The race for 4th

Eyepopper

Lowering the tone since 2006
Joined
Sep 1, 2006
Messages
66,894
The race for 4th is down to a either Chelsea or Spurs at this point really. Both have played 33 with Chelsea one point ahead on 62 compare to Spurs 61.

Spurs run in looks like this:
Wigan away
Southampton home
Chelsea away
Stoke away
Sunderland home

For Chelsea:
Swansea home
Utd away
Spurs home
Villa away
Everton home

On paper I think Spurs look like having the easier run in, particularly when you consider Chelsea have at least 2 EL games sandwiched in there, but Chelsea have a fat superior goal difference.

The game between the two will be massive, with Chelsea having played us at OT 3 days previous.

I'd love to see Spurs nick it personally, with us battering Chelsea to give a helping hand.
 

africanspur

Full Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
9,082
Supports
Tottenham Hotspur
If you could batter Chelsea and Arsenal for us, that would be great, thanks.
 

Cal?

CR7 fan
Joined
Mar 18, 2002
Messages
34,942
We should let Chelsea and Arsenal win to increase our chances of signing Bale. :smirk:
 

Eyepopper

Lowering the tone since 2006
Joined
Sep 1, 2006
Messages
66,894
What about Arsenal?
Wigan
QPR
Newcastle

After us. Honestly can't see them blowing it at this point given their form, can you? QPR will probably already be relegated by the time they play them.
 

Dirty Schwein

Has a 'Best of Britney Spears' album
Joined
Feb 6, 2012
Messages
31,668
Location
Miracle World
Supports
Luton Town
Its gonna be the same as usual, Chelsea and Arsenal will somehow make their way into the Champ's League. Spurs are going to choke. I hope I'm wrong but I can see Spurs losing to Chelsea and their hopes of 4th being dashed :(
 

ItsEssexRob

Has a slight gambling problem
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
11,728
Location
Essex
Supports
Chelsea
Spurs run in isnt as easy as it looks. Wigan are in 'Wigan time' and Stoke arent going to lie down, plus we have a point cushion over them. If it wasn't for the EL games I would say we would make it, but that worries me. Need to beat Swansea sunday, that is the main one.

Hope you guys get at least a draw vs Arse and then field your reserves vs our full team ( so that we can win 5-4 ;) )
 

coolredwine

lameredboots
Joined
Aug 11, 2011
Messages
17,065
Location
Je m'en fous!
Spurs run in isnt as easy as it looks. Wigan are in 'Wigan time' and Stoke arent going to lie down,
That's what you lot were harping on during Spurs' last few fixtures. But I guess they have done quite well to set themselves up for the final 4-5 games.
 

Sassy Colin

Death or the gladioli!
Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
70,760
Location
Aliens are in control of my tagline & location
Spurs run in isnt as easy as it looks. Wigan are in 'Wigan time' and Stoke arent going to lie down, plus we have a point cushion over them. If it wasn't for the EL games I would say we would make it, but that worries me. Need to beat Swansea sunday, that is the main one.

Hope you guys get at least a draw vs Arse and then field your reserves vs our full team ( so that we can win 5-4 ;) )
I'd rather we did it the other way round. Much better to have Arse & Spuds in the CL spots than your moneybags lot.
 

Nogbadthebad

Full Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Messages
5,421
Location
Wolverhampton
Wigan
QPR
Newcastle

After us. Honestly can't see them blowing it at this point given their form, can you? QPR will probably already be relegated by the time they play them.
They will struggle as much with wigan as they will with us.
They have something to play for too, and although this may be a year too far for the great escape act , they always up their game considerably this time of year.

I reckon Arse will drop points against us, wigan and newcastle.
 

alastair

ignorant
Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
16,310
Location
The Champions League
Spurs run in isnt as easy as it looks. Wigan are in 'Wigan time' and Stoke arent going to lie down, plus we have a point cushion over them. If it wasn't for the EL games I would say we would make it, but that worries me. Need to beat Swansea sunday, that is the main one.

Hope you guys get at least a draw vs Arse and then field your reserves vs our full team ( so that we can win 5-4 ;) )
Yeh, Wigan are clearly not an easy side at this time of year. I know it sounds bizarre, but if you told me we'd win 3 games and draw 1, I'd expect the draw to be against Wigan.

You'll beat Swansea comfortably on Sunday, and I reckon you'll be fine, as long as you don't lose to Spurs at home.

