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Race for the Top 4 - 2018/19

Where will we finish in the league ?


  • Total voters
    423
  • Poll closed .

Deggsy56

Active Member
Aug 17, 2018
496
361
I was one of those who predicted 5th and I stand by that. I believe Pool, City and Chelsea will be the top three and we will be fighting it out with the Goons - who have finally discovered how beneficial working off the ball as well as with it is - and United, who surely have to either improve under Mourinho, or a new leader. Given the injuries to key players we keep picking up, and a wafer thin depth of squad with real quality, I am struggling to see better than 5th. And 6th is by no means out of the question. Especially if we keep getting those injuries and refuse to swallow our pride and accept the necessity of strengthening in January.

Agreed - and all that because we bought no-one and it's showing.Think we'll struggle anyway this season.
 

freeeki

Arsehole.
Aug 5, 2008
11,836
69,426
You are implying that we have had an easy run of fixtures, which is absolute tosh.

We have.

50% of our games have been against teams currently sitting in the bottom 4.

We've also played Brighton who are currently 13th.

Of the three teams currently above 13th in the league whom we've played, we've lost to two of them. The one anomaly is Manchester United.

I'm not sure how much of an easier run of 8 games you can realistically expect in a league consisting of 20 teams.

Of our next six games, 50% of them are against teams above us - City, Chelsea and Arsenal. Once they're out the way we'll have a clearer idea of how things are looking.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
We have.

50% of our games have been against teams currently sitting in the bottom 4.

We've also played Brighton who are currently 13th.

Of the three teams currently above 13th in the league whom we've played, we've lost to two of them. The one anomaly is Manchester United.

I'm not sure how much of an easier run of 8 games you can realistically expect in a league consisting of 20 teams.

Of our next six games, 50% of them are against teams above us - City, Chelsea and Arsenal. Once they're out the way we'll have a clearer idea of how things are looking.

Or, using the exact same stats you are using but with a differeny slanted interpretation: Newcastle, Brighton, Huddersfield, Watford, all in the premier league last season and all away fixtures, and Utd home/ Liverpool away both in the top 20% of teams last season and we faced them both within our first 5 matches. Only Fulham and Cardiff, newly promoted teams, were ‘easy fixtures’, the rest were not.

Arsenal have played both those two newly promoted teams, and two of last season’s top four.

Manchester City have already had all three newly promoted sides, and two of last season’s top four.

Chelsea have had only one newly promoted side but also only one side (Liverpool) from last season’s top four.

Manchester Utd have only had one newly promoted side, but also only one side from last season’s top four (us).

Only Liverpool have had a particularly hard or easy early set of fixtures (obviously hard) with them having played us, Chelsea, Manchester City already and no newly promoted sides.

Add in that we’ve played more away games than everyone else and it paints a very positive picture of our start. I am not saying that this picture is accurate, I am saying that your unbelievable negative picture isn’t and my point is that you are being deliberately selective to fit your pessimistic agenda rather than taking an objective view. You are right in that we won’t have a better idea until more games have been played, but to imply that we’ve screwed up an easy start is absolute fudge. In terms of fixture spread, we’ve had about the same as Arsenal, Manchester Utd and Chelsea, easier than Liverpool and harder than Manchester City.
 

freeeki

Arsehole.
Aug 5, 2008
11,836
69,426
Or, using the exact same stats you are using but with a differeny slanted interpretation: Newcastle, Brighton, Huddersfield, Watford, all in the premier league last season and all away fixtures, and Utd home/ Liverpool away both in the top 20% of teams last season and we faced them both within our first 5 matches. Only Fulham and Cardiff, newly promoted teams, were ‘easy fixtures’, the rest were not.

Arsenal have played both those two newly promoted teams, and two of last season’s top four.

Manchester City have already had all three newly promoted sides, and two of last season’s top four.

Chelsea have had only one newly promoted side but also only one side (Liverpool) from last season’s top four.

Manchester Utd have only had one newly promoted side, but also only one side from last season’s top four (us).

Only Liverpool have had a particularly hard or easy early set of fixtures (obviously hard) with them having played us, Chelsea, Manchester City already and no newly promoted sides.

Add in that we’ve played more away games than everyone else and it paints a very positive picture of our start. I am not saying that this picture is accurate, I am saying that your unbelievable negative picture isn’t and my point is that you are being deliberately selective to fit your pessimistic agenda rather than taking an objective view. You are right in that we won’t have a better idea until more games have been played, but to imply that we’ve screwed up an easy start is absolute fudge. In terms of fixture spread, we’ve had about the same as Arsenal, Manchester Utd and Chelsea, easier than Liverpool and harder than Manchester City.

Where on earth have I said we've screwed up our start? I said quite clearly that it's great we've managed 18 points from 8 games.

Our start in terms of results has been perfectly decent, especially given that we've not played particularly well in most of those games, however we cannot shy away from the fact that we've had a pretty easy run of fixtures.

And yes, Huddersfield who have scored 4 goals all season does count as an easy fixture, to suggest otherwise is ridiculous.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
We have.

