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Race for the Top 4 - 2018/19

Where will we finish in the league ?


  • Total voters
    423
  • Poll closed .

vegassd

The ghost of Johnny Cash
Aug 5, 2006
3,356
3,330
I'm starting to think the orders have been go out there do enough, and don't go full speed yet because we have to use our fitness carefully (my opinion). the trouble has been we have looked so unbalanced because not all XI have had a good day.

I can't remember exactly which game it was - possibly West Ham - when I noticed what seemed to be a 1-man-only press from us, as if the front four had been told to play it that way. It stood out because it did seem organised and not just that the players were all knackered from the start.

It made me wonder if Poch feels like he has to pull some magic out of the bag himself at this point and is tweaking things that might be best left alone. The formation changes and sometimes odd starting lineups might be a part of that... like he's trying to compensate for the WC fatigue and lack of signings.

Hopefully the positive play that we saw last night will be a sign of things to come and a return to us playing the way we have for the past two seasons.
 

SixtyFour

Well-Known Member
May 20, 2008
232
612
Update..

The (expected) ‘top 6’ are judged against the following ridiculously high expectation: they will win ALL home games; they will win all away games – except those against ‘top 6’ rivals, which they will lose. That would give a total of 105 points.
As the season progresses a running total is kept of points dropped or gained against that standard (examples: City draw at Wolves = minus 2; City win at Arsenal = plus 3).

After10 games
(deviations from expectation shown)

Reflecting the actual table, City and Liverpool marching relentlessly ahead. London struggling to keep pace…

City +5 Arse(a)+3; Wolves(a)-2; Liv(a)+1; Spurs(a)+3
Liv +2 Spurs(a)+3; Chels(a) +1; City(h)-2
Arse -5 City(h)-3; Palace(a)-2
Spurs -6 Utd(a)+3; Wat(a)-3; Liv(h)-3; City(h)-3
Chels -6 Wham(a)-2; Liv(h)-2; Utd(h)-2
Utd -10 Bright(a)-3; Spurs(h)-3; Wolves(h)-2; Wham(a)-3;Chels(a)+1
 

L-man

Misplaced pass from Dier
Dec 31, 2008
9,979
51,364
We don't have a midweek rest until 15th Jan. Our squad is ridiculously stretched at the minute. We'll do remarkably well to stay in the top four the other side of Christmas
 

Chinaspur

Well-Known Member
Oct 1, 2005
2,913
5,280
https://www.soccerstats.com/homeaway.asp?league=england

Top of the league. The away league that is.
Actually tremendously encouraging, only Chelsea have a better ppg away than us (on a much smaller sample).

The table is warped by our unusual schedule and should mean we have a massive advantage going into the new year.

All those bothered by our form should remember that playing away so much is likely to disrupt rhythm.
 

Saoirse

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
6,143
15,550
https://www.soccerstats.com/homeaway.asp?league=england

Top of the league. The away league that is.
Actually tremendously encouraging, only Chelsea have a better ppg away than us (on a much smaller sample).

The table is warped by our unusual schedule and should mean we have a massive advantage going into the new year.

All those bothered by our form should remember that playing away so much is likely to disrupt rhythm.
And at home we've got two wins, and two losses to the best two sides in the league this year. If - and it's obviously a big if - we can ensure a strong home record against everyone else, despite Wembley and hopefully a bedding-in period at our new home, we'll be in a very good place.
 

dickieven

Well-Known Member
Mar 31, 2006
2,041
2,930
OK so lets look at what the 'experts' are saying based on the current league table...

1st Liverpool 27 pts from 11 games - Klopp is the messiah. Best attacking team in the league. The only team thatwill push City close to the title.

2nd Man City 26 pts from 10 games - Best team ever!

3rd Chelseas 24 pts from 10 games - Fantastic start, great new manager, now looking title contenders again.

4th Tottenham 24 pts from 11 games - Didn't sign anyone on the summer, crisis with the new stadium, not at the level of previois years, too many players off form or tired from the World Cup.

5th Arsenal 23 pts from 11 games - great new manager, unbeaten for a zillion games since the opening two games of the season

So despite us being written off by the pundits and to be honest a lot of our own fans on here we are right in the mix. We have played 7 out of 11 away games. The 4 'home' games have not been at home (and this is a big negative difference to last season being at Wembley as we should not be there).

It is not all bad, despite what it feels like in the Wolves v Spurs match thread!
 

hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,382
Update..

The (expected) ‘top 6’ are judged against the following ridiculously high expectation: they will win ALL home games; they will win all away games – except those against ‘top 6’ rivals, which they will lose. That would give a total of 105 points.
As the season progresses a running total is kept of points dropped or gained against that standard (examples: City draw at Wolves = minus 2; City win at Arsenal = plus 3).

After10 games
(deviations from expectation shown)

Reflecting the actual table, City and Liverpool marching relentlessly ahead. London struggling to keep pace…

City +5 Arse(a)+3; Wolves(a)-2; Liv(a)+1; Spurs(a)+3
Liv +2 Spurs(a)+3; Chels(a) +1; City(h)-2
Arse -5 City(h)-3; Palace(a)-2
Spurs -6 Utd(a)+3; Wat(a)-3; Liv(h)-3; City(h)-3
Chels -6 Wham(a)-2; Liv(h)-2; Utd(h)-2
Utd -10 Bright(a)-3; Spurs(h)-3; Wolves(h)-2; Wham(a)-3;Chels(a)+1

Shouldn't Arsenal's loss to Chelsea and draw with Liverpool be in there too?
 

hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,382
OK so lets look at what the 'experts' are saying based on the current league table...

1st Liverpool 27 pts from 11 games - Klopp is the messiah. Best attacking team in the league. The only team thatwill push City close to the title.

