2007-08 Season Run-In[R]

[Father Ted]

This mainly pertains to the Prem but I added fixtures for other competitions as well. Unlike last year when there were only 2 teams in it at this stage, this year there are 3 teams very much alive. And while Liverpool look like they're dying a slow death, there is still an outside chance for them if they get on a good run.

Manchester United (8 Home 9 Away)
Jan 12 Newcastle(H) PL
Jan 19 Reading(A) PL
Jan 26 Spurs/Reading(H) FA Cup 4th Rnd
Jan 30 Portsmouth(H) PL
Feb 2 Spurs(A) PL
Feb 16 FA Cup 5th Rnd
Feb 20 Man City(H) PL
Feb 20 Lyon(A) CL
Feb 23 Newcastle(A) PL
Mar 1 Fulham(A) PL
Mar 4 Lyon(H) CL
Mar 8 Bolton(H) PL
Mar 8 FA Cup 6th Rnd
Mar 15 Derby(A) PL
Mar 22 Liverpool(H) PL
Mar 29 Villa(H) PL
Apr 1-2 CL QF
Apr 5 Boro(A) PL
Apr 5 FA Cup SF
Apr 8-9 CL QF
Apr 12 Arsenal(H) PL
Apr 19 Blackburn(A) PL
Apr 22-23 CL SF
Apr 26 Chelsea(A) PL
Apr 29-30 CL SF
May 3 West Ham(H) PL
May 11 Wigan(A) PL
May 17 FA Cup Final
May 21 CL Final

Arsenal (8 Home 9 Away)
Jan 9 Spurs(A) CC Semi
Jan 12 Birmingham(H) PL
Jan 19 Fulham(A) PL
Jan 22 Spurs(H) CC Semi
Jan 26 Stoke/Newcastle(H) FA Cup 4th Rnd
Jan 29 Newcastle(H) PL
Feb 2 Man City(A) PL
Feb 11 Blackburn(H) PL
Feb 20 Milan(H) CL
Feb 23 Birmingham(A) PL
Mar 1 Villa(H) PL
Mar 4 Milan(A) CL
Mar 8 Wigan (A) PL
Mar 15 Boro(H) PL
Mar 22 Chelsea(A) PL
Mar 29 Bolton(A) PL
Apr 5 Liverpool(H) PL
Apr 12 Man Utd(A) PL
Apr 19 Reading(H) PL
Apr 26 Derby(A) PL
May 3 Everton(H) PL
May 11 Sunderland(A) PL

Chelsea (9 Home 8 Away)
Jan 8 Everton(H) CC Semi
Jan 12 Spurs(H) PL
Jan 19 Birmingham(A) PL
Jan 23 Everton(A) CC Semi
Jan 26 Wigan(A) FA Cup 4th Rnd
Jan 30 Reading(H) PL
Feb 2 Portsmouth(A) PL
Feb 10 Liverpool(H) PL
Feb 19 Olympiakos(A) CL
Feb 23 Spurs(A) PL
Mar 1 West Ham(A) PL
Mar 5 Olympiakos(H) CL
Mar 8 Derby(H) PL
Mar 15 Sunderland(A) PL
Mar 22 Arsenal(A) PL
Mar 29 Boro(H) PL
Apr 5 Man City(H) PL
Apr 12 Wigan(H) PL
Apr 19 Everton(A) PL
Apr 26 Man Utd(H) PL
May 3 Newcastle(A) PL
May 11 Bolton(H) PL

Liverpool (9 Home 9 Away)
Jan 12 Boro(A) PL
Jan 15 Luton(H) FA Cup 3rd Rnd Replay
Jan 21 Villa(H) PL
Jan 29 West Ham(A) PL
Feb 2 Sunderland(H) PL
Feb 10 Chelsea(A) PL
Feb 19 Inter(H) CL
Feb 23 Boro(H) PL
Mar 1 Bolton(A) PL
Mar 8 Newcastle(H) PL
Mar 11 Inter(A) CL
Mar 15 Reading(H) PL
Mar 22 Man Utd(A) PL
Mar 29 Everton(H) PL
Apr 5 Arsenal(A) PL
Apr 12 Blackburn(H) PL
Apr 19 Fulham(A) PL
Apr 26 Birmingham(A) PL
May 3 Man City(H) PL
May 11 Spurs(A) PL

My thoughts..
Us: We only have Chelsea away of other 3 contenders. If we win the games we're supposed to win e.g. ALL of the March games, I think we will be in good shape for the tougher and more congested April.

