One From Four For Four

[Spurf]

Liverpool played 22 goal diff. 25 POINTS 43
Spurs played 22 goal diff 3 POINTS 43
Everton played 22 goal diff 15 POINTS 42
United played 22 goal diff 9 POINTS 37


Here is our battle, as I see it. These are the 4 teams who are contending for 4th spot and it looks like we will need to do it on points as we have by far the worst goal difference.

In our favour is that we have the greatest potential for improvement in the second half of the season IMO. We have top players like Paulinho and Sandro to come back at some point and others like Lamela and Soldado ready we hope to come good.

United because of who they are it's difficult to write them off, they appear to be the weakest of the 4 but of course if Robin Van and Rooney come back strong this could all change.

Both Everton and Liverpool have IMO been playing the best football of the 4 but there seems to be signs that they are both in danger of cracking, or is that just my wish fulfilment.

That's how I see it, a very tough second half of the season with no margin for error, too many draws not to mention losses and it's all over for yet another season. Right now I think we have a very good chance. Good luck Sherwood and COYS.

 

[Spurm]

I would put us as 2nd favourites right now. Liverpool favourites for the number of goals they are scoring which means they are never out of a game (eg, 2 down against Villa). Plus they're confidence is much higher.
Also, a small point, but we still have to go to Anfield, with both sets of players remembering the 5-0

Utd look beaten right now, but they have the pedigree. A 6 pt advantage over them makes us more likely than them at this stage imo.

I think Everton will drop away.

 

[Boss]

My initial view was it would be too much to ask Sherwood in his first job to achieve what only one other premier league manage has achieved for us, and that is champions league football but as Sherwood aka Harry MK2 has embraced Redknapps management style and added his own individuality then we sit right there in contention as this squad is talented, so by keeping it simple and letting the players play their own game while Sherwood himself is learning to adjust the system, then here we are, right up there and an exciting end to the season awaits!

 

[Dier Hard]

Pool favourites.

Us 2nd favourites.

I still feel Everton are one or two injuries away from trouble and Utd at the moment seem so demoralised I can't see them turning a corner just yet.

 

[rockspur]

I think we have a good chance of finishing above Everton and Utd. But Liverpool still have to play all the other current top 6 sides at Anfield - I suspect they will have to do poorly in those games (including against us) for us to finish above them

 

[Boss]

Don't forget Everton have done what keegan done with Newcastle and signed attacking players when already playing great football. in January, could cause problems as they have McGeady who is an exciting winger and that Giant Lacina Traore but signing players in January is risky unless you're in desperate need to climb away from relegation.

 

[Spurf]

There seems to be a consensus forming that it is in fact between us and Liverpool. The potential for our improvement is the factor I am clinging to because otherwise with Liverpool having beaten us 5-0 we have no chance.

Our half term report reads: Has potential but must improve and must try harder.

 

[SpursDisciple]

My initial view was it would be too much to ask Sherwood in his first job to achieve what only one other premier league manage has achieved for us, and that is champions league football but as Sherwood aka Harry MK2 has embraced Redknapps management style and added his own individuality then we sit right there in contention as this squad is talented, so by keeping it simple and letting the players play their own game while Sherwood himself is learning to adjust the system, then here we are, right up there and an exciting end to the season awaits!

Tim for England!

 

[Dier Hard]

There seems to be a consensus forming that it is in fact between us and Liverpool. The potential for our improvement is the factor I am clinging to because otherwise with Liverpool having beaten us 5-0 we have no chance.

Our half term report reads: Has potential but must improve and must try harder.

Yeah we definitely have potential. I think our potential can lead us to higher than 4th (not necessarily this season). The only team in the league I genuinely "fear" and believe are too good for us is City. Arsenal have been playing great but they haven't impressed me to a standard that I feel is out of our reach. Chelsea are also a team that I don't think are miles ahead of us, especially while Mata is consistently being benched.

 

[cini65]

Still the chance of United skeffing the Champions League and taking CL qualification for next year away from the 4th placed team. As soon as United get KO'd out of that competition a few clubs' fans will start to breathe easier... including me.

I still think Chelsea and City will create a gap and Arsenal will fall back slightly (with our horrific fixture run in Feb/early March) into that pack of Spurs, Liverpool and United. Everton will drop off. Leaving two places for four teams.

I think we'll still finish 3rd. No idea about 4th. All three of Liverpool, United and Spurs could just as easily pull it off.

 

[Spurm]

Still the chance of United skeffing the Champions League and taking CL qualification for next year away from the 4th placed team. As soon as United get KO'd out of that competition a few clubs' fans will start to breathe easier... including me.

I still think Chelsea and City will create a gap and Arsenal will fall back slightly (with our horrific fixture run in Feb/early March) into that pack of Spurs, Liverpool and United. Everton will drop off. Leaving two places for four teams.

I think we'll still finish 3rd. No idea about 4th. All three of Liverpool, United and Spurs could just as easily pull it off.

Well summed up i'd say. Thats what i see happening too, although i don't think Arsenal will drop back enough to be truly in that pack.

 

[crackerman jack]

I think if you look at the alternative team we could have put out on Sunday if everyone was fit and Benny was brought back then it shows how strong our squad is. We only have 2 competitions to play for and I'm hoping that our overall better "squad" than the teams around us will get us over the line.

The alternative team we could have put out would be:

Friedel

Naughton Vertonghen Kaboul Assou Ekotto

Townsend Sandro Paulinho Lamela

Defoe Soldado

And that's not even taking into account Siggurdsson and Holtby.

I think that team is as good as the team that started on Sunday.

 

[Spurf]

I think if you look at the alternative team we could have put out on Sunday if everyone was fit and Benny was brought back then it shows how strong our squad is. We only have 2 competitions to play for and I'm hoping that our overall better "squad" than the teams around us will get us over the line.

