Top Four Race 2018/19

[Dumbstar]

Utd and Arsenal winning yesterday, and putting pressure on, was great all round. Chelsea and Spurs who were having it too easy before now have to bring their triple A games against City. Earlier, dropping 3 points to them might have been considered acceptable but now every single point is good dust, even just one.

Hope Utd keep playing the same XI for the next four games and winning most of them. Then be knackered and forced to use their second XI against us. Welcome to proper management Ole.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

Most people were ruling it out under Jose. Him leaving changed everything, I think most sensible people thought there was a good chance we could close the gap with him gone.

Well I know I thought it was possible! It was laughable how many people were writing off the season in December, even when Jose was sacked.

I don't agree with you, I think a lot of the talk when Ole took over was around how he should just play kids and attack since we have nothing to play for. The reason was that 'we would have to cont on arsenal and chelsea to have a massive collapse and win every game which is unlikely' but I think these swings happen all the time

 

[Snafu17]

Utd and Arsenal winning yesterday, and putting pressure on, was great all round. Chelsea and Spurs who were having it too easy before now have to bring their triple A games against City. Earlier, dropping 3 points to them might have been considered acceptable but now every single point is good dust, even just one.

That makes zero sense, for Spurs especially. Do you think they would just approach the game against City all nonchalant, despite having some hope to overtake them? If anything pressure makes it harder to perform.

 

[Leftback99]

Question - is top 4 still impossible like most of the forum said a month ago? Personally I don't think it is impossible now to close a 3 point gap over the rest of the season.

Why do people under estimate the possibility these things so often?

We haven't achieved it yet. Those (like myself) that said we had no chance at the point Ole took over can still be right at the end of the season.

We're in an unbelievable position compared to where we were but still the outsider.

 

[Feed Me]

People are still writing us off for the top four

We are bang in it now and I happen to think third place is still on.

 

[Feed Me]

Utd and Arsenal winning yesterday, and putting pressure on, was great all round. Chelsea and Spurs who were having it too easy before now have to bring their triple A games against City. Earlier, dropping 3 points to them might have been considered acceptable but now every single point is good dust, even just one.

Hope Utd keep playing the same XI for the next four games and winning most of them. Then be knackered and forced to use their second XI against us. Welcome to proper management Ole.

I hope we turn you over and then play the ressies against City later in the season.

 

[Shark]

People are still writing us off for the top four

We are bang in it now and I happen to think third place is still on.

The idea that we’re still outsiders on current form is madness. Especially with the way Chelsea are playing and Spurs’ injuries. If anyone is an outsider it’s Arsenal.

 

[Feed Me]

The idea that we’re still outsiders on current form is madness. Especially with the way Chelsea are playing and Spurs’ injuries. If anyone is an outsider it’s Arsenal.

That's down to media narrative.

On current form, we should be favourites to finish 4th ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal. Tbh, I will be disappointed if we don't.

Reeling a Kane-less Spurs is also reasonable realistic.

We have three winnable games before we play Liverpool at OT. As Ole has repeatedly said, keep taking one game at a time and see where we end up.

With our ability to control games in midfield and firepower, we can beat anyone in a one off. The backline will ultimately undermine us when it comes to winning something though.

 

[PoTMS]

I hope we turn you over and then play the ressies against City later in the season.

Nothing would please me more than this, providing we finish top 4. The saltiness from the scousers would be amazing.

 

[El Presidente]

We haven't achieved it yet. Those (like myself) that said we had no chance at the point Ole took over can still be right at the end of the season.

We're in an unbelievable position compared to where we were but still the outsider.

No, they are already wrong, since we obviously have huge, huge chance and we were never out of it.

 

[minoo-utd]

It's all possible even 3rd now is also a possibility though. But we need to maintain our form and do better than the last 2 previous games. As it stands top four is in our hands too, a month or so ago we were 11 pts off a C.L spot and no one would even guessed that after another 6 games we are where we are only 3 pts off Chelsea who seems they are in some issues.

