Who Will Beat Us To Top 4?

[Paddy O'Hammer]

It's going to be a dog fight!

[Sir_Trevor]

Posted this on the this week's fixtures thread but it probably fits better here:

I don't usually get hung up on anything journos / commentators say about us, but I just got steamingly angry earlier listening to 5 live when they were crying about how useless Manure are. Some journo called Rory Smith (yep, me neither) said that, while they can't catch the top 3, it would become a real problem for Ragnick if Spurs and Arsenal keep winning. What a b'stard.

Either he is so useless as a sports journo that he hasn't noticed that there is another team above Spurs and only 1 point below Arsenal, who have already beaten Liverpool and Chelsea, or he is being utterly disrespectful to us and our fantastic players who have fought so hard to get where they are. Now, I'm not suggesting that we're favourites for top 4 or anything but absolutely nothing that has happened so far this season suggests that we are any less of a challenger at this point than those other 2 and to simply ignore us is pure sh1thousery of the highest order.

[Ironing Board]

I've got a feeling Moyes will beat off Ralf, but I'm not sure he can beat off Arteta at the same time.

[hammer1975]

I’m not convinced we’ve turned the corner yet - win against a a poor wolves and a near-collapse against a Palace missing their two best players. Not meaning to sound negative - just trying to not build up expectations too much. We’ve got a kind run of fixtures for the next couple - we need to be as clinical as last season in the next two and then see where we are at end Jan when Zouma and Cresswell are hopefully close.

[DrVenk]

I've got a feeling Moyes will beat off Ralf

Whatever lubricates the Lingard deal...

[Ironing Board]

Whatever lubricates the Lingard deal...

[paulhs1]

Whatever lubricates the Lingard deal...

[Pob!]

I'm thinking we might just nick it!

[kenthammer]

Think our best 11 are capable of going toe to to toe with any side in the prem and finishing top 6 or higher,unfortunately with injuries our squad is only 6-10th place

[Metal Hammer]

I've got a feeling Moyes will beat off Ralf, but I'm not sure he can beat off Arteta at the same time.

Why not, he has 2 hands?

[old fart]

The thread title is a little negative should be "who will attempt to beat us to top 4"

[sendô]

Arsenal are the team to worry about. They've really started to click and were unlucky to get nothing vs Man City.

I don't think Spurs have really improved much under Conte. Kane has hit a bit of form, and their fans and the press are giving Conte the benefit of the doubt where Nuno didn't get any. Their brand of football under Conte is equally as dire as it was under Nuno or Mourinho. Look at that cup game vs us - a whole second half of time wasting, diving and not attempting to go forwards. They were woeful against an awful Watford team and were really fortunate to nick the win in the 96th minute.

Man Utd haven't improved in the slightest since sacking OGS.

If we can keep the injuries down I fancy us for 5th. I think Arsenal will pip us to 4th though.

[funky chicken]

With regards to the Spuds, a lot rests on both Son and Kane avoiding injuries. When was the last season Kane avoided a lengthy injury? If either, but especially both pick up long term injuries they’ll be buggered. Without those 2, they have nothing to offer.

[paulhs1]

Arsenal are the team to worry about. They've really started to click and were unlucky to get nothing vs Man City.

I don't think Spurs have really improved much under Conte. Kane has hit a bit of form, and their fans and the press are giving Conte the benefit of the doubt where Nuno didn't get any. Their brand of football under Conte is equally as dire as it was under Nuno or Mourinho. Look at that cup game vs us - a whole second half of time wasting, diving and not attempting to go forwards. They were woeful against an awful Watford team and were really fortunate to nick the win in the 96th minute.

Man Utd haven't improved in the slightest since sacking OGS.

If we can keep the injuries down I fancy us for 5th. I think Arsenal will pip us to 4th though.

Agree that Arsenal look very good currently.

To give us the best possible chance we need to build up as many points between now and the end of Feb so as to put some pressure on them, Spurs and Man U.

If we win our next two we will be 5 points ahead of Arsenal who then go to Spurs the same day.

We need some luck and for Arsenal to slip up.

[szola]

2020-21
4th - 9 games lost / 67 points
6th - 11 games lost / 65 points
8th - 13 games lost / 61 points

2019-20
4th - 12 games lost / 66 points
6th - 11 games lost / 59 points
8th - 10 games lost / 56 points

2018-19
4th - 13 games lost / 71 points
6th - 10 games lost / 66 points
8th - 14 games lost / 54 points

2017-18
4th - 5 games lost / 75 points
6th - 13 games lost / 63 points
8th - 15 games lost / 49 points


We've played 20 out of 38 games
Lost 6 / 34 points

The current difference between 4th and 8th is 7 points

If we're lucky, all the teams in the top half will take points off one another, meaning draws.
It's within reach, just can't have another dip in form as we had in Dec.

[paulhs1]

Were looking at around 70 points meaning another 11 wins, 3 draws and and 4 losses.

Its do-able

[IronRhino]

Arsenal's purple patch won't last
Spurs, new manager bounce will come to an end
Manchester Utd are shambolic
We have come through our sticky patch and are still in the mix, and with Zouma and Cresswell back later this month we will prevail.

[hammers92]

Our aim over the next few years should be to keep finishing top of the rest (Leicester, Everton, Wolves etc). Throw in a few european tours and genuine attempts at trying to win a trophy and I'm more than happy.

The issue with the top 4 race is Spurs, Man U and Arsenal all have the squad depth to pack average Premier League players on their benches so when the injuries and suspensions kick in, they can do enough to get over the line across the season.

And on what I think is a serious point. We have a better chance of winning the Europa League than qualifying for the top 4 through the league.

[bubbles1966]

Our minimum expectation here should be top 7 and Europe; our aspiration should be top 4 and/or winning the Europa.

A number of our challengers are building up fixture congestion so our 'problem' of being in the Europa is being negated.

[WCpete]

It's such a long way to go, but I do think we can still be in the mix for 4th. I hate that Spurs have 2 games in hand. That makes them the most likely to pip us. Wolves have looked good since they played us, and Brighton have started scoring. It's going to stay crowded for the Euro spots. Nevertheless I do think we'll be there or thereabouts.