The Mail Bag
The Road to 4th
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Assuming Man City continues to tonk Burnley...
Everton win remaining 6 67 pts
Spurs: L Arsenal; L Chelsea; L Man U; D Man City 65 pts
Man CIty: L Man U; L Arsenal; L Villa; D Spurs 66 pts
Villa: L Everton; L any other of remaining games 66 pts
Red Shite: L Chelsea; L any other remaining games 66 pts
Yes, I need a life desperately. And yes, I think 6th now, despite unbridled optismism I held even last week, is the best we can hope for.
It's too much of a long shot. I think we really missed a golden opportunity in 2009-2010.
Jamie Crowley, Posted 03/04/2010 at 18:02:11
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Oooooooh the race for 6th!
The only thing that counts now is the race to catch Liverpool.
The only thing that counts now is the race to catch Liverpool.
Not a chance that we will get near fourth. Sixth may be a slight possibility
We're 6pts behind Villa and, after tomorrow's game, we will be a game in hand as well.
8th suddenley looks all the more likely. Birmingham are closer to us than we are to Villa.
8th suddenley looks all the more likely. Birmingham are closer to us than we are to Villa.
Such pessimism, Dave! Villa are in poor form and we play them next after tomorrow's game. We win at Villa Park and it's game on!
The best we'll do is 7th and hope that the place is ok for the Europa Cup. We've left it too late, and being honest, we'll not win all 6 games left.
With Arteta out tomorrow again things are not looking as good as they were. Villa winning today not good either. I would say Man City are now big favourites for 4th, and with Spurs still having to play the 4 teams above them the race for 5th is on. Must win tomorrow though or we can forget it.
We should hope to finish out of the European places if we want to finish fourth in the league next year. We don't have the squad numbers to compete on so many fronts. Sad but we had too many injuries this year. On to the next one...
Villa's win at Bolton was a very bad result today, but I still see them as a mentally weak team when it comes down to winning decisive games (except when they play us of couse).
Anyhow, we must win against West Ham (can't imagine my mood if this game ends up 0-0 or 1-1) and Villa. No ifs and buts, 6 pts are a must. Then we'll have a realistic view what is still doable. COYB!
Anyhow, we must win against West Ham (can't imagine my mood if this game ends up 0-0 or 1-1) and Villa. No ifs and buts, 6 pts are a must. Then we'll have a realistic view what is still doable. COYB!
I hate to say it, only because my philosophy always dictates that there should be no team that relies on one player. We have just seen the proof of this with Man Utd in today's game. You know what I mean (Rooney). We saw this at Wolves. Utd experienced it today.
I have always thought that a team should not be reliant on one player. This mindset will always spell catastrophe. This is the difference between good football clubs and great football clubs.
Have to say this is why Arsenal are always near the top of the league. They never rely on one player.
United today had that same thought that we had when they played today against Chelsea: "Oh fuck... we haven't got Rooney... what are we going to do now?"
This is the mindset we are having now with Arteta. We need, with the sound mind, to get over this with our manager Mr Moyes. What we need is the mentality to overcome the problem when a player of Arteta's skill and ingenuity is not around on the pitch.
The only manager that has worked this out is Wenger.
We have had loads of injuries. Have a look at Arsenal's... When we had no strikers, Moyes was amazing and we did really well. Wenger is doing this now, and for the past three months, has had to do this as well. Adebayor sold. Van Persie injured. What's left?
Walcott just coming back and of course now showing Capello he's the man for the England attack, plus Bendtner. What is my point you may ask.
It's about getting a team that does not rely on one man. Football always loves the individual and I'm completely into that form of poetry. But if the poet is not there and we do not perform and win our games then what is the use of a poet?
Later today, we face West Ham. It could be that Arteta will not play. I am a Moyes man but I think he needs to get a mindset into the team that it is they and not an individual that wins matches.
