ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

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The start of something...

Great result and a good performance as well - despite inviting a lot of pressure on and a few of the lads who definitely need a rest (Bily looked knackered after about half an hour at least!)

What got me thinking was that we obviously need some kind of run going, to prevent getting sucked into any relegation dogfight. Looking at upcoming fixtures (last game in Europe and FA Cup 3rd round besides), this is what we've got in store:

Sunday, 20 December 2009 Birmingham (H)

Saturday, 26 December 2009 Sunderland (A)

Monday, 28 December 2009 Burnley (H)

Saturday, 9 January 2010 Arsenal (A)

Saturday, 16 January 2010 Man City (H)

Wednesday, 27 January 2010 Sunderland (H)

Saturday, 30 January 2010 Wigan (A)

Out of these, we have winnable home games against teams close to us in the table (Birmingham, Burnley, Sunderland) as well as a Man City side who can stutter. Our away games also offer potential points, bar the Arsenal game probably.

Anyway, my point is that a few well-fought draws could take us through the rest of December and January and spark the season off. February will be a big month, with the derby game as well as playing Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs. There will also be the African Cup of Nations where we will be even further depleted.

It's all wishful thinking but a few good results over the holiday season and a few good loan recruits in January could really turn our season around.
Adam McCulloch, Leeds Posted 12/12/2009 at 16:02:03

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Richard Murray
1 Posted 13/12/2009 at 11:32:44

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We’re playing Arsenal three times this season... ahh!

Kunal Desai
2 Posted 13/12/2009 at 11:40:33

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I’m sure the comeback against Spurs and the creditable draw against Chelsea would have done the players' confidence a world of good. Certainly the next 3 fixtures we must be looking to take 7 or 9 points from. Birmingham is a tricky fixture they are going well at the minute but are due a loss some point soon, Sunderland have hit a rough patch and Burnley are poor away from home. Let's start getting some wins on the board and start moving up that table.

James Stewart
3 Posted 13/12/2009 at 14:49:59

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The current Euphoria is getting a little tiresome. We scored two of the most freak goals you will see yesterday and could quite easily have been beaten I don’t think there is that much to shout about.

Trevor Williams
4 Posted 13/12/2009 at 14:57:56

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James

We could have been beaten yes, however we werent..

We shouldnt have lost to Liverpool, however we did

At least we went there and played some football with the team we had and we attacked them

Did you actually go to the game ?

Colin O'Keeffe
5 Posted 13/12/2009 at 15:33:52

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James,

Not sure people are getting carried away - just some sense of relief about coming off two tough fixtures undefeated. The team have responded to the debacle at Hull with some character and fight. It’s a start and that’s only what’s been said.

Stewart Littler
6 Posted 13/12/2009 at 22:02:08

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James, whilst Saha’s goal was lucky, I don’t know where you get the other ’freak’ from? We could also quite easily have won the game, and at least one of their goals came following a scramble in the box. Aside from Ballack’s effort, I can’t remember a decent chance for Chelsea following our third which would have won the game for them.

Your name seems to remind me of someone who posts what I would class as negative comments, so I can only guess that you’re miffed about having a little less to moan about right now. Whereas many are simply acknowledging that since half time against Hull, there has been a marked improvement in attitude and performance.

Tom Bowers
7 Posted 13/12/2009 at 23:52:18

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There is every hope that 9 points over the next 3 games is a possibility. However let's not get carried away. Brum are playing better also and won’t be easy. Sunderland are no pushover like previous seasons but revenge on Burnley looks pretty sure. Then Arsenal away looks formidable but so did Chelski.

We may be turning the corner, however, and providing we have no more serious injury problems we should start to climb the table.

James Stewart
8 Posted 14/12/2009 at 18:11:57

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Trevor - Yes, I was at the game. We did play some football for once, you're right. I merely stated that two out of our 3 goals were very lucky and on a different day we might have easily lost the game. I would say we matched Chelsea for the most of it but I would not go as far as to say we controlled any part of the game. I can’t see how that is a negative comment.

It was a good result away from home. For me it does not change any of the fundamental problems that are still so apparent at the club. After the dismal run of form though I can appreciate that the last two draws almost seem like wins. However, we still only took 2 points, but hopefully it will give us some confidence to get 3 next match.

Brian Waring
9 Posted 14/12/2009 at 20:17:08

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How many times have we heard on here that we should get x points from x games, only for us to get nothing? Let's just take one game at a time.

Joe McMahon
10 Posted 14/12/2009 at 20:25:37

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I’m with you, Brian, remember how everyone had us beating Burnley, Wolves, Fulham, Hull, Stoke, Bolton & Fulham not too mention a draw againts the Gunners. Yeap that’s a grand total of just 2 points from the above.

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