Top four finish?

[dudu]

They're merely human and young lads.

I think you're underestimating what travelling does. Have you ever travelled for work? I have. And I fly business class, use the lounges, stayed in nice hotels etc. but it still takes it out of you. Living out of a suitcase, waiting around at airports etc. You never truly relax.

I traveled for work plenty mate - sometimes spending as much as a month at a time away from home.

My point wasnt their age

I was lucky enough to be well looked after by company and put up in places with incredible beds that were probably more comfortable than mine -

Do you think the players are staying in Travel-lodges?

They are also only going away for a 2-3 days at a time so hardly living out of a suitcase like year long travelers?

They have to go away for a few days once a month - i dont really think its going to have that big an effect - maybe some but not .to as detrimental effect as you or I. Its not like they have to go and sit in n office all day, go to conferences and work the 9-5 grind.

 

[Lamelad]

Liverpool will be our rival for 4th now they have klopp and with Benteke and sturridge back will pick up a lot of points.

 

[worcestersauce]

Definitely.

Worry is that Chelsea, for ask their woes, are only 9 points behind us.

That is about 80% of what they've achieved so far though and not far off half our tally, keep the faith bro'.
I am not an advocate of top four this season I have said I would be happy with general improvement but there is cause for cautious optimism.
Our first four games we only got three points but our next seven have brought us seventeen points, roughly 2.5 points a game at which rate we would be on for about 68 points plus the 20 we already have and makes 88.
I don't say we will maintain that level but, if 70 - 74 points is usually good for top four, we would need quite a dip to lose that many points.

 

[Mr Pink]

Liverpool will be our rival for 4th now they have klopp and with Benteke and sturridge back will pick up a lot of points.

Its a massive 'if' with Benteke and Sturridge though.

Both plagued by injury more often than not and particularly the latter. Constantly talking about fluid in the knee with Sturridge and it reminds me of Ledley and how the Club would be talking about his injury.

Personally I think Sturridge is done playing week in week out with no affects. Writing is on the wall and I think he'll continue to play completely irregularly.

 

[Lamelad]

Well, maybe that's the case, but Klopp will turn them around with one or two signings anyway.

Point is, they will be challenging us.

 

[nicdic]

Well, maybe that's the case, but Klopp will turn them around with one or two signings anyway.

Point is, they will be challenging us.

I disagree. Liverpool were poor against Chelsea just as they were against us, and everyone else they've played under Klopp so far. They'll be better than they were under Rodgers, but they still have the same problems with their squad. It's going to take longer than you think.

 

[Lamelad]

I disagree. Liverpool were poor against Chelsea just as they were against us, and everyone else they've played under Klopp so far. They'll be better than they were under Rodgers, but they still have the same problems with their squad. It's going to take longer than you think.

Well then I think we should agree to disagree because I believe Liverpool will now go on a run and will be roughly on the same amount of points as us come the end of the season.

But I like your positive attitude.

 

[hodsgod]

I disagree. Liverpool were poor against Chelsea just as they were against us, and everyone else they've played under Klopp so far. They'll be better than they were under Rodgers, but they still have the same problems with their squad. It's going to take longer than you think.

Poor but only three points behind us despite having to change manager. I don't rate them either but it really shows it's a bit of a lottery this season. Watford, Palace and Everton are only four points behind us, and Watford are in the bottom half.

I think we are probably best placed to get in but, I wouldn't bet any money on it.

 

[Mr Pink]

Poor but only three points behind us despite having to change manager. I don't rate them either but it really shows it's a bit of a lottery this season. Watford, Palace and Everton are only four points behind us, and Watford are in the bottom half.

I think we are probably best placed to get in but, I wouldn't bet any money on it.

The League is more competitive than ever but I do think we'll start to see the League take shape a bit more after the next five or six games.

 

[King of Otters]

I disagree. Liverpool were poor against Chelsea just as they were against us, and everyone else they've played under Klopp so far. They'll be better than they were under Rodgers, but they still have the same problems with their squad. It's going to take longer than you think.

If they were poor against us then where does that leave us? We laboured to a goalless draw against an apparently 'poor' team, on our own patch, while Liverpool played under a new manager for the first time and without a recognized senior striker.

As for them being 'poor' after winning 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, the fact that we have never won there in the Prem era suggests that you're probably being a little unfair. I wouldn't say they were outstanding, but they were by far the better team on the day, and coasted to a win in the end.

They're going to be a threat to us this season, just as they were last season, and the season before. The quicker you come to terms with that the less painful it'll be to admit they're actually a decent side, with a good manager, and with the potential to get much better.

 

[Lilbaz]

People at the beginning of the season thought they had a much better squad than us. I argued that we finished higher than them last season and had made better adjustments to our squad.
It will be close (it always is) but i think if we can get our injuries back we will finish above them this season.
A match fit sturridge is a worry though.

 

[nicdic]

If they were poor against us then where does that leave us? We laboured to a goalless draw against an apparently 'poor' team, on our own patch, while Liverpool played under a new manager for the first time and without a recognized senior striker.

As for them being 'poor' after winning 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, the fact that we have never won there in the Prem era suggests that you're probably being a little unfair. I wouldn't say they were outstanding, but they were by far the better team on the day, and coasted to a win in the end.

They're going to be a threat to us this season, just as they were last season, and the season before. The quicker you come to terms with that the less painful it'll be to admit they're actually a decent side, with a good manager, and with the potential to get much better.

We were much better than Liverpool were in the game against us, we didn't win, no, but we were the better team. And Liverpool played Origi up front who is most definitely a recognised striker. I also thought the managers first game in charge was meant to be a negative for us, now it's not reason for us finding them tougher than we may otherwise have done?

