Can the top 5 stop winning games please?

[ecce_tottenham]

This time last year, bar a runaway Manchester United and (at the time) title holders City, no one had a PPG over 2. This year the top 4 all have PPG at 2 or above.

The top 6 have accrued 261 points vs 244 at this time last year: a 7% increase.

In the Bundesliga, only the top 2 have a PPG over 2.
In Serie A, only the top 3.
In La Liga, only the top 3.

In summary:

• Finishing in the top 4 in the Premier League in 2013/2014 is bloody difficult.
• We're 1 point ahead of last year, with a better PPG, though this will count for not much if the top 5 continue doing so well.
• Matches between the top 6 teams are key.
• COYS!

 

[carpediem991]

it is really annoying. In our position every week is a most win game as the others most certainly win.

 

[Spurz]

You are right, the teams are so tight at the top now. Basically no one dares and cannot afford to drop points, even a draw can see any team drop a few places. They are all looking strong too. I am afraid we look the most vulnerable among them, hopefully we can stay the course. What is important is to get a win each game no matter how ugly or how poor we played. Matches among the top 6 will settle the places this season

 

[dagraham]

It is more difficult than ever. Which is why we can't afford any holes in our squad. All those teams above us outscore us on a regular basis and at the risk of sounding like a stuck record, if we don't replace Defoe and just "make do" we won't make top four imo.

 

[Joeyboey]

If it wasn't for our really good form, we'd be out of the running for even a Europa League place. Well played Timmy.

 

[Dougal]

If they're taking requests, can they stop humiliating us aswell?

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Which is why I can't see us finishing top 4. We've been absolutely murdered by City and Liverpool. Stuffed by the scum twice and completely dominated for a half when Chelsea were very poor

Cannot see us finishing above those 4 and that's without Utd or Everton

The top 6 have so many points these days because the gap between those clubs and the bottom half sides is massive and from 10 down all they are worried about is staying up!!

 

[Shea]

I fancy WBA to take points of Everton next week and they then play Liverpool so its vital we beat Swansea seeing as we play Man City the following match.

We need one or both of Everton and Liverpool to hit a poor patch of form asap - I fully expect Man U to finish the season stronger and it will be us against those 3 battling for 4th and 5th come May in my eyes

Oh yea and come on the Villa tonight - it's hard to see Arsenal dropping points anytime soon in reality with their run of fixtures being quite kind until they go to Anfield in Feb (Villa (a) Fulham (h) Southampton (a) Palace (h) before that game)

Its just outrageously cut throat right now - 13 points out of the last 15 and we've not really made a dent in the top five's advantage over us nor pulled away from those directly below us (although obviously we gained on Liverpool)

If we fail to beat Swansea we're going to have all kinds of pressure to stay in touch with the CL pack going into the City game potentially.

 

[dynamoSpurs]

it is really annoying. In our position every week is a most win game as the others most certainly win.

Not just an issue isolated to us, but everyone. Very competitive league.

 

[Shea]

Not just an issue isolated to us, but everyone. Very competitive league.

Yes but its probably most worrying to ourselves and Man U as we're mostly scrapping victories while the others generally look strong doing it aside for when they play another member of the top 6

So it seems less sustainable for us and even Utd at the moment

 

[Mr Pink]

I think we'll win our next two games, and yes I'm including City. We need to remember how many we've lost to injury as well, with Sandro, Paulinho and Vertonghen coming back we'll be looking a lot stronger.

We're right in the race for fourth.

 

[dynamoSpurs]

Yes but its probably most worrying to ourselves and Man U as we're mostly scrapping victories while the others generally look strong doing it aside for when they play another member of the top 6

So it seems less sustainable for us and even Utd at the moment

Yeah true, we are properly scraping. It's been the best, sire season in my history supporting the club. I.e. We've been absolutely piss-poor for 99% of our games, yet still in the hunt for 4th and still in Europa.

When our luck runs out, the curtains will draw.

 

[Shea]

Yeah true, we are properly scraping. It's been the best, sire season in my history supporting the club. I.e. We've been absolutely piss-poor for 99% of our games, yet still in the hunt for 4th and still in Europa.

When our luck runs out, the curtains will draw.

Return of injured players, form of our best and our new players and potentially a new signing or two could be vital to us this year

We're clearly missing Vertonghen in the middle right now - if he and Kaboul were to get fit this could make us a lot more solid in defense and make the jobs of both full backs and Lloris a good deal easier

The fitness and form of Sandro and or Capoue could also be vital for when we need a ball winner who can take pressure off the defense and also free up the attacking players a little to express themselves.

My personal opinion is that Danny Rose is not up to the standard to be our first choice right now but he and Naughton make good cover for the LB and RB positions respectively but while we have Walker to be the first team RB we'd need to make a shrewd signing to strengthen our first choice LB position this window.

With Defoe going we're arguably going to need another option up front although I don't expect this to happen and I do expect us to revert to playing a single striker up front most games with three attacking players behind the front man with two deeper CM's in front of the defense

Personally I think we're bang in the race but we're probably 6th or 7th favourites as things stand to be one of the top four.

What will be key to our chances in my opinion is whether or not Erkisen, Soldado and Lamela can find form and finish the season strong. If those three come in to their own and play how we all hope they can then I think we as a unit will go from strength to strength and start being one of those high flying consistent teams who look strong when winning not scraping over the line.

With further attacking options like Lennon, Townsend and Chadli all to chip in we really do have enough at our disposal and I do not expect any significant investment now other than a LB and a CB if Kaboul is not going to be an option for the rest of the season.

Its up to Tim to get them all performing well individually and more importantly as a team

 

[worcestersauce]

Imagine how bad they feel the pressure, they keep winning yet they just can't shake us off, all conquering, title challenging Liverpool are only two points ahead of us and none of the others have stretched the gap except maybe City..

 

[dondo]

How many points for top 4? Think we will have to do better than the 72 we got last year? Which is crazy as up untill last few years anything over 65 is usually enough

 

[kr1978]

How many points for top 4? Think we will have to do better than the 72 we got last year? Which is crazy as up untill last few years anything over 65 is usually enough

Well at the current rate of points per game we are looking at 76 just to match Liverpool and even then we would more than likely lose out on GD

 

[mark87]

Which means winning the games agains the top 6 all the more important.

 

[dondo]

Well at the current rate of points per game we are looking at 76 just to match Liverpool and even then we would more than likely lose out on GD

IMO man city top chelsea 2nd arse 3rd then us liverpool man u everton fighting it out for 4th. Fuck thats gonna be tough for us, TS deserves the job if we get top 4 this year

 

[kaz Hirai]

Things may change when European competition starts back up. Big distraction and drain for all involved.

 

[CowInAComa]

The same could be said of us.

In many respects I would rather be us and to have yet to hit top gear and yet still be about level, than be Liverpool or Everton, playing out of your skin and not have any real points advantage to show for it.

We have as good a chance of the 3 we are battling for top4 with (liverpool, everton, Utd).