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Race for the Top 4 - 2017/18

bubble07

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2004
22,959
29,895
You're right. I posted this back in January.

4th place the last few seasons:

2017 - 76 points
2016 - 66 points
2015 - 70 points
2014 - 79 points
2013 - 73 points
2012 - 69 points
2011 - 68 points
2010 - 70 points

(Then I thought we'd need 75 points. Now I think it might be 78 points)

78 points just to finish 4th is insane
 

E17yid

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2013
16,985
30,494
I would rather face barca in the cl than chelsea. Whole point of being in the cl is pitting ourselves against the best clubs in europe. We play chelsea all the time, not as exciting.

Surely you’d rather be a bit bored (in terms of opposition as any qtr final CL game will be exciting) than playing an exciting team and go out.

Obviously Chelsea are more than capable of beating us too but I’d want to play the team that gives us the best chance of prigrsssing. We’ll then play some massive team in the semi and final (if we got that far)
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
Surely you’d rather be a bit bored (in terms of opposition as any qtr final CL game will be exciting) than playing an exciting team and go out.

Obviously Chelsea are more than capable of beating us too but I’d want to play the team that gives us the best chance of prigrsssing. We’ll then play some massive team in the semi and final (if we got that far)

I'd rather beat barca.
 

tommo84

Proud to be loud
Aug 15, 2005
6,120
11,100
Do you think it’s too many?

Needing over 2 points per game just to finish 4th is not a good look for the rest of the league. It shows a massive gulf between the top 4/top 6 and the rest. I think you don't have to go back that far to find multiple seasons when 2 points per game (76 pts) was enough to finish in the top 2, so if we've reached the stage where it doesn't even get you into the top 4 then that is quite disheartening for the rest of the league.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
Needing over 2 points per game just to finish 4th is not a good look for the rest of the league. It shows a massive gulf between the top 4/top 6 and the rest. I think you don't have to go back that far to find multiple seasons when 2 points per game (76 pts) was enough to finish in the top 2, so if we've reached the stage where it doesn't even get you into the top 4 then that is quite disheartening for the rest of the league.

Hopefully with the domestic deal being stagnant and international going up the smaller clubs will improve.
 

diamond lights

active member
Aug 31, 2012
1,442
5,657
Big time optimistic for top 4. We haven't lost a match in the last 14 (in all comps) and our league finish last year was 10 wins out of our last 11 IIRC. 1 point behind Chelsea and 2 behind pool. So we could jump to third in one round of matches. Even Utd in current form could be caught. A lot might depend on how our cup runs go and how distracted we get.
 

Basil Brush

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
1,691
3,080
On the top 4 thing, the next 3 games are very big.

Chelsea play the 2 Manchester clubs, Liverpool play Man U (amongst others) while we play Palace, Huddersfield and Bournemouth.

We prob need at least 7 points from those 3 games.

9 points and we will be in a perfect spot
 

piedpiper

Well-Known Member
Aug 14, 2008
3,758
6,763
On the top 4 thing, the next 3 games are very big.

Chelsea play the 2 Manchester clubs, Liverpool play Man U (amongst others) while we play Palace, Huddersfield and Bournemouth.

We prob need at least 7 points from those 3 games.

9 points and we will be in a perfect spot

Hope its 9 points. We have to maximize all opportunities for points. Dropping points in games like these would be the difference between 2nd & 5th.

Chelsea will be out of CL and soon will only have one competition to focus on. Liverpool in similar postion to us except no Fa Cup commitments. United have 3 competitions too. Mourinho will have his players focused.

Then the Gooners can actually win the Europa league. So we must pick up maximum points from our supposedly "easier" games.
 

Basil Brush

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
1,691
3,080
Hope its 9 points. We have to maximize all opportunities for points. Dropping points in games like these would be the difference between 2nd & 5th.

Chelsea will be out of CL and soon will only have one competition to focus on. Liverpool in similar postion to us except no Fa Cup commitments. United have 3 competitions too. Mourinho will have his players focused.

Then the Gooners can actually win the Europa league. So we must pick up maximum points from our supposedly "easier" games.
Yes while i agree i hope it is 9 points, i would not be devastated with 7. We are on such a run in the league at the moment that we have to prob have to have 1 down performance.

As long as it is not our return game against Chelsea. We owe them big time.
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
Need 9 pts from next 3 games. We cant afford to slip up in these type of games. Its too tight to be dropping 2 points against weaker teams if we wanna get top 4.
I wanna see us in 2nd and Man U in 5th after next 3 games. I'll settle for 3rd.

