Race for 4th (or higher) 4.0

[Yid121]

A draw please in Everton Chelsea today! (an Everton win will do) Wouldn't mind a QPR win over Liverpool either

 

[ajspurs]

I don't really expect us to thrash anyone at home, if I'm honest. Our home performances haven't been great but a rare early goal could just give us the boost throughout the match to finish with a comfortable scoreline.

 

[WiganSpur]

I agree that Everton are a real threat (but they have to sell before buying), but I still think we need Chelsea to suffer a setback now. They've been on a good run since they came back from Japan but it'll only take a couple of poor results for the discontent to show itself again.

In terms of financial power then Chelsea, City and Man U should be head and shoulders above everyone else, but in terms of the teams they can put out Chelsea really aren't so much stronger than us. We have to believe we can stay with them and fight for third all the way.

If we are going to finish ahead of Chelsea then getting a result at the Bridge is a must.

 

[Mr Pink]

I don't really expect us to thrash anyone at home, if I'm honest. Our home performances haven't been great but a rare early goal could just give us the boost throughout the match to finish with a comfortable scoreline.

Lesser sides are all pretty much using the same blueprint coming to WHL, sitting very deep with the sole aim of being tough to breakdown. Some do it better than others though and whilst Reading have stopped the rut in the last few games there not in the same league as defending compared to the likes of Stoke. I think they'll be feeling the affects of that hard fought win over the Pikey's as well.

Even without Bale we should be looking to win this quite handsomely, I want our GD increased - could be important come the end of the season. I know that's getting ahead of myself and any win will do, but we should have far too much for them and I'm hoping Lennon carries on with his good form, we'll need him even more on Tuesday and no doubt they'll target him even more with Bale being out.

 

[ajspurs]

Lesser sides are all pretty much using the same blueprint coming to WHL, sitting very deep with the sole aim of being tough to breakdown. Some do it better than others though and whilst Reading have stopped the rut in the last few games there not in the same league as defending compared to the likes of Stoke. I think they'll be feeling the affects of that hard fought win over the Pikey's as well.

Even without Bale we should be looking to win this quite handsomely, I want our GD increased - could be important come the end of the season. I know that's getting ahead of myself and any win will do, but we should have far too much for them and I'm hoping Lennon carries on with his good form, we'll need him even more on Tuesday and no doubt they'll target him even more with Bale being out.

I certainly agree, it's a tactic that's working well for visiting teams. I expect Reading to play five in midfield with Pogneg (however you spell his name) leading the line so it will be a packed midfield. They did manage to hold Man City for 90 minutes but anything can happen when a team has there day, I guess, and they still lost.

I do sound like I'm bigging them up but they are a poor team still. We are capable of thrashing anyone at WHL, like we have been for a few years but this season at home we've been mostly flat with a few good spells of play throughout our games. Hopefully this time we'll get the goals that the our possession warrants. There's still a lot of work to be done in concern with our home form, IMO, which is a strange thing to be saying with us sitting 3rd in the table but hey, United are top and I'm sure they're saying the same for different reasons.

 

[Super Tottenham]

No way Everton will be in touching distance by the end of the season. Just like West Brom.

Why not? They tend to have a very good second half of the season.

 

[dontcallme]

Not ready to write Everton off yet. They are playing well and have a strong first team.

Not sure if we have enough to catch Chelsea. Guess I'm hoping for a draw but would be perfectly happy with an Everton win.

 

[Pringle]

im hoping for a Chelsea win. I would much rather have 4 teams competing for the team 4 than 5 and Chelsea are above Everton and are likely to finish higher so i want them.

 

[BK007]

I'd rather Arsenal and Chelsea, but especially Chelsea, get nothing.

 

[nicdic]

Why not? They tend to have a very good second half of the season.

Wafer thin squad incapable of keeping form for a whole season. They've just decided to turn up for the first half this year.

 

[Mr Pink]

Wafer thin squad incapable of keeping form for a whole season. They've just decided to turn up for the first half this year.

i don't think they'll make fourth but they'll be top 6 for sure...

 

[camaj]

So, after today we have a 5pt gap on Arsenal, although they have a game in hand. I'm surprised at how poor our odds are at finishing top 4, 2.5 in some places. I would think we've got a better shot than Arsenal, we've been without two key players all season and we've only just got Parker back. I can't see us throwing this lead away, we look organised and (more) disciplined now and that tells me one bad result won't turn into a nose-dive.

I think we can write WBA off and I think Everton are hanging in there. I don't think either team can make up 6pts

 

[guiltyparty]

So, after today we have a 5pt gap on Arsenal, although they have a game in hand. I'm surprised at how poor our odds are at finishing top 4, 2.5 in some places. I would think we've got a better shot than Arsenal, we've been without two key players all season and we've only just got Parker back. I can't see us throwing this lead away, we look organised and (more) disciplined now and that tells me one bad result won't turn into a nose-dive.

I think we can write WBA off and I think Everton are hanging in there. I don't think either team can make up 6pts

Oh god, now you've done it!

 

[mark87]

Never thought, after the summer transfer window, that I would have this much optimism coming into January 2013, we are improving the performances and have some key players coming back from injury (hopefully BAE doesn't leave also).

Top 4 is well within our reach, we just gotta keep up our impressive away form and keep picking up 3 points from games.

 

[tototoner]

PP odds

To finish in top 4 6/5
To finish outside top 4 4/7

 

[dontcallme]

January league fixtures:

Spurs: QPR(a), Man Utd (h), Norwich (a)
Arsenal: Man City(h), Chelsea(a), West Ham(h), Liverpool(h)
Everton: Newcastle (a), Swansea (h), Soton(a), West Brom (h)
Chelsea: QPR(h), Stoke (a), Arsenal (h), Reading (a)

Could be a month to get further ahead of Arsenal. If Everton don't keep up this month then I imagine they'll fall away.

 

[Misfit]

Not saying our players aren't good because most of them are. Very good in many cases. However, whilst we're not there just yet, there are faint beginnings of a team here. A team greater than the sum of its parts. That prospect excites me and I'm chuffed to bits to see a spurs team playing as well without the ball as they do with it. First time I've witnessed it in a genuine sense. Not just a game here or there where we heroically defend but actually still making the opponents play at our tempo even when they have the ball.

Watch us lay an egg and fail abysmaly to continue the above in the next game. Just to spite me.

It bodes well for us this season and might just see us get top 4 again even with our apparent weaknesses in a couple of areas.

 

[chinaman]

A draw between Everton and Chelsea will keep us in 3rd place for another week; and hopefully we'll be re-inforcement in by then.

 

[ClintEastwould]

A draw between Everton and Chelsea will keep us in 3rd place for another week; and hopefully we'll be re-inforcement in by then.

Whatt? Where ya been mate?

 

[Yid-ol]

A draw between Everton and Chelsea will keep us in 3rd place for another week; and hopefully we'll be re-inforcement in by then.

Call me crazy but I chelsea may win that game