Champions League Contention

[Dave]

Why did they ever change the European Cup ?
League winners only.

Because they realised that it would be far more interesting and therefore make more money if there were better teams in it.

[Dogtanian]

Yeah I thought that last night.  The premier league is now the only show in town for the clubs spurs have left to play.  It’ll be really tough for them now.  We just need to win a few more games and we’ve done it at last. 

Oh, and win the ECL too. No probs.

We may have the opposite issue if we win tonight. Every single game for the rest of the season is already big, and we have to make sure we can focus on the tasks at hand and not get distracted if we get to the final.

[olaftab]

Looking at the remaining fixtures for us and Spuds if we don’t make 4th we don’t deserve it. The only mitigation is our UECL progress.

[tomd2103]

Yeah the points things over  the english teams fucked it so we know we need to finish 4th. That arsenal win was massive now.

Only good thing is arsenal and city wont rest players now as they dont have a Cl to juggle with. Arsenal is spurs cup final so i expect they will put a performance in

Yep, last weekend shifted momentum massively.  If we can beat Bournemouth at home on Sunday, we're 6 points ahead of them, with them having two games in hand but those two games are away at Chelsea and against Man City. 

We then move on to the following weekend where we play Chelsea and they have Arsenal.  Wins for us and Arsenal would see us 9 points ahead of them and firmly in the driving seat.

They then play Chelsea and Liverpool away on the Thursday and Sunday while we play Brighton that weekend.  It could pretty much be done and dusted after that.

[Smithy]

Yeah the points things over  the english teams fucked it so we know we need to finish 4th. That arsenal win was massive now.

Only good thing is arsenal and city wont rest players now as they dont have a Cl to juggle with. Arsenal is spurs cup final so i expect they will put a performance in

Yep, last weekend shifted momentum massively.  If we can beat Bournemouth at home on Sunday, we're 6 points ahead of them, with them having two games in hand but those two games are away at Chelsea and against Man City. 

We then move on to the following weekend where we play Chelsea and they have Arsenal.  Wins for us and Arsenal would see us 9 points ahead of them and firmly in the driving seat.

They then play Chelsea and Liverpool away on the Thursday and Sunday while we play Brighton that weekend.  It could pretty much be done and dusted after that.

It won't be done and dusted until we are mathematically clear of Spurs because their last two games are Burnley and Sheff Utd, which you assume would be six points for them. So even being six points clear of them with two to play wouldn't be a guarantee.  I still think it will go to the last day, with us needing something from Palace to guarantee fourth.  I hope I'm wrong!

[LeeB]

Their last two games are not Burnley and Sheff Utd, they've got Man City in between.

[Smithy]

Ah, fair enough, last I checked the Man City game hadn't been rescheduled!  Well, let's hope the league title isn't done with two games to go!

[Dave]

I still think it will go to the last day, with us needing something from Palace to guarantee fourth.  I hope I'm wrong!

Urgh, imagine the stress where it's something like Spurs needing to claw back 2-3 goal difference on us and it's a straight fight of who can score more, them against Sheffield Utd or us against Palace.

[Dogtanian]

It's a last six game shootout, and we already have one win on the board.

Our next three games are winnable, even though tricky. If we can do that, it leaves Spurs needing at least 12 points and goal difference from their last 6 games. Losing to Arsenal would mean they have to win four out of their last five...

If we can win those three, we put massive pressure on them.

[Lastfootstamper]

A week tomorrow night, citeh play their next league game, away at Brighton. If Brighton win that, fourth is ours, because arsenal will beat spurs on the Sunday before citeh play forest.

Well we could still do with winning our games.

Yes, there is that. But it wouldn't hurt to have the title hopes of arsenal and Liverpool kept alive as long as possible. Come on, Brighton, dangle that carrot.

[tomd2103]

It's a last six game shootout, and we already have one win on the board.

Our next three games are winnable, even though tricky. If we can do that, it leaves Spurs needing at least 12 points and goal difference from their last 6 games. Losing to Arsenal would mean they have to win four out of their last five...

If we can win those three, we put massive pressure on them.

And three of the those five are Chelsea and Liverpool away and Man City at home. 

[LeeB]

I think Unai's meticulous sqaud management is now going to pay off and we will finish strong, hoping now for the other two to get stuffed tonight leaving us the sole flag bearers.

I was thinking last night we could end up being the only team in the upper reaches happy with their season. Citeh have lost the Big Cup and another league win won't make up for it, Liverpool and Arsenal have choked and the scouse are losing Bingo to boot, Spurs are happier but missing out on the champions league when they were champions of August will hurt.

And even below us you have Man Utd, Newcastle, Brighton, West Ham and Chelsea who have all under performed to various degrees.

The thought makes me happy

[Risso]

I still think it will go to the last day, with us needing something from Palace to guarantee fourth.  I hope I'm wrong!

Urgh, imagine the stress where it's something like Spurs needing to claw back 2-3 goal difference on us and it's a straight fight of who can score more, them against Sheffield Utd or us against Palace.

I honestly don't think it will come down to that. They've got at least a couple of games where they could get a proper battering.

[algy]

And what do points mean ??

Points make prizes!

[Dogtanian]

I think Unai's meticulous sqaud management is now going to pay off and we will finish strong, hoping now for the other two to get stuffed tonight leaving us the sole flag bearers.

I was thinking last night we could end up being the only team in the upper reaches happy with their season. Citeh have lost the Big Cup and another league win won't make up for it, Liverpool and Arsenal have choked and the scouse are losing Bingo to boot, Spurs are happier but missing out on the champions league when they were champions of August will hurt.

And even below us you have Man Utd, Newcastle, Brighton, West Ham and Chelsea who have all under performed to various degrees.

The thought makes me happy

I do like the idea of our being the lone lion, stalking europe for the kill. 

Pundits were all talking about how Arsenal have progressed and should be better next season. We have progressed every season under this ownership, except the Smith/Gerrard season. But they don't talk about us building a platform for next season.

Not long ago, Norwich fans were asking why they were selling to a rival and Buendia making a sideways move. Last season Brighton and West Ham were talking about us not being as good as them and just having a good season. This year, the likes of Spurs are in denial that we are competing with them beyond the short term...

We will be happy with our season, whatever happens now. And we will wipe the slate clean in the summer and aim to be even better.