Arsenal: I didn't realise this until I compiled these fixtures that they have a really tough few weeks with Chelsea, Bolton and us away and Liverpool at home in the middle. I think this hard run might knock them out.

Chelsea: A more even schedule than Arsenal's but a tough few weeks in April.

Liverpool: Could potentially be offically out of it by the end of this month.

[johno]

Arsenal and United are my favourites for this season because of both sides' goalscoring exploits and their attacking play. The more games you spend with half the time camped in oppo territory and at half pace, the fresher you will be when the fixture congestion heats up with FA Cup, CL and League matches all at once.

I think Chelsea will be there or thereabouts for most of the season probably going down to the last month of fixtures. Arsenal based on how well they deal with injuries and absences could either remain near top (3 points either way) until the crunch or we may see them suffer a blip. Personally while I'd love to see that blip, I think they'll be fairly consistent in picking up points throughout.

[433tom]

Chelsea's season will depend on how many points they drop during the African Nation's. What helps them a bit is a rather soft schedule while their players are away. But if United and Arsenal put together wiining streaks over the next few weeks, I think both Chelsea and Liverpool will be out of it.

And I agree with Father Ted, I look for Arsenal to fall off during March and early April. I stand by my preseason prediction that United will win it by 6 points over Arsenal.

[leafdolfan]

United play City on Feb 10 not the 20.

Anyways my biggest worry is our april getting really congested like last year, and all of our players getting tired, especially with our striker shortage it could get tough.

[433tom]

United play City on Feb 10 not the 20.

Anyways my biggest worry is our april getting really congested like last year, and all of our players getting tired, especially with our striker shortage it could get tough.

This will be where we either win or lose the title.

Apr 12 Arsenal(H) PL
Apr 19 Blackburn(A) PL
Apr 22-23 CL SF
Apr 26 Chelsea(A) PL

I'm hoping a victory over Arsenal on Apr 12 will will provide us with enough of a gap at that point to see us through.

[Harry Boulton]

Our squad is fairly strong though. In the recruitment of Nani, Anderson, Hargreaves and Tevez we have really bolstered the squad, especially in midfield. Remember, Saha is now fit again (touch wood) and we're set to get Scholes and Park back for the run in too which will really help us. Rooney has had a "rest" in recent weeks and looked sharp.

Arenal are set to lose Toure for the ACoN and that could really have an impact on them. Senderos is a very limited player and Djourou isn't exactly Baresi either while Gallas has proved to be fairly injury prone. They may find themselves dropping points or at least conceding on a regular basis. What's more, these sides who are losing players to the ACoN, they're all assuming that these players will come back fit. Many may come back carrying niggles and scrapes and maybe some injuries and even if they don't, a month of tournament football in extreme heat isn't easy so I think it's safe to say they could be jaded to say the least.

I have great faith that the ACoN will benefit us and come the end of the season Arsenal and Chelsea inparticular will be using that as a reason (*excuse*) for not being able to topple us. Keep this thread bumped. I have been right about a number of things this year already and I have a good feeling about this too....... :D

[cr7torossi]

Arsenal: I didn't realise this until I compiled these fixtures that they have a really tough few weeks with Chelsea, Bolton and us away and Liverpool at home in the middle. I think this hard run might knock them out.


Can we please not have such kind of threads? We kept at it through December and they still ended top. Rather than hoping for them to drop points, it is much better if we keep winning.

[433tom]

Can we please not have such kind of threads? We kept at it through December and they still ended top. Rather than hoping for them to drop points, it is much better if we keep winning.

