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Race for 4th (or higher) 4.0

Adam456

Well-Known Member
Jul 1, 2005
4,453
3,117
After what happened last season....and with some of the more pessimistic types on here....I imagine that a few wouldn't want to resurrect this but I do

We've spent the whole season in or in touch with 3rd/4th place, despite the well documented missing personnel. We have Parker and 3 of our preferred back four to come back, Lloris settling in, Dembele back after 8 games, Dempsey massively improved and Ade finally getting some regular practice AND we have money to spend in January if the right player becomes available. Reasons that we should continue to be in the race IMO

So this weekend:

Spurs vs Swans
Reading vs Scum
Stoke vs Ever

And blue scum away in the World Club championship

Think we'll make more points on scum ? Will they drop points with Wenger (slightly ridiculously IMO) under pressure ? What about Chelsea being in World Club thing. Good or bad ?
 

dav3j

SC Supporter
Jan 28, 2011
2,995
760
Here we go again....

For what it's worth I can see all our rivals (Chelsea excluded obviously) picking up points, so we need a win against Swansea. I'm hopefuly we'll do a deent job of it at home.
 

sweyid

Well-Known Member
Jun 25, 2011
2,963
3,854
Stoke away is always a tough one, so I'd bet on a draw there.

Arsenal shouldn't really have a problem with Reading, but if Reading can get a goal or two like they did against United Arsenal could very well crumble and give away points.

Swans are good this year and I'm not overly positive. Us winning and Reading and Stoke getting points would certainly be a good thing ahead of Christmas.
 

beats1

Well-Known Member
Feb 22, 2010
30,006
29,551
Here we go again....

For what it's worth I can see all our rivals (Chelsea excluded obviously) picking up points, so we need a win against Swansea. I'm hopefuly we'll do a deent job of it at home.
Chelsea are in the race for fourth they havent played like a team all season, they have been saved by that amazing 3 in their 4231, I still think they may slip up third
 

playboypaul

EverTheOptimist
Jun 22, 2012
1,677
1,865
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA Arse-hole-nal just lost to Bradford!!!!

Hopefully that will knock their confidence. Chelsea will have a long trip and be tired from it so its entirely possible they will drop points too. Hopefully we do well against Swansea but they have proved that they are no mugs and we will have to watch ourselves.
 

AngerManagement

Well-Known Member
May 15, 2004
12,518
2,739
Swansea is a big test, we could easily have dropped points at home to them last year and they are no mugs as they showed at Arsenal. If we can win that game on the back of the huge disappointment at Goodison it will show excellent strength of character from our lads.

Easy games for our rivals, this week is all about making sure we do what we need to do
 

gregga

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2005
2,281
1,312
Nice post OP.

For all people's moaning this season we are still in the mix for 4th coming into the xmas period and that's the main thing.

With mad Roman having sacked Di Matteo for the FSW it's hard to see Chelsea not being dragged into the race too rather than pulling away with the Manchester clubs.

For all the class Everton have shown this season they haven't maintained a sustained challenge for 4th place since they qualified for the playoffs over 7 years ago. WBA have already started their tumble to earth.

Personally I think it's betweem us, the Goons (can't see them finishing mid-table unfortunately) and Chelsea for the two remaining CL spots, as it was last season (yes I know Chelsea finished 5th but I think they fell away at the end knowing they had the CL final coming up).

We need to make sure we've put a bit of distance between ourselves and Chelsea by the time they return from the WCC.
 

Kingellesar

This is the way
May 2, 2005
8,706
9,209
Evertons problem will be too many draws imo. Plus everyone seems to be hitting form at the moment at the same time....do they have that one player who can lift them when the team hits a slump? Not so sure.

Arsenal should ease past Reading, we did, they are terrible in defence and will leak goals every game. Wouldn't surprise me if they finished bottom. Shame, a game away to Stoke or Fulham would've been ideal for Arsenal (for us anyway) but I think they would happily play Reading away rather than any other team at the minute.
 

alamo

Don't worry be happy
Jun 10, 2004
5,047
7,226
I'm fairly confident about the Swansea game and am always optmistic when we play at home (yes, even this year!).

I think they will be tired after a real battle tonight in the League Cup QF, all the more so if Boro manage to hold them to extra time.

And if both Bale and Scotty are back then I reckon we will have too much for them.
 

jazz15c

SC Supporter
Jul 29, 2010
1,410
2,202
Said since the start of the season that we'll be 4th, I have no reason whatsoever to adjust that prediction. After United, City (most of the time) and Chelsea (when they eventually sort their shit out), we are the best of the rest.

We're currently 5th and we've barely started.

Hugely confident of a 4th place finish AT LEAST.
 

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
54,770
99,331
Although I don't think Liverpool will finish fourth they'll certainly slip into the race IMO, like us they have a decent festive period, as do Arsenal - Everton have the toughest games.

Ultimately it will be between us and the Goons though.
 

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
54,770
99,331
Swansea is a big test, we could easily have dropped points at home to them last year and they are no mugs as they showed at Arsenal. If we can win that game on the back of the huge disappointment at Goodison it will show excellent strength of character from our lads.

Easy games for our rivals, this week is all about making sure we do what we need to do

eh, how on earth is Stoke away easy for Everton?
 

Adam456

Well-Known Member
Jul 1, 2005
4,453
3,117
I definitely see Stoke taking a point off Everton. Reading's performance could go either way -encouraged or shutting themselves about backlash. Never going to happen but any spec about Guardiola to replace Wenger will be helpful in unsettling players. Still don't see them dropping points to Reading sadly.

Hoping Chelsea lose badly in WCC. We want Benitez to continue as long as poss but as a lame duck. Good to see they have injuries ar DM. Traditionally a huge strength for them and allows Hazard etc.huge freedom
 

Star_of_Davids

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2005
490
281
Reading are awful and probably the away game Arsenal would most want to pick themselves up from last night (I will laugh if they drop points though). Swansea at home is a must win if we are serious about a Top 4 finish. I know Arsenal lost to them but we lost to Wigan who are a far worse team. I would hope that Everton drop points (preferably all 3) at Stoke. That's by far the hardest of the 3 matches
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,985
81,903
Reading just aren't good enough for this league. Arsenal will almost certainly pick up 3 points this weekend.

Stoke are beatable and think Everton will also get 3 points this weekend.
 

Spurger King

can't smile without glue
Jul 22, 2008
43,881
95,147
We've done briliantly to still be in contention for a top 4 place this season, given the disjointed state of our squad at the moment.

If (<.... and that's a big if) Levy backs AVB in January I can see us pushing on and finishing strongly. We've got a new training ground, a new training regime, and hopefully a manager that will rotate his team once he's not having to contend with a mountain of injuries.
 

AngerManagement

Well-Known Member
May 15, 2004
12,518
2,739
Do you not consider Everton a rival this season?
I think they'll be up there come the end of the season just as Newcastle were last year yea, but I personally still consider Arsenal and Chelsea to be the main rivals to us in terms of contesting places 3rd through 5th
 

DEFchenkOE

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2006
10,527
8,052
Who have Liverpool got? I wouldn't rule them out, I think they've been playing quite well tbh.
 
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