Come on, lads — we are a much better team than Villa show us that you think that as well. Let's even without Arteta push our game 60% more than we have done games past. Let's go out there and play the game where we are the best team in Europe.
We have already beaten the best at the Hallowed ground called Goodison, so let's play today with gusto and above all swagger as we know we can do...
WE WILL QUALIFY FOR EUROPE!
COYB
I have always thought that a team should not be reliant on one player. This mindset will always spell catastrophe. This is the difference between good football clubs and great football clubs.
Have to say this is why Arsenal are always near the top of the league. They never rely on one player.
United today had that same thought that we had when they played today against Chelsea: "Oh fuck... we haven't got Rooney... what are we going to do now?"
This is the mindset we are having now with Arteta. We need, with the sound mind, to get over this with our manager Mr Moyes. What we need is the mentality to overcome the problem when a player of Arteta's skill and ingenuity is not around on the pitch.
The only manager that has worked this out is Wenger.
We have had loads of injuries. Have a look at Arsenal's... When we had no strikers, Moyes was amazing and we did really well. Wenger is doing this now, and for the past three months, has had to do this as well. Adebayor sold. Van Persie injured. What's left?
Walcott just coming back and of course now showing Capello he's the man for the England attack, plus Bendtner. What is my point you may ask.
It's about getting a team that does not rely on one man. Football always loves the individual and I'm completely into that form of poetry. But if the poet is not there and we do not perform and win our games then what is the use of a poet?
Later today, we face West Ham. It could be that Arteta will not play. I am a Moyes man but I think he needs to get a mindset into the team that it is they and not an individual that wins matches.
Come on, lads — we are a much better team than Villa show us that you think that as well. Let's even without Arteta push our game 60% more than we have done games past. Let's go out there and play the game where we are the best team in Europe.
We have already beaten the best at the Hallowed ground called Goodison, so let's play today with gusto and above all swagger as we know we can do...
WE WILL QUALIFY FOR EUROPE!
COYB
4th looks beyond us but until it's mathematically impossible we should just go for it. If I was to put a tenner on who'll get the 4th spot It would go on the RS (that's why I wouldn't do it), but there's still plenty of points to win & lose and our run in is, on paper at least quite easy and all the games are winnable, but to quote the old cliché, you don't win games on paper.
Okay angry that Villa won, and City won, but I was expecting them to win this weekend anyway.
So why can't we finish 5th? or even 4th?
Spurs lost one of the games I had down as a win, which means even if they pick up 1 or two points from their 3 tough games, we can finish above them. We beat Villa, we finish above them. So stop the pessimism guys, we are masters of the late finish.
So why can't we finish 5th? or even 4th?
Spurs lost one of the games I had down as a win, which means even if they pick up 1 or two points from their 3 tough games, we can finish above them. We beat Villa, we finish above them. So stop the pessimism guys, we are masters of the late finish.
Nick -
I agree - catch the Red Shite.
But the last line of my post says it all: 2009-10 we missed a Golden opportunity! And your desire to catch the Evil Empire clearly illustrates that: if we beat the RS, especially when they are down to 10 men, we're ahead of them. They were as weak as I've ever seen them — and that is admittedly not too long — but they were very ordinary this season. We dropped both games to them.
Opportunity lost.
I'll keep Hope alive. I've seen stranger things happen. But if it pans out the way the current odds would have it — we really missed an unbelievable opportunity. It was there for the taking.
I agree - catch the Red Shite.
But the last line of my post says it all: 2009-10 we missed a Golden opportunity! And your desire to catch the Evil Empire clearly illustrates that: if we beat the RS, especially when they are down to 10 men, we're ahead of them. They were as weak as I've ever seen them — and that is admittedly not too long — but they were very ordinary this season. We dropped both games to them.
Opportunity lost.
I'll keep Hope alive. I've seen stranger things happen. But if it pans out the way the current odds would have it — we really missed an unbelievable opportunity. It was there for the taking.
