The Race to the Title

[Shanks]

And looking at the fixtures, this really could go down to May.

Leicesters last 3 games, are away to United, home to Everton, away to chelsea - thats about as tough as 3 games can get.

Arsenal and City have both got to play each in May as well.

Positives and all that, so even if this week doesn't go to plan, that above is still a hell of an opportunity to go for the title.

 

[nightgoat]

Really? I quite like him. Pretty honest pundit/journalist and very funny.

He always has a really smarmy, obnoxious tone I find. Disliked him since he was doing live text on the Tour de France a few years ago and someone called him out on something, at which he proceeded to only post the contributions of one other person who agreed with him, slagging off the other guy in the process. Just came across as a massive, precious twat.

 

[Larryjanta]

We can all be positive and hope. Would you prefer there remaining fixtures and no Europa or ours and playing Thursday Sunday? I've said before, we are the best team in this league, but at least give a good reason for Leicester to fall?

I would take EL and their fixtures... Sure, it would be preferable to play teams lower in the table but we're in great form and better than everyone else and I honestly think it's better for us to play teams like United at home than West Brom at home. That is why I think we will get more points than them. I don't expect Leicester to fall in as much as I expect them to do as well as they have been doing over the last 11 games and I expect us to do as well as we have as well in the last 11 games. It sees us getting 25 points and them getting 21 points, we finish 2 points ahead of them as a result.

 

[nailsy]

I know what you mean about confidence in the team pulling back in matches. At half time on Sunday I put a small bet on Spurs to win 3-1. You can imagine my joy turn to sorrow when Walkers goal (quite rightly) was disallowed!

I thought Walker was level.

 

[Riandor]

Whilst the focus is obviously very much on West Ham and rightly so, we really could do without boosting Arsenal's chances, both mathematically and from a moral perspective. So irrespective of tomorrow (and obviously I hope for a win), it is crucial in my mind that we beat Arsenal on Saturday.

If by any stretch of luck Arsenal draw or lose to Swansea, then conceivably not losing might be enough, but it is a massive NLD for both teams.

 

[dirtyh]

think west brom will get something tonight and we'll go top tomorrow. also think Swansea will get a point at the library. also think the dippers will beat city or at least draw. may be rose tinted glasses and all that but hey ho, things seem to be falling into place at the moment.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

think west brom will get something tonight and we'll go top tomorrow. also think Swansea will get a point at the library. also think the dippers will beat city or at least draw. may be rose tinted glasses and all that but hey ho, things seem to be falling into place at the moment.

I raise you with a triple hat trick from Hugo Lloris, three own goals for Mahrez, and 5 red cards for Arsenal before 15 minutes have passed.

 

[Riandor]

think west brom will get something tonight and we'll go top tomorrow. also think Swansea will get a point at the library. also think the dippers will beat city or at least draw. may be rose tinted glasses and all that but hey ho, things seem to be falling into place at the moment.

I like you're style, alas I am less optimistic... Still, exciting times.

 

[diamond lights]

We can all be positive and hope. Would you prefer there remaining fixtures and no Europa or ours and playing Thursday Sunday? I've said before, we are the best team in this league, but at least give a good reason for Leicester to fall?

I might be wrong but my opinion is that the dynamic changes when they really see winning the league is possible. Over the season quality will win out and they have less quality than the others so they will drop more points in the last 6-10 games.

 

[diamond lights]

He always has a really smarmy, obnoxious tone I find. Disliked him since he was doing live text on the Tour de France a few years ago and someone called him out on something, at which he proceeded to only post the contributions of one other person who agreed with him, slagging off the other guy in the process. Just came across as a massive, precious twat.

I know a bit about him and he's anything other than precious. He's a laid back guy that doesn't take himself too seriously. He could have done something like that for a laugh.

 

[Ironskullll]

Odds are determined by how many better bet on a given outcome. It's not like the bookies job is to calculate the exact chances for each outcome, they adjust the odds based on what's popular and not popular to bet on. Hence, it is the knowledge of the masses, the sum of all betters, that suggests something. Not bookies. They don't know/don't have more talents in predicting the future than the rest of us.

Yes they do. They analyse the statistics and make predictions accordingly, and they're darned good at it. Odds are a function of both likelihood and betting patterns. That point has been made here and elsewhere regularly ad nauseam. It's why it's always a good idea to bet against Liverpool.

 

[spursram]

I thought Walker was level.

You know how to cheer someone up don't you.

 

[millsey]

I might be wrong but my opinion is that the dynamic changes when they really see winning the league is possible. Over the season quality will win out and they have less quality than the others so they will drop more points in the last 6-10 games.

Neither is it Leicester have any recent history of this so you can't tell weather a team will buzz off being top or nervous.

 

[ajspurs]

And looking at the fixtures, this really could go down to May.

Leicesters last 3 games, are away to United, home to Everton, away to chelsea - thats about as tough as 3 games can get.

Arsenal and City have both got to play each in May as well.

Positives and all that, so even if this week doesn't go to plan, that above is still a hell of an opportunity to go for the title.

Yep. If we can just get out of tricky period unscathed we have a really good chance. This week is may be the toughest but I never look forward to trips to Anfield and Stamford Bridge either. Still, I would rather get ours out of the way whilst hopefully picking up points and staying within reach than to have some of those fixtures in the last 3 remaining games like Leicester.

Even if we'd have to rely on Leicester dropping points in those last 3 games I think we'd have a good chance still.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

I've only just realised. We're safe from relegation. Sweet.

 

[Good Doctor M]

Neither is it Leicester have any recent history of this so you can't tell weather a team will buzz off being top or nervous.

I think, because of their style of play nerves could affect them. Teams all season have played into their hands... now they're starting to sit back and the ball is very much in Leicester's court now in so much that they have to go out and win while dominating conceeded pocession. Look at how difficult a team of Modric/Bale/VDV found opening up teams who sat back and yet, teams that came to the Lane under Harry and played on the counter after soaking up pressure always troubled us.

Leicester aren't going to be able to hit anyone on the counter repeatidly until the end of the season - not West Brom tonight, nor anyone else they play. It will be a real challange for them.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I've only just realised. We're safe from relegation. Sweet.

Could.

Not yet, I'm afraid.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

Not yet, I'm afraid.

Yep,just did the maths again.

A nervous couple of evenings await.......

 

[buttons]

I caved in and did one of those stupid predictor things, ended up with:

1. Citeh - 78pts
2. Us - 76pts
3. Goons - 76pts
4. Leicester - 74pts

Basically it's down to the last day. We'll need to beat the Geordies and get a favour from Swansea who play City.

 

[thfc1973]

Whilst the fans would probably be happy for them to lose, I don't think the players would want anything other than a win at home in the final game.

Whether they will play with the same intensity when there may be nothing at stake for them is another matter. This can be a big factor during the run, with some teams having nothing to play for. I'm hoping Newcastle are safe by the last game for the same reasons.

Also, I'm wondering about the Ranieri factor. Being an ex- CFC manager that started in England and got sacked by Roman when he bought them out. Could that be an incentive for Tinkerman to prove him wrong? Yes absolutely. But also on the flip side it would look really funny and ironic if he wins the title with the most unexpected team and club at CFC on the last day of the season. Talk about poetic justice... you couldn't write a better script than that!