The Race For 3Rd And 4Th.

[mjj]

As the title suggest this thread is about the race for the final 2 spots. I don't think City will be dragged into it so I have left them out.

The remaining fixtures,

Arsenal:

H. Everton

A. Fulham

H. Man Utd

A. QPR

H. Wigan

A. Newcastle

Chelsea:

A. Fulham

A. Liverpool

H. Swansea

A. Man Utd

A. Villa

H. Everton

H. Tottenham - TBA

Tottenham:

H. Man City

A. Wigan

H. Southampton

A. Stoke

H. Sunderland

A. Chelsea - TBA

Chelsea also have at least 3 more games to play (Europa and FA cup) maybe 5 more.

Arsenal seem to have the momentum at the moment, Spurs seem to be having a little wobble (again) and Chelsea have match congestion. Very difficult to predict, but I will go with history of Spurs fluffing their lines again, so Chelsea and Arsenal to take the spots.

What do you reckon?

Are you confident or is the tension starting to make you crumble?

How do you neutrals see it panning out?

[mrbojangles]

Too close a call for me to stick my neck out. If Everton get a result against Arsenal this week, they could well be in the pot as well. It's a real outsider but 1 loss, 1 draw and 4 wins out of their last six ain't bad.

[hullupullo]

I say BEC Tero and Chonburi, MTU and Buriram will be 1st and 2nd

[smokie36]

All hinges on the Chelsea game for us. The others, with the exception of the City game, should be three points.

The other sides have some trickier games I think.

Then you have to consider the teams fighting it out at the bottom....in short anything could happen.

You can't expect me to say we will finish fifth!

[SantiSuk]

If I look for easy 3 pointers I see one for Arsenal (QPR away; Wigan will be in full heroic staying up mode by the time we play them and tey have form at the Emirates) and two each for Chelsea and Spurs.

Too close to call. Spurs and Arsenal - if Chelsea stay in for the the FA Cup or Europa League final.

If Everton win against us they are definitely back in the mix, but I think we will win that game but I'm rubbish at predictions - I thought Newcastle would beat Sunderland!

[mjj]

Was that a bit of a bum squeak I heard from the Arsenal fans? :-)

Chelsea in the driving seat at the moment due to the games in hand, but a bad result against Fulham will see it all change again. Cracking stuff!

Anyone giving Everton a chance for a late charge?? They have Fulham, Sunderland, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spam yet to play. All winnable games.....

[smokie36]

Nope. They are simply not good enough in attack.

[SantiSuk]

I agree with Carmines comment on the Spuds thread that Arsene is taking big risls playing Wilshere form the start, especially in the Norwich game (he admitted as much).

Any other Arsenal player except Cazorla would have been a 20 minute sub appearance against Norwich and Everton.

Wilshere is key to Arsenals late season prospects. He reinforces Arteta's average DFM capabilities and BtoB's more effectively than any other EPL midfielder (woops - forgot Toure! Parker is also good when in-form).

If Wilshere stays fit and Arsene drops his strange affection for Ramsey in favour of Rosicky (assuming the latter gets back quickly) I think we can nick this 4th spot. Last night (and Chelsea's FA Cup elimination) dished 3rd for us IMO.

[mrbojangles]

Wilshere is key to Arsenals late season prospects. He reinforces Arteta's average DFM capabilities and BtoB's more effectively than any other EPL midfielder (woops - forgot Toure! Parker is also good when in-form).

If Wilshere stays fit and Arsene drops his strange affection for Ramsey in favour of Rosicky (assuming the latter gets back quickly) I think we can nick this 4th spot. Last night (and Chelsea's FA Cup elimination) dished 3rd for us IMO.

I like Wilshere but I think Bale, Malouda, Yaya Toure and even Kevin Nolan are better midfielders. IMO of course.

[Chicog]

WIlshere was putting himself about a bit last night, probably in reaction to the kicking he was taking.

[uptheos]

For me, Chelsea will definitely be in the top four.

It's going to be interesting between the other 3 possibilities, let's see who has got the bottle.

[Richie23]

Its going to be close, but Spurs and Arsenal for me.

[Chicog]

Still plenty of big games to go, Tiny Totts/Citeh, Pool/Chelsea, Arse/Man Ure, Chelsea/Man Ure, Chelsea/Tiny Totts.

Plenty of points to be won and lost there.

It might just go to the wire, in which case I've booked the Tiny Totts into the Marriott again.

[MrRed]

Wilshere is key to Arsenals late season prospects. He reinforces Arteta's average DFM capabilities and BtoB's more effectively than any other EPL midfielder (woops - forgot Toure! Parker is also good when in-form).

