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Race for The Top 10

JCRD

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2018
19,153
30,013
4th is of course possible, the fact is we have several games at home against those competitors. If we dont beat them then we wont get top four... all remains to be seen but all to play for.
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
Finishing 7th is a more realistic assessment of where we are currently the team is not good enough for a higher finish, we struggle for clean sheets and now trouble scoring so this season has to be a write off.
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
We dont look like a team but part of thats down to the fact the starting 11 constantly changes.
In recent matches we've had Lo Celso starting, Lloris back and a constant change on the back 4.
We look incoherent and disjointed because we are.
Every good team there has ever been you could, bar the odd exception through injuries, name the starting 11 every match and you'd nail it almost evey time bar maybe 1 player.
We can't even name the back 4.
We are without a recognised striker due to mismanagement, please spare me the 'no one will play second fiddle to Kane' bullshit. Every good team there has ever been in the history of football had top top strikers but still managed to get back up. We're not that special.
We'll be changing again soon when Ndombele comes back.
I just hope once he does we have a striker in and then the team settles.
Hopefully then we will see some improvement.
If we keep making changes to the back 4 every match then forget it.
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
4th is of course possible, the fact is we have several games at home against those competitors. If we dont beat them then we wont get top four... all remains to be seen but all to play for.
Agree it is possible because arsenal, Man U and Chelski are so poor as well.
Chelsea have done all they can to blow 4th spot but everyone else is so piss poor they cant string a run of 3 wins together let alone the 4 normally required. Christ I'd take 2 back to back wins right now.
If anyone can do the 4 wins they'll piss it imo.
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
We dont look like a team but part of thats down to the fact the starting 11 constantly changes.
In recent matches we've had Lo Celso starting, Lloris back and a constant change on the back 4.
We look incoherent and disjointed because we are.
Every good team there has ever been you could, bar the odd exception through injuries, name the starting 11 every match and you'd nail it almost evey time bar maybe 1 player.
We can't even name the back 4.
We are without a recognised striker due to mismanagement, please spare me the 'no one will play second fiddle to Kane' bullshit. Every good team there has ever been in the history of football had top top strikers but still managed to get back up. We're not that special.
We'll be changing again soon when Ndombele comes back.
I just hope once he does we have a striker in and then the team settles.
Hopefully then we will see some improvement.
If we keep making changes to the back 4 every match then forget it.
Do you think Jose is yet to find his best 11
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
Do you think Jose is yet to find his best 11
Well I'd say he doesnt know his best 11 as he keeps changing it every match but he's had long enough to know his best 11 and should make a choice and stick with it.
As I said injuries have played a part.
I think he should decide is Verts playing cb or not? Is Tanganga playing lb or rb or not at all? Is Sanchez starting or not? Pick your back 4 and stop fucking swapping it about. They wont get better moving everyone about every match.
Then there this DM problem. Ndombele cant string 2 games together without injury, Dier looks to be done and Winks isnt good enough in that role imo.
We've now got to intergrate Fernandes in as well so more shifting about.
Guess what I'm saying is Id like him to minimise the changes as we've enough problems as it is, starting with the back 4.
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
Well I'd say he doesnt know his best 11 as he keeps changing it every match but he's had long enough to know his best 11 and should make a choice and stick with it.
As I said injuries have played a part.
I think he should decide is Verts playing cb or not? Is Tanganga playing lb or rb or not at all? Is Sanchez starting or not? Pick your back 4 and stop fucking swapping it about. They wont get better moving everyone about every match.
Then there this DM problem. Ndombele cant string 2 games together without injury, Dier looks to be done and Winks isnt good enough in that role imo.
We've now got to intergrate Fernandes in as well so more shifting about.
Guess what I'm saying is Id like him to minimise the changes as we've enough problems as it is, starting with t overback 4.
We should be all over getting in a DM but the reality is we won't and so we struggle on with what we have which is the way the club does things.
 

Johnny J

Not the Kiwi you need but the one you deserve
Aug 18, 2012
18,124
47,910
We aren't getting fourth without a decent DM. We will concede too many goals.
 

stormfly

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
4,584
11,990
Without any new signings we would need this team to stay fit for a slim chance of top 4:

Lloris
Aurier Toby Tanganga Davies
Le Celso Ndombele Winks
Lucas Dele
Son

We better get signing some players then ;)
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
Not exacrly like Chelsea are on fire either and Man u are dropping points left right and center.
Our form is bad but I think we can get better. I dont see anyone else improving. We may not either but we'll see.
Its not over purely because those chasingt 4th are all shit lol.
 

RichieS

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2004
11,916
16,436
Not exacrly like Chelsea are on fire either and Man u are dropping points left right and center.
Our form is bad but I think we can get better. I dont see anyone else improving. We may not either but we'll see.
Its not over purely because those chasingt 4th are all shit lol.
Wolves would like a word. The bastards.
 

Wig

Well-Known Member
May 23, 2018
2,813
11,080
The stars would have to well and truly align for us to have a chance at 4th. The only convincing win we've had in months was the Burnley game and every other match has been a back-and-forth slog in which we've rarely looked particularly solid or coherent.

I think our only hope is that Ndombele gets into the side and Jose stumbles across some formation that can get the best from him and Lo Celso. We'd also need to sign a striker and for them to hit the ground running.

Davies coming back will hopefully give us a bit more balance and defensive solidity. Jose claims we haven't been able to play his desired way due to Davies' injury so maybe just maybe that will have a big impact.

You know you're clutching at straws when you're pinning your hopes on Ben Davies to save your season though...

I reckon we'll end up around 7th.
We're currently in 6th place, equal on points to United in 5th. Our form and position is improved under Jose - the first 12 games under Poch we had 14 points, and now after another 12 league games under Jose we have 34 points. I may be an optimist but I'm hoping we can continue to see our form improve, and at the very least we're aiming for 5th especially as we're already equal with 5th on points. Your prediction of 7th is pretty pessimistic. The tough challenge will be to reel in Chelsea, but considering they were on 26 points after 12 games and are a now on 40 points, we have already halved the deficit and their form is in the opposite trend to ours. To overcome a 6 points deficit to Chelsea with 14 games remaining (incl. one game against each other) is not impossible, so let's get behind the team and see where we end up!
 
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