Spurs, Arsenal & Chelsea next two games

[mrlilywhite]

So here we are at a very precarious and pivotal stage in our season and to say we are a little underwhelmed and subdued at the moment is an understatement, Though through all the recent heartache, The fight for 3rd IS still very much in our hands, We have imo two must win games and those games are very much winnable.

Let`s put aside our recent games and Harry`s tactical delusions that have cost us dear in our past 3 games, As there has been plenty written on that already. Our next two league games against stoke and chelsea offer us the chance to get things right, What we need from Arsenals next game is for the Barcodes to go there and force a draw at the least, I think this could be wishfull thinking but there is a chance, This would leave us with a win in hand. After the F.a cup we take on Stoke, Arsenal away to Everton and Chelsea away to Man city, If results go as I expect/hope, then we should have established a 6 point advantage over Arsenal and a 7 point lead over Chelsea, At worst it could be as we are now! Then we face Chelsea at the bridge, Whilst Arsenal take on Villa at the Emirates, What we need to do is have a fully fit squad and the right tactics and we will win against Chelsea, Irrespective of what Arsenal do against Villa, We could have a 6 point lead over them and a 10pt lead over Chelsea if results go our way.

After watching Chelsea struggle to overcome a 10 man stoke team is suggestive enough for me to think that Avb was the least of their problems and this team is in a sharp decline, We need to go there and virtually banish them to the Europa league and we really can do that and at least more or less guarantee 4th place.

As for Arsenal, I hope their recent form has just been a flash in the pan, Although they went down fighting against Milan, I am hoping it has done them more damage than good and would be bouncing off the wall`s if Newcastle can nick it, As I feel it would devastate them, This is as much a vital game for them as it is for us and the Scum.

Bottom line is, this is still very much in our hands, Though Harry has to pick up the team and push them through, We need to show a steely determination coupled with our desire to get this 3rd place, We can not fail at the final hurdle!! COYS.

 

[sweyid]

When I watched the Chelsea - Stoke game yesterday I thought to myself that it's probably more difficult to beat a 10 man Stoke than it is beating an 11 man Stoke. When Stokes big brutish bullies go into defensive mode and plays for a draw they're a hellish opponent. A Stoke chasing a goal is a much easier opponent I'd say.

I hope City really thrashes Chelsea just to make matters worse for them. We need to face a wounded animal at The Bridge.

 

[Mr Pink]

Stoke at home is quickly turning into the biggest game of the season for us, just for its timing and the impact it could have on momentum either way.

We don't have the luxury of trying to select sides for Stoke and then Chelsea, get the game won against Stoke with our best 11 in their best positions and then focus on Chelsea.

Fail to beat Stoke and I could see our season caving in around us.

Massive game.

 

[kdspur]

a home banker to most people on here is stoke. hahahahaha.

wait and see i suppose but i wudnt be so cocky, not in slighest.

we need clubs like everton and newcastle and man city now to do spurs huge favours and make life easier. will we get that?

 

[Spurrific]

a home banker to most people on here is stoke. hahahahaha.

wait and see i suppose but i wudnt be so cocky, not in slighest.

we need clubs like everton and newcastle and man city now to do spurs huge favours and make life easier. will we get that?

 

[mrlilywhite]

Stoke at home is quickly turning into the biggest game of the season for us, just for its timing and the impact it could have on momentum either way.

We don't have the luxury of trying to select sides for Stoke and then Chelsea, get the game won against Stoke with our best 11 in their best positions and then focus on Chelsea.

Fail to beat Stoke and I could see our season caving in around us.

Massive game.

Quite!! We need 3 pts no matter how we get them against Stoke, Failure to do so would be a real blow, A very pivotal game indeed.

 

[OllieSpurs1882]

Didnt we lose 1-0 to Stoke last season?

Or was that season before? I remember we battered them, but Glen Whelan popped up with like a 85th minute winner for them..

 

[shaqTHFC]

Didnt we lose 1-0 to Stoke last season?

Or was that season before? I remember we battered them, but Glen Whelan popped up with like a 85th minute winner for them..

last year we beat them 3-2 at home and 2-1 away

 

[AngerManagement]

The last round of fixtures was the most frustrating of all

Chelsea get a late strike to win the match after struggling all game to break down a 10 man Stoke

Arsenal get a 95th min winner

And we lose to a goal scored mins after we had a legit penalty claim turned down and also hit the post in the last min.

FA cup weekend could not come at a better time I feel, time to get the belief and feel good factor back to the Lane. I am going to both Bolton and Stoke games in the PArk Lane end and I will be singing and supporting the club as hard as I can, I hope the fans all do this and we have an atmosphere designed to fire up the players not one that reflect the growing unrest and nervous disposition that could translate to the players on the pitch.

