agreed. Win the next couple of games, including arse at the Lane, which we're completely capable of doing. Then, we should have Danny Rose back for the run in. That'll give us a boost, and we're a different proposition when he's playing, especially for that United game.

amazing how much we miss Rose. Convinced if Rose was playing we would not have lost at Stamford Bridge (moses would not have been able to make that run for the winner) and Rose would not have conceded the penalty on saturday.

 

[ohtottenham!]

amazing how much we miss Rose. Convinced if Rose was playing we would not have lost at Stamford Bridge (moses would not have been able to make that run for the winner) and Rose would not have conceded the penalty on saturday.

I know what you mean. So many "woud haves" though with the whole game. Think that one was on Poch imo, but even then, they got so, so lucky! And, we helped them to a great extent. I agree with you; Rose's absence was key. We all knew it beforehand. Fit first XI , and I fancy our chances against anyone in the PL.

 

[slartibartfast]

I think we'll finish 3rd, man.city 2nd. They have very winnable final games and we do not. We need to get 3-4 wins to get 2nd never mind Keep the pressure up on Chelsea.

Well Man U play Man City next so they cant both win. I think we'd have to have a fkin nightmare end to the season and 1 of those 2 to win every game for us to finish 3rd and I can'tsee it to be honest.
Just remember before Saturday we've won 8 games on the bounce so I wouldn't say 3 to 4 wins out of 6 is too big a stretch.
We'll see of course.

I have to agree that I can't see us winning all our remaining games this week alone is where I see dropped points.
We have given a good account of ourselves this year but it's yet another one without a trophy, which is even more annoying that we let ourselves down Saturday because it was our best chance of glory imo.

I agree but I think the real issue is how we lost.
We lost to the league leaders. We had no divine right to win that game and we all expected it was going to be tight.
Winning would have been an amazing achievement given Chelseas resources and squad.
However I think what's really sticking in everyones throat is the manner in which we lost.
We controlled most of the game. We put Chelsea under pressure for most of the game. Please dont anybody try and tell me it was Contes tactics to be camped in his own half for 70min and concede a dozen corners, hope we dont score from any and then maybe Spurs will make 3 absolute fk up gifting 3 goals.
We lost this game. Chelsea did nothing to win it and yet scored 4 goals.
I feel thats whats hard to deal with.
We weren't beaten by the better team.
We beat ourselves. Again.

Wrong thread really so apologies for going off track.

 

[worcestersauce]

He's unsportsmanlike, I noticed after the game against them last season Vertonghen was really digging him out just because of his behavior.

I don't know why Hazard seems to have such a problem with us but part of me kind of thinks it's not that he has a problem with us at all and just the fact he is an arrogant immature piece of work mercenary.

He gave us no credit after the game at the weekend and has been smiling and enjoying the fact he is getting one over on us for the last month or so.

Now I know some will say "Well that's what it takes to be good, being ruthless" but if any of our players were behaving like that, I would be embarrassed and you know what? I think Poch would as well because if there is one thing I know, he teaches our lads that respect comes first.

I take it as a compliment.

 

[slartibartfast]

If we want to win titles you have to win these sort of games. Utd teams of the past would have won the next six games by luck or judgement.

We just have to take it one game at a time, put crystal palace away and take a look at the league. Then do it again in the next game, and the one after, etc.

Exactly.
Look at how shite Man U have been over recent seasons.
But have they still picked up silverware? Every fkin season just about.
Now look at the utter fk ups made on Saturday. Can you see Man U even at their weakest making so many poor poor decisions in a semi final? I can't.
Hate to say it but I think the difference is they go out expecting to win and we go out expecting to lose even if its on a sub conscious level.
It's the only way I can explain how our supposed 'best in the league' defence made so many mistakes.

 

[Matthew]

I appreciate that we should be aiming higher but quite an achievement that 7 points will (barring a mathematical freak (GD)), guarantee top 4 this year.

probably dont even need 7? manc derby this week, plus united still play arsenal? think we are practically guaranteed top 4 already?

