So who is optimistic on paper straight forward (bar spunk at home and Chitty away) Can we do it, do we believe it - oh please God yes!
We're relying on others...I can't see us climbing more than one place...so I reckon we will finish 5th.
Yep, we are relying on others. But those others are relying on others too, in the sense that they have to play each other, whereas, the only team we have to play above us at the moment is Man City [A]. Yes, we have Spurs at home, who are right with us, too, but we may have put a little daylight between us and them by then [ooh..!]. Tomorrow's match between Liverpool and ManU is very important. I haven't worked out what is the best result yet for Saints, but I'm assuming a draw would be the result that neither team would prefer, so I'll go with that. Hate to say it, but Liverpool winning would probably be next on the preference list. Somebody will no doubt inform me as to why that is illogical [because it's Liverhampton won't do if you don't mind].
I'm a little worried that we won't have Fraser again this season. Despite Kelvin's heroics today and the continued criticism of Fraser I don't believe Kelvin will install the confidence that the defence needs and gets with Fraser. Fraser gets criticised for things like not coming out, but the defence know he won't and that is important in their understanding. Love Kelv but he's no longer a strong premier league keeper (hope he prove me wrong in the next few weeks). Our defence will need to show it's steel and hopefully the rest of the team can continue form from these last three games.
Probably need six wins to be in the conversation. Our run-in is as favourable as it could be, particularly given that the final game of the season is likely to have zero meaning to City, but that's still a serious ask.
Yeah, despite my pointing out what I see as a couple of Fraser's faults, I'm a little worried that he won't be between the sticks. I too love Kelvin, but he's not played a competitive match for ages and he's not the keeper he was perhaps. Yep, I hope he proves me wrong. That would be great.
And Liverpool and Man U still have Chelsea. So we can hopefully make up three points on both right there.
8 wins, finish 4th. Kelvin to keep 8 clean sheets and pelle to score 16 goals. That's what my cat predicts, but he has been wrong before. Personally I think only three of those will happen as we'll concede at least one.
I'm hopeful that Super Kelv will continue to keep our defensive record going. Back when he was replaced I thought it was the team at fault, not just him. Right now we have a strong team in front of him and it might even be refreshing to have a keeper who isnt glued to the line. So for now I'm not concerned, he must be named Super for a reason, and I'm not willing to write him off just yet.
Is it a definite that Boruc won't come back? Not expecting him to but it would be good to have him in the squad right now. I have no idea what to expect from Davis anymore, presume he's been training well to make the bench but he sure didnt look in good shape physically today compared to the younger guys out there. If he can keep pulling saves off like today I wont care though and it was great to see him on the pitch again for old-times sakes. Rather him than Gazzaniga. I'd take a manu/pool draw tomorrow over either of them winning this weekend. 4 points behind Manu and 2 behind Liverpool sounds alright. If I'm honest I'm thinking 5th would be a fantastic achievement for us. Beyond fantastic really. I don't expect us to do better but I sure wont be disappointed if we do!
Saints to leave it to last day where they need to win for top four and city need to win for title. City fans then know what it's like to be on the receiving end of an aguero moment as tadic slips in pelle to send the fans delirious. Kelvin davis runs up the pitch the kneeslide in the celebrations and koeman does cartwheels down the touchline a long with fraser, who sees everyone looking at him and touches his knee saying "still a bit stiff".
I've not heard anything either way (which is understandable - we have two weeks until our next game, and Forster is presumably still being assessed). But if we are able to recall Boruc (and surely we can't have been stupid enough to not include a recall clause?), then it's a no-brainer isn't it?
