The Race for the Title, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or even 6th Thread.

[Shadydan]

It’s impossible to predict what will happen. I think it’s going to be one hell of a ride though.

I think we've too much to do personally and I think if we go deeper in the EL we will prioritize that, still I still prefer to be apart of the conversation at the moment, nothing worse than going into the end of the season drifting along in mid table.

 

[Tucker]

I think we've too much to do personally and I think if we go deeper in the EL we will prioritize that, still I still prefer to be apart of the conversation at the moment, nothing worse than going into the end of the season drifting along in mid table.

Given how inconsistent everyone has been, it’s hard to see anyone let alone us putting a run together.

Too early to rule anything but the title out though imo.

 

[H-SF]

I’d be confident in us finishing above West Ham, Leicester, Everton and Villa but we will have to be good to finish ahead of one of Chelsea, United and Liverpool considering our European commitments.

 

[ardiles]

I’d be confident in us finishing above West Ham, Leicester, Everton and Villa but we will have to be good to finish ahead of one of Chelsea, United and Liverpool considering our European commitments.

Good thing that those 3 clubs also have European commitments.

 

[Nayim60yards]

I thought the west ham game was the tipping point. Win that and it was back on. Get beat and its now too difficult

We will be above West Ham on goal difference if we win our next two as they don't play again until next Monday so if they're in the race we're in it! It's up to us to repair the damage we did.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

I think we've too much to do personally and I think if we go deeper in the EL we will prioritize that, still I still prefer to be apart of the conversation at the moment, nothing worse than going into the end of the season drifting along in mid table.

Going into the end of the season drifting along in the bottom 5 ?

 

[Shadydan]

Going into the end of the season drifting along in the bottom 5 ?

At least we'd have something to play for ?

 

[Marty]

Going into the end of the season drifting along in the bottom 5 ?

Just curious, when was the last time that happened? Was that 1998 when Klinsmann scored 4 v Wimbledon late in the season?

I can't think of any later than that.

 

[DJS]

I’d be confident in us finishing above West Ham, Leicester, Everton and Villa but we will have to be good to finish ahead of one of Chelsea, United and Liverpool considering our European commitments.

I‘m not confident of finishing above the spammers personally as Moyes just seems to have them too well drilled.

Although if Antonio picks up an injury they seem to have done an us and not have an centre forward cover?

Haller covered for him earlier in the season but he’s now gone (and reliably informed by a hammer friend of dad’s that he was shit anyways lol).

Although Moyes previous successful Everton teams have been able to function with a midfielder up top and relied more on the midfield five.

 

[beats1]

I still think 2nd is possible

 

[freeeki]

At this point I think top 4 is a big ask, but achievable.

Will be a hard slog to get there, but a huge achievement if we make it.

 

[Marty]

I still think 2nd is possible

Possible yes, likely no.

 

[The Doc]

I still think 2nd is possible

Anything is possible if we can put out the same team as last Sunday for the remainder. It's a seriously good side. 13 left in the league plus a potential 7 more in EL and a CC final, so unlikely. Difficult to know what to prioritise, but, if we win on Thurs and Sunday, I would gamble on the PL and rest a few against Zagreb. "If" tho. Always with the mofo'ing "if".

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I think we've too much to do personally and I think if we go deeper in the EL we will prioritize that, still I still prefer to be apart of the conversation at the moment, nothing worse than going into the end of the season drifting along in mid table.

Everyone has been so inconsistent that any team putting together a run of 3 or 4 consecutive wins is likely to leapfrog several teams above them. Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton will be taking points off each other over the next two rounds of games, while West Ham faces Man Utd, so maximum points against Fulham and Palace would put us right in the mix even before factoring in our game in hand.

We have an uphill battle, but some of the teams above us are currently punching above their weight, while we have been under-performing in the league. If we produce the form that we're capable of, we just need the teams above us to continue with their inconsistent results, rather than relying on them capitulating.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Great post Ross. I was about to do something similar with regards the race for 4th.

I was more interested in who has to play who out of the top 10, because every team can't win every game. The more teams around us have to play each other, the better chance we have of catching up.

Leicester (5 games left against top 10)
City (H)
WH (A)
United (A)
Chelsea (A)
Tottenham (H)

West Ham (5)
United (A)
Arsenal (H)
Leicester (H)
Chelsea (H)
Everton (H)

Chelsea (7)
Liverpool (A)
Everton (H)
WH (A)
City (A)
Arsenal (H)
Leicester (H)
Villa (A)

Liverpool (4)
Chelsea (H)
Arsenal (A)
Villa (H)
United (A)

Everton (7)
Chelsea (A)
Tottenham (H)
Arsenal (A)
Villa (H)
WH (A)
City (A)
Villa (A tba)

Tottenham (6)
Arsenal (A)
Villa (A)
United (H)
Everton (A)
Villa (H)
Leicester (A)

Villa (8)
Tottenham (H)
Liverpool (A)
City (H)
Everton (A)
United (H)
Tottenham (A)
Chelsea (H)
Everton (H TBA)

Arsenal (5)
Tottenham (H)
West Ham (A)
Liverpool (H)
Everton (H)
Chelsea (A)

Man Utd (6)
City (A)
WH (A)
Spurs (A)
Liverpool (H)
Villa (A)
Leicester (H)

Summary
For me Man Utd (6) and Leicester (5) have strongest chances of staying in the top 4. I feel Villa (8 games) and Everton (7) both drop away and Arsenal are too far behind. Leaving it a race for 4th between Liverpool, West Ham, Chelsea and Spurs.

Conclusion
fuck knows!

Nice to see this summary of remaining fixtures. I'd say our 6 games remaining against top-half opponents is somewhat less daunting than it appears at first glance - 3 of them are against the 9th & 10th placed teams. By comparison, Leicester (only 5 games against top-half) has to play 4 of the top 5 teams (the only team in the top 5 they don;t play is themselves). I think Leicester, West Ham and Chelsea have tougher games than us.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Anything is possible if we can put out the same team as last Sunday for the remainder. It's a seriously good side. 13 left in the league plus a potential 7 more in EL and a CC final, so unlikely. Difficult to know what to prioritise, but, if we win on Thurs and Sunday, I would gamble on the PL and rest a few against Zagreb. "If" tho. Always with the mofo'ing "if".

I think Jose is more likely to start strong in the first leg, in the hope of building a lead to allow rotation for the second leg.

 

[YB123]

I would gamble and go strong again Thursday with same side, then play another 11 against Palace. Keep players fresh for Zagreb and the scum. Big gamble though.

e.g - Palace game

Hart

Doherty
Rodon/Tangana/Dier (any 2)
Davies

Winks
Sissoko

Lamela
Dele
Bergwijn

Vinicius.

 

[Mr Pink]

Win the next two and top four is definitely on.

 

[duffman22]

Just curious, when was the last time that happened? Was that 1998 when Klinsmann scored 4 v Wimbledon late in the season?

I can't think of any later than that.

Can’t remember our specific league position but we weren’t far off relegation in 03/04 when Pleat was caretaker after Hoddle got sacked.

Think it was only Leeds losing to Bolton with a couple of games to go that secured our safety. We’d gone about 2 months without a win if I remember correctly. Proper dark days.

 

[rossdapep]

Great post mate !! Our next 2 games will be big win them and we’ll have a chance especially if we hit that early season form and bales form stays like this till the end of the season

Yeah I think if we win the next two (and play well in the process) I think momentum will shift our way, whereas other clubs may lose that momentum in the meantime.

I also wonder how the likes of WH & Leicester will now deal with the pressure, especially if us and Liverpool start picking up points consistently.