The battle for 4th place

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It's one thing people saying we won't finish 4th; I can understand that point of view. In fact I'm very closing to agreeing with it.

What I can't understand is anybody suggesting it is gone when it is where we are in the league and in our hands. Surely confidence in our ability can't have dropped THAT much.

I'm gonna hold on making a definite prediction on this until we've played Bournemouth. I'm really hoping the defeat to United has finally provided the kick up the arse needed and it will force something to go on behind the scenes; be it either just a step up in determination from the players or something to change on the training ground.

I'd like to say that the return of KDB, Nasri and Delph will see us just over the line, but, given our injury rate this season, their returns are likely to be cancelled out by others getting injured instead.
 
Yaya was withdrawn from a key international game and I would suggest it was more than cautionary.

As many have said for a long time now you cannot play him in a 2 man midfield and while his recovery rate from injury is much better than others in our squad MP's stubborn nature to revert this this time and again which was partly the reason we didn't get a 0-0 against Manure and stay four points clear of them instead of one and seriously damage our dwindling prospects of finishing 4th as the top three spots are gone now for us YAYA in a three man midfield even a four man midfield represents our best chance against Bournemouth.

He may not be available now.

You can't help feeling that MP while not deliberately perhaps is ensuring we make it as hard as possible to finish in the top four including setting us up that put maximum pressure on the likes of VK and Yaya to do more than they need to in games hence the increased likelihood of injury and injuries reoccurring.

I strongly suspect that many of the so called power gang within the squad when they write their stories after there careers are over will be more scathing of MP than they will be of RM for different reasons.
 
Still holding out hope that we get our arse in gear and grind out top 3/4...it's the same kind of hope I've had since November
 
Still 1 point in it. Next up for the Rags is Spurs so atleast someone's losing points. We can't afford to drop anything
 
Looking at the remaining fixtures of us and the Rags I am not filled with confidence.
 
Looking at Arsenal's fixtures they will have to mess up somewhere badly to not stay in the top 3. With their last games including Villa, Norwich, Sunderland, Palace and West Brom (4 of those at home). Just us away and west ham next week.
 
United do still have to play Tottenham and Leicester and West Ham and United have to play each other too.

We win six of our remaining seven and it should be enough.

We might get away with five.

Hard but doable.
 
Having watched that Utd v Everton game we should not be worried. They don't look interested.
 
Going to the last week seems likely with us at Swansea whilst Arsenal are at home to a long gone Villa and United to Bournemouth. West Ham are at Stoke final game.
 
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Leicester City 32 20 9 3 24 69
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Tottenham Hotspur 32 17 11 4 32 62
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Arsenal 31 17 7 7 22 58
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Manchester City 31 16 6 9 24 54
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Manchester United 31 15 8 8 12 53
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West Ham United 31 13 12 6 12 51
7
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Southampton 32 13 8 11 8 47
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Stoke City 32 13 8 11 -3 47
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Liverpool 30 12 9 9 5 45
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Chelsea 31 11 11 9 8 44
 
Can't see us making 4th.
Rags have a far easier run in and only the Spurs and West Ham games look tricky for them.
Conversely we have 4 tricky games vs Saints, Chelsea, Newcastle and Chelsea.
Realistically its probably gonna be 2 defeats in them.
It's hard to feel optimistic when we've been so erratic and inconsistent.
 
Healdplace said:
United do still have to play Tottenham and Leicester and West Ham and United have to play each other too.

We win six of our remaining seven and it should be enough.

We might get away with five.

Hard but doable.
Click to expand...

We have Chelsea, Arsenal, Stoke and Southampton. We hate playing Arsenal, Chelski and Stoke. I'd even wager that Spurs are going to be in the fight for 4th.
 
Healdplace said:
United do still have to play Tottenham and Leicester and West Ham and United have to play each other too.

We win six of our remaining seven and it should be enough.

We might get away with five.

Hard but doable.
Click to expand...

It will be enough if we do that but that would take some doing based on what we have shown his season.

I can't see West Ham doing it. A lot depends on next week game with Rags and Spurs. If the rags win it brings sspurs back into play
 
Tottenham are more catchable than Arsenal as they have played a game more and a worse run in than us.

United, West Brom and Southampton at home - Stoke and Chelsea away before ending at Newcastle.

So I agree it is a win/win next week whatever the result between Spurs and United.
 
Next games are Rags and Spurs, Arse and West Ham. Hopefully draws all around. Going to be a big day that.
 
Next set of fixtures:

West Ham vs Arsenal
Man City vs West Brom
Spurs vs Man Utd

That set of fixtures alone should give us some breathing room and drag team/s ahead of us back into it.
 
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