We need 15 points if we are to get Champions League.

If we can go to W.H.L. and win though, I would start seriously believing C.L. could be a possibility.

Basically, they have one very good attacker and one good midfield player. The rest simply haven't gelled. (Coutinho looks decent but still imo finding he feet.) The right attitude and a win there should be no more difficult to achieve than at any of the other teams below us.

(Yes, I know... but you know what I mean.)

Spurs are already 6 points ahead of us (all be it having played one more game) so if we lose at WHL this weekend, thats it, we definitely wont be catching them – 9 points will be too much of a gap to make up. Even if we draw, it will be a really big ask to catch them anyway. Especially the way they're playing... (Hope for a Bale injury this evening?)

Chelsea are 4 points ahead already having played the same number of games. However, Chelsea actually have almost as tough a run-in as we do. They need to play Man Utd, Spurs and Liverpool – all away. Those will be tough games for them and I can see them easily not winning at least 2 if not all 3.

So a glimmer of hope of us catching them IF we can get 9 points against QPR, Sunderland and Fulham and not lose to them in May. However, the 4 points alone will be tough to make up. I would fancy them to get 3 points at home to Sunderland this weekend – despite Di Canio – so I cannot realistically see us catching them.

Arsenal, although in 5th at the moment, are the dark horses for me. They may not be playing great at the moment but they have a relatively easy run-in. They only play one of the top sides in their remaining 8 games. I fancy them to win most of their remaining games so I cannot see us overtaking them – even if by some miracle we beat them.

All-in-all, I think Spurs will hold onto 3rd and Arsenal will go past Chelsea to finish 4th but we won't catch Chelsea so top 5 is not going to happen for us. However, the prospect of us getting to Europe via a 6th place finish is actually real – assuming Chelsea win the FA Cup and finish 5th.

It would be great to at least get a point on Sunday at WHL but it would not be the end of the dream if we lost. Key is to make sure we beat the likes of QPR, Sunderland and Fulham – if we manage that then we should hopefully hold onto 6th although the RS also unfortunately have a relatively easy run-in.

I think the 6th spot may all come down to the derby – which we absolutely cannot afford to lose!

The 7-pt gap to West Brom should see us not finish lower than 7th.

MOYES — WE NEED TO STAY ABOVE THE SHITE!

Let's hope Moyes gets his tactics right on Saturday, it's going to be pretty tough and let's hope Spurs get some kicks tonight to add to Defoe's injury.

This next month could be the making of Moyes but he has to show some balls.

The Europa League is the Johnstones Paint trophy of European football. It's something this squad could do without .I would sooner the RS finish above us and it be them lot that goes into the graveyards of Europe and beyond to play in the gruelling Thursday-Sunday ritual.

COYB

I can't fucking wait. We're in the hunt. Exciting times.

If we did, it could give us a chance to blood some younger lads but, given Moyes in Europe and his record its dreaming a bit and then you see the Geordies in the same ground but putting on a better show than that shameful game we witnessed.

Mathematically 3rd is still possible so as my old grandad used to say if you aim for the sun you might just land on the moon! COYB

It's impossible when the numbers prove so. We win Sunday, it's possible.

Isn't this exciting? The CL up for grabs. Sunday couldn't come soon enough.

COYB

I am a massive critic of Moyes and his derby tactics but maybe this run in may show him to have a go at the horrible fuckers and not be so intimidated by them.

They haven't won a game that Bale didn't score in since Jan 1.

They were two down tonight, and came back to 2-2 but were outplayed and the injuries may have done their chances for the rest of the season a lot of harm. Certainly evens things up for Sunday with Bale and Lennon as important for them as Felli and Pienaar are to us.

Yet, here we are after all that. We have to win Sunday. We HAVE to. They'll play the game and we'll see.

COYB

Remember we're playing away from home and we've still lost Pienaar and Fellaini for the game.

Spurs 1 pt
QPR 3 pts
Arsenal 1 pt
Sunderland 3 pts
Fulham 3 pts
Liverpool 1 pt
West Ham 3ps
Chelsea 1 pt
-------------------
Sub-total:16 pts + 51 pts: Total = 67 points.

We need to defend well and try to pick them off on the counter or set pieces. I have a feeling that we can do it and (hold your breath) I think that Jela will get one. I believe that he will have less pressure on him and will actually enjoy playing against a better quality team.

Pat on the head to you, young Anthony. You're the best.

"we really need to treat each game as a cup final".

What we call over here in American sports, "Playoff mode". Same thing.

Either way, you're right. Gotta have these next 3 points.

Steavey (135) I like your points prediction (if that's not too strong a word!) - I reckon that would put us in a good position. However, let's hope that the team aim higher than that. It's got to be shit or bust now. That's not throwing caution to the wind because saving a point here and there must be better than a loss but we have to go for it at the start of each game and believe we can get the win.

There have been very few games this season (IMO) where we have been the worst team (Man Utd away, Wigan of course, WBA away but only just). Off the top of my head, I'm struggling to think of any other games where the opposition have been better than us.

It is true that we have dropped a load of points when we have been in great positions. Being the optimist, I have a feeling that will even up over the next few weeks... why is that? No science, of course, but it's just being a Blue and wanting the team to succeed.

