If we got offered 3rd now?

[Paolo10]

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Yes I would take it now, but seeing as how that won't ever happen, let's just see where the rest of the games take us.

We'll get 3rd if we deserve it, simple as.

 

[Jody]

No way I'd give a free run in to the Mancs.

Is that Scott Parker? Eek

 

[talkshowhost86]

It's an odd question because obviously nobody would 'accept' 3rd if offered now as we're still in the title race.

The better phrasing of it would be to ask whether we'd be disappointed if we finished 3rd and for me the answer is no. We've already exceeded expectations and it would take a real burst of form, together with alot of luck with injuries, for us to overhaul United and City.

I still think we'll know alot more once we've played United, Arsenal and Chelsea so until then I'm happy to just see how it goes. But if we're within 7 points of the lead come the end of the Chelsea game then it's game on.

 

[AngerManagement]

The only reason to take 3rd now would be fear of dropping out of the top four

Even coming fourth would give you CL football (albeit with a play off to get there)

So considering we are 10 points clear of 4th/5th and only 6 off the top, right now you would expect most people (espeically on the back of the Toon game) to be screaming war cries and spitting in the faces of those who offer us third as we fight for the league for the very first time in my living memory.

I have to admit I think our realistic title hopes went up in smoke when 3 points turned into 0 late on against City, but that doesn't mean we are out of the race as we still have to play Utd and both teams will drop points (so will we)

I'm glad neither Chelsea nor Arsenal really strengthened in the window and with a 10 point gap you'd have to say we currently look secure in our race for CL football so onwards and upwards has to be the mindset right now.

Massive NLD up next in the league, a 13 point gap or a 7 point gap if someone wins the match....the draw would favour us I guess, but would anyone take that if offered?

 

[Totsfan]

I have a bet with a mate of mine....simple one really and I am saying that we won't lose our next two league games. We can draw yes but if we lose, then I lose the bet. I am very confident of taking his money.

 

[AngerManagement]

I have a bet with a mate of mine....simple one really and I am saying that we won't lose our next two league games. We can draw yes but if we lose, then I lose the bet. I am very confident of taking his money.

To be fair with Arsenal away and Man U at home your mate is probably very confident too

 

[StartingPrice]

With the form we're in, and the players we have, I see no reason to settle for anything at all at this stage.

I'm not saying we'll win the league, but when I look at the teams we have, United have, and City have, I can see us being more consistent. Both United and City just look more vulnerable to me. I might be wrong but the opposition seem to fear and respect us far more than either of the Manchester clubs. Since the first two games where we didn't have anything resembling our current team we've lost to Stoke (where we really should have won if the ref knew what the fuck they were doing), and City (where many agreed that we should have got something from the game).

I'll be gutted if we finish below Arsenal and/or less than 3rd, but I just don't see it happening. Our team are buzzing right now, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

THIS....ALL THIS...

COYS
:clap::clap::clap:​

I really can't see City faltering this season. I would rather we shore up our position and build for next year. We are only going to get better - they are only going to plateau.

I would love to be wrong and see City start dropping points, but I just can't see it. There is a chance of 2nd, I'll grant you that.

Really - I've watched quite a few of their games, recently, and I can see them faultering. They held on against Wigan with their fnigertips. They were gifted a penalty earlky in the game, for a dive that should have been booked, they should have been down to nine men (again :bang, and, once a Fulham team who just haven't travelled well started playing they looked vulnerable. Villa capitulated from the outset yesterday, and they still huffed and puffed - once McLeish took Heskey off and tried to score bang they were almost in disarray, and were certainly struggling. IMHO they will have to take the Europa very seriously (I know others disagree), and I think they look a bit ropey as it is - I don't see why folk believe that just because their players cost a lot of money it somehow means they are devoid of tiredness and burn-out. Futurer fixtures include away trips to the Scumerates and Newcastle and home games to Chelsea and United - they are four games off the top of my head were they could easily drop points.

I do not think it is anywhere near clear cut as you seem to think - and we could go on to finish second, even if we don't win the thing (which I think there is still a chance of, anyway). The worst that can happen IMHO is finishing 4th - I find it inconceivible that we will finish lower.