The alternative team we could have put out would be:

Friedel

Naughton Vertonghen Kaboul Assou Ekotto

Townsend Sandro Paulinho Lamela

Defoe Soldado

And that's not even taking into account Siggurdsson and Holtby.

I think that team is as good as the team that started on Sunday.

Still leaving Holtby & Capoue on the bench, it IS impressive.

 

[Dier Hard]

Still the chance of United skeffing the Champions League and taking CL qualification for next year away from the 4th placed team. As soon as United get KO'd out of that competition a few clubs' fans will start to breathe easier... including me.

I still think Chelsea and City will create a gap and Arsenal will fall back slightly (with our horrific fixture run in Feb/early March) into that pack of Spurs, Liverpool and United. Everton will drop off. Leaving two places for four teams.

I think we'll still finish 3rd. No idea about 4th. All three of Liverpool, United and Spurs could just as easily pull it off.

I think you guys will finish 2nd. I think City will take the title with Chelsea coming in just behind you guys. As for 4th, really can't predict at the moment. Liverpool seem more settled and having Suarez is a huge bonus but under Tim we're looking a decent side again and even though I think it's unlikely, you can't really rule Utd out, even if they look very average (being kind) at the moment.

 

[No Kane No Gain]

Still the chance of United skeffing the Champions League and taking CL qualification for next year away from the 4th placed team. As soon as United get KO'd out of that competition a few clubs' fans will start to breathe easier... including me.

I still think Chelsea and City will create a gap and Arsenal will fall back slightly (with our horrific fixture run in Feb/early March) into that pack of Spurs, Liverpool and United. Everton will drop off. Leaving two places for four teams.

I think we'll still finish 3rd. No idea about 4th. All three of Liverpool, United and Spurs could just as easily pull it off.

Agree with most of that.

United continue to confound me by not buying a quality midfielder but I still expect them to get one in this window. The Mata link is definitely a worry and with Rooney and RVP coming back I'd be surprised if they weren't right in the thick of things come May.

Chelsea seem to be "in the zone" at the moment, not always playing well but always getting the goals and the results and that's ominous for the rest of us. I think it will be a case of City playing the best football v Chelsea playing the most effective football in the title race.

Arsenal are doing a bit of a Chelsea too at the moment, keeping themselves at the top of the table despite not being at their best. I said a while ago and I stick by it, their next 2 away games will prove telling for whether they are at risk of getting dragged into the fight for top 4.

Liverpool's top 4 hopes start and end with Suarez, in my opinion. If he gets a long ban or injury then they can forget about top 4 but with him they have a great chance. One thing that could hinder them though is if they revert back to 352, it might be great for thrashing teams at the bottom of the table but against the best teams it's easily exposed and it'll be interesting to see if Rodgers persists with it.

Everton are still well in the mix too but I think finishing above Liverpool, us and United is a very big ask and I'm unconvinced that they're up to it. Like Arsenal their next 2 away games are huge(so are the 2 after that really) if they can take points off both us and Liverpool then they'll give themselves a decent chance but if they don't at least either beat one of us or draw both then I think it'll take a very good run of form to recover.

As for us, it's hard to say. Sherwood's only been in management 5 minutes and as such is still an unknown quantity. If he can continue his current success then I'd expect us to be in the top 4 but there are some big challenges coming up and it will get tough. I'm not sure how well equipped Sherwood is to react to us struggling for form, which will happen at some point, but how he does will be the making or breaking of him at Spurs. There's lots of unknowns with us at the moment which is why I often talk about what I expect in terms of the strength of our squad, rather than what I expect us to actually achieve. Also Europa League progress could hinder us a bit.

 

[Dier Hard]

Also Europa League progress could hinder us a bit.

I have a feeling Tim may take a Harry-esque approach to Europa by fielding a complete B team. The likes of Friedel, Gyfli, Holtby, Capoue, Townsend, Lamela, Chadli, Naughton, Fryers, Defoe, Kane all need game time so I can see him utilising most of them in those games.

 

[Spurf]

I have a feeling Tim may take a Harry-esque approach to Europa by fielding a complete B team. The likes of Friedel, Gyfli, Holtby, Capoue, Townsend, Lamela, Chadli, Naughton, Fryers, Defoe, Kane all need game time so I can see him utilising most of them in those games.

Except as crackerman has pointed out, our B team has the potential to be at least as good as our A team.

 

[Dier Hard]

Except as crackerman has pointed out, our B team has the potential to be at least as good as our A team.

Absolutely, providing they can gel well on the pitch. Our squad is the strongest it's ever been and we have the players to make our first XI the strongest it's been in the Prem era, topping that of the 2011 side.

 

[Boss]

Absolutely, providing they can gel well on the pitch. Our squad is the strongest it's ever been and we have the players to make our first XI the strongest it's been in the Prem era, topping that of the 2011 side.

In terms of the first XI, of players in form and proven quality and overall balance the team of 2011/12 is still some way ahead as that team had the perfect balance but nowhere this current depth in squad.

 

[Dier Hard]

In terms of the first XI, of players in form and proven quality and overall balance the team of 2011/12 is still some way ahead as that team had the perfect balance but nowhere this current depth in squad.

Yeah should've put "have the players to potentially make our first XI the strongest". If the likes of Lamela, Paulinho, Ade and/ or Soldado, Eriksen can all fulfil their potential/ get back to their best here, then we'll have an unbelievable side when you consider the likes of Sandro/ Vertonghen/ Kaboul (if ever fit again!)/ Lloris as the core behind supporting it.

The 2011 side actually amazes me that we never achieved anything with them. Ridiculous amount of talent.