I still reckon we're at very serious risk, given that if Spurs beat Wigan(no easy task) on Saturday, we'll be a point behind with United to play.
 

Castia

Full Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2011
Messages
18,284
On one hand I want Arsenal to finish 5th just to see the 'meltdown' it would cause, without Champions League football next season it we be a financial disaster and it will raise more questions about Wenger's future. I basically just want to see the drama.

Don't really care about Chelsea to be honest, with or without the Champions League they are going to spend a fortune regardless, I see very little changing. Although if they dont finish 4th it might be harder for them to hire a top quality manager.

If we have no interest in Gareth Bale then ideally id like Spurs to make the top 4 but if we are looking to sign him then from a selfish point of view it's better if they finish 5th.
 

ItsEssexRob

Has a slight gambling problem
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
11,728
Location
Essex
Supports
Chelsea
Yeh, Wigan are clearly not an easy side at this time of year. I know it sounds bizarre, but if you told me we'd win 3 games and draw 1, I'd expect the draw to be against Wigan.

You'll beat Swansea comfortably on Sunday, and I reckon you'll be fine, as long as you don't lose to Spurs at home.

I still reckon we're at very serious risk, given that if Spurs beat Wigan(no easy task) on Saturday, we'll be a point behind with United to play.
Given Arsenals excellent run of late its weird that if both us and Spurs win their games in hand you are back in 5th.

That being said besides United your fixtures are comfortable, cant see you losing to Wigan again at the Emirates.
 

AngeloHenriquez

Full Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2009
Messages
13,405
Location
Location Location
Supports
Stevenage
If there is ever a time for Arsenal to play Manchester United its now, we have so much less to play for, I realise any clash between the two will be heated, but I think if Arsenal are going to ever take some points off us, it will be now.
 

alastair

ignorant
Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
16,310
Location
The Champions League
Given Arsenals excellent run of late its weird that if both us and Spurs win their games in hand you are back in 5th.

That being said besides United your fixtures are comfortable, cant see you losing to Wigan again at the Emirates.
It's testament to quite how awful we were before.

It'd be very frustrating if we didn't get top 4 though. We've finally created a team that can work, and we'd be top of the league(ish) over the last ten games. Finishing top four would give us a springboard for next season.

Oh and obviously it'd be nice to see Spurs finish 5th, of course.
 

hp88

Full Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2010
Messages
17,379
Location
W3103
We will take points off Chelsea and Arsenal so I reckon Spurs will finish in the top. As long as Chelsea don't lose to Spurs I think they will make it through as well.
 

ItsEssexRob

Has a slight gambling problem
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
11,728
Location
Essex
Supports
Chelsea
If there is ever a time for Arsenal to play Manchester United its now, we have so much less to play for, I realise any clash between the two will be heated, but I think if Arsenal are going to ever take some points off us, it will be now.
Same goes for when we play you though.
 

redmeister

Full Member
Joined
May 12, 2011
Messages
1,465
It's strange so many pundits and fans think Arsenal are so sure. If you look at the remaining fixtures, if the results are as expected, Arsenal are the ones who miss out. Obviously things never work like that, but prior to each of their remaining games Spurs will be favourites in 4 out 5. Arsenal will be favourites in 3 out 4. Chelsea will be favourites in 4 out 5.

Basically if we beat Arsenal, they are in real trouble. You'd expect Spurs to beat Wigan and Stoke away. Their only obvious fixture where they should drop points is Chelsea away, but if they lose that it's not a major problem as long as we beat Arsenal. By the time we play Arsenal, Spurs should be a point ahead of them having played the same amount of games. It doesn't make much sense to me that Arsenal are so strongly expected to finish top 4.
 

RedRonaldo

Wishes to be oppressed.
Joined
Aug 17, 2003
Messages
18,996
We will win Arsenal and Chelsea game, and then the winner from Chelsea vs Spur game will decide who will finish as top 4 with Arsenal.

Spurs:
Wigan away - d
Southampton home - w
Chelsea away - ?
Stoke away - d
Sunderland home - w
= 8 + ? points to game

For Chelsea:
Swansea home - w
Utd away - L
Spurs home - ?
Villa away - d
Everton home - w
= 7 + ? points to gain

Arsenal
Man Utd - L
Wigan - w
QPR - w
Newcastle - d
= 7 points to gain
 

Revan

Assumptionman
Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
49,419
Location
London
Wigan
QPR
Newcastle

After us. Honestly can't see them blowing it at this point given their form, can you? QPR will probably already be relegated by the time they play them.
Don't ever underestimate the ability of Arsenal bottling it in the end.