50% of our games have been against teams currently sitting in the bottom 4.

We've also played Brighton who are currently 13th.

Of the three teams currently above 13th in the league whom we've played, we've lost to two of them. The one anomaly is Manchester United.

I'm not sure how much of an easier run of 8 games you can realistically expect in a league consisting of 20 teams.

Of our next six games, 50% of them are against teams above us - City, Chelsea and Arsenal. Once they're out the way we'll have a clearer idea of how things are looking.

funny thing is Man City have played 6 teams that we have played so far

Chelsea have played 4, 3 in the bottom half struggling for relegation, 2 others that are down there

Liverpool just the 1 but 2 others are relegation fodder, they have now had the toughest start though

Arsenal 2 tough starters but last 6 and have all been v relegation fodder

Man U 3 or 4 if you include against us, and yet again 2 or 3 in the relegation fight
 

homer hotspur

Well-Known Member
Dec 7, 2014
2,868
4,637
I was one of those who predicted 5th and I stand by that. I believe Pool, City and Chelsea will be the top three and we will be fighting it out with the Goons - who have finally discovered how beneficial working off the ball as well as with it is - and United, who surely have to either improve under Mourinho, or a new leader. Given the injuries to key players we keep picking up, and a wafer thin depth of squad with real quality, I am struggling to see better than 5th. And 6th is by no means out of the question. Especially if we keep getting those injuries and refuse to swallow our pride and accept the necessity of strengthening in January.
I also predicted 5th on the basis that I thought one of Chelsea or Arsenal would improve sufficiently to come past us ,with Liverpool. I didn't anticipate Man Ure's situation although, as you say, that could well be short lived. Champions league qualification , via top 4, looking increasing difficult due to Chelsea and Arsenal's performances and, unfortunately, those 2 teams will also be standing in our way in any Europa League attempt! My only difference with your top 3 is that I still favour City to win it .
 

hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,382
Need to get into the new stadium as soon as possible

Every home game in there will be easier to win than in Wembley, even if the benefit is marginal

Since this season looks to be highly competitive at the top, even marginal benefits may make the difference between CL and EL football

Like Pacino says in AGS: "The inches we need are all around us!"
 

knowlespurs

Well-Known Member
May 31, 2012
2,741
8,514
It's a tough league. Equal best start to in PL era and we are 5th
Think the main issue is it’s a shit league , apart from us losing to Watford I don’t think any other team in the top 5 has dropped 3 points to anyone outside the top 5
 

JCRD

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2018
19,153
30,013
I want us to win the league

I actually think its a good opportunity for us, everyone is focusing on the three **** clubs, the other **** clubs people are looking out for, which leaves us to go under the radar. We will most likely get out of the CL (although really dont want to)

Fuck everyone - i want the league
 

ralvy

AVB my love
Jun 26, 2012
2,505
4,603
Where on earth have I said we've screwed up our start? I said quite clearly that it's great we've managed 18 points from 8 games.

Our start in terms of results has been perfectly decent, especially given that we've not played particularly well in most of those games, however we cannot shy away from the fact that we've had a pretty easy run of fixtures.

And yes, Huddersfield who have scored 4 goals all season does count as an easy fixture, to suggest otherwise is ridiculous.

To say that we had an easy run of fixtures implies that we're good enough to have games in the PL that we the fans perceive as easy. That, to me, says we're also good enough to be competitive against the best teams in this league.

FFS, we were competitive against Barcelona while having a decimated squad. Yeah, we haven't been playing pretty so far this season, but the fact that we're strong enough to make a stand against Barcelona means that we shouldn't be fearing any team in the PL. The rise of Lamela and Lucas, and the return of the Kane we know are reasons enough for me to feel like we can challenge anyone in the PL, even City or the mighty Liverpool. Once the likes or Dele, Eriksen, Vertonghen and Dembele start returning to fitness, we will be ready to make our claim for the title.
 

Trees

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
1,534
4,203
To say that we had an easy run of fixtures implies that we're good enough to have games in the PL that we the fans perceive as easy. That, to me, says we're also good enough to be competitive against the best teams in this league.

FFS, we were competitive against Barcelona while having a decimated squad. Yeah, we haven't been playing pretty so far this season, but the fact that we're strong enough to make a stand against Barcelona means that we shouldn't be fearing any team in the PL. The rise of Lamela and Lucas, and the return of the Kane we know are reasons enough for me to feel like we can challenge anyone in the PL, even City or the mighty Liverpool. Once the likes or Dele, Eriksen, Vertonghen and Dembele start returning to fitness, we will be ready to make our claim for the title.
Like your optimism, but how we are playing now is light years from our play 2 seasons ago.
 

ralvy

AVB my love
Jun 26, 2012
2,505
4,603
Like your optimism, but how we are playing now is light years from our play 2 seasons ago.

I'm not just being an optimistic. I think Lamela playing the way he is will infect the rest of our squad and we will become a pressing machine once again, I could see a bit of that in the Barcelona game the way Winks and Davies grew into the game. Lamela is more important to us that most realize... we lost most of our pressing culture the season he went down, but now he's back and he's hungrier than ever.

