Race for the Top 4 - 2018/19

[Saoirse]

I still reckon we'll come 3rd. We're better than Arsenal and United, little chance of getting City and only an outside one of Liverpool, but Chelsea aren't anything spectacular and are going to run into fatigue issues with this lack of any rotation.

 

[JCRD]

I still think once we play Aurier and get Rosie Rose back we will finish top.

Fuck everyone else. We are lulling them into a false sense of security before BAM BAM BAM we hit the entire league.

 

[spursfan77]

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 is where I find the people who, in regards to the stadium, say “oh I wish we’d just stay away for the rest of the season now” aren’t thinking of the whole picture and the effect the fixtures can have on the team.

I firmly believe that if we are in the stadium for the second half of the season and having so many home games there will be such a massive advantage for us. I can’t see it being anything but a success because when we get there we will be so proud/excited/glad that it will be a great place for our players to play in.

 

[coys200]

Liverpool will have played 7 home games and us 4 after the weekend. If we can go into international break just 3 pts behind them we are in a great position.

Sorry that’s wrong lol

It’s actually Chelsea Arsenal and city on 7 homes games. To have x3 home games in hand over Chelsea and Arsenal is pretty significant if we are still in current position after weekend.

 

[shelfboy68]

Liverpool will have played 7 home games and us 4 after the weekend. If we can go into international break just 3 pts behind them we are in a great position.

Sorry that’s wrong lol

It’s actually Chelsea Arsenal and city on 7 homes games. To have x3 home games in hand over Chelsea and Arsenal is pretty significant if we are still in current position after weekend.

Agreed as long as we make it count of the 3 defeats so far in the league 2 have been at home, but yes if we get it right it could be to our advantage.

 

[Davo99]

Agreed as long as we make it count of the 3 defeats so far in the league 2 have been at home, but yes if we get it right it could be to our advantage.

To Liverpool and Man City though. Not many teams get anything off us at Wembley nowadays.

 

[jezz]

To Liverpool and Man City though. Not many teams get anything off us at Wembley nowadays.

We should have got something against City and even though we didn't deserve anything against Pool we should of had a penalty in last minute.

 

[Lighty64]

Agreed as long as we make it count of the 3 defeats so far in the league 2 have been at home, but yes if we get it right it could be to our advantage.

The only way to make it count would be winning away at the etihad, and anfield or they both drop points elsewhere which with City I don’t see it

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

This is where I find the people who, in regards to the stadium, say “oh I wish we’d just stay away for the rest of the season now” aren’t thinking of the whole picture and the effect the fixtures can have on the team.

I firmly believe that if we are in the stadium for the second half of the season and having so many home games there will be such a massive advantage for us. I can’t see it being anything but a success because when we get there we will be so proud/excited/glad that it will be a great place for our players to play in.

....until we start making excuses about it being a new stadium that we need to get used to, and cite all the other teams that also struggled in their new stadiums too.

 

[shelfboy68]

The only way to make it count would be winning away at the etihad, and anfield or they both drop points elsewhere which with City I don’t see it

Have to say that I agree with you although our away form in the league is good I can't see us getting anything from those away game's.

 

[coys200]

Our top 3 scorers have 21 Kane 10 lamela 6 moura 5.That equals city top 3 on 21. Plus we have Son dele eriksen that haven’t even got going yet. I’m struggling to think of another club bar city that has x6 reliable scorers.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Our top 3 scorers have 21 Kane 10 lamela 6 moura 5.That equals city top 3 on 21. Plus we have Son dele eriksen that haven’t even got going yet. I’m struggling to think of another club bar city that has x6 reliable scorers.

City, Liverpool and Chelsea's goal difference is far better than ours at this stage, which would point to them winning games by a greater margin.

 

[vegassd]

Our top 3 scorers have 21 Kane 10 lamela 6 moura 5.That equals city top 3 on 21. Plus we have Son dele eriksen that haven’t even got going yet. I’m struggling to think of another club bar city that has x6 reliable scorers.

I would suggest that this is because we are playing our lads in every competition whereas the City lads are being rotated. I'm not sure where your stats are from, and I'm not saying they are wrong, but from what I can see Aguero, Sterling and Mahrez have a combined 17 league goals and Kane, Lamela and Moura have 14. What I'm saying is it would be interesting to see the total appearances of the two groups if you have that stat available?

It's certainly encouraging that we have been getting wins on the board without our best XI and whilst playing pretty crap football. Seeing the creativity we have when Eriksen and Alli are on the pitch is great (even if they might not be 100% yet) and when we combine that with Moura's directness, Lamela's great form and the ability for Son to get on a tear it seems positive to me.

But let's not underestimate the attacking threat of Chelsea and Liverpool. Both of those teams are full of talent which means that even if the likes of Firmino or Willian are not banging in goals there are plenty of other scoring options for both teams to go 11 undefeated.

 

[coys200]

I would suggest that this is because we are playing our lads in every competition whereas the City lads are being rotated. I'm not sure where your stats are from, and I'm not saying they are wrong, but from what I can see Aguero, Sterling and Mahrez have a combined 17 league goals and Kane, Lamela and Moura have 14. What I'm saying is it would be interesting to see the total appearances of the two groups if you have that stat available?

It's certainly encouraging that we have been getting wins on the board without our best XI and whilst playing pretty crap football. Seeing the creativity we have when Eriksen and Alli are on the pitch is great (even if they might not be 100% yet) and when we combine that with Moura's directness, Lamela's great form and the ability for Son to get on a tear it seems positive to me.

But let's not underestimate the attacking threat of Chelsea and Liverpool. Both of those teams are full of talent which means that even if the likes of Firmino or Willian are not banging in goals there are plenty of other scoring options for both teams to go 11 undefeated.

It’s all competitions. The point is really about depth. Our top 3 rival the others and we have Son dele eriksen in the wings. Apart from city I don’t think any other top 6 can rival our depth in consistent scorers.

Chelsea have hazard morata willian Pedro maybe Barkley now.

Liverpool have salah mane firmino maybe shaqiri Sturridge.

 

[worcestersauce]

City, Liverpool and Chelsea's goal difference is far better than ours at this stage, which would point to them winning games by a greater margin.

That's true, however Liverpool have only scored two goals more than us, 21 -19 so, oddly enough, it's actually their defence that is creating that difference. Me being the eternal optimist I can't help but think if we can cut out the defensive errors we are in with a chance.

 

[rossdapep]

....until we start making excuses about it being a new stadium that we need to get used to, and cite all the other teams that also struggled in their new stadiums too.

That could happen but I do believe that our case is very different.

We didn't move in to start the season and when that happens I think the impact is much slower. The opposition have as much anticipation and desire going in to a new season and that's where teams come unstuck. Both Burnley and Swansea were able to take advantage because it was early in the season and we weren't that positive about playing at Wembley, I think our new stadium will be an entirely different scenario to approach for these teams. I think the players, fans and Poch are all desperate to move in, therefore I think it will have a massive wave of optimism and positivity that will give the team extra energy and desire to win.

That's why we need to move in in the new year. If we are still in Wembley March, April and May I think we will see a similar finish to last season - players gassing over the finish line. That may not be enough this year.

 

[Chinaspur]

7 wins out of 8 games away this season.

 

[chinaman]

Just hope some of the teams ahead of or around us drop points tomorrow.

 

[olliec]

Think we will finish 4th. However if Hazard fucks off to Madrid in January b ecause the way he keeps talking about it. Ill enjoy watching Chelsea collapse, and will finish 3rd.

 

[bubble07]

With just including our away games we would be 6th and only 2 points behind the scum