Race for 4th (or higher) 4.0

[southlondonyiddo]

We need to sort our goal difference out.

Lets beat Southampton 8-0 lads

We need to beat Southampton by at least 10. A 17-0 victory will see us go ahead of both on goal difference..

I think we need more points than both by the end of the season!!!

 

[cjsimba]

Just thinking out loud for a second:

Unless we win all our remaining 4 games, we will need Arsenal to drop some more points somewhere (pretty obvious i know). Realistically I think we can win 3 of our games, but may struggle at Chelsea. I also think Arsenal will win 2 of their games and drop points in 1. However, what is essential if this situation occurs is we take at least a point at chelsea. Do that and any points dropped by Arsenal will mean we finish above them (going by the situation above). LOSE at Chelsea, and Arsenal dropping points in a draw simply wont be enough as we would finish level on points but behind on goal difference - we would therefore need them to LOSE 1 of their last 3 games (rather than just draw), something im not so sure they will do. A draw for them is very possible, a loss not so likely IMO.

What im getting at is that with our awful goal difference, Arsenal are effectively an extra point ahead of us. Therefore, a draw at Chelsea is the absolute minimum, we simply can not lose there.....unless we beat Sunderland 15-0 of course

 

[onthetwo]

Just thinking out loud for a second:

Unless we win all our remaining 4 games, we will need Arsenal to drop some more points somewhere (pretty obvious i know). Realistically I think we can win 3 of our games, but may struggle at Chelsea. I also think Arsenal will win 2 of their games and drop points in 1. However, what is essential if this situation occurs is we take at least a point at chelsea. Do that and any points dropped by Arsenal will mean we finish above them (going by the situation above). LOSE at Chelsea, and Arsenal dropping points in a draw simply wont be enough as we would finish level on points but behind on goal difference - we would therefore need them to LOSE 1 of their last 3 games (rather than just draw), something im not so sure they will do. A draw for them is very possible, a loss not so likely IMO.

What im getting at is that with our awful goal difference, Arsenal are effectively an extra point ahead of us. Therefore, a draw at Chelsea is the absolute minimum, we simply can not lose there.....unless we beat Sunderland 15-0 of course

Watching us recently, i shudder to think how many we could let in against Chelsea. We need to tighten up pronto.

 

[jimbo]

At the moment I think that we're likely to miss out on goal difference or by the odd point, and I also think our goal difference is indicative of where should finish so the disappointment ought to be kept under the meltdown threshold. Of course we still have a reasonable chance of finishing in the top four, but we'll have to swim uphill to do it, which is why I make it the less likely outcome.

 

[Shea]

So that's surely down to a managerial decision rather than a "transition" season? Maybe it's just semantics but I think it's a lame excuse really.

Arsenal have been "transitioning" now for perhaps the last 5 seasons, steadily losing their better players and looking less formidable each time. But they have managed to retain that "x factor" that keeps them (just about) in the hunt. After the NLD this year we lay down a marker that said "you need to go on an amazing run to beat us now" and that's exactly what they have done.

I still think that Arsenal have a banana skin result in there somewhere, and I still think we will finish ahead of them. Maybe I'm being too optimistic or maybe I'm being cynical, but I'm not ready to accept "transition" as an excuse for our past 6 games.

Well yes and no

The managers attempt to change the teams play and formation in the long run is all part of a period of adjustment and transition isn't it?

Plus as I said they were two particular performance you highlighted and I explained my reasoning for why they were disproportionally poor

Inconsistency is part of transition, we have in our performances been very inconsistent and disjointed - even if our results have not been as patchy over the season

Arsenal haven't really been transitioning, theres's a big difference between them and us. We don't have the stability of long term management with a consistent footballing ethos and tactics that players can slot in and out of - ok their quality has dipped as a result of selling their best and not always replacing with matching quality but still they boast a great deal more stability and cohesion than we currently do

We have introduced new tactics from a new manger to a team relatively new to one another all over the pitch, there's not even really a comparison between us and Arsenal over the last few years. They've not been in transistion they've just sold and bought players, we are in transition because of the numerous reasons I have listed

 

[TottenhamLegend]

Sessegnon out of our game vs Sunderland

 

[Mr Pink]

Sessegnon out of our game vs Sunderland

If I could of picked one of their players to miss the game I would of picked him. He's inconsistent but on his day he's very lively and a handful. Generally when Sunderland play well he's right at the heart of it, and knowing our luck he would of played a blinder against us!

Good news he's out, suddenly that fixture ain't looking as tricky - lets hope the game actually means something though!

 

[dricha1]

This Villa result is a disaster for Wigan though, could they be down before they play Arsenal.

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

This Villa result is a disaster for Wigan though, could they be down before they play Arsenal.

Was already gonna be bad a few days after the cup final, now they won't need to save anything vs the Gooners.

The Villa performance gives some hope when they play Chelsea anyway.

 

[Adam456]

Sessegnon out of our game vs Sunderland

Yes but Villa hammering Sunderland. Wigan could be down by the time they play the red scum and Villa safe when they play the blue scum. Bugger

 

[E17yid]

Hopefully Wigan will beat brom this weekend. Keep them in the hunt.

 

[JayX2A]

This Villa result is a disaster for Wigan though, could they be down before they play Arsenal.

On the other hand, they have a game in hand on Newcastle and a win would put them 2 points behind with Newcastle playing Arsenal last day of the season which they may need to win to stay up.

 

[ziggy]

Really wanted Villa to lose to keep them in the dogfight

 

[onthetwo]

Really wanted Villa to lose to keep them in the dogfight

Yes, not to mention the opportunity to buy Benteke if they get relegated.

 

[dondo]

Watching us recently, i shudder to think how many we could let in against Chelsea. We need to tighten up pronto.

Agree completely with this. On set pieces alone i can see chelsea scoring a few.
Although we have not played that great lately we have consistantly scored at least 2 goals a game and still not winning matches. Really need verts and dawson to find their form again soon

 

[Wardy]

Re Wigan..

Unfortunately they have 5 games in 15 days. They play their fa cup final 3 days before away to arsenal... they're not getting a result at the emirates and likely will get hammered

 

[nicdic]

Re Wigan..

Unfortunately they have 5 games in 15 days. They play their fa cup final 3 days before away to arsenal... they're not getting a result at the emirates and likely will get hammered

Lets pack up and go home then.

 

[SonicSarr]

Sessegnon out of our game vs Sunderland

This is good news as he is arguably their best player and they do not have a like for like replacement.
Gaston Ramirez also suspended for Southampton against us at the weekend.

 

[E17yid]

Re Wigan..

Unfortunately they have 5 games in 15 days. They play their fa cup final 3 days before away to arsenal... they're not getting a result at the emirates and likely will get hammered

I appreciate they will be tired but if premier league survival doesn't put some extra energy in the legs then nothing will. I reckon they could get something

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Think we need to improve defensively if we are to finish in the top 4.

We've not kept a clean sheet in 10 PL games.

Not good enough imo