Well hopefully they will drop some ... afterall, we are currently in second. :)

[Invincible]

This will be where we either win or lose the title.

Apr 12 Arsenal(H) PL
Apr 19 Blackburn(A) PL
Apr 22-23 CL SF
Apr 26 Chelsea(A) PL

I'm hoping a victory over Arsenal on Apr 12 will will provide us with enough of a gap at that point to see us through.

Precisely. That is an extremely difficult stretch of games, and probably will be the defining moments of our title challenge. The good news is Scholesy should be back(thank you God, although Anderson has been brilliant).

[Alfiesdodgyknee]

We'll do Arsneal no problems at our gaff and then a result at Blackburn wil confirm the title , 7,000 Reds going ballistic :D

[Father Ted]

Is it time to drop Liverpool now from the list of contenders?

Updated fixtures:

Manchester United (7 Home 9 Away)
Jan 19 Reading(A) PL
Jan 26 Spurs/Reading(H) FA Cup 4th Rnd
Jan 30 Portsmouth(H) PL
Feb 2 Spurs(A) PL
Feb 16 FA Cup 5th Rnd
Feb 20 Man City(H) PL
Feb 20 Lyon(A) CL
Feb 23 Newcastle(A) PL
Mar 1 Fulham(A) PL
Mar 4 Lyon(H) CL
Mar 8 Bolton(H) PL
Mar 8 FA Cup 6th Rnd
Mar 15 Derby(A) PL
Mar 22 Liverpool(H) PL
Mar 29 Villa(H) PL
Apr 1-2 CL QF
Apr 5 Boro(A) PL
Apr 5 FA Cup SF
Apr 8-9 CL QF
Apr 12 Arsenal(H) PL
Apr 19 Blackburn(A) PL
Apr 22-23 CL SF
Apr 26 Chelsea(A) PL
Apr 29-30 CL SF
May 3 West Ham(H) PL
May 11 Wigan(A) PL
May 17 FA Cup Final
May 21 CL Final

Arsenal (7 Home 9 Away)
Jan 19 Fulham(A) PL
Jan 22 Spurs(H) CC Semi
Jan 26 Stoke/Newcastle(H) FA Cup 4th Rnd
Jan 29 Newcastle(H) PL
Feb 2 Man City(A) PL
Feb 11 Blackburn(H) PL
Feb 20 Milan(H) CL
Feb 23 Birmingham(A) PL
Mar 1 Villa(H) PL
Mar 4 Milan(A) CL
Mar 8 Wigan (A) PL
Mar 15 Boro(H) PL
Mar 22 Chelsea(A) PL
Mar 29 Bolton(A) PL
Apr 5 Liverpool(H) PL
Apr 12 Man Utd(A) PL
Apr 19 Reading(H) PL
Apr 26 Derby(A) PL
May 3 Everton(H) PL
May 11 Sunderland(A) PL

Chelsea (8 Home 8 Away)
Jan 19 Birmingham(A) PL
Jan 23 Everton(A) CC Semi
Jan 26 Wigan(A) FA Cup 4th Rnd
Jan 30 Reading(H) PL
Feb 2 Portsmouth(A) PL
Feb 10 Liverpool(H) PL
Feb 19 Olympiakos(A) CL
Feb 23 Spurs(A) PL
Mar 1 West Ham(A) PL
Mar 5 Olympiakos(H) CL
Mar 8 Derby(H) PL
Mar 15 Sunderland(A) PL
Mar 22 Arsenal(A) PL
Mar 29 Boro(H) PL
Apr 5 Man City(H) PL
Apr 12 Wigan(H) PL
Apr 19 Everton(A) PL
Apr 26 Man Utd(H) PL
May 3 Newcastle(A) PL
May 11 Bolton(H) PL

