The most important 4 weeks of our League season?

[Steveo]

4 points from 4th spot.

Just need to keep reeling in the sides above us.

Chelsea play Man United later. A draw in that game would see Chelsea on 21 points - we won't want Man United building too much confidence so a draw (rather than either of them winning) is probably just about the best result we can hope for.

Must win our game.

Yep - plenty of bumps in the road ahead with a team in transition. The World Cup changes the dynamic significantly from late December on. It could go for us, or against. It really is an anything could happen kinda season. Well, except for City and their 3 first 11’s.

[Insidious]

Yep - plenty of bumps in the road ahead with a team in transition. The World Cup changes the dynamic significantly from late December on. It could go for us, or against. It really is an anything could happen kinda season. Well, except for City and their 3 first 11’s.

We have plenty of lads who won't be going to the World Cup and with luck a few will come back early. I'm very much hoping it will be a benefit to us, rather than a hindrance.

If we can keep the deficit on the sides above us down to 0-6 points (accommodating the possibility of a loss somewhere, maybe against Tottenham) with some lads getting chances for rest/recuperation during the Tournament, I'll be much more confident of attaining a Champion's League spot. With luck we may even get a kind draw for the Champion's League as well.

Months are a long time in footie and if we have indeed stumbled upon a solution of sorts with the formation tweak, we might not be as vulnerable in the knock-out stages of the Champion's League either.

Still fun to be had this season, even if we aren't as imperious as last.

[ianlfc]

How many times before Jurgen arrived did we drop points after a big win in the league ? It seemed to happen all the time. A ugly win is still a win.

Some things never change.

[Steveo]

You could say today was an ugly loss. We should have scored a couple before they had a sniff. That’s the reality. But with so many players brought in last minute and playing in odd positions - it was always on the cards.

[jozza800]

Obviously we could have been right back in the mix with a win. But the weekend's results couldn't have gone any better. We just need to hang in until the world Cup.

[Insidious]

Obviously we could have been right back in the mix with a win. But the weekend's results couldn't have gone any better. We just need to hang in until the world Cup.

Exactly right.

7 points off 3rd (Tottenham) with a game in hand.
5 points off 4th (Newcastle) with a game in hand.
5 points off 5th (Chelsea) - same number of games played.

Given the lack of a game in hand on them, Chelsea should be the "yardstick" for now as it were. Keep within reasonable distance.

- Leeds (Anfield)
- Tottenham
- Southampton (Anfield)

[Insidious]

Oh and just to add to that idea of viewing Chelsea as the yard-stick, a reminder that we might just get a lucky favour or two due to their matches -

- Brighton
- Arsenal
- Newcastle

[Kev0909]

Exactly right.

7 points off 3rd (Tottenham) with a game in hand.
5 points off 4th (Newcastle) with a game in hand.
5 points off 5th (Chelsea) - same number of games played.

Given the lack of a game in hand on them, Chelsea should be the "yardstick" for now as it were. Keep within reasonable distance.

- Leeds (Anfield)
- Tottenham
- Southampton (Anfield)

Also 7 pts off relegation
5 pts off west ham in 17th place
Not much in it..

[Red October]

Also 7 pts off relegation
5 pts off west ham in 17th place
Not much in it..

So frustrating that we didn't get a win there somehow. Virgil surely had to score at least two. Fair enough we weren't great but the result is all that counts right now. We've ground out plenty before. We'd have been right back in the mix for 3rd/4th place. Anyway, things can change fast. We were lucky with other results that we don't find ourselves way behind a this stage. Let's hope for a decent result against Leeds and Southampton and who knows what could happen with Spurs. We'll expect nothing and anything's a bonus then.

[Insidious]

Also 7 pts off relegation
5 pts off west ham in 17th place
Not much in it..

True - it would be nice if that points disparity was larger - but I personally think it's futile to look at what's behind us.

The likes of Tottenham and Chelsea have to be the short-term target. If we catch them, then we can re-evaluate.