A chance

[calvoboy]

I dunno Dave, I've just got a feeling. A feeling deep inside, Wo-oooh Yeah. I've been utterly convinced that our dire run couldn't carry on forever and the fact is that, despite not blowing teams off the pitch, we are staring to look solid at the back. I think having Riera back is a huge, huge bonus and if we can keep him fit he'll make an astronomical difference to the way we approach games.

You just have to look at the Mancs last season. They won the league by, well, being Arsenal under George Graham. A load of ****ty 1-0 wins (and some dodgy reffing assistance). If we can stay solid and win by the odd goal against some of the more toppish teams and save the cavalier stuff for Burnley, Wolves, Hull, Sunderland etc then I think it's still on. I'm convinced that the Mancs are there for the taking every week now, Arsenal will capitulate at some point and Chelsea still have a degree of inconsistant vulnerability about them. It's all about being strong and staying solid. Can you Imagine what it will be like having Torres back in a team playing confidently. ****ing frightening, thats what it'll be.

So are you in?

Nah. I'm as optimistic as anyone I know about our chances, but I can't see all three of Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd dropping roughly 20 points out of the next 51, which we'd need if we were to win it (we're not going to win every game to the end of the season now).

I can see us finishing third if one of them slip up, but can't see all three doing it. Much more likely is us finishing fourth, about 6 points off the top, and then having another close season looking back at games like Stoke away, the beach-ball incident etc. and thinking "if only".

[Reece]

I'm not entirely sure whether you are serious or not Rowan But I'd much rather read something positive than all the doom and gloom recently (not saying some of that wasn't understandable).

I'm in sir. #19 coming up

[Rowan]

I had privately hoped we had a slight chance before Chelsea blew away Sunderland and we dropped two points late on against Stoke. Haven’t given up yet, but Chelseas will be extremely hard to catch.

Yup, It's not going to be easy and the next two or three games will show us exactly how difficult it is going to be. However, that's the problem when you allow teams to get a massive headstart. I'm not saying I have a scientific or reasonable belief for why I think we'll get close, after all I've watched us play this year. Last night just filled me with a belief that it's really possible. I mean, the way we were playing a few weeks back if someone had told you we'd take maximum points against Villa and Spurs what would you have said. We aren't just beating minnows. These teams are our (current) closest competition. For some reason i'm just awash at the minute with an optimistic glow. I can see us going on a charge, I can really see it!

And to say Chelsea have been wonderful is something of an exaggeration. Sunderland are in freefall at the minute. I wish we were playing them this weekend as i think we'd give them a good mauling as well. Plus the team we played yesterday were a team that had previously stuck 9 past Wigan. It's all circumstantial.

[Roboklopp]

Aye, feeling much more positive & wishing I hadnt turned down tickets for last night (1st time ever).

Was most impressed with the hunger & pride last night. (I know that should be a minimum, but we've not had it).

Cant see the title, but let's grab 4th & the Wafer Cup & move the **** on.

[calvoboy]

Incidentally, we're 100-1 5th favourites for the league at the moment if anyone fancies a flutter...Chelsea favourites 4/5, Scum 3/1, Arsenal 4/1, City 33/1, us 100/1, Spurs and Villa 200/1.

[Exiled_red]

We're not going to win the league, but I wouldn't say City are that much more likely to win it than us

[RedReet]

And to say Chelsea have been wonderful is something of an exaggeration. Sunderland are in freefall at the minute. I wish we were playing them this weekend as i think we'd give them a good mauling as well. Plus the team we played yesterday were a team that had previously stuck 9 past Wigan. It's all circumstantial.

It was more of the fact that so much was made about their main men going to African Nations and how they would struggle, yet they scored 7 for the first time in their Premiership history. Didn’t see match so can’t comment on how bad Sunderland were, but very few teams could lose their top scorer and best player as well as others and put seven past Premiership opposition.

[Rowan]

It was more of the fact that so much was made about their main men going to African Nations and how they would struggle, yet they scored 7 for the first time in their Premiership history. Didn’t see match so can’t comment on how bad Sunderland were, but very few teams could lose their top scorer and best player as well as others and put seven past Premiership opposition.

They are making our injury problems look like a luxury. Even Daryl Murphy's getting a game at the minute

And if it's 100/1 I'm definitely having a punt

[Frenchie]

100-1 ? what happens with an each way bet?

[SK]

as i've said before, we need(ed) to take 9 or even 10 points from the games against stoke, spurs, wolves and bolton. after that we have arsenal and everton, in both of which games anything can happen, but i'd be content with 3 or 4 points.

the main point is we need to build on the win against spurs and really hit it on. if we don't beat wolves the win against spurs is somewhat meaningless.

onwards and upwards

[RedReet]

100-1 ? what happens with an each way bet?

1st two if the Bookie offers e/w.

[Frenchie]

1st two if the Bookie offers e/w.

would that be 1/4 the odds ie 25-1 for 2nd place?

value to me

[frank the tank]

When i saw the table last night, i saw 11 points and though the same to be honest. I was thinking - "feck it - stranger things have happened"

I can see a fair few draws between the other teams. Put it this way, it's not beyond the possibilities for Arsenal to draw with both ManU and Chelsea in the next few weeks. A lot can change in the space of 3 or 4 weeks in football and who feckin knows!!!

What would be brilliant for us would be for Arsenal to draw Spurs in the 5th round of the FA Cup and for chelsea and mancs to draw each other as well. Then throw in a few replays for those teams and all of a sudden little niggely injuries start to kick in and who knows, we could have a sneak at it late on - especially when you also consider that there will be tough champions league games, and hopefully a carling cup final where Villa and United kick lumps out of each other......

We have the Europa Cup to look at only apart from the league. Obviously, we would prefer to still be in the CL and the FA Cup but it is up to us to make the most of our situation.....

You never feckin know!!!!

In reality, it is unlikely that Arsenal, Chelsea AND Man United will fall to pieces but then again you never know!!!!

[dww]

I dunno Dave, I've just got a feeling. A feeling deep inside, Wo-oooh Yeah. I've been utterly convinced that our dire run couldn't carry on forever and the fact is that, despite not blowing teams off the pitch, we are staring to look solid at the back. I think having Riera back is a huge, huge bonus and if we can keep him fit he'll make an astronomical difference to the way we approach games.

You just have to look at the Mancs last season. They won the league by, well, being Arsenal under George Graham. A load of ****ty 1-0 wins (and some dodgy reffing assistance). If we can stay solid and win by the odd goal against some of the more toppish teams and save the cavalier stuff for Burnley, Wolves, Hull, Sunderland etc then I think it's still on. I'm convinced that the Mancs are there for the taking every week now, Arsenal will capitulate at some point and Chelsea still have a degree of inconsistant vulnerability about them. It's all about being strong and staying solid. Can you Imagine what it will be like having Torres back in a team playing confidently. ****ing frightening, thats what it'll be.

So are you in?

Sod it, why not.

[rudedog]

It would be a massive achievement if we could finish 3rd.