Liverpool (9 Home 8 Away)
Jan 15 Luton(H) FA Cup 3rd Rnd Replay
Jan 21 Villa(H) PL
Jan 29 West Ham(A) PL
Feb 2 Sunderland(H) PL
Feb 10 Chelsea(A) PL
Feb 19 Inter(H) CL
Feb 23 Boro(H) PL
Mar 1 Bolton(A) PL
Mar 8 Newcastle(H) PL
Mar 11 Inter(A) CL
Mar 15 Reading(H) PL
Mar 22 Man Utd(A) PL
Mar 29 Everton(H) PL
Apr 5 Arsenal(A) PL
Apr 12 Blackburn(H) PL
Apr 19 Fulham(A) PL
Apr 26 Birmingham(A) PL
May 3 Man City(H) PL
May 11 Spurs(A) PL

[Alfiesdodgyknee]

Is it time to drop Liverpool now from the list of contenders?



Were they ever really in it??!!! :D

[Numquam Moribimur]

Were they ever really in it??!!! :D

They are back in the hunt.....turning the corner again !

LONG LIVE RAFA

[Alfiesdodgyknee]

They'll win like 6 on the bounce in april to cut our lead to 27 and it'll be "Next season Next season laaaaaar "

[Father Ted]

Manchester United (Prem: 7 Home 8 Away)
Jan 30 Portsmouth(H) PL
Feb 2 Spurs(A) PL
Feb 10 Man City(H) PL
Feb 16 Arsenal(H) FA Cup 5th Rnd
Feb 20 Lyon(A) CL
Feb 23 Newcastle(A) PL
Mar 1 Fulham(A) PL
Mar 4 Lyon(H) CL
Mar 8 Bolton(H) PL
Mar 8 FA Cup 6th Rnd
Mar 15 Derby(A) PL
Mar 22 Liverpool(H) PL
Mar 29 Villa(H) PL
Apr 1-2 CL QF
Apr 5 Boro(A) PL
Apr 5 FA Cup SF
Apr 8-9 CL QF
Apr 12 Arsenal(H) PL
Apr 19 Blackburn(A) PL
Apr 22-23 CL SF
Apr 26 Chelsea(A) PL
Apr 29-30 CL SF
May 3 West Ham(H) PL
May 11 Wigan(A) PL
May 17 FA Cup Final
May 21 CL Final

Arsenal (7 Home 8 Away)
Jan 29 Newcastle(H) PL
Feb 2 Man City(A) PL
Feb 11 Blackburn(H) PL
Feb 16 Man United(A) FA Cup
Feb 20 Milan(H) CL
Feb 23 Birmingham(A) PL
Mar 1 Villa(H) PL
Mar 4 Milan(A) CL
Mar 8 Wigan (A) PL
Mar 15 Boro(H) PL
Mar 22 Chelsea(A) PL
Mar 29 Bolton(A) PL
Apr 5 Liverpool(H) PL
Apr 12 Man Utd(A) PL
Apr 19 Reading(H) PL
Apr 26 Derby(A) PL
May 3 Everton(H) PL
May 11 Sunderland(A) PL

Chelsea (8 Home 7 Away)
Jan 30 Reading(H) PL
Feb 2 Portsmouth(A) PL
Feb 10 Liverpool(H) PL
Feb 16 Huddersfield Town(H) FA Cup
Feb 19 Olympiakos(A) CL
Feb 23/TBD Spurs(A) PL
Feb 24 Spurs CC Final
Mar 1 West Ham(A) PL
Mar 5 Olympiakos(H) CL
Mar 8 Derby(H) PL
Mar 15 Sunderland(A) PL
Mar 22 Arsenal(A) PL
Mar 29 Boro(H) PL
Apr 5 Man City(H) PL
Apr 12 Wigan(H) PL
Apr 19 Everton(A) PL
Apr 26 Man Utd(H) PL
May 3 Newcastle(A) PL
May 11 Bolton(H) PL

Updated.... (FA Cup + bye bye Liverpool)

[Dark Savante]

Feb 2 Spurs(A) PL
Feb 10 Man City(H) PL
Feb 16 Arsenal(H) FA Cup 5th Rnd
Feb 20 Lyon(A) CL
Feb 23 Newcastle(A) PL

