The Race For 4th 3.0

[AngerManagement]

Bellamy > Suarez

Still a blow to lose him for 8 games and will be interesting to see if there is any type of backlash that affects his ability to stay in England long term. I am sure the whole issue will now be brushed under the carpet though.

Its hard to gauge how well Liverpool are doing really, their Liverpool ex's on MOTD rave about them but they do seem to be bias (like when they talk about how great Adam and proclaim Suarez the second coming of King Ken)

They've spent a lot of money and are better than they were when Daglish took over, but to be fair they were in a false position at the time. Gerrard coming back is bound to be a big boost but in all honesty I feel we are better than them on pretty much every level and they shouldn't be a threat to us for CL qualification this year (I feel their reputation as a big club still buys them points off the smaller teams)

 

[Fingerspitzengefühl]

Bellamy > Suarez

Still a blow to lose him for 8 games and will be interesting to see if there is any type of backlash that affects his ability to stay in England long term. I am sure the whole issue will now be brushed under the carpet though.

Its hard to gauge how well Liverpool are doing really, their Liverpool ex's on MOTD rave about them but they do seem to be bias (like when they talk about how great Adam and proclaim Suarez the second coming of King Ken)

They've spent a lot of money and are better than they were when Daglish took over, but to be fair they were in a false position at the time. Gerrard coming back is bound to be a big boost but in all honesty I feel we are better than them on pretty much every level and they shouldn't be a threat to us for CL qualification this year (I feel their reputation as a big club still buys them points off the smaller teams)

I think you could say we're in a slightly precarious position at the moment. I believe we are better than Liverpool, and have been for a couple of seasons. I also believe we are better than Arsenal and Chelsea this season. The precarious part is that while we attempt to cement our position above these teams we're vulnerable to them improving on the back of their old successes. It seems to take a long time for attitudes to change in football and we probably need several seasons of out performing these clubs before we can draw players to us over them. A sustained title challenge will help that though I think.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Tomorrow really is a scarily massive game.

If we win then I really think we can start looking up at 1st but if we lose we're much more in a battle for 4th than a battle for 1st.

I'm very very nervous.

 

[Yiddo1982]

I presume Suarez's 8-game ban includes two Carling Cup semi final matches. Gay.

 

[walworthyid]

Tomorrow really is a scarily massive game.

If we win then I really think we can start looking up at 1st but if we lose we're much more in a battle for 4th than a battle for 1st.

I'm very very nervous.

Me too!

If we had no fitness concerns I would still be nervous, but confident that we would win. However, losing Lennon is a big, big blow and we will not be as strong without him.

But if we want to be serious this is what we have to get used to, high pressure games week in week out. This game is massive, but so is Norwich away, Swansea away etc and every other game we play until the end of the season. That is what it is like at the top.

If we show anything like our best, we will have an excellent chance of winning.

 

[Mr Pink]

Tomorrow really is a scarily massive game.

If we win then I really think we can start looking up at 1st but if we lose we're much more in a battle for 4th than a battle for 1st.

I'm very very nervous.

Yes that's pretty much the way of it. Its not a must win game but its certainly going to be a defining one and that makes me nervous.

This is it, the world will be watching to see if we really are the real deal come Thursday evening.

I'm just dissappointed that we won't be fielding the same midfield that has done so well lately but providing Bale is fit we should still be pretty strong.

 

[Brewster]

Adebayor's more productive - 0.62 goals per game out of 4.2 shots per game, 0.33 assists per game, 1.8 key passes and 37 passes per game

Suarez's stats - 0.33 goals per game out of 4.6 shots per game, 0.067 assists per game, 2.1 key passes and 34 passes per game

Adebayor's wasteful alright, but Suarez is the most wasteful in terms of shot conversion out of strikers who've scored more than three goals. This is probably because he has a habit of moving off wide and shooting from a more difficult position.

I'm not convinced losing Suarez is terrible for them since they're not exactly prolific in the first place. Their strength is their organized defense. Remember in 09/10 we lost Modric just as he was picking up form, then Lennon right after a brilliant first half to the season, but that provided the opportunity for other players to fill the vacuum. I think you'll see a step up in productivity from Bellamy, Carroll, and Henderson.