Add to that the sight of Harry Kane returning to form, and we have in place two of the three main elements that once made us such a strong team under Pochetino: a pressing team with Harry Kane as our main beacon of light. The third element was our defensive strength, which may be restored once Jan and Serge return to fitness.
 

newbie

Well-Known Member
Jul 16, 2004
6,051
6,342
I was one of those who predicted 5th and I stand by that. I believe Pool, City and Chelsea will be the top three and we will be fighting it out with the Goons - who have finally discovered how beneficial working off the ball as well as with it is - and United, who surely have to either improve under Mourinho, or a new leader. Given the injuries to key players we keep picking up, and a wafer thin depth of squad with real quality, I am struggling to see better than 5th. And 6th is by no means out of the question. Especially if we keep getting those injuries and refuse to swallow our pride and accept the necessity of strengthening in January.

Chelsea look good but I think they will drop points due to lack a quality striker sooner or later.
 

newbie

Well-Known Member
Jul 16, 2004
6,051
6,342
Or, using the exact same stats you are using but with a differeny slanted interpretation: Newcastle, Brighton, Huddersfield, Watford, all in the premier league last season and all away fixtures, and Utd home/ Liverpool away both in the top 20% of teams last season and we faced them both within our first 5 matches. Only Fulham and Cardiff, newly promoted teams, were ‘easy fixtures’, the rest were not.

Arsenal have played both those two newly promoted teams, and two of last season’s top four.

Manchester City have already had all three newly promoted sides, and two of last season’s top four.

Chelsea have had only one newly promoted side but also only one side (Liverpool) from last season’s top four.

Manchester Utd have only had one newly promoted side, but also only one side from last season’s top four (us).

Only Liverpool have had a particularly hard or easy early set of fixtures (obviously hard) with them having played us, Chelsea, Manchester City already and no newly promoted sides.

Add in that we’ve played more away games than everyone else and it paints a very positive picture of our start. I am not saying that this picture is accurate, I am saying that your unbelievable negative picture isn’t and my point is that you are being deliberately selective to fit your pessimistic agenda rather than taking an objective view. You are right in that we won’t have a better idea until more games have been played, but to imply that we’ve screwed up an easy start is absolute fudge. In terms of fixture spread, we’ve had about the same as Arsenal, Manchester Utd and Chelsea, easier than Liverpool and harder than Manchester City.

Teams will start playing 3 at the back and two holding Mids against Liverpool, sit deep hit them on the counter.
 

tevezito

In the cup for Tottingham
Jun 8, 2004
925
1,536
I was one of those who predicted 2nd and I stand by that. I believe City will be the top one and we will be fighting it out with the Pool - who will have finally discovered how beneficial a one-season wonder is - and Chelsea, who surely have to either improve their centre forwards or get rid of David Luiz. Given the returns from injuries to key players we are starting to benefit from, and a squad with real quality, I am struggling to see worse than 2nd. And 1st is by no means out of the question. Especially if we keep getting into better form and refuse to swallow our pride and accept the necessity of agreeing with the Liverpool love-in in the media.
 

ohtottenham!

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2013
7,497
13,029
Chelsea look good but I think they will drop points due to lack a quality striker sooner or later.
Think that's just a part of it, but I think they look very vulnerable defensively. Southampton stretched their defence time and again, especially down the flanks, and had some good scoring opportunities. The 0-3 result wasn't a fair reflection of the game.

We've also flattered to deceive this season, but we've been dealing with key injury/fitness issues. I can't see past City for the title this season, especially as a more pragmatic Pep seems to be adapting his approach to the PL challenges like he did against Liverpool at Anfield. And, he has a hell of a squad to rotate.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Liverpool drop off in intensity as Mane and Salah, their key players, have had a lot of game time for a while, which will catch up with them.

We're right in the top 4 mix. We haven't got up to speed yet, played pretty poorly up to now. We've had Lloris, Vertonghen, Alli, Eriksen, Dembele, Son, Wanyama, Lamela...all out at varying points. I may have even forgotten a player or two. Yet, we're still in 5th, and that's just on goal difference.
 

thefierycamel

Well-Known Member
Dec 31, 2014
2,015
5,128
Has anyone thought that our squad is limiting our performances? The reason we've been average in almost every game is because the midfield isn't good enough. It's good that we're winning but even with a mostly fit team we weren't turning in amazing performances. We lack that player who can raise our level up to where Chelsea, city and Liverpool are. Sure, it's gotten worse with the injuries but Dembele and Eriksen weren't unplayable at the beginning of the season when they were fit. Having them back should still get us past 14 teams but it won't help us against the top 3. It also looks like we aren't going to have a lot of these players for the big matches coming up so the current team is about all we've got for the time being, and I can't see the performances lifting with that 11. City and Chelsea will steamroll over a midfield of Winks, Sissoko and Dier and those guys lack the creative element to hurt these teams the other way. If we want to improve we need better players
 
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