The Run-in (top 6) --- Our Hopes -- Not best, or Worst-- Your Expected Result & why

[Lighty64]

with 6 weeks to go, sitting 7pts behind Leicester, 4pts in front of Arsenal, 8 in front of Man C, 9 in front of Man U, and 11 in front of West Ham. I have included the last 2 because both could mathematically catch us, but also will have a big say in what who finishes in the top4 and what order all teams finish in.

so for a bit of fun (if you can call being on edge FUN) each week make 3 predictions for the last 6 weeks, and reasons why

Week1 -------------------------- Hoping --------------------Not best/Worst--------------------What you expect will happen
West Ham v Arsenal ------ Draw --------------------West Ham win-------------------- Draw
why: reasons for hoping, the draw halts Arsenal and West Ham, but still gives West Ham hope of a top 4 especially the week before playing Leicester, and the 2nd choice helps WHU just too much as I don't want them to finish in top 4. the prediction is with both teams having a lot to still play for its going to be a pretty tight match

Man C v WBA--------------- WBA win --------------------Draw-------------------- Man C Win
why: I'm hoping for a WBA win, so it keeps us 8pts clear and keeps West Ham's hopes up with next week in mind, 2nd choice a draw helps keep them away from us, and the prediction is an easy win for City

Sunderland v Leicester--- Sunderland win --------------------Draw-------------------- Leicester Win
why: hoping for a home win for the obvious reasons, 2nd choice still helps us. prediction another Leicester win

Tottenham v Man U------- Tottenham win --------------------Draw-------------------- Draw
why: like the above game for the obvious reasons, though do feel if Sunderland get any result the home fans will sound twice as loud. 2nd option a draw would at least keep Utd further away from catching us. prediction I think Utd might play for the draw, and make it hard as possible for us.

hopefully a few will get involved, but i'll not allocate points for this due to my work not always allowing for me to keep up with every single post

 

[Lighty64]

the good thing about all our remaining games or at least the next 3

Man Utd we have a very small advantage of 1 days extra rest and we are at home

Stoke have their reserve goalkeeper that made his premier league debut this weekend just gone and conceded 2 goals

WBA a game I always seem to worry about, but they are now safe from relegation, and have to face Arsenal 4 days before us, so we get a good amount of rest over them, and the atmosphere on night games is usually better than a lunch time kick off, and pending the results of both us and Leicester over the next 2 games it could be electric that night.

Chelsea though gain 2 days rest over us, and with it being a derby will not want to lose, hopefully Alli can get under Costa's nose, though that might backfire as I would hope Costa will play the final game v Leicester if there is still something to play for.

Southampton by the time we play them they could be on a beach somewhere, losing to Leicester never helped them gaining a chance of EL footy next season.

Newcastle, I honestly think they will be down by then, and if we need something hopefully they will continue their losing ways.

 

[max cady]

not looking at whats going to happen over the next 6 weeks rather what is going to happen sunday. Imo if Leicester win at sunderland and we fail to beat Utd then it is over for us.

 

[ackie]

the good thing about all our remaining games or at least the next 3

Man Utd we have a very small advantage of 1 days extra rest and we are at home

Stoke have their reserve goalkeeper that made his premier league debut this weekend just gone and conceded 2 goals

WBA a game I always seem to worry about, but they are now safe from relegation, and have to face Arsenal 4 days before us, so we get a good amount of rest over them, and the atmosphere on night games is usually better than a lunch time kick off, and pending the results of both us and Leicester over the next 2 games it could be electric that night.

Chelsea though gain 2 days rest over us, and with it being a derby will not want to lose, hopefully Alli can get under Costa's nose, though that might backfire as I would hope Costa will play the final game v Leicester if there is still something to play for.

Southampton by the time we play them they could be on a beach somewhere, losing to Leicester never helped them gaining a chance of EL footy next season.

Newcastle, I honestly think they will be down by then, and if we need something hopefully they will continue their losing ways.