If Wilshere stays fit and Arsene drops his strange affection for Ramsey in favour of Rosicky (assuming the latter gets back quickly) I think we can nick this 4th spot. Last night (and Chelsea's FA Cup elimination) dished 3rd for us IMO.

I like Wilshere but I think Bale, Malouda, Yaya Toure and even Kevin Nolan are better midfielders. IMO of course.

Malouda

[mrbojangles]

Wilshere is key to Arsenals late season prospects. He reinforces Arteta's average DFM capabilities and BtoB's more effectively than any other EPL midfielder (woops - forgot Toure! Parker is also good when in-form).

If Wilshere stays fit and Arsene drops his strange affection for Ramsey in favour of Rosicky (assuming the latter gets back quickly) I think we can nick this 4th spot. Last night (and Chelsea's FA Cup elimination) dished 3rd for us IMO.

I like Wilshere but I think Bale, Malouda, Yaya Toure and even Kevin Nolan are better midfielders. IMO of course.

Malouda

What's funny. Did I spell his name wrong or am I missing something?

[MrRed]

Well for one his best days are behind him at 33? and two he hasn't played for about a year due to a contract dispute,i think if you had the choice 99% would take Wilshere over him anyday.

[mrbojangles]

Well for one his best days are behind him at 33? and two he hasn't played for about a year due to a contract dispute,i think if you had the choice 99% would take Wilshere over him anyday.

I'm gonna hold my hands up here Red. It was Mata who I meant to say. I know I was jet lagged this morning but don't remember being pished when I wrote the first post. I've just had a nap and thought "what on earth made me type Malouda" I have edit privilages and may go back and remove all evidence.

[mrbojangles]

I'd fix that for you alfie if I could make sense of it

[alfieconn]

I'd fix that for you alfie if I could make sense of it

I did actually mean to delete it bj, it was just a simple copy and paste job but not so simple for tv.

[mrbojangles]

I'd fix that for you alfie if I could make sense of it

I did actually mean to delete it bj, it was just a simple copy and paste job but not so simple for tv.

Abracadabra.........done. Now that I do know how to do

[sharecropper]

Nope. They are simply not good enough in attack.

I hate to agree with this, but I do...

[SantiSuk]

Has the Chelsea v Spurs game been scheduled yet? When?

[mjj]

8th

[smokie36]

That should be the decider....but I am sure we'll drop other points.

Depressing really.

[SantiSuk]

Nightmare scenario for the Gunners and not unlikely given our lack of firepower up front without Giroud.

Last game of the season Newcastle v Arsenal. Newcastle lose or draw and they go down. Arsenal lose or draw and they come 5th. Arsenal go 4 nil up at half time .......4-4 at full time.. (ok the 4 nil up bit is far-fetched)

[carmine]

That should be the decider....but I am sure we'll drop other points.

Depressing really.

You never know. We have been on the wrong side of two poor decisions at stamford bridge and are owed something as it were. Remember when we also had to beat City away. We won and outplayed them. Yes we need to be at full strength, bar Sandro and Kaboul ofcourse but its not beyond the rhelm of possibility. Mindyou Benitez whilst not appreciated by their moronic fans is a very astute manager and tactically astute and he will make it a big ask.

I'd love to knock them out of the top four. I wonder if Mourinho would be quite as happy to manage a team that wasn't in the CL

[alfieconn]

Nightmare scenario for the Gunners and not unlikely given our lack of firepower up front without Giroud.

Last game of the season Newcastle v Arsenal. Newcastle lose or draw and they go down. Arsenal lose or draw and they come 5th. Arsenal go 4 nil up at half time .......4-4 at full time.. (ok the 4 nil up bit is far-fetched)

SS, you talk as though it hasn't happened before !

[alfieconn]

That should be the decider....but I am sure we'll drop other points.

Depressing really.

You never know. We have been on the wrong side of two poor decisions at stamford bridge and are owed something as it were. Remember when we also had to beat City away. We won and outplayed them. Yes we need to be at full strength, bar Sandro and Kaboul ofcourse but its not beyond the rhelm of possibility. Mindyou Benitez whilst not appreciated by their moronic fans is a very astute manager and tactically astute and he will make it a big ask.

I'd love to knock them out of the top four. I wonder if Mourinho would be quite as happy to manage a team that wasn't in the CL

Dodgy decisions such as the goons have been getting would be a help.

[nev]

This race for 3rd and 4th is getting very exciting just wish my team was involved

[smokie36]

This race for 3rd and 4th is getting very exciting just wish my team was involved

You are.....and you better win on Sunday or else!