Aside from the F.A Cup (which is our best chance of a trophy) and no one should underestimate Blackburn this is a crucial few weeks with our hopes of achieving 4th We struggled to be consistent this season but now more than ever we need to build to the 2 prior wins. We play the current 4th and 6th placed teams and Chelsea have 2 tough away fixtures. Our next 3 PL Games Aston Villa (H) Spurs (A) Everton (H) Spurs next 3 PL Games West Ham (A) Arsenal (H) Liverpool (A) Chelsea next 3 PL Games Man City (A) West Brom (H) Fulham (A) Beating Spurs away is going to be incredibly tough. We haven't beaten them at their ground since 2007 and they're in the much better form. I think a draw would be a great results but that means we must beat Aston Villa who we should, the pressures off them a bit after last weekends results and beat Everton who despite being a massive test as well but we have a decent home record against. One of the keys to this run of fixtures will be Europe, we only play Bayern Munich away next week whilst Spurs and Chelsea both have to fit 2 European fixtures in the same run of games For once this season we need to dig deep and be focused for 3 Premier League games that will define our League season. By the time we play United in April they'll have probably already have won the league so here are 2 of our biggest games remaining directly in our path
This is what I hope for (best/realistic case scenario): Our next 3 PL Games Aston Villa (H) 3 Spurs (A) 1 Everton (H) 3 Spurs next 3 PL Games West Ham (A) 1 Arsenal (H) 1 Liverpool (A) 1 Chelsea next 3 PL Games Man City (A) 0 West Brom (H) 3 Fulham (A) 1 Chelsea P29 Pts - 53 points Arsenal P29 - 51 points Spurs P29 Pts - 51 points However, sods law that Spurs win against us with another skeffy 40 yard shot from some unknown that will never play for them again. And Chelsea will probably get 5 Lampard penalties and win all three games.
Agreed cini65 All 3 teams will drop points it's how and to whom. We can't afford to lose to Spurs, I think West Ham won't be easy but I imagine Spurs will beat them and no excuses for us not beating Aston Villa. A defeat then to them would but us 7 points out with 10 games to play A draw keeps it at 4 and if we can beat Everton and they draw with Liverpool we're only looking at a 2 point gap. It's how you react to the disappointing goal, performance, result and we've got to hope that one if not both of Chelsea and Spurs choke
I think we'll beat Spurs. If we can dominate the middle of the park they wont be able to handle us. Hopefully they'll have Defoe back. I would rather he faced our centrebacks than Adebayor.
Neither of their strikers will cause our CB's much grief. It's the runs from midfield we have to be wary of, and the attacks down the flanks with Bale and Lennon. At least Santos is no longer with us.
Hard one to predict. Arsenal and Spurs have the tougher of fixtures, facing 2 tough teams each. Spurs could conceivably draw all 3 and we could win 2 and draw one, best case scenario. The big question is will Ade cause our CBs major problems, will Sagna be able to keep Bale quiet, and how well will Everton play coming over to our neck of woods. I'm assuming we will beat Aston Villa at home. Chelsea has the slight easier of the 3. They could hold Man City to a draw, as the aren't looking too hot at the moment. Beat West Brom at home and scrap a win again Fulham away. But this season is unpredictable, we could get a suprise or two....
And you play an extra game in the FA Cup, so fixture wise no advantage (fingers crossed two if there is a replay?). Both our Lyon games will be done and dusted before West Ham, so shouldn't affect our game against you.
If we go to City and attack then I don't see why we can't get 3 points. Yes... it may seem a bit much but our away form has been very good up until that Newcastle result. Liverpool went, had a go and should have won. Southampton beat them. Their confidence isn't very high. We have the extra incentive that we'll be just one point behind them if we win. Spurs v Arsenal is massive.... a draw please
True but fat Sams West Ham will kick **** out of you That team used to play football but they have joined Stoke & Sunderland with the thug tactics.
Huh? We both play our first leg in the Europa this Thursday and then the following Thursday and I doubt Chelsea are going to need to field a full first team for their second leg so they can rest players whilst we have no FA cup game this weekend and as we play our league game on Monday we have the same gap in between the two games as you do. Edit: I think I see what you're saying. If we both go through we'll have games on 7 March.
It's all a guessing game, maybe those 3 games will dictate how we finish but you can bet more points will be dropped in the last 9 games so they're as relevent as any other. What people decide are the most difficult games on paper rarely turn out as expected.
NLD is shaping up to be a massive game. We've put TEN past the spuds in the last two and I know we'll go into this game with a lot of confidence. The Spuds are playing well and the home crowd will expect them to attack. I think as mentioned the key could be in MF and I think Cazorla, Wilshere, Arteta, Ramsey could benefit from a lot of room. With Walcott and Podolski in the team too, this could be another goal fest. We've definitely sharpened up a bit over the last few games and we're getting the results that our performances deserve. I think we'll beat Villa and Spurs will beat West Ham. I can see Chelsea dropping points against City - and setting up a really tasty and extremely important NLD
Getting players back is of paramount importance. Vermaelen or Koscielny are required to play CB, with Monreal & Sagna forming a solid back 5. In the middle, Wilshere is obviously key, and a fit Cazorla is a must. Ramsey has been playing well of late, but I'd still plumb for Arteta. The only question over that middle 3 is in height and power to compete with the likes of Dembele. Up front, for me, it has to be Theo, Giroud, Podolski. They've turned into a great front set, and provided the full-backs can provide width (one side at a time guys!) I really think they can do some damage.
Why can't we go there and win? They were below average against Liverpool and got a lucky point and they were awful against Southampton! Our away form apart from the Newcastle result has been very good. I think we'll get 1 maybe even all 3 points tbh. They are there for the taking
Kompany should be back by the time you play them. The guy is a massive player for them and with him they are a different side and are certainly not a team that is 'there for the taking'.
Agreed, this will be one of the best NLD in recent history. Both playing well and in full flow at the moment. Arsenal will play the way they always play, and that is to attack. Spurs willl pretty much do the same, but a more counter-attacking game would be a better bet for them. This will be one of the games of the season, with plenty of goals scored. Forget the so called mega game of Real v Man U, the Arsenal v Bayern game will also the more exciting to watch.
Beating Spurs around this time last year was the clear turning point to the season...confidence gained/confidence lost Obviously there will be 9 Games (27 points) still at play but a loss for Arsenal against Spurs and I think it's over for us The momentum from wining could be huge and especially with the memory of last year for most of those Spurs players it'd be natural they'd feel the pressure
