Through the holiday season we have: West Ham - home Spurs - away Cardiff - home City - away Chelsea - away What would be your expected points haul here? I think with Studge crocked we will need Suarez to wring points out of the bigger fixtures. 9 points is a good realistic target IMHO
Nine is realistic but far from easy. Assuming you're saying we'll win the two home games, are you expecting a win at White Hart Lane, Stamford Bridge or Eastlands? Or you hoping for three draws? My prediction: West Ham - home win Spurs - away draw Cardiff - home win City - away lose Chelsea - away draw Eight points which I'd be happy with TBH
I think we will win our 2 home games and beat someone away - not sure who but Rodgers is a gambler and Suarez is unreal on his day - Chelsea maybe? We always seem to play well there?
Tough. We just have to beat Wham and the RedBluebirds. Spurs are shaky, so we could squeeze a result there, but it's so difficult to predict. City look unstoppable when they're in the groove, but they have blown hot and cold (well, lukewarm), and we can step up our game against tough opposition. They're at home though, so very tough. Chavs? Oh, **** it-let's stuff 'em. Optimistically, I'd go with RHC's prediction of 10, but minimum of 7. Fewer than that would be catastrophic.
As I always say, visiting a top side is a case of anything is a bonus. I don't "expect" anything from White Hart Lane, Stamford Bridge or Eastlands but...
8-10 would be a decent haul but jesus wept we look awful away at the moment. If we can tighten up at the back then we could improve that away form but if not we could quickly fall out of the top four.
Really? 2 points from the 3 big teams? I'd be disappointed with that. It would also mean we'd enter January having taken an average 1.6 points a game during first half of season. not good enough
this is the type of discussion our players need to wake up to. hull was a disaster. look at these fixtures and tell me that the effort or lack of it put in v hull away was not a disgrace. We have to beat west ham this weekend. the rest come form that. win v west ham at home and then go on the road... those lower half teams MUST be put to the sword with gusto... lack of effort... disgraceful
There are some great games in there, we have to nick points from the top teams and not **** it up in games like Cardiff at Home.
West Ham - Hopefully a win, would like this opportunity for others to score and gain confidence - 3 points Spurs - A lose im afraid, we have such a poor recent record at the lane and I cant see anything changing this time round - 0 points Cardiff - Like a good team should*, we will bounce back and beat the diff - 3 points City - I would be confident for a draw but I reckon city will be to much at home and get the win through an LFC mistake - 0 points Chelsea - Rodgers and Mourinho reunited, We will push hard and be rewarded with a draw - 1 point Total: 7 points. January will roll round and we will be around 6th/5th at best, but BR will already have transfers lined up and they will come in the first few days. We will then push on. 7 points from 15 will be tough to take but it wont damage our chances of 4th IMO. Its all about getting those new (hopefully decent) signings bedded in quick time. *For the first time in a long time LFC give me a confidence of being a team that can ounce back from a defeat. Im putting it down to BRs effect on the team in training/behind closed doors.
Your December fixtures are tough, with 2 of the hardest aways in the league in City & Chelsea, who've only dropped 2 points at home between them so far this season. Spurs away is always a tough assignment, but the 2 homes games look very winnable - albeit I'm sure Spurs thought the same when the Hammers turned up the other week If you get 9 points from those 6, then you've done very well imo.
Anything less than 6 would be a catastrophe, 7 or 8 is more feasible 9 or more would be very good. Aldo have to remember that even if we don't beat spurs if we draw they are still dropping 2 points as well in the race for 4th. In theory would be better to lose to Cardiff and west ham and beat spurs and Chelsea then it would to best west ham and Cardiff and lose to spurs and Chelsea...
All starts tomorrow. We have to get 6 points from West Ham and Cardiff. That is a must. Spurs seem to be a team we could get something against, but I can see them hitting form just in time for us. Chelsea will be a hard game and I would definately take a point. Man City Id very much be happy with a point, but would not be surprised if we lost. The team really has to start playing over this period if we are still going to be in the race for the top 4 come january
Xmas is a time that can really show the difference between teams and groups of mercenaries. We do have some hard games, but Im quite glad we have Chelsea and Man City away over Xmas. I any time of year can knock up and odd result/bad performance it is this time of year. Think this is the best time to have those two games as loing as we are on our game
So...... actually in the banks of 4 thread we deal with this. we are probably at 7/12 points per group of 4. we just lost to hull and beat norwich.. if we beat west ham and draw with spures that... 7 our of 12. Cardiff - home City - away Chelsea - away Hull - home so lets be clear... taking the next 5 is whatever to me. add in hull... this bank of 4 above i think we can take 7 points again from.... so we'll consistently take 7/12 points? = 66.5points exactly. we need to actually do better 8/12 = 76 points. first 4... 10 points, second 4 7 points, third 4, 7 points.... i am willing to predict we will get 7/12 after hull game...
what we need to do is therefore to win 3 out of these 4 Stoke City A Aston Villa H Everton H West Brom A not impossible is it? reality check time... we are nowhere near title form. arsenal are. we are scraping for 4th