now we are 8th the aim should be to stay there if we move any higher its a big bonus. makes it even more impressive that we were absolute rubbish for the majority of the time when Bruce was manager this season
Fans probably can't dream higher - and given our experiences for so many decades, we've plenty of reason not to dream higher. But I hope the team aren't thinking like that. Keep notching up 3 points a game and it's up to those above us to stop us. No.1 is the highest we can go. Well, that's the attitude I'd like them to have anyway.
I think there's still a honeymoon period at Sunderland, and I think it's hard to deny. If you guys kept up this sort of form throughout a season you would be well above Man Utd and Man City and looking towards winning the title. Teams will keep picking up points though - ourselves, Arsenal, Liverpool and so on. Even teams below like Stoke, Fulham and Everton. Overtaking teams and creating gaps will be a very gradual process. Certainly possible to overtake Arsenal though. Depends how their form goes. I think we've shown that we can get by without having key players like Ba and Tiote, but no one knows what Arsenal would be like without RVP if he were to get injured.
This. We've hardly been brilliant recently. In fact, the only performance from us in the last couple of months that I'd consider anywhere near the quality to the quality we put in at the start of the season, was against Man Utd. However, we're still 5th. If we had have carried on our form from the start of the season, we'd be in the top 4, comfortably ahead of Chelsea. I think you'll carry on doing well but I don't see you doing as well in your next 11 games as you have so far.
Our challenge for the rest of the season is to continue to push for 8th place, it does look good looking at the league table this morning, but there is 7 teams separated by 3points. The remaining 15 games is all about battling for that 8th spot, look we are scoring goals and not giving much away. There is only man city, united and Liverpool have a better defensive record in the whole league.
And what guarantees do you have you will be successful in the next 11? 9 games ago I honestly thought relegation was a possibility. 9 games on and we are 8th and being talked about as chasing Arsenal. I'm realistic to accept that 8th this season, given our handicapped start, would be amazing and if that's our final place it would satisfy me. I think Mon already has one eye on next season now but one thing remains as the focus. FA Cup. If we get to the last 16 and Arsenal at home, who knows what might happen. 8th and a good cup run? Yes please.
after our demise under bruce it's quite remarkable to find ourselves in the position we're in but my answer would be no, i can't see us finishing any higher, but **** me, 8th would be fantastic and roll on next season
I think 8th is the target. To get higher the key games are Liverpool arsenal and the Mags. To move up we really need to win all three of these and with them having to play each other there is a chance we can catch one of them but no more. Even that will be a big ask. I am just happy to watch the lads enjoy their football with out the pressure of relegation. All the pressure will be in the cup which we have to go for.
10th or higher would still do for me, 8th would be fantastic - we have to beat stoke in order to cement our 8th spot (easier said than done imo). If we continue like this, and Arsenal continue their current form, then I can see us finishing above them. but then again, if they continue their current form, we could finish 8th and still be above them at the end of the season.
Agreed. We should be looking to concentrate on picking up points and consolidating 8th as there are plenty of clubs below us who could easily catch up. A couple of iffy results could just as easily see us slide into the bottom half. Let's not get carried away and just carry on as we are to finish as high as possible without any slumps ! The rest will take care of itself !
I am afraid I am going to boring and just concentrate on getting 41 points, now 11 off. We have Stoke away next and if Norwich were a threat yesterday it was in the air, if we get a useless ref we could have problems as with last season, although the new CB has a rep for being good in the air. We then have Arsenal, and I know we are on a good run, but to expect 3 points is being somewhat deluded. then West Brom away I do expect some sort of result there. Then of course we play away at a team whose supporters are looking for Champion League!
Delighted with 8th. Think we will close points on newcastle but not catch them, however, anything is possible with MON at the helm.
Top half will still do me! The only way we could get higher than 8th is if Newcastles form dips significantly, which I doubt will happen! I'd expect the other teams around Newcastle to consistantly pick up enough points to stay well clear of ourselves! I'm just hoping that Newcastles players start believing that they CAN get a European place then start sh*tting themselves under the pressure! I expect SAFC to start dropping points from now on as we cant keep this up....surely??????? I'm not used to this winning 2 league games off the belt lark!!!!! haha! As long as SAFC continue to try their pods off and continue to entertain then I'm happy!!!!
All our lot are bemoaning a poor performance.I don't agree I think you lot were brilliant.O'Neill has certainly worked miracles since you came to Carrot Rd.
I have just done the BBC Predictor, which I know means absolutely sod all. Man City 1st 95 Manu U 2nd 93 Spurs 3rd 82 points Chelsea 4th 74 points Liverpool 5th 73 points Arsenal 6th 68 points Newcastle 7th 60 points We are 8th on 56 points Everton 9th on 56 points (we have a better GD) Bottom 3 are Blackburn Wolves Wigan
Agreed with Shiney, we've been on one hell of a run but we are top of a mini mid-table league by goal difference and the odd point. Barring a massive collapse from Arsenal and us continuing our brilliant form until May it won't happen that we'll get any higher than 8th but 8th is a realistic target and I'd still snap your hand off to be 8th in May.
Damned autotext Cruyff?? Actually I thought our pitch was somewhat like a ploughed field last night so maybe that Carrot Road was aimed at that!! Agree mate that we have improved immensely since O'Neill took over - we have 19 points since then, we had 11 when he took over - and no-one has a better record than us since MoN took over
