A chance

[Craig_H]

4th Spurs P22 +18 38
5th Man City P21 +12 38
6th Liverpool P22 +14 37
7th Villa P21 +12 36

Tuesday 26th January
Wolves v Liverpool
Spurs v Fulham

Wednesday 27th January
Villa v Arsenal

Saturday 30th January
Birmingham v Spurs
Fulham v Villa
Liverpool v Bolton

Fulham are no mugs and will put up a fight at Spurs. They then put their good home record up against Villa - Craven Cottage is a difficult place to go these days.

Villa play in-form table toppers Arsenal before that, which they wont find easy.

The following week, Spurs go to Birmingham, who are on a record breaking unbeaten run and bang in form. Spurs wont find that easy.

And during that whole time, City dont play until January 31st, when they could go into their game looking up at us, 5 points ahead of them - which will put them under real pressure. Oh - and Villa play Spurs on 6th Feb as well.

All in all, we need to do our business, but with tonight's confidence boosting win (excellent performance too), we have to be looking to win at Wolves and then dispatch Bolton at Anfield.

If we do that, we'll be on a run of 6 wins and 1 draw in our last 7 league games, high on confidence and hopefully, with the others either not playing or facing some very hard games, in a much healthier position.

We have a chance to put ourselves into 4th place within the next 10 days and even just the sight of that, would put enormous pressure on the other three - let's remember, WE are the ones who qualify for the CL every season, not them. We're the ones who know what it takes. We're the ones who have the experience and the bottle.

Next week and half presents us with a chance to show it, and really put down a marker.

As a bonus, by the time we reach the end of January, Yossi should be back, possibly Agger and Johnson too, and Stevie will be close to returning too. This period of injuries is all about the remaining players to step up and do enough to keep us in the race, for the return of some big guns.

[SB]

4th Spurs P22 +18 38
5th Man City P21 +12 38
6th Liverpool P22 +14 37
7th Villa P21 +12 36

Tuesday 26th January
Wolves v Liverpool
Spurs v Fulham

Wednesday 27th January
Villa v Arsenal

Saturday 30th January
Birmingham v Spurs
Fulham v Villa
Liverpool v Bolton

Fulham are no mugs and will put up a fight at Spurs. They then put their good home record up against Villa - Craven Cottage is a difficult place to go these days.

Villa play in-form table toppers Arsenal before that, which they wont find easy.

The following week, Spurs go to Birmingham, who are on a record breaking unbeaten run and bang in form. Spurs wont find that easy.

And during that whole time, City dont play until January 31st, when they could go into their game looking up at us, 5 points ahead of them - which will put them under real pressure. Oh - and Villa play Spurs on 6th Feb as well.

All in all, we need to do our business, but with tonight's confidence boosting win (excellent performance too), we have to be looking to win at Wolves and then dispatch Bolton at Anfield.

If we do that, we'll be on a run of 6 wins and 1 draw in our last 7 league games, high on confidence and hopefully, with the others either not playing or facing some very hard games, in a much healthier position.

We have a chance to put ourselves into 4th place within the next 10 days and even just the sight of that, would put enormous pressure on the other three - let's remember, WE are the ones who qualify for the CL every season, not them. We're the ones who know what it takes. We're the ones who have the experience and the bottle.

Next week and half presents us with a chance to show it, and really put down a marker.

As a bonus, by the time we reach the end of January, Yossi should be back, possibly Agger and Johnson too, and Stevie will be close to returning too. This period of injuries is all about the remaining players to step up and do enough to keep us in the race, for the return of some big guns.

If we maintain this " rich vein of form " they won't make the starting X1 mate

[The_weatherman]

I thought Johnson was out for three months? Gerrard and Yossi will be back though and hopefully Agger and Aurelio (wnat to see him again at left back), but for now let's make minimum changes to the team.

[Craig_H]

I thought Johnson was out for three months? Gerrard and Yossi will be back though and hopefully Agger and Aurelio (wnat to see him again at left back), but for now let's make minimum changes to the team.

You may be right on Johnson.

