Top Four Rival Watch

[Samurai]

So,

Chelsea - Look to be a in a similar position to us, not playing well at all at the moment

Newcastle - Starting to drop off but they'd be thrillled with top 8 anyway

Liverpool - Might start doing very well...

The game against Liverpool is a MASSIVE game and it's a must win for both sides. We're really, really unlikely to win it though.

What say you?

 

[Jayram_Football]

Little chance vs Liverpool away - should go for a draw and play that way. But i fear we'll just open up and get done.

 

[Sanj]

Chelsea - AVB seems to have lost the dressing room and emergency man Guus Hiddink has found a new club so they can't turn to him. They are still in two cup competitions so hopefully that takes their eye off the league a little bit. They normally finish the season strongly so we can expect a tough fight. We face them at home and that game could be one of the most important games in recent history.

Newcastle - Tiote is back and he will shore up their midfield. Two forwards that can get goals but I can see them dropping off.

Liverpool - Doing well in cup competitions but are FOUR points behind this Arsenal side in the league. Should tell you all you need to know.

 

[Arsenal87]

How sad that this all we have to look forward to and what we have been reduced to, fighting for 4th spot....Good God Wenger, please, just leave now.

 

[Mantis]

How sad that this all we have to look forward to and what we have been reduced to, fighting for 4th spot....Good God Wenger, please, just leave now.

I think we need to look at this season in context. We were always going to struggle immensly when we sold two very good creative and attacking players in Fabregas and Nasri. This was a complete and unmitigated disaster. Then we failed to find adequate replace and while I like Arteta he is not in the same league of the players we have had in the past. This further deepened this crisis. This season was always going to be a very difficult and our aims have now had to to be adjusted in the light of these developments. Sadly Wenger's bad management and the stubborness of the board to release funds are responsible for this.

 

[shaxi]

This further deepened this crisis. This season was always going to be a very difficult and our aims have now had to to be adjusted in the light of these developments. Sadly Wenger's bad management and the stubborness of the board to release funds are responsible for this.

right !

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[Bobby Pires]

I wouldn't write Liverpool off, they have a favourable last set of fixtures.

 

[lazarus20000]

Next 6 fixtures for all teams competing for 4th place:

Arsenal - Spurs(H), Liverpool (A), Newcastle (H), Aston Villa (H), QPR (A), Man City (H)

Chelsea - Bolton (H), West Brom (A), Stoke (H), Man City (A), Spurs (H), Aston Villa (A)

Liverpool - Arsenal (H), Sunderland (A), Wigan (H), Newcastle (A), Aston Villa (H), Blackburn (A)

Newcastle - Wolves (H), Sunderland (H), Arsenal (A), Norwich (H), West Brom (A), Liverpool (H)

Liverpool has slighly the easier of fixtures whereas Arsenal have a lot of home games. Chelsea and Liverpool have more games sandwiched inbetween where i can see them suffering. Arsenal have a good opportunity to get grab some points at home. To be honest, it should go down to the wire....

 

[Bobby Pires]

Next 6 fixtures for all teams competing for 4th place:

Arsenal - Spurs(H), Liverpool (A), Newcastle (H), Aston Villa (H), QPR (A), Man City (H)

Chelsea - Bolton (H), West Brom (A), Stoke (H), Man City (A), Spurs (H), Aston Villa (A)

Liverpool - Arsenal (H), Sunderland (A), Wigan (H), Newcastle (A), Aston Villa (H), Blackburn (A)

Newcastle - Wolves (H), Sunderland (H), Arsenal (A), Norwich (H), West Brom (A), Liverpool (H)

From those fixtures:

Arsenal: 9 points
Chelsea: 10 points
Newcastle: 7 points
Liverpool: 12 points

After 31 games:

4) Chelsea - 53
5) Arsenal - 52
6) Liverpool - 51
7) Newcastle - 49

Just a guess.

 

[lazarus20000]

From those fixtures:

Arsenal: 9 points
Chelsea: 10 points
Newcastle: 7 points
Liverpool: 12 points

After 31 games:

4) Chelsea - 53
5) Arsenal - 52
6) Liverpool - 51
7) Newcastle - 49

Just a guess.

