Race for 4th (or higher) 4.0

[Mr Pink]

I think they'll be up there come the end of the season just as Newcastle were last year yea, but I personally still consider Arsenal and Chelsea to be the main rivals to us in terms of contesting places 3rd through 5th

don't really agree, think Everton will be right in there all the way to the end, but I still fancy us to finish just ahead of them....definitely consider them a rival though

 

[AngerManagement]

don't really agree, think Everton will be right in there all the way to the end, but I still fancy us to finish just ahead of them....definitely consider them a rival though

That's your right to believe, I don't think they will personally. I think they're well organised and hard working but I think they're in a slightly false position just as West Brom were and are and I think come the end of the season Everton will be somewhere between 5th and 8th

They're a strong unit but I don't think they have the class or sustainability of a Chelsea or even an Arsenal who will come good again at some point I am sure

I'm not dismissing them as a rival because frankly we're not guaranteed to do better than them, but this thread is about the race for fourth and I don't think Everton will be in that toward the end of the season

 

[Mr Pink]

That's your right to believe, I don't think they will personally. I think they're well organised and hard working but I think they're in a slightly false position just as West Brom were and are and I think come the end of the season Everton will be somewhere between 5th and 8th

They're a strong unit but I don't think they have the class or sustainability of a Chelsea or even an Arsenal who will come good again at some point I am sure

I'm not dismissing them as a rival because frankly we're not guaranteed to do better than them, but this thread is about the race for fourth and I don't think Everton will be in that toward the end of the season[/quote]

 

[Mr Pink]

That's your right to believe, I don't think they will personally. I think they're well organised and hard working but I think they're in a slightly false position just as West Brom were and are and I think come the end of the season Everton will be somewhere between 5th and 8th

They're a strong unit but I don't think they have the class or sustainability of a Chelsea or even an Arsenal who will come good again at some point I am sure

I'm not dismissing them as a rival because frankly we're not guaranteed to do better than them, but this thread is about the race for fourth and I don't think Everton will be in that toward the end of the season

but they are very much in the race for fourth at present, and are much more likely to stay in the race than the likes of West Brom etc...so for me we should be considering them well in the race.

 

[RichSpur58]

Unless we get AVB's targets we won't get 4th, scum will. We had a luck win at Man U, but against all the other top teams we have lost.

 

[AngerManagement]

but they are very much in the race for fourth at present, and are much more likely to stay in the race than the likes of West Brom etc...so for me we should be considering them well in the race.

At present West Brom are very much in the race if you take it soley on league position and recent form

I think Everton are a decent team and very well organised and hard working, personally I don't see them sustaining the challenge for fourth passed say easter time, although I guess they could do in similar fashion to Newcastle last year.

I think they lack the real quality and depth in their squad and if they do have players get injured or lose form they will struggle to keep up. I think Liverpool are a better team than them personally and I think their position flatters them, we shall see.

I'm not saying you should agree with me, but you asked me why I didn't factor them in to my statement and this is why

 

[Mr Pink]

At present West Brom are very much in the race if you take it soley on league position and recent form

I think Everton are a decent team and very well organised and hard working, personally I don't see them sustaining the challenge for fourth passed say easter time, although I guess they could do in similar fashion to Newcastle last year.

I think they lack the real quality and depth in their squad and if they do have players get injured or lose form they will struggle to keep up. I think Liverpool are a better team than them personally and I think their position flatters them, we shall see.

I'm not saying you should agree with me, but you asked me why I didn't factor them in to my statement and this is why

ok, but obviously others will view them as one of our rivals for fourth and discuss them in here, at the very least at this point anyway - most people would in fact view them as up there for the race for fourth, not favourites - but definitely likely to be involved, so its obviously relevant to discuss them in here. But if you don't mate, that's your prerogative

 

[YiddoJames]

Sadly I see Arse getting a win at Reading so it will be very important to get all 3pts vs Swansea

 

[AngerManagement]

ok, but obviously others will view them as one of our rivals for fourth and discuss them in here, at the very least at this point anyway - most people would in fact view them as up there for the race for fourth, not favourites - but definitely likely to be involved, so its obviously relevant to discuss them in here. But if you don't mate, that's your prerogative

I didn't say others shouldn't see them as rivals or discuss them as such, I just didn't include them in a statement I made about the upcoming fixtures and you questioned me as to why so I have explained my personal reasoning.

