Top four finish?

[Lamelad]

I think we'll not be far from the top four and if we manage games after the europa league well then we have a chance.

 

[Adam456]

What a banana skin Bournemouth could be after Europa. Will we screw it up AGAIN ?

 

[npearl4spurs]

What a banana skin Bournemouth could be after Europa. Will we screw it up AGAIN ?

Definite slip up possible. There is pressure on Poch to get it right and for the team to show that we have improved from last year.

 

[Lighty64]

we are now fast approach our toughest month of fixtures, next week yet again we play a team with a team that might be a little more fired up with either a new manager, or playing to impress for when 1 is appointed. we should beat Villa but in the Prem there is never anything written in stone.

then 3 tough London derbys on the bounce. the Arscum match comes in a week we play Monday, Thursday, with them playing Saturday, Wednesday (in Munich). then we have a week to prepare for Wet Spam, and they have 1 extra day. the following week we play FK Qarabag, then early KO against Chelsum who play the Saturday before, a longish trip on the Tuesday. this month will have a very big effect on our season. do well in November and on paper the next tough on paper set of block fixtures happens in April

 

[Spursidol]

we are now fast approach our toughest month of fixtures, next week yet again we play a team with a team that might be a little more fired up with either a new manager, or playing to impress for when 1 is appointed. we should beat Villa but in the Prem there is never anything written in stone.

then 3 tough London derbys on the bounce. the Arscum match comes in a week we play Monday, Thursday, with them playing Saturday, Wednesday (in Munich). then we have a week to prepare for Wet Spam, and they have 1 extra day. the following week we play FK Qarabag, then early KO against Chelsum who play the Saturday before, a longish trip on the Tuesday. this month will have a very big effect on our season. do well in November and on paper the next tough on paper set of block fixtures happens in April

Good scoreline today to put us 3 points behind 4th place and 5 points behind first place - whilst we are 6 points ahead of Chelsea.

Importantly out goal difference of +8 is better than 4th place ManU whilst within striking difference of the other top 3 - so often we are miles away, so this is great news..

We have a week's rest now (which is useful to have, and unlike most of our competitors) so our players shouldn't be tired - and we should soon have Bentaleb and Son back in addition to Mason's return today, all crucial to give the squad back some depth to better allow for rotation in the midweek games. So if Poch prepares the squad properly and rotates it (plus playing a couple of youngsters) in the midweek games we should get a decent set of results over the next month.

If we get a decent striker in January, and Harry continues to get back to last season';s form we are not out of the top 4 this season or out of EL - all to play for

 

[southlondonyiddo]

I never get too excited when we have a great victory or get too upset when we have a poor loss

I would expect us to finish at the very least runners up this season and probably win a trophy as well after today's result

 

[npearl4spurs]

All the good feeling of this win will evaporate if we don't take care of business against Villa.

 

[bubble07]

What a banana skin Bournemouth could be after Europa. Will we screw it up AGAIN ?

I reckon we should be ok

 

[oskathegobshite]

Some really big games coming up. Villa are poor and we should beat them but the three games after will be massive for our season. Can't decide how good we are at the moment, the lads are capable of big results and the mentality seems to be less of a problem than in previous years but we still need to put it together consistently and believe that we are a top team.

I can't help thinking that the draws with the very beatable Swansea, Stoke, Leicester, Liverpool and Everton are probably going to cost us this year.

 

[Lighty64]

Good scoreline today to put us 3 points behind 4th place and 5 points behind first place - whilst we are 6 points ahead of Chelsea.

Importantly out goal difference of +8 is better than 4th place ManU whilst within striking difference of the other top 3 - so often we are miles away, so this is great news..

We have a week's rest now (which is useful to have, and unlike most of our competitors) so our players shouldn't be tired - and we should soon have Bentaleb and Son back in addition to Mason's return today, all crucial to give the squad back some depth to better allow for rotation in the midweek games. So if Poch prepares the squad properly and rotates it (plus playing a couple of youngsters) in the midweek games we should get a decent set of results over the next month.

If we get a decent striker in January, and Harry continues to get back to last season';s form we are not out of the top 4 this season or out of EL - all to play for

I think November will have the biggest effect on us this season. as you say we are 5pts behind Man C & Arscum. City have a pretty good EPL program for November, Arscums toughest is us, Wet Spam not really worked out how good or bad they are yet. Manure and Leicester both play each other the end of November, but not really a tough month. Chelscum have a toughish month, but I keep getting the feeling they will turn it round.

think we need to take something at the library and beat the others to make sure we don't fall behind

the next 2 Europa matches are now more important, and playing away to Qarabag it would of helped to of beat Anderlect away, so not sure how much resting will happen.

 

[Riandor]

Some really big games coming up. Villa are poor and we should beat them but the three games after will be massive for our season. Can't decide how good we are at the moment, the lads are capable of big results and the mentality seems to be less of a problem than in previous years but we still need to put it together consistently and believe that we are a top team.

I can't help thinking that the draws with the very beatable Swansea, Stoke, Leicester, Liverpool and Everton are probably going to cost us this year.

Possible... But on the plus side we didn't lose any of them.
Our momentum is really positive and we're steadily climbing up the league after a slow start points wise. If we can keep the not losing habit going, then that's one hell of a mental boost.

I'll take cup losses if it means we bounce back in the league. I think top 4 is very do-able as all teams look quite flaky. I think West Ham is very important. They themselves have had an excellent run, but will probably drop off to some extent over the course of the season, so the sooner we can start that process for them the sooner we can hopefully be in the top four ourselves and stay there.

 

[beats1]

Our prospect of a top 4 finish depends on the next 4 games imo.

Poch will also have a dilemma trust some of the fringe players or risk playing a tired team against Chelsea and Arsenal. Not to mention playing 3 games in 6 days next week.