The chelsea game against Leicester worry me. Because I just dont see Chelsea giving it their all with nothing to play for and the euro's coming up. They'd rather Leicester wins it than us or arsenal...
So...

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I'm notoriously poor at tipping outcomes of individual matches, but what the heck.

Week1 -------------------------- Hoping --------------------Not best/Worst--------------------What you expect will happen

West Ham v Arsenal ------ West Ham win --------------------Draw-------------------- Draw
why: I don't care about West Ham at all, and Arsenal losing is far too much fun to not be hoping for it. A draw is a good outcome too, and it is likely because West Ham hardly lose at home (or indeed at all), but they don't necessarily always know how to win.

Man C v WBA--------------- WBA win --------------------Draw-------------------- WBA win
why: Both these teams are so unpredictable, literally I picked the "expected" result out of a hat. I believe that the table is flattering City this season, and doesn't quite reflect how poor their worst level actually is. This will be the match that officially disconnects City from the title race.

Sunderland v Leicester--- Sunderland win --------------------Draw-------------------- Draw
why: I think this match actually can get much closer than many realise. Sunderland has found a slightly improved way of defending lately, and they have a realistic hope of avoiding relegation, which should inspire them. Defoe has kept his goal lust going, and is a threat to any team. Leicester on the other hand has dampened their chase for goals, and are playing in way that's very mindful about their league title. They are more happy these days about a 1-0 win than say a 3-2 win. I think this can tip in any one direction, but it's an obvious candidate for Leicester to have a minor slip up.

Tottenham v Man U------- Tottenham win --------------------Draw-------------------- Tottenham win
why: I think we'll beat them. I really do. This is the match of the season, when we send out a statement of intent for the future.

 

[not_tenth-again]

IMO if we drop any points we're gone. I'm pretty certain Leicester will drop 7 or 8.... unless the ref's conspire like they did on the weekend - that was a red any day of the week. Hugely optimistic but I reckon if we're faultless it's ours

Fingers crossed for a bit of Defoe and Sigurdsson magic this month.

 

[shelfboy68]

Leicesters title by a distance of four points after the final game.

 

[WalkerboyUK]

Week1 -------------------------- Hoping --------------------Not best/Worst--------------------What you expect will happen
West Ham v Arsenal ------ Draw --------------------West Ham win-------------------- Draw
why: West Ham at home are pretty much unbeatable. The scum are still theoretically chasing top spot, but I think in reality they are looking at finishing above us again. I just don't see Arsenal winning this one

Man C v WBA--------------- Draw --------------------Man City Win-------------------- Man C Win
why: Don't really care how this one ends up, as City are pretty much too far behind to catch us, unless we completely capitulate for next 6 games.

Sunderland v Leicester--- Sunderland win --------------------Leicester win-------------------- Sunderland Win
why: Pressure just as much on the home team as the visitors, but I think this will be the first time in a while that Leicester go behind. Will be interesting to see how they react to doing so, but I do think this is one of the few games where someone actually does us a favour (but will we capitalise?!)

Tottenham v Man U------- Tottenham win --------------------Man U Win-------------------- Tottenham win
why: Home game, simple as that really. We will also have the advantage of knowing Leicester's result, though the only concern is we have a tendency never to capitalise.

 

[Gbspurs]

Top 3 is the priority as far as I'm concerned. The sooner I can feel safe about us achieving that the better.

 

[WalkerboyUK]

Top is the priority as far as I'm concerned. The sooner I can feel safe about us achieving that the better.

Top or Top 4???
Assuming you've mistyped, as you may be waiting an eternity for Top.

 

[Lighty64]

not looking at whats going to happen over the next 6 weeks rather what is going to happen sunday. Imo if Leicester win at sunderland and we fail to beat Utd then it is over for us.

that's why i'll only predict each week

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Top or Top 4???
Assuming you've mistyped, as you may be waiting an eternity for Top.

Top 3? Top 2?

 

[Gbspurs]

Top or Top 4???
Assuming you've mistyped, as you may be waiting an eternity for Top.

