http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/premier-league/2009-2010/league-tables/ last season, 50 points would have had us 9th / 10th
I've said on another thread that I reckon on an 8th place finish, I can't see any reason to change that.
Can't see us catching Liverpool for 6th, especially after their big win yesterday - they're look upwards, not at the chasing pack. Our run-in. 5 home games - 10 points; 4 away games 5 points. 53 points and 7th place. As for the rest - we shoudn't be looking behind us either. The main reason I think well start picking points again after our bad run, Danny's back! Plus Campbell and Catts back soon. As for Bolton; they have home games against, WHU, Arsenal, Us and ManCity - 5 points. Away games Mtd, Brum, Fulham, Blackpool and Blackburn - 6points totalling 51points - 8th Place I think 7th will be a hell of an achievement and a good platform for some great summer signings! ktf
Top 10 would be topper, I knew the early talk of Europe would curse us That said...I'd be over the moon if we made it, but with Arsenal (shockingly...) loosing their cup final, the EU spots are higher than I think we could achieve. Just saying!
IMO an awful lote depends on how quickly the missing men, especially Catts, return to 1st team football. These are the dates for retuen to training according to Physioroom Sunderland C Gordon - Knee Injury - no return date D Meyler - Knee Injury - 19th Mar 11 L Cattermole - Back Injury - 12th Mar 11 M Turner - Knee Injury - 12th Mar 11 F Campbell - ACL Knee Injury - 8th Mar 11 If they are back and flying by early April then I expect to see the "old" Sunderland doing the biz in the run-in. Still fighting for 6th IMO with LFC and Bolton, with both of them to play us. I would be happy to match the two 7th spots in this, the 2nd year of Brucey's building.
I would be over the moon with top ten. If you filtered in Europe on a Thursday night and starting in July, would we have the squad to cope? I would say no and you only have to look at this season and our current injury crisis to see why. You could say "yeah but if we came 6th we could buy loads of players in the summer". However do we have the money to buy quality replacements in every position? No and would they take time to gel together and all the hardwork of getting this seasons team to work will be lost. All this takes seasons of building on year in year out, which is what we are currently doing. Realistically I could see us in Europe in 2/3 years time if Quinn continues to build our team, increase attendences and get the worldwide recognition what Milliband is helping him with then this will all build up and pay off in a few seasons time with a European spot I am sure. We just need to give it time and look to improve in chunks each season as success doesnt come overnight.
In Brucie has it spot on but given our last few games, and the guys back from injury i would love to qualify for Europe, that alone would up our potential targets, and get more positve answers than negatives for summer signings
I see no reason why we can't win all of our remaining home games, which would give us 15 points. And maybe 4/5 points from our away games leaving us with around 20 points. Optimistic, maybe, but honestly we could win all of our home games.
IBWT I agree with where you are coming from here but if we finish 10th I'd struggle to see how we can say that we have improved a chunk this season, perhaps a little but not enough to say we have any real momentum.
where will we finish, the only answer that makes any sense is,,,,, AT WEST HAM,,,SUNDAY 22 MAY,,,APPROX 18 00 HRS,,,,position uncertain,,,,,,,,VERY UNCERTAIN.