 

[youmeletsfly]

I love Ole and his positive approach, but I'm still not that optimistic about top4, we suck too much on the defensive side and Matic is still too slow to play at DM. I hope I'm wrong though.

 

[AndyMUFC]

We're definitely in the race. It's obvious we'll drop points at some stage but the closer you are the more you can afford to do it, especially with Chelsea and Arsenal playing City soon.

 

[BluesJr]

People are still writing us off for the top four

We are bang in it now and I happen to think third place is still on.

Who are these people?

 

[SirAF]

I hope we turn you over and then play the ressies against City later in the season.

 

[minoo-utd]

I love Ole and his positive approach, but I'm still not that optimistic about top4, we suck too much on the defensive side and Matic is still too slow to play at DM. I hope I'm wrong though.

Exactly and that's why I was hoping that our dumb board support Ole with at least one defensive signing.

 

[Kag]

Ole and the players have done a remarkable job to get back into this. I’d written it off altogether.

We have better players than both Arsenal and Chelsea (something I’ve always argued) and we’re actively playing attacking football. We should get more points than either of them by the end of the season.

 

[Fortitude]

I don't agree with you, I think a lot of the talk when Ole took over was around how he should just play kids and attack since we have nothing to play for. The reason was that 'we would have to cont on arsenal and chelsea to have a massive collapse and win every game which is unlikely' but I think these swings happen all the time

I think it was seen as incredulous that that team could suddenly go on a 6-win streak, too. That was even more improbable than both Chelsea and Arsenal dropping the points that would get us back in the mix.

Since then, it's been an absolute perfect storm.

 

[pierrethesnack]

Can't believe we are where we are after the horrendous autumn and early winter

 

[Feed Me]

Who are these people?

Plenty of doubtful people in this thread.

I can understand the pessimism but we have a great chance.

 

[BluesJr]

Plenty of doubtful people in this thread.

I can understand the pessimism but we have a great chance.

Discount them in your mind. How can anyone not think we have a great opportunity after witnessing this last month? Combine that with the Chelsea meltdown and Arsenal being Arsenal. 3rd is the target with Spurs being without two key players.

 

[duffer]

Who are these people?

Nobody has written you off from the top four.

A few people have doubts but that's not the same.

 

[Feed Me]

Discount them in your mind. How can anyone not think we have a great opportunity after witnessing this last month? Combine that with the Chelsea meltdown and Arsenal being Arsenal. 3rd is the target with Spurs being without two key players.

I totally agree.

Think we will start to look even more secure defensively once Smalling is back in the fold. Jones has done a serviceable enough job but will always let us down when it comes to the crunch.

 

[Feed Me]

Nobody has written you off from the top four.

A few people have doubts but that's not the same.

The doubts are understandable given what we have served up for the past six years.

But if I was a betting man, I'd be backing United over both Chelsea and Arsenal at this stage, while I make Spurs narrow favourites over us for 3rd.

 

[Rash Decision]

We're definitely in the race. It's obvious we'll drop points at some stage but the closer you are the more you can afford to do it, especially with Chelsea and Arsenal playing City soon.

Well we do have to play City too. As well as Liverpool. Think a lot hinges on how we do in our matches against Chelsea and Arsenal.

 

[bondsname]

Obviously I want top 4 and I'm rooting for us to get it, but I'm being a lot more laid-back and try to enjoy this spell under Ole. The fact that Pogba and Rashford have improved drastically is more important, and they will help us win the league within the next two seasons.

 

[Moiraine]

If spurs loose, there will be 4 points covering 4 teams and 2 Champions League Spots up for grabs

 

[klsv]

I had pretty much written our chances off. Not so much becasue I didn't believe in us going on a streak with a bunch of good fixtures, but I did not expect Chelsea and Arsenal becoming shit. Spurs bottling it was never in doubt, though.