Liverpool were poor on Saturday. Chelsea were worse, but doesn't mean Liverpool were good. They were incredibly sloppy all game, and were it not for Coutinho deciding to show up just before half time I don't think they'd have won the game. Rather than buy into the press coverage, watch the game with your own eyes. Klopp has done nothing yet to show we should be scared. I said at the beginning of the season that Liverpool would have problems. They've got one of the most unbalanced squads I've ever seen for a "top" side, with little to no cohesion in terms of playing style. Klopp is a great coach, he showed that at Dortmund, but he's got a real job on his hands to turn that mishmash squad into top 4 contenders. It's going to take at least til next season before we really see what they're gonna be like, and even then, with the amount of players I expect them to turnover in the next two windows next season could be one of transition too.

Rather than just see the name Klopp and wet my pants, I'll look at the whole picture. We're 18 months ahead of them, we've a settled and young squad that buys into the coach's philosophy. I much prefer our position.

 

[spids]

I'm really sorry to say this but that kind of opinion smacks of someone who reads newspaper reviews rather than watches our games in depth themselves. Mason is our only midfielder who moves the ball forward quickly which is critical to our play. This was evident even in his cameo last night. Alli is a good player but doesn't contribute anywhere near as much to our fluidity. In a 5 minutes highlights programme his flash bits look good.

Not meaning in any way to be condescending and apologies in advance for not expressing this better.

Well, I do watch *every* game and form my own opinion. I would like to point out first that I do actually rate Mason and he does bring impetus. I just rate Ali higher as I think Mason makes our CM a lot weaker defensively. He can put his foot in, but his positioning is terrible. Last night, Mason coming on actually coincided with Villa dominating the midfield for the only period of the game. It was also his mistake that led to their goal. He made a similar mistake on the edge of our box against Southampton in April. When we thrashed Chelsea on New Year's day last season they had dominated the first 15-20 minutes and deservedly led 1-0 until Mason went off injured, with Dembele coming on. From that moment on we had the upper hand in midfield.

For me, alongside Dier as an '8' Alli covers more ground, is stronger aerially at both ends, offers more of a goal threat, and is better defensively.

BTW - I am more than happy for you to have a different opinion to me, but your first sentence was terribly condescending.

 

[luptic]

Seriously lads, there is no point in getting carried away like some liverpool fans & media. Not saying we wont finish fourth, but can we leave it until we get past March first?

 

[nicdic]

Well, I do watch *every* game and form my own opinion. I would like to point out first that I do actually rate Mason and he does bring impetus. I just rate Ali higher as I think Mason makes our CM a lot weaker defensively. He can put his foot in, but his positioning is terrible. Last night, Mason coming on actually coincided with Villa dominating the midfield for the only period of the game. It was also his mistake that led to their goal. He made a similar mistake on the edge of our box against Southampton in April. When we thrashed Chelsea on New Year's day last season they had dominated the first 15-20 minutes and deservedly led 1-0 until Mason went off injured, with Dembele coming on. From that moment on we had the upper hand in midfield.

For me, alongside Dier as an '8' Alli covers more ground, is stronger aerially at both ends, offers more of a goal threat, and is better defensively.

BTW - I am more than happy for you to have a different opinion to me, but your first sentence was terribly condescending.

Actually don't think the problem was Mason coming on, but the switching of two positions from the one substitution. Dembele off for Mason, Mason into CM and Alli into the no 10 role. I really don't think Alli is great in the 10 role for us, and our shape without Dembele was lost. Alli is going to be a star, but for me right now Mason is the better player. Great options to have.

 

[Kingellesar]

The next 3 games are huge, 5 points we got from them last season, would we take the same this season or are we strong enough to get more? Either way, it's a pretty big month for us, Arsenal are on fire and will be a tough game, West Ham seem to turn up in the big away games and Chelsea will probably somehow be back to the level they should be by then.

I think Liverpool are favourites for 4th and the reason being look at the away games they have played already. Stoke, Arsenal, United, Everton, Tottenham, Chelsea. Other than City, they will have a very favourable second half to the season compared to others around them. Although I guess you could argue its the home form they are struggling with but I think Klopp will turn that around.

Either way I hope we are right in the mix for top 4 all season, the way we are playing at the minute is great to watch and we look like we finally have a team that can maintain a challenge. Would be nice to win a cup as well though....Europa League would do nicely.

 

[Adam456]

Seriously lads, there is no point in getting carried away like some liverpool fans & media. Not saying we wont finish fourth, but can we leave it until we get past March first?

Suggest that this isn't a thread you should frequent then mate

 

[Neon_Knight_]

If they were poor against us then where does that leave us? We laboured to a goalless draw against an apparently 'poor' team, on our own patch, while Liverpool played under a new manager for the first time and without a recognized senior striker.

As for them being 'poor' after winning 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, the fact that we have never won there in the Prem era suggests that you're probably being a little unfair. I wouldn't say they were outstanding, but they were by far the better team on the day, and coasted to a win in the end.

They're going to be a threat to us this season, just as they were last season, and the season before. The quicker you come to terms with that the less painful it'll be to admit they're actually a decent side, with a good manager, and with the potential to get much better.

Liverpool didn't really play like a top 4 side. However, it was a fairly mediocre performance from us, but above average from Liverpool, relative to the rest of this season.

 

[teok]

It's a very weird season, far too early to call any thing. I'd just sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

[npearl4spurs]

It's a very weird season, far too early to call any thing. I'd just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Dude, we're Spurs fans. Judging from SC, we don't enjoy anything; some posters on here seem to not even enjoy the ride if you know what I mean