2 must win games, two games that can set us up mentally for the run in or further cast doubt over our season. Make or break time

 

[jimbo]

Of course City playing Chelsea and Arsenal would have to coincide with a slump in their form too.

Win our games, forget everyone else and we will finish 3rd.

 

[Mr Pink]

I'm going to the Stoke game....getting really pumped for it, we need a big atmosphere...not this nervy stuff which only exacerbates the problem.

 

[Kingstheman]

I'm going to the Stoke game....getting really pumped for it, we need a big atmosphere...not this nervy stuff which only exacerbates the problem.

I wish I was too.

I am at Blackburn and Norwich.

COYS!

 

[seanwhite1961]

Looking at next 2 from today, after 30 games it's not too fanciful to see us still a point ahead:

Spurs: Stoke H Chelsea A 4 points
Arse: Everton A Villa H 4 points
Chelsea: City A Spurs H 2 points

In the last 8 our hardest game is Sunderland A. I don't see a win there. The rest all look winnable. Arse's hardest are City H, Chelsea H and Stoke A. Chelsea's are Liverpool A and Arse A.

Games aren't won on paper, but we've still only ourselves to blame if we don't finish 3rd.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Looking at next 2 from today, after 30 games it's not too fanciful to see us still a point ahead:

Spurs: Stoke H Chelsea A 4 points
Arse: Everton A Villa H 4 points
Chelsea: City A Spurs H 2 points

In the last 8 our hardest game is Sunderland A. I don't see a win there. The rest all look winnable. Arse's hardest are City H, Chelsea H and Stoke A. Chelsea's are Liverpool A and Arse A.

Games aren't won on paper, but we've still only ourselves to blame if we don't finish 3rd.

I don't think we will finish third, and it will be our fault for not having a strong enough squad.

Not really a 'fault' as such. We have less resources, and thus our squad is worse.

And in the summer when we go for the same players as Arsenal, they will offer them more money, and they will go to Arsenal. It's just the way it is sadly.

If you follow football simply to get excited about the success of your team, following Spurs is a tough life.

 

[brendanb50]

Looking at next 2 from today, after 30 games it's not too fanciful to see us still a point ahead:

Spurs: Stoke H Chelsea A 4 points
Arse: Everton A Villa H 4 points
Chelsea: City A Spurs H 2 points

In the last 8 our hardest game is Sunderland A. I don't see a win there. The rest all look winnable. Arse's hardest are City H, Chelsea H and Stoke A. Chelsea's are Liverpool A and Arse A.

Games aren't won on paper, but we've still only ourselves to blame if we don't finish 3rd.

Completely agree. Even as of today with the point in it - it's down to us to perform and get the results needed. 3rd isn't going to be handed to us on a plate.

We need to dig in now and earn it.

 

[brendanb50]

I don't think we will finish third, and it will be our fault for not having a strong enough squad.

Not really a 'fault' as such. We have less resources, and thus our squad is worse.

And in the summer when we go for the same players as Arsenal, they will offer them more money, and they will go to Arsenal. It's just the way it is sadly.

If you follow football simply to get excited about the success of your team, following Spurs is a tough life.

Chin up mate it's not all bad!

Firstly, yes, we may not get 3rd. It will be a disappointment if we don't, especially with the goons being the most likely to beat us there - but we have plenty of points to play for and at the moment we're in there. Have faith.

Can't agree entirely on your second point, we do have a strong squad, we have some excellent players and i don't think there's been a game this season when i haven't looked at the benches and thought 'we have so much more quality there than the oppo' - sadly games aren't won on the strength of their benches, however i think it underlines that our squad is one of the strongest in the premiership.

Whilst the papers like to stir transfer targets and agents like to link player to build the price, i genuinely don't think we're going to be going for all the same players as the scum this summer. We have different priorities IMO and the above point is key here - we don't have that much to add.

Finally - I agree, a tough life it is! :grin:

 

[Hitch]

I don't think we will finish third, and it will be our fault for not having a strong enough squad.

Not really a 'fault' as such. We have less resources, and thus our squad is worse.

And in the summer when we go for the same players as Arsenal, they will offer them more money, and they will go to Arsenal. It's just the way it is sadly.

If you follow football simply to get excited about the success of your team, following Spurs is a tough life.

Our squad is already stronger than Arsenal and Chelsea's, or at least it should be. If we finish below them then we will have underperformed. The first thing that I would be looking at in that case is the management.