Good spot. 3 is what I was plumping for. I could do without a summer of "waiting to see if we get CL before we secure our signings" type ITK.

 

[Shea]

Week1 -------------------------- Hoping --------------------Not best/Worst--------------------What you expect will happen

West Ham v Arsenal ------ West Ham win --------------------Draw-------------------- Arsenal win
why: I think a West Ham win suits us best as I don't believe they can catch us while I very much believe Arsenal can and if they beat West Ham they're probably favourites to do so with their remaining fixture list. As long as we win a draw is a good result as I'd be happy enough to see both teams drop points but ideally I want to see Arsenal lose to both West Ham and City to give us the best possible chance of finishing above the gooners. I think Arsenal are on a bit of a run now though and I think they will edge it against a strong West Ham team.

Man C v WBA--------------- WBA win --------------------Draw-------------------- Man City win
why: I think at home City should be too strong for the Baggies although this game is far from an easy one to pick at they may well have one eye on PSG still. I don;t think City will catch us anyway so I am not that interested in what they do from here on out other than hoping they smash Arsenal when that fixture comes around

Sunderland v Leicester--- Sunderland win --------------------Draw-------------------- Leicester win
why: I think it's a tight game and one that could represent a potential banana skin, I don't think Leicester have actually been playing that well of late while Sunderland look more solid at the back Defoe can score out of nothing. However Leicester keep finding a way to grind out a win and I ultimately think they will do so again against the black cats, although I do see this as a game in which they could slip up and drop 2 points potentially

Tottenham v Man U------- Tottenham win --------------------Draw-------------------- Spurs win
why: It's a game we simply have to win. We're a team with a great attitude and fighting spirit so I don't think we will choke against Man U. Quite frankly I think we are a better team than them and I think we will beat them

 

[WalkerboyUK]

Week1 -------------------------- Hoping --------------------Not best/Worst--------------------What you expect will happen

West Ham v Arsenal ------ West Ham win --------------------Draw-------------------- Arsenal win
why: I think a West Ham win suits us best as I don't believe they can catch us while I very much believe Arsenal can and if they beat West Ham they're probably favourites to do so with their remaining fixture list. As long as we win a draw is a good result as I'd be happy enough to see both teams drop points but ideally I want to see Arsenal lose to both West Ham and City to give us the best possible chance of finishing above the gooners. I think Arsenal are on a bit of a run now though and I think they will edge it against a strong West Ham team.

2 wins isn't really a run, but I sort of see your point.

 

[Shea]

2 wins isn't really a run, but I sort of see your point.

I just mean they're starting to play better and look like going on a run now (especially since wellbeck is back and iwoba is scoring goals)

We really needed to kill them off when we were 2-1 up against their ten men

I think we need West ham to take points off them or they will most likely over take us as I think they will probably win all their remaining fixtures with the potential exception of man city

 

[bubble07]

Obviously we want West Ham to beat Arsenal. Why on earth are people thinking about that like it's a bad thing??

 

[nightgoat]

Obviously we want West Ham to beat Arsenal. Why on earth are people thinking about that like it's a bad thing??

Because West Ham in the Champions League would be a terrible thing. Shit, West Ham in the Europa League is bad enough. Our co-efficient will take a kicking if both Leicester and West Ham are in Europe.

 

[bubble07]

Because West Ham in the Champions League would be a terrible thing. Shit, West Ham in the Europa League is bad enough. Our co-efficient will take a kicking if both Leicester and West Ham are in Europe.

But Arsenal have (on paper) only 2 difficult games left and west ham is one of them. They win that and it's squeaky bum time

 

[WalkerboyUK]

But Arsenal have (on paper) only 2 difficult games left and west ham is one of them. They win that and it's squeaky bum time

Which is why a draw is probably the preferable result.
If you consider that their game in hand then a draw means they would still be 3 behind and with inferior goal difference.
Yes, maintaining a 4 point gap would be the preference, but I'm not sure I'd like that if it helped West Ham get into top 4.