 

[Moiraine]

If someone could post the league table right after Mourniho got sacked, it would be interesting to see how far Tottenham were ahead.
I am sure Chelsea and Arsenal were 11 points ahead ... Arsenal are level with us now and Chelsea only 3 points ahead.
That is a big recovery honestly speaking, plus next 3 matches should be 3 straight victories as well. Burnley (H), Leicester (A) and Fulham (A)

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

Pretty sure by the time we kicked off against Cardiff for Ole's first game we were 13 points off top 4.

 

[Feed Me]

If someone could post the league table right after Mourniho got sacked, it would be interesting to see how far Tottenham were ahead.
I am sure Chelsea and Arsenal were 11 points ahead ... Arsenal are level with us now and Chelsea only 3 points ahead.
That is a big recovery honestly speaking, plus next 3 matches should be 3 straight victories as well. Burnley (H), Leicester (A) and Fulham (A)

Burnley should be an easy win. Who knows what Leicester will be like because they have got big scalps this season but ordinary in other games and Puel might be sacked by then. Fulham looking good against Spurs at the moment. If we bring our 'A' game in all three fixtures then we should win, but we have shown chinks in our armour the last week or two.

 

[MoskvaRed]

Well we do have to play City too. As well as Liverpool. Think a lot hinges on how we do in our matches against Chelsea and Arsenal.

At the moment we are one of the best three teams in the country and I expect the final table to reflect that. In fact I can see us blowing Liverpool’s title charge off course at Old Trafford (payback for Anfield in 92 for those old enough to remember) although I expect that we’ll find City a tougher challenge.

 

[J_XO]

If Fulham hold onto this then top 4 has been blown wide open this weekend. 3rd is up for grabs too all of a sudden.

 

[Kapardin]

If someone could post the league table right after Mourniho got sacked, it would be interesting to see how far Tottenham were ahead.
I am sure Chelsea and Arsenal were 11 points ahead ... Arsenal are level with us now and Chelsea only 3 points ahead.
That is a big recovery honestly speaking, plus next 3 matches should be 3 straight victories as well. Burnley (H), Leicester (A) and Fulham (A)

Leicester away is by no means a gimme. And while Fulham have largely been terrible, I think most of their wins this season came at home, so that fixture is a banana skin as well.

 

[VanGaalEra]

Utd and Arsenal winning yesterday, and putting pressure on, was great all round. Chelsea and Spurs who were having it too easy before now have to bring their triple A games against City. Earlier, dropping 3 points to them might have been considered acceptable but now every single point is good dust, even just one.

Hope Utd keep playing the same XI for the next four games and winning most of them. Then be knackered and forced to use their second XI against us. Welcome to proper management Ole.

But doesn’t this also mean that they both will need to take gold dust points off you, too?

 

[RedStarUnited]

If someone could post the league table right after Mourniho got sacked, it would be interesting to see how far Tottenham were ahead.
I am sure Chelsea and Arsenal were 11 points ahead ... Arsenal are level with us now and Chelsea only 3 points ahead.
That is a big recovery honestly speaking, plus next 3 matches should be 3 straight victories as well. Burnley (H), Leicester (A) and Fulham (A)

After matchday 17 (liverpool game) this is how the table looked;

Spurs - 39
Chelsea - 37
Arsenal - 34
Man Utd - 26

Since then each team has picked around 10 points of possible 18 where as we got them all.

Spurs - 9
Chelsea - 10
Arsenal - 10
Utd - 18

 

[Moiraine]

After matchday 17 (liverpool game) this is how the table looked;

Spurs - 39
Chelsea - 37
Arsenal - 34
Man Utd - 26

Since then each team has picked around 10 points of possible 18 where as we got them all.

Spurs - 9
Chelsea - 10
Arsenal - 10
Utd - 18

Lovely

Thanks

 

[Dumbstar]

But doesn’t this also mean that they both will need to take gold dust points off you, too?

Yes, but they're playing City first.

 

[Cal?]

I hope we turn you over and then play the ressies against City later in the season.

Let's not play reserves, but do the Gerrard pass to Drogba.

 

[Feed Me]

Let's not play reserves, but do the Gerrard pass to Drogba.

It would be delicious.