I never once suggested anyone else should have the same opinion as me or not discuss Everton in this thread. I just didn't consider them in a post I made and you asked me about them/it

 

[Kingellesar]

Thing with Liverpool, they have one striker....no doubt they will look to buy someone in January but who? They don't have the squad depth to mount the challenge in my opinion. I can see them getting 6th but more likely 7th but no higher. Think Everton and Arsenal will finish above them and hopefully us, above all three of those!

 

[Mr Pink]

I didn't say others shouldn't see them as rivals or discuss them as such, I just didn't include them in a statement I made about the upcoming fixtures and you questioned me as to why so I have explained my personal reasoning.

I never once suggested anyone else should have the same opinion as me or not discuss Everton in this thread. I just didn't consider them in a post I made and you asked me about them/it

I didn't actually say you did say that, I'm just saying that some might and hence discuss it in here - don't be so defensive

I know you don't and understand your reasoning, but others might - that's all I'm saying

 

[gregga]

At present West Brom are very much in the race if you take it soley on league position and recent form

I think Everton are a decent team and very well organised and hard working, personally I don't see them sustaining the challenge for fourth passed say easter time, although I guess they could do in similar fashion to Newcastle last year.

I think they lack the real quality and depth in their squad and if they do have players get injured or lose form they will struggle to keep up. I think Liverpool are a better team than them personally and I think their position flatters them, we shall see.

I'm not saying you should agree with me, but you asked me why I didn't factor them in to my statement and this is why

They've lost three in a row, including a game at home to Stoke.

Team spirit and hard work can only get you so far - there's no way a team with players like theirs can hope to finish top 4.

Newcastle came close last year, but because they had managed to make some genuinely class signings: Ba, Cisse, Cabaye, Tiote etc...

Everton had a terrific start but since then their form has been middling and as other people have pointed out they haven't got the deepest squad. As such I see them as outsiders for fourth.

I would feel a lot more confident but for the fact that, as has been pointed out, we've lost pretty much all the hard games we've played except Man U away.

Here's to hoping that Benny and Parker being re-introduced to the team, and Ade finally hitting form, can see us pull away from the likes of Everton etc.

 

[Adam456]

I omitted West Brom and Liverpool from the OP for brevity and not to fall foul of that annoying copyright rule on reproducing fixtures ! Perfectly reasonable to talk about them though. I see Liverpool as outsiders given the last couple of seasons and the fact that their squad is arguably weaker than last season. West Brom no way, as well as they've done so far. Punching well above their weight and have started to be found out a little I suggest, as often happens for promoted teams and new managers. Stoke and Swansea in about the right position given their squads and last season. I see these lot contesting 7th-10th, which is pretty much as you were (the missing side here is Newcastle who are too far back IMO)

Shame Midds couldn't take Swansea to ET last night but I see they played a full strength side. The extra 3 days rest should be very helpful to us

 

[spurslenny]

Could have sworn I had a copyright on this thread : /



Nevermind, carry on.....

 

[Adam456]

Didn't take BR long on Merseyside to become utterly delusional - he's targeting 2nd this season

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20735575

 

[Shadydan]

We haven't shown anywhere near our top form this season IMO, we have had a selection of key players missing, we've had a change of management who is still shaping the the side to his philosophy, our spine from last season has been dismantled, we've only kept 2 clean sheets and played consistently well over 90 mins for one maybe 2 matches and yet we are 5th in the table.

5th and 3 points behind 3rd

That said I can forsee a strong finish and things will start falling into place as the season goes on, we have every reason to feel optimistic that we can finish in the top four at the end of the season

 

[Adam456]

Didn't take BR long on Merseyside to become utterly delusional - he's targeting 2nd this season

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20735575

.....and they duly lose 3-1 at home to Villa

Ha ha ha

 

[marvel]

Hopefully Fellaini will get slapped with a ban after today which will hurt Everton somewhat

 

[Adam456]

Hopefully Fellaini will get slapped with a ban after today which will hurt Everton somewhat

Nutter, literally

Hope so

 

[beats1]

Hopefully Fellaini will get slapped with a ban after today which will hurt Everton somewhat

I dont think there is any doubt and Moyes has said he will accept the ban, the question is how long as he did headbutt, Elbow and Punch Shawcross