Snoozny, Wilshere, Ramsey, Koscielny, Gibbs, Chamakh = 1 season; Mertesacker, Jenkinson, Arteta, Santos, Gervinho = 0 Seasons Not so experienced of finishing top 4, to be honest. Probably some others I missed too. Last season we took 7 points from the games you listed, which aint bad. Having played 4 out of the other 9 in the top 10 away is hardly an imporant statistic either. Of course it's a long season but we have a significant advantage right now and it's going to take several results going against us for us to fall out of the top 4.
Fluke win at the Emirates because of a 2nd half Arsenal implosion and a win at Anfield because Liverpool didn't want the distraction of Europa You have the advantage but I'd expect you to have the advantage given the games you have played. Arsenal have been to: Etihad Stamford Bridge Old Trafford WHL Chelsea have been to: WHL Old Trafford Plus we don't have to play resurgent teams like Sunderland and QPR away from home as we have those out the way. I am absolutely certain that you will take no more than 4 points from the following games: Chelsea (A) Arsenal (A) City (A) Liverpool (A) If I am wrong then you will get top 4, but I don't see you winning at the Bridge or Etihad and I sure as hell don't see you winning at the Emirates or Anfield. Anfield on a Monday Night 8pm has banana skin written all over it. Very rarely do home teams lose night games and that is no coincidence. Travel + Fans play a huge part. Wenger has experience and know how, something which Spurs do not. Chelsea players have experience and know how, something which Spurs do not. It would be foolish but typical of Spurs fans to automatically assume they will finish above us and Arsenal just because they are ahead of us having played easier games (on paper). Nothing is lost in January and certainly nothing is won either. In late Feb we were 15 points (technically 18) behind Man U at one stage, but were 3 points behind them 1st May and I maintained then United would drop points because of their poor away record to big teams and because they still had to play Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool away. I believe Spurs are no different this time round
Of course, it's a symptomn of being an Arsenal fan. What I find interesting lets say, is that we're accused(by you) of getting ahead of ourselves when we look above at our much closer rivals, yet you are doing nothing but look up at our club when Stoke are closer to you. Alright, Stoke and Newcastle are unlikely to finish above you but Liverpool are still breathing down your neck, if you haven't noticed.
I did the predictor today and I had us placed 3rd with 77 points and Arsenal and Spurs joint 4th with 76 points. Had us to draw tomorrow, beat Norwich and draw to Swansea. Beat United at home, beat Spurs at home, draw to Arsenal at Emirates, lose to Villa and lose to Liverpool. Had Arsenal to draw to Swansea as well, beat United and Spurs at home, draw to City and Chelsea at home, narrow win at QPR. home draw to Newcastle. Had Spurs to win 10 out of their next 18 games
It's not because it's Spurs it could be anyone. In the same way that if Barca were to play Sevilla (A) Real Madrid (A) Valencia (A) Espanyol (A) You would expect them to drop points. Everybody said that City's good form would not continue and they would not remain unbeaten because they had Liverpool (which they almost lost) and Chelsea (which they did lose) away from home coming up. We have Arsenal, Liverpool and City (and Villa) all to play away from home and I only predicted us to get 2 points (at best) from those 3/4 games so it isn't a thing of being biased
I would agree with Stoke because they could still be in Europe then hence making it a forgone conclusion but if I remember right Wigan did win at WHL last season, and pretty comfortably too. Wigan are one of those teams that seem to always take points off the big sides (apart from United)
Why? He never did it when he played there regularly! I like Crouch though, in all honesty. Not suited to our system and looks ridiculous, but he's a very useful player. Treated poorly by England, too.
He's certainly proving his worth for Stoke, maybe Redknapp just didn't know how to get the best out of him ?
He did get the best out of him, Piskie. He was very important to the side in the season before last. He just doesn't suit the way that we play now, as it involves being quite isolated, at times. Pair him up with a fast, direct striker and he's very dangerous.
Funny that, looking at Chelseas fixtures you have: Arsenal (a) Man City (a) Liverpool (a) So baring in mind you believe that playing away to any of the top 6 you wont get anything and that you are 8 points behind us, you should be worried. We also have more home games left to play than the other teams, yes our away games are difficult but anything can happen. An example of this is you getting spanked by Villa at home. Arsenal have the best set of remaining fixtures in my opinion but they can not afford any more slip ups.
Which I have already accounted for. I predicted us to get 2 points at best from those games. I also predicted us to lose to Villa (despite it being unlikely) simply because our record there is terrible. I have us to win 1 out of our next 3 games. Liverpool (A) does not carry the same significance for us as it does for Arsenal and Spurs because by the time we play them they could well have nothing to play for We have done better away from home than at home so I personally do not fear going to either the Emirates or Anfield despite losing at those places last season. and we have only narrowly lost to City on the last two ocassions both games in which major decisions went against us
Fair enough but what have you said Spurs will achieve on the 4 'tough' away games? I think we will draw with City in 2 weeks - neither team will want to lose especially with City losing their last 2 home games. We should have a number of our players back from injury too. I think we can beat anyone on our day, and there are a lot of shocks yet to come this season.
You haven't got a point. It's all based on your opinion/hope that we won't be able to do the business against the top teams away. It's not an easy run because they're tough games but they're tough games for both sides involved. It certainly could kill of our title challenge and we may drop out of the top 4 but for arguments sake lets say we have a disasterous run in the next 10 games and only beat the bottom half teams and lose to all the top half teams, netting us 9 points. If you were to continue at your average points per game rate, of 1.8 getting you 18 points, you'd be level with us and we'd still be well in contention for the top 4. Top 4's not guarunteed for us, of course it's not but we're very well placed and until your team show that you can pick up the points against teams you should be beating, I certainly can't see you as a favourite for 4th. FYI in the next 10 games you play United at home, Us, Liverpool away, Newcastle Home and Everton away which according to you are all a big test of fortitude and courage. Then you also have Swansea away today, who have only lost once at home, Sunderland away, Blackburn at home and Champions League ties that are sandwiched in between the very biggest games between you and your rivals.