Anyway, we are where we are in the league on merit and (we all know) we should be higher so let's take that into the next game (first of all) and beat the Spurs.

COYB

They have a big squad, many of whom will be keen to use this opportunity to make a name for themselves and put themselves on the shop window. If anything, I'm more nervous now that Spurs will be without their key players. Everton always perform better when we're the under-dogs and expectations are low.

We have nothing to lose so let's go for it.... How many on here believe the manager will do that?

Hope he can make it.

Either way Spurs still have a lot of very good players, especially Dembele who I think is hugely underrated midfield player being strong, fast, able to beat a man easily and score from range whilst being solid at the defensive work too. Fingers crossed they're a bit knackered from last night's exertions.

What a mug!

Personally I think no way 9 points will be sufficient.

Anyone know the required points total for 4th place over the last few seasons?
Any maybe this year it will have to be a bit higher for taking into account the larger than usual gap between 1st and 2nd.

69
68
70
72

I reckon we need to win at the very least, 6 of our last 8 games to make it.

Hmm.

We need to win the 3 home games, Spurs and Sunderland away and draw with Arsenal. That gives a grand total of 67 and it still afords us the annual Anfield result!

I would take the above here and now!

Across the park would need 19 point from 7 games, not going to happen
Spurs would need 10 points from 6 games, without Bale and City and Chelsea to play on the run in, I can't see it.
Arsenal would need 13 points from 7 games, again I can't see it.

So Moysie, send the troops out on Sunday to play high tempo stuff against a team without Defoe, Bale and Lennon to name just a few, who have played last night. We want 3 points on Sunday, give it a go!

If we win on Sunday we will be a top 5 team by the end of the season!

All games are tough for Everton with the squad we have and the management of same. Apart from the Fulham game, all the others will have significant importance and an in-form Fellaini and Pienaar would be a welcome addition after this weekend.

The Spurs game will still be tough as Parker and Dembele are more than a match for Osman and whoever. Mirallas is the key as he is starting to show his form from early season so hopefully he will be fit.

My guess is he'll play 4-2-3-1 with Jags at right back, Gibbo and Neville in mid, Coleman r/w, Ossie behind striker, Mirallas l/w, big Vic up top. It's still going to be a very tough game with us missng Felli and Pienaar and the fact their squad beats ours hands down in every position but I don't think we'll get a better chance of beating them at their place with the injuries they have to their main goal threats.

For me the Mirallas is a striker and should have been given a go up top with Felli when we were struggling for goals he's got a trick a bit of pace and an eye for goal, he's never going to be the type of player to get up and down all game.

We have a simply disgraceful record at the Tin Mine. For once it's their cup final and in Bugs Bunny, Coutinho and Steviela they have the tools to take us apart. And probably will. I can't see us taking anything there.

Lampard is on his way out and it's a lay-down misery he'll get a goal against us. Depending on how the race for the top four goes, that might be a must win for them. If so, I know who my hard-earned would be on.

And I can't believe we're going to start doing what we haven't all season – putting together a winning run against teams below us in the table.

Marshy is right: Europe has gone. It probably went when we couldn't put Villa away at home, and then certainly did when the mighty Canaries turned us over in that horrible last 10 minutes at Carrow Road.

Pull your tail out weakling. Spurs is all and everything today. We'll worry about the rest monday.

"Marshy is right"? Oh brother.

We worry about Arsenal when we play them.

And . . .fuck Spurs.

And fuck me, this is exciting!

COYB

But don't let me burst your bubble – the four million squids man will do that for you.

Moyes should get you in to do the pre match warm up speech - you would certainly get the blues motivated. Though out of interest, why do you big up the opposition? Yet never hit the high notes regarding the blues.

I watched the Arsenal at GP and after their, shall we say lucky, first minute goal they did fuckall except defend and put in numerous dirty tackles. Please, how can you talk about the glorious RS being so fucking good? Why did they have horse face running round kicking the shite out of Mirallas and Distin? They hung on to their two goal cushion like limpets, were dirty fuckers and kicked more long balls than Stoke (but lets not confuse Stevie G with the facts).

We will give both teams a good game but we will not get a tonking, as you put it, and for me I actually do believe we have a good enough first 11 to go the emirates and the shite hole and come away with something.

Our record in 11 seasons lets not forget, is never having won at Arsenal, RS, Chelsea away from home and that's what we'll need to do to finish above any of those teams.

They all (especially Arsenal) have much easier run-ins than we do, so while I agree with Mike, I think a little realism is what's needed here. We blew a lot of opportunities earlier in the season is defeats to teams like Norwich and far too many draws.

When the dust settles and we look back, our season will be defined by those results, and not our results away from home against the top sides, even though that's the way it feels right now.

That said of course, if we DO beat them today, and at the Emirates/Anfield, then naturally the things I just said will sound hollow.

Football is a fickle beast.

Up the blues.

Sorry.

We'll probably stick 4 without reply past Spurs, the RS will lose at home to West Ham, Chelsea will get turned over at home by a rampaging Sunderland under new boss, Di Canio and we'll all wake up for work on Monday morning whistling Z-Cars.

Somebody pinch me...