To be still in the race for fourth, from the next 4 league games we need 8points from 12.

In reality with the clubs in the form they are we need to get 9 or 10! With arsenal the only place we should be dropping points.

Four tough games coming up

2 Nov - Aston Villa (H)
5 Nov - Anderlecht (H)
8 Nov - Arsenal (A)

International Break

22 Nov - West Ham (H)
26 Nov - Qarabag (A)
29 Nov - Chelsea (H)

 

[dagraham]

Can't complain about today obviously, but Bournemouth are piss poor.

Put simply we are just drawing too many games to finish in the top four, which is symptomatic of our lack of firepower and depth up front. Going undefeated is great, but if you drew every game you'd most likely be relegated.

Wins are what it's all about.

 

[Lyngby BK]

Some really big games coming up. Villa are poor and we should beat them but the three games after will be massive for our season. Can't decide how good we are at the moment, the lads are capable of big results and the mentality seems to be less of a problem than in previous years but we still need to put it together consistently and believe that we are a top team.

I can't help thinking that the draws with the very beatable Swansea, Stoke, Leicester, Liverpool and Everton are probably going to cost us this year.

I feel the same way: frustrated as hell that we could not get the ball to hit the back of the net enough to get the 3 points in all of those games, but i somehow just need to point out that we did not lose any of these games. Last season we would let the opposition of pure mediocrity turn us over in our own backyard due to a lack of mentality and a lack of effort from the boys (West brom, Newcastle, Villa, Stoke, liverpool comes to mind and to some extend also draws vs Palace, west ham and some awaygames against relegation fodder). This season we don't let them score. The big question i am asking: is those draws the difference between us finishing four of fifth?

 

[Shea]

The draws at home to Stoke, Everton and Liverpool (all of which we should have won) will prove very costly come the end of the season and be the difference between us and the top 4

I don't think its a realistic aspiration this year but I'm personally fine with that as long as we continue to progress, gel as a unit and gain experience. I think CL football could potentially come too soon for this group right now anyway (not that I would turn my nose up if we made it)

As long as we show legitimate improvement over the course of the season I will be happy

 

[spike472]

Do Le Arse play on the Tuesday or Wednesday again Munich before they play Us?

 

[Hazardousman]

Can't complain about today obviously, but Bournemouth are piss poor.

Put simply we are just drawing too many games to finish in the top four, which is symptomatic of our lack of firepower and depth up front. Going undefeated is great, but if you drew every game you'd most likely be relegated.

Wins are what it's all about.

I am not one to ever think we have a chance at 4th but looking at the league this year it is very doable. Chelsea aren't going to get it no chance whatsoever and our average finish is 5th so the logical thing would be that we step up and take that spot.

Of course we still have Son to come back as well and he isn't exactly a bad player is he? I think he will only add to the firepower we have and then if we can add another forward in January, even if it's a loan to cover us for if Kane hits a poor patch of form then I think we have a genuine chance.

West Ham are not a threat at all imo, they were in pretty much this position last year and they fell off fast like they will this time.

Liverpool are too unreliable currently (as proven today) to mount any challenge for fourth, I would actually say fourth is ours to lose if I am quite honest.

We are only 10 games into the season so a lot of the teams around where we are now (West Ham, Leicester etc) will fall off as the season moves forward, you always get one or two that come out of the blocks fast and fade away (Look at Southampton they were nailed of for top four last year according to some parts of the media)

We are unbeaten in the league since the first game of the season, I think if we can get 10 points from our next 5 games then we will be in pole position for fourth.

 

[Mr Pink]

Top four is most certainly achievable this season - its never been more so IMO. To discount it is so negative. Doesn't mean we should expect it, to clarify, but Jesus come on.

The gulf in class has reduced between the traditional top four and the rest and its an all round more competitive league and it will almost certainly take less points to finish there too than most other seasons.

Ridiculous to write off our chances with the current circumstances, not to mention how much we've improved defensively, in the main, and with other key players to return, such as Son, our attacking play can only be heading upwards as well.

But having a strong spine, which we really do now, has no doubt made us a more industrious and competitive team.
We'll keep developing and improving, whilst staying in the hunt, and the age and fitness of our squad could really come to fore in the latter third of the season.

I'm excited in truth. Nothing to do with today, I just wanted the three points, but I've been saying similar for weeks and when Son returns I think our balance is improved considerably - and we're still chipping away without him.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

Top four is most certainly achievable this season - its never been more so IMO. To discount it is so negative. Doesn't mean we should expect it, to clarify, but Jesus come on.

The gulf in class has reduced between the traditional top four and the rest and its an all round more competitive league and it will almost certainly take less points to finish there too than most other seasons.

Ridiculous to write off our chances with the current circumstances, not to mention how much we've improved defensively, in the main, and with other key players to return, such as Son, our attacking play can only be heading upwards as well.

But having a strong spine, which we really do now, has no doubt made us a more industrious and competitive team.
We'll keep developing and improving, whilst staying in the hunt, and the age and fitness of our squad could really come to fore in the latter third of the season.

I'm excited in truth. Nothing to do with today, I just wanted the three points, but I've been saying similar for weeks and when Son returns I think our balance is improved considerably - and we're still chipping away without him.

Son is massive for the type of football Poch wants to play, we really need him back to get wins rather than draws.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I'm excited in truth. Nothing to do with today, I just wanted the three points, but I've been saying similar for weeks and when Son returns I think our balance is improved considerably - and we're still chipping away without him.

This is the most pleasing thing IMO. We've had injuries to our first choice central midfield from last season, an out of form Kane, injured Eriksen and Son but we've still managed to grind out results. We can only get stronger from now on. Top 4 will be difficult but I think we have as good a chance as we probably have since Bale left us.