minimum 5th gets Europe...can we make it?

[dholliday]

after arsenal the fixtures for the weekend are:

Fulham vs Arsenal
Sunderland vs Everton
Spurs vs Citeh
Liverpool vs Chelsea

Arsenal winning, Fulham have nowt to play for.

Sunderland will be tough because of the Di Canio aspect. But I think they'll be a rebound effect after their epic derby win, which means we should be able to bring them back down to earth with an away win.

Spurs win, as City are content to stay in 2nd place. City will likely win their game-in-hand at home vs a tired Wigan on Wednesday, putting them 9 points clear in 2nd.

Benitez loves his grudge matches, I think Chelsea win that one.


So all 4 teams in the running winning...again.

 

[dholliday]

Tbf, Wigan beat us 3-0 on our home turf in a game that we all knew could well be a europa league play-off of sorts if we were to get millwall in the semi. Doesn't get much fairer than that.

Exactly.

 

[peteblue]

I reckon 5th is do-able, Spurs and Chelsea will slip up......

 

[Bluenose1995]

Exactly.

one game though mate, over 38 is more important IMO, im gutted we lost to wigan more for the fact we missed out on a big chance to win the cup not for the Europa entry

 

[dholliday]

Points wise and playing wise this has been our best season since the 80s and we could end up finishing 6th and getting absolutely nothing for it. Thats football for you i guess.

Not yet. We only have 55 points. We'd need 66 points at the end to be the best since 1987/88 (70 points).

Playing-wise, the two seasons we finished 5th (63 & 65 points) we had Arteta & Cahill in their pomp and were playing some very effective football.

 

[dholliday]

one game though mate, over 38 is more important IMO, im gutted we lost to wigan more for the fact we missed out on a big chance to win the cup not for the Europa entry

Football is not always a marathon, sometimes it's about that single cup tie which defines success and failure.

 

[Royal Blue Jersey]

after arsenal the fixtures for the weekend are:

Fulham vs Arsenal
Sunderland vs Everton
Spurs vs Citeh
Liverpool vs Chelsea

I can see Arsenal beating Fulham, us either drawing with sunderland if we beat arsenal or the reverse (can see us getting 4 points from the 2 games) Citeh should hold Spurs to a point atleast providing Bale is out, but Citeh play wigan midweek so may be tired and Chelsea and the RS will probably be a draw/Liverpool win

the bad thing is Chelsea will have 2 games in hand after the arsenal win meaning even if we beat the arse and go level on points I cant see them losing both games in hand.

I think it will be immensely difficult to beat Sunderland. They are so due a win against us and what better time than after that derby win? Though I remember drawing 2-2 at home with Wigan after we beat Liverpool 3-0. "After the Lord Mayor's parade" was the favoured headline.

This is a mixture of idealism and realism, but here's hoping we get:

Fulham 1-1 Arsenal
Sunderland 1-2 Everton
Spurs 1-2 City
Liverpool 2-2 Chelsea

Leaving:
Arsenal P33 60pts
Chelsea P32 59pts
Spurs P33 58pts
Everton P33 58pts

(and if we beat Arsenal away)
3. Everton P34 61pts
4. Arsenal P34 60pts
5. Chelsea P32 59pts
6. Spurs P33 58pts

 

[Bluenose1995]

agree I think Sunderland will be a really tough game, will need to score an early goal to kill the atmosphere otherwise their fans will have them up for it from the off. I just cant see us getting ahead of Chelsea who have 2 games in hand over us after we play arsenal, add to that Spurs will have bale back soon and Arsenal are the luckiest side in the league with the easiest run in

 

[Huyton Layne]

agree I think Sunderland will be a really tough game, will need to score an early goal to kill the atmosphere otherwise their fans will have them up for it from the off. I just cant see us getting ahead of Chelsea who have 2 games in hand over us after we play arsenal, add to that Spurs will have bale back soon and Arsenal are the luckiest side in the league with the easiest run in

That Norwich game made me fume

 

[Maestro Haze]

Tbf, Wigan beat us 3-0 on our home turf in a game that we all knew could well be a europa league play-off of sorts if we were to get millwall in the semi. Doesn't get much fairer than that.

While I certainly agree with you I do think that it's unfair for teams to get European football if they win things like the FA cup or League cup. I would of thought winning a cup alone would be great.

While it gives teams with less money or pedigree to have a go in Europe, I think it should be a reward for teams with consistency over a whole 9 month period.

I'm happy for those Wigan fans but compare them to us, we've been comfortably in or around the European places all season, whereas they've been near or in the relegation zone all season.

Like Bluenose said, how is it fair?

I see your point.
However it should be a reward for those teams who do well in the league.

 

[Brennan]

We deserved a win against them in November and that was without a right hand side to our team. Coleman and Mirallas should make up for their home advantage. We can beat them.

 

[Maestro Haze]

We deserved a win against them in November and that was without a right hand side to our team. Coleman and Mirallas should make up for their home advantage. We can beat them.

I agree, while a lot of fans will be dreading this game because of our record against them, we have a first XI who should beat them.

I'm looking forward to it, but weary of how important this game is for the club.

Most Arsenal fans think this game is a must win, but they seem confident, however I do think the players have had a kick up the backside since that Wigan game.

 

[Jags..class]

Would love us back in europe, but our squad wont cope. Spurs fans believe their UEFA will be the blame if they dont get CL place, too many games for starters. Moyes would have to play our second team

.................Mucha.................
Stones......Duffy....Johnny.........Oviedo
...............Hitzlsperger...............
.Vellios.............Barkley................Guege
................Jelevic.............
1 Place left and that team is very limited, but Europe would be good for the likes of stones, duffy and barkley. if we get 5th we need at least another 4 players, where we should be spending that money on 1 quality player.


................

 

[steken1]

I've got a cob on with myself for feeling so confident because we all know how that ends but I just can't see us losing.

 

[By god I'm blue]

Looking at Spurs fixtures, they are every bit as difficult as ours. They have to play Chelsea, Man City, Wigan and Stoke away who are both fighting for their lives.

Top 4 is probably a step too far, so thinking it is between us and Spurs for 5th. But, win at Arsenal and all that changes! Biggest game for Everton since the FA cup final.