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[billycopper]

So after tomorrow it's:

Fulham (H)
Swansea (A)
Sunderland (H)
Southampton (H)
Stoke (A)
Norwich (H)
West Brom (A)

and then the derby at the end of January.

We could certainly put a good run together there.

The RS have got Spurs (A), City (A) and Chelsea (A), so hopefully we can overtake them.

Arsenal have got City (A), Chelsea (H), Newcastle (A) and Southampton (A).

 

[Huyton Layne]

We always stand a good chance of winning every home game and none of those always scare me in the slightest. But I'm still not fully used to this optimism thing

 

[Anna]

Fulham next week is such an important game. 3 points are an absolute must if we are serious about top 4. It's usually around christmas time the league starts to separate out, please Everton, don't let all the hard work of this last week count of nothing.

 

[neil999]

Fulham next week is such an important game. 3 points are an absolute must if we are serious about top 4. It's usually around christmas time the league starts to separate out, please Everton, don't let all the hard work of this last week count of nothing.

McCarthy out, Osman prob start think deufeleu will too

 

[bainesontoast]

Our next seven games should be 21 points the way we're playing. Pundits say no European football this season for the RS will help them, but they never seem to mention that we're not in Europe either...

 

[rascal]

As said in the match thread we must beat Fulham next week now, there's no point in being able to make a Sunday roast if you can't make cheese on toast.

 

[billycopper]

Our goal difference is 4 behind Chelsea, 7 behind Liverpool, 10 behind Arsenal and 17 behind City. Hopefully we can win those games well and put ourselves in the mix.

 

[billycopper]

If Chelsea beat Liverpool they'll go to 40 points and we'd overtake the RS with a win.

If it's a draw we can't move up.

And if Liverpool win and we win (and the overall margin was at least 4 goals) we would overtake Chelsea.

It looks like Arsenal have got a difficult game away to Newcastle. A draw could be the best result for us.

It would be very surprising if City don't beat Palace at the Etihad. They'd stay 4 points ahead of us if we also won.

 

[rascal]

We're not in competition with City, so we can forget about them. IMO we're in competition with Arsenal, Chelsea, RS, United, Spurs and Newcastle for the rest of the top four sports.

 

[Goat]

As long as hibbert and osman is drop i'll be happy!

Back to topic, if we don't win the next few "easy" league game to climb up the table, we will be in deep **** when we meet to top 4 teams.

I'll have a bit more faith if Osman is dropped next game and that shiny new 9m midfielder we bought is utilised.

The next 6 games will be telling.

Everton
Liverpool (H) D YES
Stoke (H) W YES
United (A) D NOPE
Arsenal (A) L NOPE
Fulham (H) W NOPE
Swansea (A) D NOPE



That would leave the league table like this:

1. Arsenal 40 pts (predicting a draw today)
2. Liverpool 37 pts
3. Chelsea 33 pts
4. Spurs 32 pts
5. United 31 pts (predicting a draw today)
6. City 29 pts
7. Everton 29 pts
8. Southampton 28 pts
NOPE

Oh ello.

 

[billycopper]

Oh ello.

I try to predict conservatively where we're concerned. I don't think too many people would have expected a win at Old Trafford and we ended up rescuing the game at the Emirates. We did win at home to Fulham and Barkley surprised everyone with the winner at the Liberty stadium, so I wasn't too far away.

 

[billycopper]

Stoke (A)

__________Howard
Coleman Alcaraz Distin Baines
______Barry McCarthy
___Pienaar Barkley Oviedo
_________Lukaku

It will be a big plus for us to have Howard and Barry back. Alcaraz's extra physical presence could help against Stoke too. If Mirallas still isn't quite right Roberto might persevere with Oviedo.

Saturday 4th v QPR (H)

We haven't got a lot of options for rotating. Maybe Stones or Hibbert will get a run out to give Coleman a breather? Osman, Naismith and Jelavic are about the only other possibles.

Saturday 11th v Norwich (H)

We really should win that.

Monday 20th v West Brom (A)

We can nick that too.

 

[Zatara]

Stoke (A)

__________Howard
Coleman Alcaraz Distin Baines
______Barry McCarthy
___Pienaar Barkley Oviedo
_________Lukaku

It will be a big plus for us to have Howard and Barry back. Alcaraz's extra physical presence could help against Stoke too. If Mirallas still isn't quite right Roberto might persevere with Oviedo.

Saturday 4th v QPR (H)

We haven't got a lot of options for rotating. Maybe Stones or Hibbert will get a run out to give Coleman a breather? Osman, Naismith and Jelavic are about the only other possibles.

Saturday 11th v Norwich (H)

We really should win that.

Monday 20th v West Brom (A)

We can nick that too.

Screw the cup -- play a 2nd team.....

Stoke Away is crucial
Norwich Home is crucial
West Brom Away is crucial

Win those 3 games and we're going to be REALLY in the mix.


Southampton vs Chelsea
United vs Spurs

Only 2 games next week where rivals could drop points.....

Following week Geordies vs Man City....then Chelsea vs UTD

 

[billycopper]

Screw the cup -- play a 2nd team.....

Stoke Away is crucial
Norwich Home is crucial
West Brom Away is crucial

Win those 3 games and we're going to be REALLY in the mix.


Southampton vs Chelsea
United vs Spurs

Only 2 games next week where rivals could drop points.....

Following week Geordies vs Man City....then Chelsea vs UTD

The WEAKEST team we could probably put out is:

___________Joel
Hibbert Stones Alcaraz Baines
____McCarthy Heitinga
___Naismith Osman Oviedo
__________Jelavic

So we'd be resting Howard, Coleman, Distin, Barry, Pienaar, Mirallas, Barkley and Lukaku.

We've got a week off after the cup game and the next match is a relatively comfortable one at home. Therefore I can't really see us rotating more than about 3 players.

 

[Zatara]

The WEAKEST team we could probably put out is:

___________Joel
Hibbert Stones Alcaraz Baines
____McCarthy Heitinga
___Naismith Osman Oviedo
__________Jelavic

So we'd be resting Howard, Coleman, Distin, Barry, Pienaar, Mirallas, Barkley and Lukaku.

We've got a week off after the cup game and the next match is a relatively comfortable one at home. Therefore I can't really see us rotating more than about 3 players.

Not sure really who I'd be putting into the side...obviously would like to win the game but I think without depth in central midfield and attack we should rest those areas as much as possible....I also wouldn't include jelavic or heitinga as would want to sell them.

Distin/McCarthy/Barry/Barkley/Lukaku all rested I would guess.