Edit. Actually I'd take bloody 8th if it meant we won fa cup (providing Arsenal were 9th).
 
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Basil Brush

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
1,691
3,080
Need 9 pts from next 3 games. We cant afford to slip up in these type of games. Its too tight to be dropping 2 points against weaker teams if we wanna get top 4.
I wanna see us in 2nd and Man U in 5th after next 3 games. I'll settle for 3rd.
The only thing is Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool all play each other in next 3 games so some of our opposition for a top 4 spot will be dropping points, no matter what
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
The only thing is Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool all play each other in next 3 games so some of our opposition for a top 4 spot will be dropping points, no matter what

well the Chelsea v Liverpool match is in May, but that game could cement our place the in CL.

we need to win our next 3 to put massive pressure on all teams around us, and hopefully after the next 3 games we could see us above Chelsea by 3-5 points, level with Liverpool if they gain a point at OT, and win their other 2 games, and could also see us level with Man U, if they draw their next 2 hardest matches.

then the next big one providing we beat Rochdale:whistle:, is away to Chelsea. lose that then their fixture in May v Liverpool could decide our position, not lose that even by getting a point at SB then we might want Chelsea beating Liverpool to finish above Pool, but we have to win the games we are now going to be clear favourites in.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
the thing with our remaining fixtures is:

Crystal Palace (a) = not a team that sits back usually at home, and need points

Huddersfield (h) = in the games I've seen them on the box, not seen them sit back and try and counter

Bournemouth (a) = another team that doesn't sit back, doesn't suit their style, and due to the amount of teams below them they only need 8-10pts to stay up

Newcastle (h) = most probably due to be moved, and dependant on our progress in the CL. by the time we play them they might need to win games, but if an away point helps I really expect them to stick XI men behind the ball

Chelsea (a) = would take a draw if offered now, even though a win would end the mare once and for all. with their difficult run coming up and providing our results go our way above we could be 4 or 5pts ahead of them, so they won't sit back

Stoke (a) = can't afford to only pick up the odd point, as they need wins to stay up

Man City (h) = the way its going they should have the title wrapped up by then. with a good possibility we both would of played a CL match that week, and a week before the FA Cup semi, their could be a possibility they won't be going full strength.

Brighton (a) = apart from early on in the season I haven't seen them sit back, also this game could also be delayed due to the FA Cup semi weekend. might even be drawn v them in the quarters which guarantees it will be re-arranged

Watford (h) = do they know how to defend:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

West Brom (a) = could/should be down. if down we need to take it serious, as if they are down, they will play with freedom

Leicester (h) = tricky finish to be fair, really hope we don't need this to decide a top 4 finish.

all our dropped points at home this season have been bus parkers, including Chelsea, and they are our toughest away fixture.

with Man U still to play everyone in top 6 except us, they will drop points, and if they don't our rivals will also drop points.

Liverpool still have to play Man U and Chelsea away, so yet again our rivals will drop points.

Chelsea the only thing that might benefit them is being out of the CL, but they have to play both United and City away, and us and Liverpool at home. if they don't take any points (hoping v Man U is a draw), or v City, then our game could be the decider for them getting top 4.

COYS(y)

looking at the table, the only downside is that even though Man C could tie the league up the week before us, they also have the chance to smash both Chelsea records of points won and goals scored, so doubt they will be on the beach for our game, unless they do celebrate their title and are a little hung over (not in an alcohol sense). though hoping that if we sneak a win they damage Utd's hopes of 2nd place:whistle:
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,956
The only thing is Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool all play each other in next 3 games so some of our opposition for a top 4 spot will be dropping points, no matter what

Which means all the more that we have to win.

I would go as far as to say we can't drop points in any games really. If we win every game we will get top 4. Sounds a silly thing to say as its very difficult, especially with the cup games being thrown in there. In fact, how far we go in the champions league could have a massive effect on how we do in the league.
 

tiger666

Large Member
Jan 4, 2005
27,978
82,214
Which means all the more that we have to win.

I would go as far as to say we can't drop points in any games really. If we win every game we will get top 4. Sounds a silly thing to say as its very difficult, especially with the cup games being thrown in there. In fact, how far we go in the champions league could have a massive effect on how we do in the league.

What's our record for consecutive wins in the premier league? 6? We're not winning every game left in the season.
 
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