Wigan will cause problems to both of the teams.

I would like Spurs and Arsenal to go, but it is really impossible to know what will happen.
 

africanspur

Full Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
9,082
Supports
Tottenham Hotspur
So when do we get our trophy for finishing 4th? ;)

I think Arsenal will finish 3rd, I've been saying it for a while but I don't think listing their fixtures is too important. The reason the 3 of us are fighting it out for 4th rather than 1st/ 2nd is because we're not consistent enough to ensure we win all the games vs the lower teams in the league. I'd be surprised if Arsenal won their last 3 games. Not because they're not a good team but just because none of us are that consistent.

Can't say I'd want to try to predict who'll finish 4th, though I do like this little run for Chelsea in the next couple of weeks.

25th: Basel
28th: Swansea
2nd May: Basel
5th: Man Utd
8th: Spurs
11th: Aston Villa

6 games in 17 days. Hopefully by the end of it, they'll be out of Europe and playing catch-up.

I suspect though that 3rd-5th won't be mathematically decided until the final day.
 

JmRssll555

Full Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2009
Messages
3,011
Location
Scotland
On one hand I'd like to see Spurs get the fourth spot since they deserve a place, given the events of last season.

However, it may help our bargaining position regarding Bale if Spurs don't have Champions League football. :drool:
 

Brightonian

Full Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2012
Messages
14,090
Location
Juanderlust
I'm so divided about Chelsea. I prefer Spurs and Arsenal as teams, but I always like to see English teams do well in the Champions League, and Chelsea look the most capable of that, to me. The new-look side have had a season to gel now. Add a top manager, and they look a decent CL prospect on paper.
 

redmeister

Full Member
Joined
May 12, 2011
Messages
1,465
So when do we get our trophy for finishing 4th? ;)

I think Arsenal will finish 3rd, I've been saying it for a while but I don't think listing their fixtures is too important. The reason the 3 of us are fighting it out for 4th rather than 1st/ 2nd is because we're not consistent enough to ensure we win all the games vs the lower teams in the league. I'd be surprised if Arsenal won their last 3 games. Not because they're not a good team but just because none of us are that consistent.

Can't say I'd want to try to predict who'll finish 4th, though I do like this little run for Chelsea in the next couple of weeks.

25th: Basel
28th: Swansea
2nd May: Basel
5th: Man Utd
8th: Spurs
11th: Aston Villa

6 games in 17 days. Hopefully by the end of it, they'll be out of Europe and playing catch-up.

I suspect though that 3rd-5th won't be mathematically decided until the final day.
Do you think they will beat us then? As if they don't, surely you have to fancy yourselves. I know you often struggle at Stoke, but this season they are really shit. They've only won twice this year and both were against teams in the relegation zone. It's hard not to see you winning there. Again it's tough to see you slipping up against Wigan. They play good football, but recently any decent team that has gone to their place has thumped them. Even Liverpool won 4-0. Your massive favourites to win your home games. As I said in my previous post, the chances are by the time we play Arsenal, you'll be ahead of them and both teams will have 4 games to go. So if you lose to Chelsea and they lose to us your still in control.
 

Revan

Assumptionman
Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
49,419
Location
London
I'm so divided about Chelsea. I prefer Spurs and Arsenal as teams, but I always like to see English teams do well in the Champions League, and Chelsea look the most capable of that, to me. The new-look side have had a season to gel now. Add a top manager, and they look a decent CL prospect on paper.
I was thinking the same in last year, but then they signed Hazard (which I think they wouldn't if they were out of UCL) and did feck all in UCL (though they did good for England in UEFA coefficients).

Let's hope that they will finish out of top 4 and will stay there for a long time.

Imagine if Chelsea didn't get top four two seasons in a row? That'd be pretty mental.
A masterstroke the signing of Benitez was.
 

Sarni

nice guy, unassuming, objective United fan.
Joined
Jan 21, 2004
Messages
57,440
Location
Krakow
It is said in the rulebook that Spurs shall not finish ahead of Arsenal which basically means that either they'll both push Chelsea out of CL spots or Arsenal and Chelsea make it. There's no scenario in which Chelsea and Spurs make CL and Arsenal don't.
 

