Top four finish?

[Lilbaz]

Sure, but it's not like any other teams are showing any conviction for those places either.

While holding onto a 4th place spot and being 5 points clear of top (although the 2nd and 3rd place teams have a game in hand) aren't exactly analogous comparisons.

All it takes is one loss or a couple of injuries and they can have a massive dip. Not saying they will just that it is still a long way to go till may.

 

[Sweech]

All it takes is one loss or a couple of injuries and they can have a massive dip. Not saying they will just that it is still a long way to go till may.

I agree they'll drop, but I still wouldn't even be remotely surprised to see them finish top 4.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Key to our top 4 push will be keeping Dembele fit. He makes a huge difference when sitting in the middle of 3

 

[Lo Amo Speroni]

But 1st place will give you the biggest share of the tv money. Maybe we should aim for that?

I see what you did there.

Clever.

 

[Lilbaz]

I see what you did there.

Clever.

At the end of the day we should just go into each game and try to come back with 3 points. Aiming for league positions is pointless.

 

[mjay]

Leicester have been amazing. They have enough cover even if Vardy or Mahrez is out for some time.
Based on Liverpool's match against Watford , I think it is going to be a cake walk for Leicester when they play Liverpool next week. But then Liverpool might surprise us as Leicester's defense is still pretty poor.
The only way I guess to beat them would be what a lot of posters were suggesting - Park the bus.

 

[Cornpattbuck]

Key to our top 4 push will be keeping Dembele fit. He makes a huge difference when sitting in the middle of 3

Mad how important he's become considering most were willing to drive him off to the airport/off a cliff last season.
Fantastic to see him find such consistency.

Fingers crossed Bentaleb and Mason can both rediscover their fitness/form to take the pressure off Alli, Dembele and Dier, and Pritchard can get fit to potentially push Eriksen a little more.

Also looking forward to seeing Son settle down again in the second half of the season.

 

[bomberH]

If we beat Norwich and Watford, I'm almost certain we'll win the World Cup, let alone top 4.

Seriously though, they have both just had massive results and will be so hard to beat. I'll be very surprised if we got 6 points from these games.

 

[Hoops]

United play Stoke away, then Chelsea at home next.

 

[worcestersauce]

While finishing 4th would be considered positive progress, it still does not guarantee UCL football. The goal should be 3rd or better. If we finish 4th, have a tough playoff draw and miss out on group stages, then we find ourselves still playing on Thursdays. 5th place, we maintain status quo, 4th place gives us an opportunity for progress, and 3rd place shows real progress.

I think the goal is at least third or better, I don't think that we are actually aiming for fourth but if we get it we are in the mix which we ain't if we're fifth.

 

[Mr Pink]

If we beat Norwich and Watford, I'm almost certain we'll win the World Cup, let alone top 4.

Seriously though, they have both just had massive results and will be so hard to beat. I'll be very surprised if we got 6 points from these games.

The Watford game is the tougher looking, no doubt about it.

The Norwich game won't be easy either. They'll sit deep and look to counter attack - the obvious game plan to bring to WHL.

We'll need to move the ball quickly and accurately against them but I do think one goal in the first half should open the game up and then we could go on to score a few, unlike against Newcastle.

Four points would be a reasonable return but I do think 6 is still very possible. Watford may be feeling the affects of games in close succession more than us, which may give us an advantage.

 

[chinaman]

The past weekend all results were favourable to us and we made the most of it. If results over the next two rounds are similarly favourable and we also make the best of these opportunities, we'll climb to 3rd or 2nd. Hope our lads go for it all out.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Still feel like we aren't even close to our ceiling. Leicester have and will have to maintain that for the rest of the season if they want to stay in it. If we can take it up a notch, really anything is possible.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

Still feel like we aren't even close to our ceiling. Leicester have and will have to maintain that for the rest of the season if they want to stay in it. If we can take it up a notch, really anything is possible.

We are a young team, that means we are going to lack consistency. With Poch's style we are also going to be very subject to how he rotates so we don't suffer burnout in the second half of the season. That being said we should expect to continue improving as you say.

 

[slartibartfast]

Read a post refering how Palace, Watford etc will fall away later in season which they may well do but it made me laugh that the example given was this time last year WHAM were in 4th and they finished 12th.
Err... we're in 4th lol.

 

[Mr Pink]

Read a post refering how Palace, Watford etc will fall away later in season which they may well do but it made me laugh that the example given was this time last year WHAM were in 4th and they finished 12th.
Err... we're in 4th lol.

Difference being we normally finish between 4th and 6th, where do West Ham normally finish?

I think that;s a much better indicator.

 

[lukespurs7]

We need another fucking goalscorer and that is that.

 

[Lilbaz]

Read a post refering how Palace, Watford etc will fall away later in season which they may well do but it made me laugh that the example given was this time last year WHAM were in 4th and they finished 12th.
Err... we're in 4th lol.

It's about squad depth. Nearly every year a smaller team is high in the league. The xmas fixtures kill them and they drop off in jan feb.

Happens every year.

 

[Young Nasty Man]

We need to hunting for blood the next few matches and really pray we finally click on all cylinders for 90 minutes. I really believe we aren't far from watching us put in matches like the West Ham match, demoralizing teams that come out flat. We just need someone like Son or Lamela to start pounding goals to fuel the fire.

I think we can be sitting very pretty come January, we just need to eat teams alive out of the gate.

 

[guy]

We need to hunting for blood the next few matches and really pray we finally click on all cylinders for 90 minutes. I really believe we aren't far from watching us put in matches like the West Ham match, demoralizing teams that come out flat. We just need someone like Son or Lamela to start pounding goals to fuel the fire.

I think we can be sitting very pretty come January, we just need to eat teams alive out of the gate.

Your writing certainly lives up to your name