Third place anyone?

[joyno]

i know we are a few points behind arsenal but so what, i have a good feeling about the rest of the season, there is a passion there, a backs to the wall mentality that as been sadly missing.
optimism rules and in rafa i trust.

[joyno]

add the europa cup to that, and what a great season.ok im a glass half full guy but so what.

[denny ammo]

I reckon we'll win it. Yeah!

[Craig_H]

If Arsenal lose tomorrow, they're there for the taking on Wednesday night IMO.

They lack steel and strength of character too. We need them to lose tomorrow and we must somehow go to Emirates and win. If that happens, then they'll really be feeling the heat.

Potential problem though, is that our next 2 games are very hard and that might release the pressure on Arsenal for a while.

I still say let's consolidate on 4th first, City can still go above us if they win their games in hand - so we might even need to go there and win too.

[lickedlollipop]

Look at this.. 4th.. !!!! and yes, we'll win the europa league as well!

[Lee]

Woah! I love optimism but at the moment even fourth is a real battle. This week will have some bearing though on the race for third and fourth.

If we win both - which is very possible - then yeah, I say let's look at third place. If we lose both - again, which is possible - then I'll be worried about finishing top four.

The difference a week makes eh?! Massive week

[Chrono]

add the europa cup to that, and what a great season.ok im a glass half full guy but so what.

Great season? Not a ****ing chance. We should have progressed.

This is a forgettable season whatever happenes now, just pray we finish in the top 4.

[Chrono]

Remember we were in basically the weakest ****ing group in the CL and still managed to **** it up royally.

[barnes10]

If Arsenal lose tomorrow, they're there for the taking on Wednesday night IMO.

They lack steel and strength of character too. We need them to lose tomorrow and we must somehow go to Emirates and win. If that happens, then they'll really be feeling the heat.

Potential problem though, is that our next 2 games are very hard and that might release the pressure on Arsenal for a while.

I still say let's consolidate on 4th first, City can still go above us if they win their games in hand - so we might even need to go there and win too.

but what better time to really lay down a marker. to win at the emirates tho is a real tall order without torres. our counter-attacking isn't that great without him.

city on the other hand need to get slapped into place. that'll be a hell of a match.

6 points is not beyond us and you can bet your life that all of our players know that those 2 matches can really get the show back on the road.

[The_weatherman]

Remember we were in basically the weakest ****ing group in the CL and still managed to **** it up royally.

I think that is little bit harsh on Fiorentina and Lyon.

[Exiled_red]

If Arsenal lose tomorrow, they're there for the taking on Wednesday night IMO.

They lack steel and strength of character too. We need them to lose tomorrow and we must somehow go to Emirates and win. If that happens, then they'll really be feeling the heat.

Potential problem though, is that our next 2 games are very hard and that might release the pressure on Arsenal for a while.

I still say let's consolidate on 4th first, City can still go above us if they win their games in hand - so we might even need to go there and win too.

[RedReet]

If Arsenal lose tomorrow, they're there for the taking on Wednesday night IMO.

They lack steel and strength of character too. We need them to lose tomorrow and we must somehow go to Emirates and win. If that happens, then they'll really be feeling the heat.

Potential problem though, is that our next 2 games are very hard and that might release the pressure on Arsenal for a while.

I still say let's consolidate on 4th first, City can still go above us if they win their games in hand - so we might even need to go there and win too.

It will be typical of them to go out and destroy Chelsea after lying down against United, then against us that prick Arshavin will probably get a hat-trick, scoring with his two balls and cock.

[JohnDoe]

Remember we were in basically the weakest ****ing group in the CL and still managed to **** it up royally.

Fiorentina and Lyon was not an easy group.

[dww]

We have fallen well below what we want/need to achieve this season. I do think that if we get 4th at least then a number of positives will have come out of is especially if we can get some more games for Kelly and Pacheco in before the end of the season.

In all honesty 3rd or 4th makes bugger all difference to me. Dragging Arsenal into the fight probably improves our odds of CL football next year but qualification for that is no achievement worth shouting about other than for the fact of the trauma we have had to see off. In a way should we finish 3rd or 4th the best analogy to this season for us will be last season for Arsenal - a difficult season in which some players improved offering a lot of hope but which needed to be built on. It looked like they had really kicked on but in recent weeks it has looked like they have not learned enough from the experience.

Given the finances of some around us I do think that ourselves and Arsenal should be counted as doing well if every other season we can genuinely compete for the title. Potentially either side actually winning it could be a springboard to continued success but at the same time several teams have come up to a closer position in terms of squad and finances to strengthen.

[Exiled_red]

Isn't it the case that 3rd place mean automatic entry to the Champions League group stage, whereas 4th will see a more difficult than previous years qualifier?

This would make 3rd place worth getting aside from anything else IMO