Don't agree with many pundits and neutrals discounting Newcastle. Pardew is trying to take the pressure off his players but he must surely fancy their chances of a top 4 place. Anybody dismissing them is foolish, forget us, Spurs and Arsenal they are by far and away the form team. City are not going to win the title but could yet have a big part to play as they play Arsenal and Newcastle. When Spurs were 10 clear I decided to do predictions and had us 3rd, 1 point ahead of Spurs and Arsenal in joint 4th with the same GD (don't know what happens there) and Newcastle in 6th not too far behind. I don't think Spurs are catchable now and I expect them to get 3rd, we blew our chance last week when we put in an average shift against them, whether it's a point gained or not who know's, we had bigger fish to fry. Man City go into their game with Arsenal knowing they have to win, they won't want the humiliation of United winning it on their patch so have to stay afloat. I fancy them to come back strong at the Emirates. I believe Sunderland and QPR will turn Spurs over and Bolton might fancy their chance as well. Spurs should win all their home games with relative comfort though, something about Spurs just isn't right, thought they flattered to deceive today but should get over the white line. Arsenal always have an implosion in them and with City and us still to come and Stoke away, I think they will drop points too. We are fighting on several fronts and I foresee us dropping points, with Chelsea you never know, but Fulham away could be a banana skin, any game could be. Wigan are in form but hopefully that win against Stoke allows them to take the day off at SW6 and focus on United at home which is a more winnable game. Newcastle at home and Arsenal away will be tough. Newcastle probably have the best fixture list of the 4 teams. Speaking with my head I'd say: Spurs 3rd, Arsenal 4th, Chelsea 5th, Newcastle 6th. But heart says: Chelsea 3rd, Spurs 4th, Arsenal 5th, Newcastle 6th. Nothing in it between the 4 teams, Spurs 5-0 win over Toon was a one-off
How do Newcastle have a better fixture list then us? They have you lot away,Man City at home and Everton away. Also Swansea away next week. Sadly, I think Spurs have the best fixtures.
I think we better ignore all of the other teams and go into every game as if it were a cup final. We have a very hard remaining 7 games (plus FA cup and CL ties) where we face potentially 7 rivals including Newcastle, Liverpool, Barca, Fulham, QPR, Spurs and Arsenal. I don't think we'll be in the top four but (call me deluded if you will) I genuinely have a good feeling about the Champions League
Actually retracting the negative part of my post, if we beat Arsenal then anything is possible. They've been woeful aswell this season.
Can't disagree more, although fixture list really doesn't matter at this time of year. Outside the top 6, Loftus Road and Stadium of Light are the two places I wouldn't want to go to right now with Goodison being the 3rd. QPR have been indifferent this season, but have already taken major scalps at Loftus Road by beating Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. On yesterday's showing they will give anyone there a good game. Arsenal are the only team that have won at the Stadium of Light since O'Neill took over there (but they also lost as well), in that time both Liverpool and City have been there and lost. He has turned SOL into a fortress and at home that is another place Spurs won't look forward to going to, especially with a 12:45 kick off. Then Bolton away midweek, with Villa away (who may need something to guarantee survival) a few days later. Like Man City, Spurs have been poor away from home since late-November, winning relatively few games. We won't know, but Spurs do not have it easy, regardless of what their deluded fans may think.
No fixture is easy like city found out with Swansea, Chelsea with west brom, united with Blackburn etc. That's the beauty of the prem! Whatever happens its set up for a cracking finish to the season! We have missed Lennon big time so will be good to have him back to bring the balance back to the side.
1st:man united 88pts 2nd:man city 83pts 3rd:arsenal 69pts 4th:tottenham 68pts 5th:chelsea 66pts 6th:newcastle:66pts(goal difference inferior to chelsea's)
Incredible. I had Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle all tied on 70 points with us and Arsenal clinching the 3rd and 4th spots on GD, we beat Arsenal by virtue of 1 goal I predicted us to beat Arsenal. Draw at home to Newcastle, draw away to Liverpool but win the rest. Predicted Arsenal to lose to us, City and Stoke which probably won't happen so I make them most likely to get 3rd. Was pretty fair with Spurs having them down to draw at Villa, Sunderland and Bolton, lose at QPR but win the rest. Newcastle not to lose another game all season and beat Man City at home, draw at Chelsea and Everton but win the rest. If we beat Newcastle, we can maybe afford a slip up at Fulham, can't lose again all season now though.
I've said it enough times already , but its important we take each game one at a time--and I think we'll do it . The only REAL test on paper we have are the Gooners at the Emirates! What's set to spoil things is the other competitions ! Robbie has to use the squad sensibly to make sure we give the best in the PL, CL and FACup! A chance for all the boys to become hero's!
Our schedule is now our biggest hurdle. One thing is clear, none of the top 6 PL sides has a squad good enough to compete in all 4 Competitions. Or maybe it would be fairer to say, has managed their squads well enough. Bugger the others anyway, but we really need to learn some hard lessons about team selection, and maybe even decide which 2 or possibly 3 Comps we REALLY want to go for. One thing is for sure, we have managed our own destiny poorly when we are 5th in the PL at this time of year, yet in with a shot of FA and CL. Someone should take responsibility and prioritise, unless and until our squad is a hell of a lot stronger than at present.
CP -Robbie took over a chronic situation! What he's achieved so far--nobody would have guessed! 6 wins, a draw and heroic defeat against MC in his 8 games so far. He's put us back into dreamland! I'm sure with the squad 100% behind him now we'll screw more out of this season than we could ever have imagined a month ago!
Amen to that Bluemoon 2, Robbie has been very clever, very astute and very brave. No easy task managing our team. Who to play, who to rest. Loved the way Kalou and Mikel raised their games, Mikel almost MOM against Villa. Torres scoring, Mata central midfield, Lamps deeper, Sturridge passing to better placed man, everything is working heaps better. Even my old nemesis Ashley Cole put in a decent stint last few games. Would love to be in just 2 competitions at this point in time, I think we would have a very decent shot at top 4. Being in 3 is so much harder. Still, one game at a time. Go Robbie and Eddie.
I love how chelsea fans love to try and play the "underdog" in this race for the top 4. Just so if we do make it you can say us and spurs bottled it and if you dont you can say that nobody fancied you for 4th anyway Let's face it. With wages and transfers over the last 6-7 years you have spent about £1bn more than us and look where it has got you. Nowhere. So stop playing the underdogs and realise you are 5th despite having a massively bigger wage bill than even man utd let alone us or spurs.
You won't get 3rd. Arsenal and Spurs are no better than Chelsea and Newcastle despite what Sky and the media would have people believe. If Newcastle beat Swansea they will be within 2 points of CL Qualifcation, same for Chelsea if we beat Wigan. Spurs fans never learn, always running their mouths before football has been played. If you were Man Utd who have been there before and won things then the arrogance could be somewhat justified. What is certain, is that whilst Spurs and Arsenal are ahead, the momentum is with Newcastle and Chelsea and we're set for a cracking end of the season which will go down to the wire.
Of course we're underdogs. We are 5 points off a CL spot with only 7 games remaining. Do you understand what the term underdog means? Underdog - A competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest. In what way does that not apply to us in this context?