 

[Shadydan]

Exactly.
Look at how shite Man U have been over recent seasons.
But have they still picked up silverware? Every fkin season just about.
Now look at the utter fk ups made on Saturday. Can you see Man U even at their weakest making so many poor poor decisions in a semi final? I can't.
Hate to say it but I think the difference is they go out expecting to win and we go out expecting to lose even if its on a sub conscious level.
It's the only way I can explain how our supposed 'best in the league' defence made so many mistakes.

Yeah that doesn't make any sense.

 

[dontcallme]

If we want to win titles you have to win these sort of games. Utd teams of the past would have won the next six games by luck or judgement.

We just have to take it one game at a time, put crystal palace away and take a look at the league. Then do it again in the next game, and the one after, etc.

Yes winning league games helps win titles.

 

[Roynie]

amazing how much we miss Rose. Convinced if Rose was playing we would not have lost at Stamford Bridge (moses would not have been able to make that run for the winner) and Rose would not have conceded the penalty on saturday.

I don't think Davies would have either. The reason we lost was because Rose and Davies were both out. An important part of our system is to have wing backs that are defenders so that we can switch from a back 3 to a back 4 or even 5 if necessary with defenders. With the best will in the world Son is not a defender and that was our weakness, he's very good going forwards but that wasn't the problem.

Provided we have a proper defender back as LB or LWB tomorrow we'll be fine. If not, with Palace in good form, I think we'll struggle down our left flank.

 

[arunspurs]

Even a draw tonight for Chelsea could be a huge injection of hope for our team tomorrow.
My hopeful prediction Redmond to score and Saints to draw 1-1 at Chelsea

 

[shelfboy68]

Well Man U play Man City next so they cant both win. I think we'd have to have a fkin nightmare end to the season and 1 of those 2 to win every game for us to finish 3rd and I can'tsee it to be honest.
Just remember before Saturday we've won 8 games on the bounce so I wouldn't say 3 to 4 wins out of 6 is too big a stretch.
We'll see of course.

I agree but I think the real issue is how we lost.
We lost to the league leaders. We had no divine right to win that game and we all expected it was going to be tight.
Winning would have been an amazing achievement given Chelseas resources and squad.
However I think what's really sticking in everyones throat is the manner in which we lost.
We controlled most of the game. We put Chelsea under pressure for most of the game. Please dont anybody try and tell me it was Contes tactics to be camped in his own half for 70min and concede a dozen corners, hope we dont score from any and then maybe Spurs will make 3 absolute fk up gifting 3 goals.
We lost this game. Chelsea did nothing to win it and yet scored 4 goals.
I feel thats whats hard to deal with.
We weren't beaten by the better team.
We beat ourselves. Again.

Wrong thread really so apologies for going off track.

We can beat them but we can't seem to win the big big games like the semi-finals or the final two years ago.
I think Saturday was mainly down to our lack of experience and clinicalness in front of goal, they took their chances and won.
To be honest as much of the play as we had I never thought we looked like scoring, whereas they got in far too easy and conceding four goals was symbolic.

 

[cozzo]

We can beat them but we can't seem to win the big big games like the semi-finals or the final two years ago.
I think Saturday was mainly down to our lack of experience and clinicalness in front of goal, they took their chances and won.
To be honest as much of the play as we had I never thought we looked like scoring, whereas they got in far too easy and conceding four goals was symbolic.

I don't really feel that there were many clear chances that were created by either of us. They scored from a direct free kick, a penalty and a lottery shot. That doesn't tell me that they go in too easy. It was just one of those days.

 

[SpursDave88]

Exactly.
Look at how shite Man U have been over recent seasons.
But have they still picked up silverware? Every fkin season just about.
Now look at the utter fk ups made on Saturday. Can you see Man U even at their weakest making so many poor poor decisions in a semi final? I can't.
Hate to say it but I think the difference is they go out expecting to win and we go out expecting to lose even if its on a sub conscious level.
It's the only way I can explain how our supposed 'best in the league' defence made so many mistakes.