No offence, and I know it is all about opinions, but, in our position, with our team and momentum, I find it literally insane that anyone would be happy to close the season off now, with us in 3rd, for fear of finishing FOURTH, when we could go on to win the English Premier League Title for the first time since the top flight changed it's name, and the first time in 50 years, in real terms.

All that matters to me is champions league football and finishing above arsenal.

Anything else is a dream....

:shrug:
We
Are
Third
We
Have
An
Outside
Shot
At
The
Title

Rog, that is not a dream, that is very, very real.
We still qualify for the CL if we finish 4th, and I absolutely do not believe we will finish outside the top 4 - absolutely.

The only reason to take 3rd now would be fear of dropping out of the top four

Even coming fourth would give you CL football (albeit with a play off to get there)

So considering we are 10 points clear of 4th/5th and only 6 off the top, right now you would expect most people (espeically on the back of the Toon game) to be screaming war cries and spitting in the faces of those who offer us third as we fight for the league for the very first time in my living memory.

I have to admit I think our realistic title hopes went up in smoke when 3 points turned into 0 late on against City, but that doesn't mean we are out of the race as we still have to play Utd and both teams will drop points (so will we)

I'm glad neither Chelsea nor Arsenal really strengthened in the window and with a 10 point gap you'd have to say we currently look secure in our race for CL football so onwards and upwards has to be the mindset right now.

Massive NLD up next in the league, a 13 point gap or a 7 point gap if someone wins the match....the draw would favour us I guess, but would anyone take that if offered?

It is...and it's not going to happen.

I think you are right, in so much as our chance of being seen to be up at the top front-runners, with our fate in our own hands, in the title are concerned, the Citeh game did for us. We are now hoping United and Citeh (in particular) are going to drop more points than us. I just do not believe that is as imlpausible as some seem to. Amongst their up-and-coming games, Citeh have to travel to the Scumerates and Newcastle and host Chelsea and United. Leaving aside the first two games of the season, we have actually been as good as Citeh this season, and yet when we had a fixture run like that, folk on here were gnashing their teeth, pouring ash on their heads and dressing in sackcloth because we had no chance of taking any points from them (apparently Eek). Why are so many so sure that Citeh are gonna waltz through these games.

We are outsiders. We will need to maintain good form and hope our rivals drop points. But it ain't over yet, and I just absolutely cannot understand anyone being prepared to accept that it is (even hypothetically) when the worst that can happen (realistically) is finishing 4th, and the best that can happening is winnning the title.

 

[cockjol]

why set sights so low? playing best footy in the league right now and have a chance of catching top two...much will depend on games against arse, chelsea and utd, but do well in those and anything is possible

 

[nightgoat]

I have to admit I think our realistic title hopes went up in smoke when 3 points turned into 0 late on against City, but that doesn't mean we are out of the race as we still have to play Utd and both teams will drop points (so will we)

So did a lot of people, but then within just over a week we were back to the same points gap as we were before the City game with them losing at Everton and us beating Wigan.

The day after we lost to City, Hansen said we were now out of the title race, but even he admitted we're still in it on Saturday.

 

[$hoguN]

Utd rarely throw away leads at the top of the league when they get to this stage in the season, so imo we have next to a 0% chance of winning the league. We may well be able to close the gap, or pip City to second but I really think Utd are in the groove now.

 

[Hot-Spur]

I wouldn't take it, the season is far too exciting to end now, and I am sure there will be a few more twists and turns yet.

 

[StartingPrice]

Utd rarely throw away leads at the top of the league when they get to this stage in the season, so imo we have next to a 0% chance of winning the league. We may well be able to close the gap, or pip City to second but I really think Utd are in the groove now.

