If you are lookig for an answer from me, it would be the same as Moyes we can make it to the top 4 this season!
Why? First looking at the league table we are only 4 points behind Chelsea in 3rd place, so 3rd and 4th is open for competition and we are in a great position to finish there at the end of season!
For me the next 5 League games is the key to where we may finish, next one a Man U away a game looks rather difficult to win, but judging from there game with RS today they are not as strong as it seems, there defence is a mess and they are on different channel with the Keeper, I hate to say it but the RS was generally on top in the match, so although Man U won by a goal it doesn't reflect on the reality!
Let's look closely at Man U possible line up against our recent line up:-
4-4-2
Edwin van der Sar
Wes Brown Rio Ferdinand Nemanja Vidic Patrice Evra
Cristiano Ronaldo Owen Hargreaves Anderson Ryan Giggs
Wayne Rooney Carlos Tevez
For me the only defender that's look solid enough is Ferdinand but this line of defence is weak, the keeper is having problem to control Vidic and Evra, Brown is out of his depth on the RB and too slow against any decent winger!
Once again the midfield line is not strong enough, individually Ronaldo and Giggs is good and with experience, midfielder and defender in the leauge has gotten used to Ronaldo show boat over the year and our Pienaar or Arteta or any one in the midfield and defence would able to contain him with no problem, Giggs has pass his best and he won't be the problem, what makes this midfield line weak is Owen people say he is better in defending in the midfield which I did say ain't too bad, but his passing skill is so good and also he has no awarness of his team mate around what so ever not to mention his ball control is awlful and Anderson is not experience enough!
There are only 5 player we have to be aware in there line up Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Giggs, Rooney and Teves, for me Teves is a dangerous player just like Santa Cruz we have treat him the same way, but we could easily cut out there passes from the midfield so Rooney and Teves is not going to be a problem, it's best we keep Lescott on the LB to contain Ronaldo and Neville to contain Giggs, just felt Lescott is better at defending against Ronaldo than Valente or Baines and Carsley and Cahill would keep Owen, Anderson or Carrick quite and Pienaar & Cahill could keep an eye on Evra's late run!
If they are planning to play the way they did today against RS I could tell you I am 100% confident we could beat them next Sunday!
Bolton would be a easy one with our confidence high and with our current home form!
Arsenal is slightly harder than Man U, but they have problem with team like us they don't like Man marking game and we are extremely good at it and we would break down there passing game and they have key player getting injure and might not be available at our game and at home we are as difficult to beat than any good team in the league!
Middlesbrough is a easy one they might have beaten Arsenal but it really is a one off and beating Derby 1-0 tells you how good they are with scoring goals if it wasn't for Tuncay it would be a draw!
Then Man City would be a tough one, but there away form is awlful so we won't have problem with them and depending how we actually do at those game before hand we might not even have to be winning that one, but at home anything is possible against a weak travelling team such as Man City!
Chelsea is the team chasing 3rd and 4th place and with Drogba out at the moment and unavailable until after AFNC and Terry injure for 2~3 weeks, Chelsea would be losing alot of point, Portsmouth form has drop recently and although they are strong when playing away they would lose more soon enough and with there home form they would soon be out of touch from us and not to mention the number of player has to go to AFNC!
We could really finish Top 4 this season and getting 3 points against Man U and Arsenal is going to prove our worth, and I simply couldn't believe I could be saying this now but we really do have the player to do well this season!
Good job I decide to cut short on analysis the complete picture or else this would get even longer and I couldn't be bother to type more at the moment!
