The Race For 4th 3.0

[StartingPrice]

someone mentioned Man C and Champions League.

they play away in the league every single time after a CL match.

Looks like Beetroot Face still holds some sway with the Fixtures Fixers, then :wink:

 

[Misfit]

RE Citeh - good. They are playing with a stacked deck, it's only fair the game is rigged against them in every conceivable way.

 

[Super Tottenham]

Poor City, as Mancini says they still don't have a strong enough squad :roll:

 

[Woland]

And they'll lose Yaya for the ACN.

Toure's partaking in the ACN would affect Citeh in no way. After all, they've got one Owen Hargreaves - he can manage 57' on the pitch for them.

 

[spurslenny]

This weeks installment includes...

Wigan v Spurs

Arsenal v Bolton

Liverpool v Wolves.

the more I think about it, the more I'm convincing myself that Wolves will cause more problems than I initially thought, if Bolton score first at the emirates then we could see the goons crumble again, and we are flying atm, so anything less than a convincing away win will be a bit disappointing.

 

[talkshowhost86]

the more I think about it, the more I'm convincing myself that Wolves will cause more problems than I initially thought, if Bolton score first at the emirates then we could see the goons crumble again, and we are flying atm, so anything less than a convincing away win will be a bit disappointing.

Really? Being realistic, in our last two games we've beaten 9 men and laboured a bit to a win over Wolves. Yes we've played well but to think that we'll walk to victory over Wigan is very presumtuous.

We should be beating teams like that if we want to be top 4, but let's not get ahead of ourselves...it'll be a tough game.

 

[StartingPrice]

the more I think about it, the more I'm convincing myself that Wolves will cause more problems than I initially thought, if Bolton score first at the emirates then we could see the goons crumble again, and we are flying atm, so anything less than a convincing away win will be a bit disappointing.

Further to TalkShow's observations: although I have been very vocal that this is the best squad we have had for decades, and this is probably the most vulnerable the Goons have been in years, I would be very wary of assuming they are gonna flop in any particular game. They still have plenty of good players, and it would be just like them to click and leave us with egg on our faces again. I'll just hope Bolton give them a tough and exhausting game, and maybe pinch a result.

 

[littlemandefoe]

Liverpool against Wolves will be an interesting one. They love Kenny up there but a few people wonder if he is in there because of the size of his popularity or if its the fact he may be a good manager. I reckon he is decent and right now, is Liverpool's best hope.

 

[RichSpur58]

Really? Being realistic, in our last two games we've beaten 9 men and laboured a bit to a win over Wolves. Yes we've played well but to think that we'll walk to victory over Wigan is very presumtuous.

We should be beating teams like that if we want to be top 4, but let's not get ahead of ourselves...it'll be a tough game.

I agree, but if we have top four ambitions these are the games where we need maximum points. With Ade's firepower we should have a good chance of a win.

 

[walworthyid]

Really? Being realistic, in our last two games we've beaten 9 men and laboured a bit to a win over Wolves. Yes we've played well but to think that we'll walk to victory over Wigan is very presumtuous.

We should be beating teams like that if we want to be top 4, but let's not get ahead of ourselves...it'll be a tough game.

Not sure I agree! Wolves are a very decent team, admittedly they were without Adam Hamil and Matt Jarvis who we should have bought when we were linked with him at Gillingham about 4 years ago, but they are no walkover at home. We looked solid and eventually won the game very comfortably.

Liverpool was a victory over 11 as we were slaughtering them from the word go.

We shouldn't presume that we will coast and win a wigan, but we are getting a head of steam up and have shown over the last 2 seasons that we are more than capable of going on lengthy runs of form.

A win is a must, particularly as they are now without Rodellega!

 

[JollyHappy]

Just looked at the odds and very interesting. As you'd expect Manure, Citeh and Chelscum are heavily odds on for a top 4 finish.

But then Liverpool are slightly odds on, then we are pretty much level around 7/4 with the Arse.

It's interesting on 2 levels. First why the scousers should be ahead of us but also there's never been a time that I remember where we've been level pegging in the odds with our Woolwich friends so early in a season.

All goes to show that what we are all saying about this being one of our strongest squads is recognised by others. Wish I'd bet on us early on when I'm sure we would have been long odds!

 

[Mr Pink]

Really? Being realistic, in our last two games we've beaten 9 men and laboured a bit to a win over Wolves. Yes we've played well but to think that we'll walk to victory over Wigan is very presumtuous.

We should be beating teams like that if we want to be top 4, but let's not get ahead of ourselves...it'll be a tough game.

We totally out played Liverpool eleven against eleven, so that's not entirely accurate.

Wolves have been a very difficult nut to crack at home and yes we huffed and puffed a bit in the first half but were worthy winners based on our performance in the second. Given we had two players making their debuts there as well I think all in all we've bounced back brillantly.

Wigan arn't over physical and if there are similar levels of effort on show we should be expecting to win.

 

[StartingPrice]

Just looked at the odds and very interesting. As you'd expect Manure, Citeh and Chelscum are heavily odds on for a top 4 finish.

But then Liverpool are slightly odds on, then we are pretty much level around 7/4 with the Arse.

It's interesting on 2 levels. First why the scousers should be ahead of us but also there's never been a time that I remember where we've been level pegging in the odds with our Woolwich friends so early in a season.