I make United clear favourites, now - apparently BetFair don't.
But if we beat them, and they have to go to the Etihad, they could suddenly look more vulnerable.
The sense of my own eyes tells me that they are defensively vulnerable, anyway.
But I think they have an easier run-in than Citeh, and they have that vital experience, don't they :shrug:

 

[$hoguN]

I make United clear favourites, now - apparently BetFair don't.
But if we beat them, and they have to go to the Etihad, they could suddenly look more vulnerable.
The sense of my own eyes tells me that they are defensively vulnerable, anyway.
But I think they have an easier run-in than Citeh, and they have that vital experience, don't they :shrug:

Utd's performance at Chelsea showed the difference it makes. Conversely, our loss at City showed how our lack of that experience may cost us. I think we may well get a result against Utd, but I think they will beat City. Basically, I know Utd look vulnerable defensively, however their ability to fight for each other to achieve the results will be the deciding feature this season.

 

[Tryph]

This is like that scene from Escape to Victory. They're just about to go through the tunnel to freedom and Michael Caine says "hang on lads. We can win this".

So I say no.

 

[camaj]

I think we'll finish 3rd anyway but allow me to answer the question

What we're really asking is what's more likely finishing below 4th or winning the title. I'm assuming that no one cares too much about finishing second, 2nd,3rd and 4th are pretty much equal. I don't think it's likely that we'd win the title, City are far too far ahead and we've played them twice, there's an outside chance but that's it. I don't think we'll finish outside the top 4 either but there's a much bigger chance of that than us winning the title so the decision is take 3rd or risk dropping out of the top4. 3rd any day

 

[Misfit]

That loss against Citeh was such a heartbreaker. We're right back in the race though.

Still, the table could have been Yanited on 58, Citeh on 57 and us on 56 had the Citeh game gone the other way. Small margins. Next 5 games are massive. Come out of that lot with 10 pts and our final 8 games should give us a shot of pushing right to the last couple of weeks.

 

[Totsfan]

To be fair with Arsenal away and Man U at home your mate is probably very confident too

I don't think so, he just hates us with a passion and goes with anyone that plays against us. Not sure why though, who doesn't like Spurs? I know so many United, Liverpool and Everton fans who all have us as the second side they support. For the record, my mate supports Juventus.

 

[AngerManagement]

So did a lot of people, but then within just over a week we were back to the same points gap as we were before the City game with them losing at Everton and us beating Wigan.

The day after we lost to City, Hansen said we were now out of the title race, but even he admitted we're still in it on Saturday.

I think more than the physical points difference was the significance of that result, not even so much the result as the manner of it

The way we had all three points on a plate when Bale rounded Lescott only to see it missed and worse yet a point snatched away even later in such dramatic fashion

It had the feel of a season defining moment, much like Cantona's header did up at St James Park

Obviously each game in reality is only worth 3 points and both Man city and Utd have shown themselves more than capable of dropping unexpected points so the race is by no means actually over just yet.

Its just that when you watch a team like ours being given numerous unexpected opportunties and failing to really take them, Bale's one on one was a big moment too, you, well I just get the feeling it is destined to be a what if and if only type of season.

I stand by my statement that we must beat Man U at home to stand any chance of winning the league, fail to do so and I will suggest that is good night. You simply cannot lose the big six pointer games at key times in a title run in. Utd are experts at getting the job done at the business end of things and I Don't expect them to slip up as much as they have previously this season.

We should be closer to the front runners than we are, we deserve to be, the fact we are not leaves things out of our hands and requiring a lot of luck. Its possible yes, unlikely yes, and to me anyway the Utd game at home is key.

In fact the 3 key games coming up Chelsea/Arsenal away and Utd home...the amount of points we amass from them will tell us all we need to know about our title challenging creditials I believe.

 

[Shanks]

The thing that gets me now, is the Stoke game and the City game.

2 referee decisions cost us 4 points, and had defoe been an inch taller, it would be 6 points.

We'd be right up there in contention. THats how close we've come, 2 shitty decisions.

 

[$hoguN]

The thing that gets me now, is the Stoke game and the City game.

2 referee decisions cost us 4 points, and had defoe been an inch taller, it would be 6 points.

We'd be right up there in contention. THats how close we've come, 2 shitty decisions.

Actually, Adebayor has had 3 disallowed wrongly, so it could be even closer