I think you disagreed with my thoughts on the semi a few times.

But this is exactly what I was getting at.

I think it's a club culture thing and that does include us as fans.

It's fine margins, but we were all over the place at the start of the match due to nerves and selection (which contributed to the nerves)

 

[millsey]

I think you disagreed with my thoughts on the semi a few times.

But this is exactly what I was getting at.

I think it's a club culture thing and that does include us as fans.

It's fine margins, but we were all over the place at the start of the match due to nerves and selection (which contributed to the nerves)

Oh jeez you can't say that in here!!

 

[Singaspur]

Feel like at most it's worth looking only 2 games ahead for each of us and Chelsea. So....

Tonight C v S'ton - hope for a miracle but gotta expect Chelsea to win pretty comfortably. Southampton have nothing to play for, Chelsea buoyed by semi win, Hazard and Costa fresh, happy to sit back and play on the break against a possibly fresher, nothing to lose Southampton.

Tomorrow Palace v us - huge pressure if Chelsea have beaten S'ton. Massive test. But I think we are much better mentally than we were last season. And tho Palace's win against Pool will raise their spirits, the hope is they will be a bit physically jaded and will have half an eye on their more easily winnable game against Burnley coming up on Saturday - just 3 days later. If Chelsea drop points against S'ton, it will give us the fillip we may need to clinch this one.

Sunday Everton v C - our great hope. If we have kept the gap at 4 points - of course better still reduced it to 2 or 1 - there will be immense pressure on Chelsea. Does 7th get Everton a Europa spot? - if so, something to fight for other than pride. But anyway, I think Everton will give them a good game and, if Chelsea are a bit tight or Everton get the first goal, they could beat them convincingly.

Us v Arse - really don't like the fact that they beat Citeh in the semi or the way they did it - by showing heretofore non-existent nous and gumption. If they have also beaten Leicester tomorrow, they will be super confident and determined to get Wenger his 257th top 4 spot in a row. Chelsea's game against Everton will be over. If when we kick off the gap is 7 points (or more) I feel we will surely crack and drop points. But if the gap is less than 7 points, again, the incentive of cutting it to less than 3 will carry us over the line for a win.

So all in all... top of the league Sunday evening ... BELIEVE!

 

[whitesocks]

So confusing with Conte Smurf's everywhere, looks like people are talking to themselves

Why on earth would I want to look at his face this week of all weeks?
Can we just ban anyone with a Conte smurf avatar?

 

[shelfboy68]

I don't really feel that there were many clear chances that were created by either of us. They scored from a direct free kick, a penalty and a lottery shot. That doesn't tell me that they go in too easy. It was just one of those days.

I thought the free kick was a bit easily conceded lloris had to do better and penalty was not required to dive in like that, hazards goal left unmarked.
So we did gift them three which has to be seen poor from the team with the best defence in the league.

 

[not_tenth-again]

Used the table calculator here to predict the final table. http://www.worldfootball.net/table_calculator/eng-premier-league/

Are you fucking crazy!!!! There is no way Swansea will go down

 

[dricha1]

Can Southampton qualify for Europe? United won league cup, favourites for Europa league???

 

[archiewasking]

I don't think Davies would have either. The reason we lost was because Rose and Davies were both out. An important part of our system is to have wing backs that are defenders so that we can switch from a back 3 to a back 4 or even 5 if necessary with defenders. With the best will in the world Son is not a defender and that was our weakness, he's very good going forwards but that wasn't the problem.

Provided we have a proper defender back as LB or LWB tomorrow we'll be fine. If not, with Palace in good form, I think we'll struggle down our left flank.

I may be wrong, but didn't we beat Chelsea at the Lane by playing 4231? Surely, as a one-off, putting Vertongham at LB would have been better than throwing Son under the bus. It's not like Jan hasn't played there for Belgium. And he would have been a more formidable opponent for Moses by several country miles.-