"Spurs will struggle to make top 4"

[slartibartfast]

I agree with him Spurs will struggle. Fortunately for us not as much as Arsenal or Liverpool so shouldn't be a problem

 

[davidmatzdorf]

Giving Bournemouth a good hiding at Wembley just before the international break is fucking crucial imo though. We do that, providing we beat Huddersfield, and we'll be set up nicely for a huge October.

I'm pretty sure we play Bournemouth at Wembley after the international break (14 Oct). We play Huddersfield away before the international break (30 Sept).

England play Slovenia on 5 Oct.

 

[Mr Pink]

I'm pretty sure we play Bournemouth at Wembley after the international break (14 Oct). We play Huddersfield away before the international break (30 Sept).

England play Slovenia on 5 Oct.

Ah yes, I stand corrected.

 

[sly1]

Last season, people thought Man City were unbeatable after 5 games. Let's see how it goes when their porous defence starts getting put under some sustained pressure.

Man Utd have played very well against a weak selection of teams. Again, let's see how they fare - and how the fans react - when they concede a few goals against better opposition and Mourinho, following his habit, pulls their attacking players back into their shell.

Liverpool have the same imbalance between attack and defence, but more so. And they have European football added to their workload this season.

Other than Spurs, the only other contender that has a reliable, robust defence is Chelsea. Even though attacks win matches, defences, the cliché goes, win titles,

...

I recall that a couple of seasons ago at this stage one of the journalists on the Guardian Football Weekly podcast knowingly remarked on how people criticize the German and French leagues as being uninteresting because the title races are foregone conclusions, but that it looked like Man City would have title sown up by Christmas. Of course, Man City then went on to falter after winning their first five games (as they did again the following season) and Leicester won the title against all odds.

(The above struck me as interesting at the time because it was a strangely paradoxical example of the normal football pundit/fan fallacy: of claiming to know for sure what simply looks very likely to be the case, as though claiming to be absolutely certain of something that everyone already suspects demonstrates superior knowledge or understanding. In his example he seemed to be sure that at Christmas he could be sure that Man City would win the title; though how he could be sure of that without being sure then and there of City winning the title is a mystery.)

 

[archiewasking]

I'm pretty sure we play Bournemouth at Wembley after the international break (14 Oct). We play Huddersfield away before the international break (30 Sept).

England play Slovenia on 5 Oct.

I've got my Bournemouth tickets already

 

[yido_number1]

I'd

Not a Lawro hater but despite Liverpool clearly being a couple of players short, I bet that his predictions will once again see them soaring unbeaten to the premier league title.

say Liverpool are between 4 and 10 players short of winning the league or finishing top four. They would be as follows:

GK, back up GK
RB, LB, CB, CB, CB reserve, CB reserve, Rb reserve, LB reserve.

 

[Spurslove]

To be fair if any team were playing at Wembley all season I'd be sceptical of them getting top 4.
I think we'll do it, just, because even at Wembley we're still better than Arsenal and Liverpool. No one else is close to us. And the media have not mentioned anywhere that we have arguably been missing 2 starting 11 players in Rose and Wanyama. We'll move much quicker once Rose is back. Just wish he'd hurry up.

I think that's being a little harsh on Ben, who has been magnificent in Rose's absence. For me, Davies has been one of our great 'unsung heroes' of late. He's an absolute beast, hard as nails, and bloody dangerous coming forward, pretty much like Danny was a year or so ago.

 

[Sweech]

I would actually take 4th now if offered.

These are the posts that need to be remembered when we fall just short of the title and people get upset.

Not you specifically Trix, but the people who agree with this post and write similarly only to have a meltdown later when we end up exceeding the 4th place finish.

 

[Sweech]

We wont finish top 4 imo. Lawro (gasp) isnt being particularly controversial here, and we do need a ball playing midfielder (as winks looks to have regressed a little after his bad injury) and a wide player. Balance of the side seems off atm, with too few attack minded players. This is more evident at Wembley

Mancs, chavs and red scouse are better than us at present and arent playing home games in a temporary home and i expect will pull clear. Think we'll be battling with goon for europa places.

Not sure how you can talk about balance and in the same breath say City and Liverpool are better. Both of whom have very good attacks and awful defences.

Not to mention as I pointed out before Chelsea and Liverpool will now have to cope with Champions League and we won't see the results of the extra fixtures on them until nearer Christmas.

 

[double0]

What surprises me is how much Man United are backed. I look at their team, then compare to ours team so scratch my head to see whereabouts they're stronger...goal keeper apart which to my mind isn't a massive difference I'd take all our departments over theirs. Man United possibly have a much stronger squad.

 

[Trix]

What surprises me is how much Man United are backed. I look at their team, then compare to ours team so scratch my head to see whereabouts they're stronger...goal keeper apart which to my mind isn't a massive difference I'd take all our departments over theirs. Man United possibly have a much stronger squad.

They are very confident and scoring plenty of goals, which is why they are being backed by many. Fact is though they have had an incredibly easy start to the season and it could all come tumbling down very quickly. On the other hand they may have built up so much confidence that it carries them somewhat in the same way it did Leicester when they won the title.

 

[Sweech]

They are very confident and scoring plenty of goals, which is why they are being backed by many. Fact is though they have had an incredibly easy start to the season and it could all come tumbling down very quickly. On the other hand they may have built up so much confidence that it carries them somewhat in the same way it did Leicester when they won the title.

The problem is that "goal scoring" is all stat watching. Despite all the 4-0 wins they've actually struggled to break teams down. Several of their games have seen them really not create anything at all and then a lucky break gives them a 1-0 lead and then in the last 10 minutes they score 3 off of the counter attack when the opposition puts all their players forward.

Their schedule has been incredibly easy thus far as you say so it will be interesting to see how they look against better sides.

 

[Bulletspur]

To be fair, if I had his job, I'd have Spurs winning every game as well.

Nope. I wouldn't. I would call it as I see it. If I believe Spurs are likely to lose I would say it.

 

[tttcowan]

Like fuck we will.

 

[knowlespurs]

i would take 4th
however city started the same last season, and neither them or united have played anyone major away

 

[nailsy]

These are the posts that need to be remembered when we fall just short of the title and people get upset.

Not you specifically Trix, but the people who agree with this post and write similarly only to have a meltdown later when we end up exceeding the 4th place finish.

I get what you're saying, but I think most people on here think we'll finish between 2nd and 4th this season with a risk of finishing lower down if key players get injured. 4th Place would mean Champions League football at the new ground next season and finishing above Arsenal again so I can see the argument for taking 4th place now.

 

[Basil Brush]

We will make top 4 due to our defence.

Easily best defence in the league, and teams get points via defence imho.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

Remember when we ruined Man Citys party last year.

 

[McArchibald]

Barkley and Sessegnon in January would help to keep our top 4 spot...

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

i would take 4th
however city started the same last season, and neither them or united have played anyone major away

Neither have we yet..