2nd Man City 26 pts from 10 games - Best team ever!

3rd Chelseas 24 pts from 10 games - Fantastic start, great new manager, now looking title contenders again.

4th Tottenham 24 pts from 11 games - Didn't sign anyone on the summer, crisis with the new stadium, not at the level of previois years, too many players off form or tired from the World Cup.

5th Arsenal 23 pts from 11 games - great new manager, unbeaten for a zillion games since the opening two games of the season

So despite us being written off by the pundits and to be honest a lot of our own fans on here we are right in the mix. We have played 7 out of 11 away games. The 4 'home' games have not been at home (and this is a big negative difference to last season being at Wembley as we should not be there).

It is not all bad, despite what it feels like in the Wolves v Spurs match thread!

I'll admit that I'm one of those 'doom and gloomers', but fair play to the team they've kept in the fight; like a boxer on the ropes

I suppose I'm just worried that the disjointed performances are an indication of a up-coming implosion of results

Hopefully we'll get a few new faces in come January and that will give us a lift
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,986
81,914
I did mostly write off Chelsea and completely Arsenal at the beginning of the season. Looking like all six will be putting in a fight.

I think we will be able to get through the season picking up regular points that comes from the team knowing each other. It might not be pretty but I think we'll get top four still.
 

TheChosenOne

A dislike or neg rep = fat fingers
Dec 13, 2005
47,873
49,702
OK so lets look at what the 'experts' are saying based on the current league table...

1st Liverpool 27 pts from 11 games - Klopp is the messiah. Best attacking team in the league. The only team thatwill push City close to the title.

2nd Man City 26 pts from 10 games - Best team ever!

3rd Chelseas 24 pts from 10 games - Fantastic start, great new manager, now looking title contenders again.

4th Tottenham 24 pts from 11 games - Didn't sign anyone on the summer, crisis with the new stadium, not at the level of previois years, too many players off form or tired from the World Cup.

5th Arsenal 23 pts from 11 games - great new manager, unbeaten for a zillion games since the opening two games of the season

So despite us being written off by the pundits and to be honest a lot of our own fans on here we are right in the mix. We have played 7 out of 11 away games. The 4 'home' games have not been at home (and this is a big negative difference to last season being at Wembley as we should not be there).

It is not all bad, despite what it feels like in the Wolves v Spurs match thread!

This situation is real odd - two out of our next three are away : Palace and Arsenal, either side of the Chelsea Wembley game which will show the tally widen to 5:9
 

fluffybunnyuk

Well-Known Member
Oct 16, 2017
2,210
2,473
I think our best start for a half season in premiership was 2011/12 42points from 19 games.W13 D3 L3 F37 A20.

So to match that we need 18 points from 8....ie win 5 more and draw 3.or 6/0... with +8 more goal difference.

Beat Palace
Draw Chelsea
Draw Arsenal
Beat Southampton
Beat Leicester
Beat Burnley
Beat Everton
Beat Bournemouth

That looks possible. Likely? Dunno
EDIT: Something else occured to me. The games v Arsenal and chelsea are irrelevant if we win the others...I'm sure they''ll be pleased to know that.
 
Last edited:

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
21,905
78,641
I think our best start for a half season in premiership was 2011/12 42points from 19 games.W13 D3 L3 F37 A20.

So to match that we need 18 points from 8....ie win 5 more and draw 3.or 6/0... with +8 more goal difference.

Beat Palace
Draw Chelsea
Draw Arsenal
Beat Southampton
Beat Leicester
Beat Burnley
Beat Everton
Beat Bournemouth

That looks possible. Likely? Dunno
EDIT: Something else occured to me. The games v Arsenal and chelsea are irrelevant if we win the others...I'm sure they''ll be pleased to know that.
Should be able to pick up a healthy amount of points from that run to stay in the running of top 4.

And this is why the stadium move could prove to be so pivotal. Get in there in January and add a signing or two and I think we will see a huge lift in positivity that will galvanise us to the finish line. I think around 18 points is a good assessment to and good platform to operate with.
 

dickieven

Well-Known Member
Mar 31, 2006
2,041
2,930
This situation is real odd - two out of our next three are away : Palace and Arsenal, either side of the Chelsea Wembley game which will show the tally widen to 5:9

Yes it is very strange. I think we switched one home match to an away game, Watford I think. But even if that was at home we would still be 6 - 8 home v away after 14 games.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
This situation is real odd - two out of our next three are away : Palace and Arsenal, either side of the Chelsea Wembley game which will show the tally widen to 5:9

Why is it odd the club knew months ago stadium wouldn’t be ready so we negotiated with PL that our fixture list would be loaded away for 1st half of season. It didn’t just happen by chance.
 

TheChosenOne

A dislike or neg rep = fat fingers
Dec 13, 2005
47,873
49,702
Why is it odd the club knew months ago stadium wouldn’t be ready so we negotiated with PL that our fixture list would be loaded away for 1st half of season. It didn’t just happen by chance.


And you think that I don't know that ?

I said 'it's odd' as in 'peculiar' I didn't need a lecture.
 

jurgen

Busy ****
Jul 5, 2008
6,711
17,169
Seems like one of the reasons we are still up there and technically having a very strong start, and others are running so well, is that so many of the teams in this league are shite. Time was that promoted sides were banana skins for us but given the stats on that front it shows how good and professional we’ve become in the last few years.

In this context I can imagine us getting a very good points total but also all the other 4/5 around us doing so as well..
 

Deggsy56

Active Member
Aug 17, 2018
496
361
Forget about goal difference! ManC averaging exactly 3 per game already. Spurs 5 points and 14 goals down on them but they beat us only 1-0 . We should feel lucky. !!
 
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