Hate to say it boys but we'll probably finish where we are now.
Does anybody else feel a bit twitchy about the West Ham game? It would be typical if West Ham were to draw or win.
Does anybody else feel a bit twitchy about the West Ham game? It would be typical if West Ham were to draw or win.
I stand to win £350 if we finish 8th — my pre-season prediction. If we finish in a European/Europa spot, I`ll willingly donate a similar amount to charity.
I ain`t sweating!
I ain`t sweating!
Tom, I always feel a bit twitchy about any Everton game, you can get an incredible 8/1 on Betfair if you fancy a sympathy fall back bet on the Hammers, not bad for a 2 horse race. I hope we hit them for 6 though, obviously. COYBB
The chances of fourth are gone... just.
I think another three points at this stage, with preferably one from either WHL and/or Anfield and we'd still probably have fourth place destiny in our hands if winning the last six.
We've possibly been on the good side of lady luck for a small handful of games this season, yet that is so clearly outnumbered by tough luck
* Bolton, Hull, Burnley, Fulham and Wolves away.
* Both Birmingham games, incredible to just get two points off them.
* The two North London aways.
* The derbies.
And lastly, yes I don't think West Ham will be any sort of pushovers today.
I think another three points at this stage, with preferably one from either WHL and/or Anfield and we'd still probably have fourth place destiny in our hands if winning the last six.
We've possibly been on the good side of lady luck for a small handful of games this season, yet that is so clearly outnumbered by tough luck
* Bolton, Hull, Burnley, Fulham and Wolves away.
* Both Birmingham games, incredible to just get two points off them.
* The two North London aways.
* The derbies.
And lastly, yes I don't think West Ham will be any sort of pushovers today.
Jon are you serious? We rely too much on a guy we've played the whole season (and 3/4 months of last season) without? We've played one game without him, during which we hammered the opposition, drew 5 or 6 top class saves and hit the woodwork? You then use Arsenal as an example, when they are as reliant on Fabregas for leadership and inspiration as any team in the league is on any player (bar Rooney/Man United case).
To the pessimists, don't look at the league table, look at the league table and the run-ins together. With that in mind we are not nearer to Birmingham than we are to Aston Villa. 6th is far more likely than 8th.
I've still got this horrible feeling that we'll finish the season strongly, maybe even get as high as fifth, and still be behind the devil's own dark forces of football.
To the pessimists, don't look at the league table, look at the league table and the run-ins together. With that in mind we are not nearer to Birmingham than we are to Aston Villa. 6th is far more likely than 8th.
I've still got this horrible feeling that we'll finish the season strongly, maybe even get as high as fifth, and still be behind the devil's own dark forces of football.
Sorry Lyndon, but i just feel we have left it too late to be fighting for Europe.
Mike - You watch, the RS will hammer Benfica at Anfield, and finish 4th. Aquilani will suddenly remember he's a £20m player and score a hat-trick, and the fat waiter will get Manger of the Month.
Mike - You watch, the RS will hammer Benfica at Anfield, and finish 4th. Aquilani will suddenly remember he's a £20m player and score a hat-trick, and the fat waiter will get Manger of the Month.
After the start to the season we had, I'm feeling fairly happy that we're sat here even discussing Europe. I do think we need to be in the Europa though. We need to aiming as high as possible and so what if our squad is small, we can cope (just) next year and who knows, we may even spend (net) some money!
I was only 8 in 1985 and to miss out on Europe for so long was terrible. I firmly believe that we can finish 6th. I just hope to god that Livershite do not get into the CL.
As for today, yes it very much has the potential to be a blip but after last weekend the players won't let it. I'm working now but will finish in time to see Phil Neville telling Sky how much we want it and we'll go for it today. Now that I speak of him I've a feeling he'll score today. 3-1 to us as normal with Philly getting the last.
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1 Posted 03/04/2010 at 18:48:01
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