All goes to show that what we are all saying about this being one of our strongest squads is recognised by others. Wish I'd bet on us early on when I'm sure we would have been long odds!

Believe it or not, simply because there are a large number of Scouse fans (they have a massive fan-base), putting money on them - that draws the odds in.
I get your point though - we've finished above them two years running, had far the better of results over the alst three seasons, and, in the last few matches, comprehensively outplayed them. And yet so many observer's (from pundits to fans, of all hues), still just expect them to be better than us :grin:

We totally out played Liverpool eleven against eleven, so that's not entirely accurate.

Wolves have been a very difficult nut to crack at home and yes we huffed and puffed a bit in the first half but were worthy winners based on our performance in the second. Given we had two players making their debuts there as well I think all in all we've bounced back brillantly.

Wigan arn't over physical and if there are similar levels of effort on show we should be expecting to win.

And bear in mind, that was Adebayor and Parker's debut half and Ade's first half of competitive football in a while.

 

[lifeof...]

Sorry i haven't read through all of this, but from the OP is deemed that Man u City CFC are deemed as obvious / guaranteed top 3 ? and the rest fighting it for 4th spot?

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

I think we should be hunting down Chelsea for 3rd. I do think Man City and Man Utd will be beyond us, judging by early form and depth of the respective squads.

Chelsea though, I don't think they're better than us. It's closer now than it's been in over a decade, that's for sure.

I would say we could do with another striker though, and shifting one on (Pav, ideally).

 

[talkshowhost86]

I agree, but if we have top four ambitions these are the games where we need maximum points. With Ade's firepower we should have a good chance of a win.

Completely agree. If we want top 4 these are the games we should win. I'm just not sure we've seen enough to warrant this slight arrogance from some that we will win comfortably.

Not sure I agree! Wolves are a very decent team, admittedly they were without Adam Hamil and Matt Jarvis who we should have bought when we were linked with him at Gillingham about 4 years ago, but they are no walkover at home. We looked solid and eventually won the game very comfortably.

Liverpool was a victory over 11 as we were slaughtering them from the word go.

We shouldn't presume that we will coast and win a wigan, but we are getting a head of steam up and have shown over the last 2 seasons that we are more than capable of going on lengthy runs of form.

A win is a must, particularly as they are now without Rodellega!

Again I agree that a win is a must, but not sure about the rest. We were pretty ropey against Wolves in the first half and could have easily been behind at half time.

Against Liverpool it's just impossible to tell because the game changed when Adam went off. I've seen us blitz teams in the opening minutes and then fall apart before (even against City we started well).

Sadly although we have shown we are capable of going on runs of form, we are also capable of getting poor results when the team doesn't turn up. I hope Harry has a handle on that this year.

We totally out played Liverpool eleven against eleven, so that's not entirely accurate.

Wolves have been a very difficult nut to crack at home and yes we huffed and puffed a bit in the first half but were worthy winners based on our performance in the second. Given we had two players making their debuts there as well I think all in all we've bounced back brillantly.

Wigan arn't over physical and if there are similar levels of effort on show we should be expecting to win.

Yes they were both good performances and if we play to our best I think we'll win. What I don't understand is this wild swing from total despair after the first two games to a belief we'll win the league after the next two.

I think the Wigan game will tell us alot about this team. If we get a win there then I'll start to be excited about what we can achieve. But I've seen so many false dawns in the last 10-15 years that I'm going to be sensible about it for now.

 

[lifeof...]

I think we should be hunting down Chelsea for 3rd. I do think Man City and Man Utd will be beyond us, judging by early form and depth of the respective squads.

Chelsea though, I don't think they're better than us. It's closer now than it's been in over a decade, that's for sure.

I would say we could do with another striker though, and shifting one on (Pav, ideally).

That was one of the reasons i was asking, as personally i think its still to early to say cfc or city are a forgone conclusion for top 4

CFC are a bit of a dark horse with there new, untried in the prem, manager. And i think mentally Mancini may will return to form and play to often not to loss.

Apart from united, who i cannot argue with as a forgone conclusion for well 1st.

We are in the mix for a top 4 finish and are fighting against probably 5 other teams for 3 places.

 

[SydneySpur]

If we are thereabouts in January and bring in another quality striker and a good wide player or GFTS we are a good chance for 3rd and should finish 4th at worst. However this is if the following stay fit for the course of the season - Adebayor, Modric, one of Gallas or King & one of Parker or Sandro. We can cover everyone else.

 

[spurslenny]

I'm not being arrogantly confident, it's more a case of we've beaten a Wolves team that were on a good run of form away, and then comprehensively outplayed Liverpool. To follow that up with anything less than a win in the form we're in would be a bit of a let down.

You should know by now that I'm an eternal pessimist, but I've got a good vibe about the way we've played recently with Parker and Ade strengthening the spine of our team.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I'm not being arrogantly confident, it's more a case of we've beaten a Wolves team that were on a good run of form away, and then comprehensively outplayed Liverpool. To follow that up with anything less than a win in the form we're in would be a bit of a let down.

You should know by now that I'm an eternal pessimist, but I've got a good vibe about the way we've played recently with Parker and Ade strengthening the spine of our team.

So do I but my point is that we haven't seen enough from this team yet to suggest we'll just stroll into Wigan and win. If we don't I, like you, will be disappointed but it would hardly be a surprise if Spurs let us down would it?

I just think we need to have gone on a bit more of a run before we start seeing these as games that we should win easily.