I know what you mean about keeping the same side, but Gerrard and Torres will walk straight back in when they're fit

[Tee]

I think the players/fans should just keep this focus and concentrate on one game at a time - we are getting our confidence back (including the fans - unbelievable atmosphere last night!!) and lets just build on the last few games.

If we keep this steady improvement going we will be firing on all cylinders by the time our big guns are fit again. Personally I still think that at least one of the top 3 teams will slip up and it will be 3rd and 4th places that 4 or 5 teams will be fighting for.

[The_weatherman]

You may be right on Johnson.

I know what you mean about keeping the same side, but Gerrard and Torres will walk straight back in when they're fit

Torres is six weeks from fitness so I'm not too worried about that and I suppose I can give Gerrard a start here and there

[Rowan]

I'm dismayed by your lack of ambition Craig. We've won 3 from 4 and only a missed sitter from Dirk and a silly late equaliser at Stoke stopped that from being 4 from 4. If we can keep up that sort of form then we could realistically still challenge for the league, after all we're only 11 points off. We have an opportunity to take points of City, Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal and given the rate that teams are dropping points this year making up ground isn't exactly pie in the sky. We've always been stronger in the second half of the season anyway.

We don't have the distraction of the Champions League or FA Cup and could still strengthen the squad further in this window. Basically, for me, it's on! It's sooooo ****ing on. In the words of the great Delia Smith "Let's be ****ing having you!!!"

[Craig_H]

To challenge for the league, we basically need to win every game. So that'd be a 17 game winning streak, including away at City, United and Arsenal.

How much do you wanna put on that happening?

[Rowan]

To challenge for the league, we basically need to win every game. So that'd be a 17 game winning streak, including away at City, United and Arsenal.

How much do you wanna put on that happening?

I'm game if you are. What are the odds? I want to know if this will pay for my holiday this year.

And I disagree about winning all of our games. I think there will be sufficient ****-uppery in Manchester and London to enable us to draw a couple. We just need to make sure we take points off Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea and City.

[dww]

I'm game if you are. What are the odds? I want to know if this will pay for my holiday this year.

And I disagree about winning all of our games. I think there will be sufficient ****-uppery in Manchester and London to enable us to draw a couple. We just need to make sure we take points off Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea and City.

Has Nicey nabbed your login details?

Nonetheless I like the sound of this optimism. Amazing what a couple of not **** performances can do.

On a not entirely unrelated note - would we have been better off giving Gerrard and Torres both a proper rest when their injury problems started this season? Gerrard in particular hung around the team when ineffective and seemed to have a negative impact.

[Rowan]

Has Nicey nabbed your login details?

Nonetheless I like the sound of this optimism. Amazing what a couple of not **** performances can do.

On a not entirely unrelated note - would we have been better off giving Gerrard and Torres both a proper rest when their injury problems started this season? Gerrard in particular hung around the team when ineffective and seemed to have a negative impact.

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?

[-V-]

We really need Aqualani, Maxi and Riera to make a big impact now

[red g]

I think the players/fans should just keep this focus and concentrate on one game at a time - we are getting our confidence back (including the fans - unbelievable atmosphere last night!!) and lets just build on the last few games.

If we keep this steady improvement going we will be firing on all cylinders by the time our big guns are fit again. Personally I still think that at least one of the top 3 teams will slip up and it will be 3rd and 4th places that 4 or 5 teams will be fighting for.

well said \Rafa

[RedReet]

I'm game if you are. What are the odds? I want to know if this will pay for my holiday this year.

And I disagree about winning all of our games. I think there will be sufficient ****-uppery in Manchester and London to enable us to draw a couple. We just need to make sure we take points off Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea and City.

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.

[Exiled_red]

4th Spurs P22 +18 38
5th Man City P21 +12 38
6th Liverpool P22 +14 37
7th Villa P21 +12 36

All in all, we need to do our business, but with tonight's confidence boosting win (excellent performance too), we have to be looking to win at Wolves and then dispatch Bolton at Anfield.

We just need to keep going about our business, we're 1 point off 4th at the moment, if we put a decent run together we'll be fine IMO the other sides will drop points sooner or later. After all they're having amazing seasons while we've been crap, a pick up in our form should allow us to over take them, and we seem to be on a little run now, 10 points from the last 4 games.