Brightonian

Full Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2012
Messages
14,090
Location
Juanderlust
I was thinking the same in last year, but then they signed Hazard (which I think they wouldn't if they were out of UCL) and did feck all in UCL (though they did good for England in UEFA coefficients).
But that's what I mean about gelling as a team. It's easy to forget that almost overnight Chelsea have made a dramatic change to their whole footballing style. The core of their team looks completely different now. That was always going to take at least a season to adapt to.

Put someone like Mourinho in charge of a team with that creative trio (Hazard, Oscar and Mata), now that they've had time to get accustomed to one another (and the likes of Lampard and Ramires seem to have flourished in the new-look side) and I'd be surprised if they don't do good things in Europe. There's so much quality there.
 

Ronnie O'Sullivan

Full Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2003
Messages
3,449
Location
Bouvetøya
Spurs could get back into 4th place if they win their game in hand vs Southampton, but I reckon they will be Spuds as usual and end up 5th. Arse have an easy run in against QPR, Wigan & the Barcodes and I think they will win them all. Can't see Spuds winning all their games, especially when they still have to visit Chavs & Stoke.
 

ItsEssexRob

Has a slight gambling problem
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
11,728
Location
Essex
Supports
Chelsea
I think this weekend has been quite a defining period in this race.

We can now afford to get 1 point from the next 2 games away to United and home to Spurs and still be in 4th, and whilst we have two reasonably tricky looking fixtures after that I feel we can negotiate them seeing as by then our games will have thinned out.

Having said that, if we managed to win our next 2 we are in the top four, simple as that! As it happens I think we will get 2 points.
 

Ronnie O'Sullivan

Full Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2003
Messages
3,449
Location
Bouvetøya
I think this weekend has been quite a defining period in this race.

We can now afford to get 1 point from the next 2 games away to United and home to Spurs and still be in 4th, and whilst we have two reasonably tricky looking fixtures after that I feel we can negotiate them seeing as by then our games will have thinned out.

Having said that, if we managed to win our next 2 we are in the top four, simple as that! As it happens I think we will get 2 points.
Does that mean you love FSW now? ;)

Another year for him yeah? I recall Chelsea have an option to keep him for one more year!
 

ItsEssexRob

Has a slight gambling problem
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
11,728
Location
Essex
Supports
Chelsea
Does that mean you love FSW now? ;)

Another year for him yeah? I recall Chelsea have an option to keep him for one more year!
No, as I said before I dont respect the man for what he said about our club and the way he conducts himself.

I will say though that with the thin squad we have our toughest period of games, 8 in one month has actually gone amazingly well. A lot of credit goes to the players though Hazard, Mata, Ramires, Oscar and Cech who have shown incredible fitness late on.

Cech has been an unsung hero in recent weeks, and deservedly moved up to third place in PL all time clean sheet records, above Seaman.

Edit - we had 9 games in April, 5 away, one in Russia one in Switzerland one at Anfield one at Craven Cottage. Won 6 drew 1 and lost 2.
 

shaggy

Prefers blue over red, loathed by Spurs fans
Joined
Jun 16, 2011
Messages
14,936
Location
Man United fan
Looking like Spurs will miss out. Arsenal could have done with winning today to allow another slip up but they should get 9 / 9 points which would get them top 4.
 

Zen86

Full Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2007
Messages
13,871
Location
Sunny Manc
I hope we do Spurs and Arsenal a favour and give Chelsea a tonking in a couple of weeks, I'd love to see them out of the CL next season.
 

ItsEssexRob

Has a slight gambling problem
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
11,728
Location
Essex
Supports
Chelsea
I hope we do Spurs and Arsenal a favour and give Chelsea a tonking in a couple of weeks, I'd love to see them out of the CL next season.
Its next sunday. Games between us have been very competitive and exciting ( except the 1-0) this season so its tough to call. Cant see United losing 3 times at OT in one season, but im not sure we'll lose, going for a score draw.
 

Zen86

Full Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2007
Messages
13,871
Location
Sunny Manc
Its next sunday. Games between us have been very competitive and exciting ( except the 1-0) this season so its tough to call. Cant see United losing 3 times at OT in one season, but im not sure we'll lose, going for a score draw.
Depends if we've been on the lash the night before again