It all depends on how bad our morale is. I thought we would bounce back from the Milan defeat and play well against Sunderland, but we flopped in that. Im wondering if it's more to do with cup games and the pressure that our players can't take. Now that we are in no competitions, will we be able to play better? I mean, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle are hypothetically under more pressure....

 

[theHotHead]

The way Liverpool are playing suggests they will have a part to play, I think moreso than Chelsea.

They have Suarez back and Gerrard is now back from injury and firing on all cylinders. Bellamy is dangerous and they are not conceding many games. I fear Liverpool more than Chelsea at this point !

 

[lazarus20000]

The way Liverpool are playing suggests they will have a part to play, I think moreso than Chelsea.

They have Suarez back and Gerrard is now back from injury and firing on all cylinders. Bellamy is dangerous and they are not conceding many games. I fear Liverpool more than Chelsea at this point !

I still think we should be slight favourites to get 4th place as we know how to and with RVP firing, he should get us, sorry drag us over the finishing line. Chelsea and Liverpool will be busy with other cup fixtures so this might hamper them. We have nothing but league games left....

 

[Sir_Red]

I still think we should be slight favourites to get 4th place as we know how to and with RVP firing, he should get us, sorry drag us over the finishing line. Chelsea and Liverpool will be busy with other cup fixtures so this might hamper them. We have nothing but league games left....

And I thought no Europe this Year would mean we would be able to concentrate on the league, it appears it's had little effect though and we're no better really! I think it's hard to measure the impact of having more fixtures, whether it helps team moral/match fitness or whether it can wear players out. I guess pros and cons.

 

[lazarus20000]

And I thought no Europe this Year would mean we would be able to concentrate on the league, it appears it's had little effect though and we're no better really! I think it's hard to measure the impact of having more fixtures, whether it helps team moral/match fitness or whether it can wear players out. I guess pros and cons.

True but you are still in the cup games which will side track you more than us. However, i think Belamy has made a big impact to your squad and if Carrol can finally do something, then you'll have a good chance of reaching it. It should be an exciting race to 4th place this season....

 

[Sir_Red]

True but you are still in the cup games which will side track you more than us. However, i think Belamy has made a big impact to your squad and if Carrol can finally do something, then you'll have a good chance of reaching it. It should be an exciting race to 4th place this season....

Our stumbles in the league this season would normally have put us out of contention for top four but there's still a glint of light there and if we can carry our cup form from CC and FA cup over the league then I think the last few games of the season will be nail-biters!

 

[Bergkamp a Dutch master]

I've got more confidence in Kenny rousing his players to do us, than I have in Wenger finding a way to make a team with backbone out of the recent shambles.

My heart says we can get a valued draw - but my head says nonsense we'll get hammered.

 

[lazarus20000]

Our stumbles in the league this season would normally have put us out of contention for top four but there's still a glint of light there and if we can carry our cup form from CC and FA cup over the league then I think the last few games of the season will be nail-biters!

If you can win a cup then the morale boost could make all the difference. Just imagine if Newcastle nicks the spot? Now that would be something!

 

[Sir_Red]

I've got more confidence in Kenny rousing his players to do us, than I have in Wenger finding a way to make a team with backbone out of the recent shambles.

My heart says we can get a valued draw - but my head says nonsense we'll get hammered.

I wonder how much lack of leadership plays a role in this seasons bad form, do you think it's the managers fault directly? Or Wenger's fault for not buying someone with leadership qualities, ie Scott Parker type person who can be the leader your team seems to be crying our for

 

[lazarus20000]

I've got more confidence in Kenny rousing his players to do us, than I have in Wenger finding a way to make a team with backbone out of the recent shambles.

My heart says we can get a valued draw - but my head says nonsense we'll get hammered.

The problem is, all teams except Newcastle are not playing at the best of there abilities. So a result against Liverpool can go both ways, as they still haven't hit top form. But who knows, maybe they'll go on a run if they win a cup?

 

[goonercymraeg]

I'm taking the daughter to the Liverpool game and she's been a ****ing Jonah since i took her to her first game v Wrexham in 1992