Wow, Suarez is definitely a player for the cameras (like a goalkeeper making a simple save look great). Appears better than he is! I agree though, especially Bellamy i think he will become important for them over the next month or two now.

Tomorrow really is a scarily massive game.

If we win then I really think we can start looking up at 1st but if we lose we're much more in a battle for 4th than a battle for 1st.

I'm very very nervous.

Same, it reminds me of when we played Chelsea after beating Arsenal at home, and we knew we had to win to have a chance of CL qualification! Have to win. We'll be iin an amazing position if we win with our game in hand.

I presume Suarez's 8-game ban includes two Carling Cup semi final matches. Gay.

Yep, the next 8 competitive matches.

 

[nicdic]

He's got 14 days to appeal first, so will come into effect after that I'd guess.

 

[Mr Pink]

He's got 14 days to appeal first, so will come into effect after that I'd guess.

It will, but the 14 days will start ticking when they receive the written reasons from the FA - I think.

I might be wrong about that actually.

 

[StartingPrice]

I'm glad...think it will make Terry easier to wind up - hope the crowd gets at him from the off, again, as it clearly affects him.

 

[Byron]

I presume Suarez's 8-game ban includes two Carling Cup semi final matches. Gay.

and the 3.30 at kempton!

 

[WhiteHart4Ever]

If anyone watched Liverpool today they were shocking and in the end lucky to even get the points. Main issue for me the lack of good movement up front. Without Suarez - the only one who does that now - for 8 games as well really can't see them finish above 6th. Arsenal though are looking solid...

A win tomorrow would be great, a draw fine, a loss could see us lose important momentum I'm afraid!

 

[Locotoro]

Did I just see that right??

Man City 78% possession against Stoke!!

I guess that's how you beat them

 

[walworthyid]

Arsenal are the biggest threat imo. Pool just don't have enough quality and with the loss of Suarez they will be bang in trouble.

The scum are just churning out the results and they still have Sagna, Wilshere and Diaby to come back. I think that we are better than them, but they have the experience to just keep on going.

It is going to be one hell of a hard season, but a win tomrrow would go a long way towards making a statement of intent. 5 pts clear of Chelsea, 6 points clear of the scum, 7 pts clear of pool, with that game in hand!

Can't wait for tomorrow!

COYS

 

[walworthyid]

Did I just see that right??

Man City 78% possession against Stoke!!

I guess that's how you beat them

They did what we should have done. They pushed right up to the halfway line and just kept Stoke penned in. They have no pace to get out so there is just no threat. We allowed Stoke to get a head of steam up and push us back.

I'm still upset about that bloody game!

 

[Hot-Spur]

What a crap bunch of results for us tonight, how pants are villa? and Fulham seem to have totally folded :roll:

 

[shaqTHFC]

Arsenal are the biggest threat imo. Pool just don't have enough quality and with the loss of Suarez they will be bang in trouble.

The scum are just churning out the results and they still have Sagna, Wilshere and Diaby to come back. I think that we are better than them, but they have the experience to just keep on going.

It is going to be one hell of a hard season, but a win tomrrow would go a long way towards making a statement of intent. 5 pts clear of Chelsea, 6 points clear of the scum, 7 pts clear of pool, with that game in hand!

Can't wait for tomorrow!

COYS

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

[bananafish]

Arsenal were actually quite poor today against a flabbergastingly dire Villa side. I'd take a bit of encouragement from that - it shows Arse can be taken apart by mediocre sides. (I don't follow the 'play shit and win = title-winning mentality' aphorism - I think 'play shit and win' means you're a lucky bastard).

Liverpool are dropping off now, good. Luckily they've wasted so much money already.

Let's just take care of our own business now.

 

[StartingPrice]

What a crap bunch of results for us tonight, how pants are villa? and Fulham seem to have totally folded :roll:

Stoke looked like they had been, ahem, bought...they just didn't even try to compete - which is the one thing Stoke do (love them or hate them for it).

The Wigan result was a good one, though...looking more and more like the Dippers will be cut slightly adrift.
And any hint of the Geordies being genuine challengers for the CL spot should now, finally, be dispelled.

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

Playing Stoke at home or at Britannia can't be compared. Stoke drew with Chelsea and Man Utd at Britannia and won against us and Liverpool.

I'm pretty sure we'll win them at the Lane.