Fair assessment although I don't think anybody really expected Liverpool to be in the top 4 with the signings they had made, I didn't. I thought they'd do well to get 6th and they look likely to get 7th/8th which is about where they should be. Newcastle and Sunderland will not be easy to overhaul, nor will Everton IMO, as for Villa they are in decline and I believe if Mcelish stays they will do well to stay up next year (or even this year)
Dead right Hammersmith! We need Arsenal to pulverise Wigan - a 6 nil thrashing would be brilliant! Don't really understand the problem with the pen either - he scored didn't he with the score 0 - 0 if I recall correctly, he's hardly likely to be just taking the piss in that situation is he?
Of course all contingent on staying up, but I have been consistently positive on that. Next year we will see the full Hughes effect and some great additions to the squad this summer. This season has been so traumatic that we won't suffer the usual 'difficult second syndrome' of most promoted clubs that survive year one. And Justin, in his DT incarnation, was right all along. If you are not in the relegation dogfight, the gap to the top 8 is very, very small. Sunderland were in dire straits in December, look at them now - right up there. Not saying we will win anything, but definitely think that's the level we will be competing at. Staying up was our objective this year, survival won't be enough for MH, Amit and TF next season. Or me to be honest. The last thing I want us to be is a 'just happy to be here' club like Stoke, WBA, Norwich etc. Fair play to them, but not my idea of ambition.
