The Race for the Top 4 2017

[poorscousertommy]

I wouldn't bold Middlesbrough, they're a shambles and are gone.

But yes, That United run in could be great for us.

[RichC]

I was bored so did a league predictor. 4 wins from 6 would do it which gives us room for a couple of wobbles against the likes of Palace and West Ham.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Palace and Southampton at home will be very difficult. Palace look very good at the moment and Southampton have stopped us scoring pretty easily at times this season.

Given the run in of all sides I think beating West Brom would put us nearly there, Boro should already be down on the last day and I think as low as 71 points could be enough. That equates to 2 wins and 2 draws from 6 games.

[BigChief]

At worst it's 3 wins and 3 defeats, no?

Seeing as we can't buy a win against lesser teams, each one of them is worth 3 billion points. So 2 wins is the best we can hope for and lots of gifted goals to turn other potentially comfortable wins into frustrating draws. That's usually how we roll.

[dom9]

I was bored so did a league predictor. 4 wins from 6 would do it which gives us room for a couple of wobbles against the likes of Palace and West Ham.

Based on that, 3 wins would do it too.

Yes, I'm bored too.

[labourRed]

There's a fair amount of nonchalance with talk of three wins. I want more than that. And we should get them.

A lot of our games are now dead rubbers for the opposition as we always see a drop off in form from those kind of teams. We're not getting any favours from WBA though so i'm just looking to that one... win that and we're in a very strong position.

[poorscousertommy]

WBA is going to be a very hard game. They will absolutely bombard us.

[Chris]

Arsenal didn't even try last night, they must really hate the manager.

The Mancs are ****ed, it's all well and good being able to go level with us or whatever but they don't win hard games and have plenty of them. Even if we are generous and say they'll beat Chelsea and Arsenal they'll still probably need 4 points from Spurs away and City away, not to mention positive results in games v **** which they struggle in too. All while playing Europa League, it's not happening for them.

But **** them anyway, we've just got to do our job, if we **** it up from here regardless of what the others do I want a sacking spree. It would be a horrific failure.

[danperkins]

Yeah looking at those fixtures ours look alot kinder even if those types of fixtures do seem to be our kryptonite. United have a hideous run in and factor Europa in to that I would be shocked if they end up 4th in the league. City's run in isn't too bad and Arsenal's is quite difficult as well. We better not **** this up, what an opportunity to get back to where this club needs to be.

Champs league footie, Klopp in charge & a bumper kitty ... that's something I really want to see play out. I'm always a bit apprehensive though with us, just when you think things are looking up .... something goes wrong and brings us all crashing down to earth. The West Brom game is massive. Away game, average side, full of lummoxes, sit deep and love a long ball ... basically Stoke MkII although they do play bit more football than them. You know exactly what is coming against them and it just happens to be a huge weakness of ours. Nervous times!

Beat them and push on

[Lecter]

WBA is going to be a very hard game. They will absolutely bombard us.

West Brom and Palace I am dreading

Listening to Allardyce talking up his tactical genius last night and what struck me is that what he said he did to Arsenal tactically is exactly what he will try to do to us

The big unknown factors for Palace is whether Benteke can be arsed and who they replace Sakho with

[RedReet]

West Brom and Palace I am dreading

Listening to Allardyce talking up his tactical genius last night and what struck me is that what he said he did to Arsenal tactically is exactly what he will try to do to us

The big unknown factors for Palace is whether Benteke can be arsed and who they replace Sakho with

That was so cringeworthy, ‘Oh look how I tactically outclassed the big bad foreign manager’.

It's a good point though, if Palace play like that again, we'll play right into their hands. Maybe a game we could consider playing Lucas to cover those positions Jamie and Ranieri were talking about. Just not 3 at the back please Jurgen.

[gratziani]

Feeling confident of top four now after seeing us get thru games without Lallana , Hendo and Mane.

Think Arsenal and United are gonna give it to us and City on a plate.

[Buzzo]

I'm pretty confident we will get top 4 also. If we can get through the West Brom and Palace games with say, 4 points then I think we have made it.

I think we will beat Palace, but West Brom away is a tricky fixture, so a point will be acceptable there. Our competition is Arsenal who cant win away and seem to be in meltdown, and Man Utd who have too many games and don't win the big ones, of which they have many.

If we get a win against West Brom and Man U lose against a well rested Chelsea then I think we are almost there.

Palace (without talisman Sakho) at Anfield is a game we should have more than enough to win, hopefully with Lallana and Henderson returning. But I'd take a win and a draw in either of those. Then its whether we have enough to secure third, and to do that we will need some more wins.

[Lecter]

That was so cringeworthy, ‘Oh look how I tactically outclassed the big bad foreign manager’.

It's a good point though, if Palace play like that again, we'll play right into their hands. Maybe a game we could consider playing Lucas to cover those positions Jamie and Ranieri were talking about. Just not 3 at the back please Jurgen.

Theres a few things that he said that would concern me

Firstly exploiting the fullback positions, particularly when they push on high (which ours do)

Balls to Benteke are designed for him to flick on into the channels or hold up to play into the channels so its a must we win the battles with him so we either need strong games from Matip & Lovren and or someone covering in front as Carragher suggested

Then he said his midfield winning all the 2nd balls, which we are total bollocks at anyway

[labourRed]

West Brom and Palace I am dreading

Listening to Allardyce talking up his tactical genius last night and what struck me is that what he said he did to Arsenal tactically is exactly what he will try to do to us

The big unknown factors for Palace is whether Benteke can be arsed and who they replace Sakho with

I think we'll play 3 at the back against Palace. And our full backs are nowhere near as advanced as Arsenals. I could see TAA play also as a wing back with his extra pace.

They won't be the best defensively sans Sakho. But they get right into position and stay compact. It'll be a tough game to win alright.

The only thing i'm clinging to is they only want about 3 points so may switch off against us, or do us a favour for us rescuing their season with Sakho.