Arsenal (7 Home 8 Away)
Feb 2 Man City(A) PL
Feb 11 Blackburn(H) PL
Feb 16 Man United(A) FA Cup
Feb 20 Milan(H) CL
Feb 23 Birmingham(A) PL


Chelsea (8 Home 7 Away)
Feb 2 Portsmouth(A) PL
Feb 10 Liverpool(H) PL
Feb 16 Huddersfield Town(H) FA Cup
Feb 19 Olympiakos(A) CL
Feb 23/TBD Spurs(A) PL
Feb 24 Spurs CC Final


This season's run-in has yet to feel real to me. We're on the same points as Arsenal and Chelsea loom large in the background. It doesn't really have the feeling of a two-horse race like it did last term and because of that it's difficult to plot the courses of two other teams.

You would think that Feb' has the ability to define the season for all three sides, though.

Looking at the schedule you would think Chelsea with their cakewalk of fixtures should be able to claw back some points on either us or Arsenal, or possibly even both of us. Arsenal play us and then have the small matter of Milan to concern themselves with, that could prove difficult, same for us as we have them and then Lyon with a nasty game against the bitters to deal with as well.

We can't possibly play Ronaldo through all of those games and I do wonder how effective we would be without him considering the lack of scoring contribution from everyone else barring Tevez.

Spurs on Saturday should be tougher if they can field King and Woodgate.

[Drae]

I was really wanting us to have more of a lead from January.

Chelsea have just kept grinding out these dour results, despite all their absent players. Arsenal have continued to win, havent missed Toure that much, although they generally look a bit less polished.

From April onwards the season is crap for us and good for them. We need a lead established by Feb or March.

[Father Ted]

Updated....

Manchester United (Prem: 5 Home 7 Away)
Feb 16 Arsenal(H) FA Cup 5th Rnd
Feb 20 Lyon(A) CL
Feb 23 Newcastle(A) PL
Mar 1 Fulham(A) PL
Mar 4 Lyon(H) CL
Mar 8 Bolton(H) PL
Mar 8 FA Cup 6th Rnd
Mar 15 Derby(A) PL
Mar 22 Liverpool(H) PL
Mar 29 Villa(H) PL
Apr 1-2 CL QF
Apr 5 Boro(A) PL
Apr 5 FA Cup SF
Apr 8-9 CL QF
Apr 12 Arsenal(H) PL
Apr 19 Blackburn(A) PL
Apr 22-23 CL SF
Apr 26 Chelsea(A) PL
Apr 29-30 CL SF
May 3 West Ham(H) PL
May 11 Wigan(A) PL
May 17 FA Cup Final
May 21 CL Final

Arsenal (5 Home 7 Away)
Feb 16 Man United(A) FA Cup
Feb 20 Milan(H) CL
Feb 23 Birmingham(A) PL
Mar 1 Villa(H) PL
Mar 4 Milan(A) CL
Mar 8 Wigan (A) PL
Mar 15 Boro(H) PL
Mar 22 Chelsea(A) PL
Mar 29 Bolton(A) PL
Apr 5 Liverpool(H) PL
Apr 12 Man Utd(A) PL
Apr 19 Reading(H) PL
Apr 26 Derby(A) PL
May 3 Everton(H) PL
May 11 Sunderland(A) PL

Chelsea (6 Home 6 Away)
Feb 16 Huddersfield Town(H) FA Cup
Feb 19 Olympiakos(A) CL
Feb 24 Spurs CC Final
Mar 1 West Ham(A) PL
Mar 5 Olympiakos(H) CL
Mar 8 Derby(H) PL
Mar 15 Sunderland(A) PL
Mar 19 Spurs(A) PL
Mar 22 Arsenal(A) PL
Mar 29 Boro(H) PL
Apr 5 Man City(H) PL
Apr 12 Wigan(H) PL
Apr 19 Everton(A) PL
Apr 26 Man Utd(H) PL
May 3 Newcastle(A) PL
May 11 Bolton(H) PL

[Alfiesdodgyknee]

Still ours if the desires there imo.

[Iggles]

Updated....

Manchester United (Prem: 5 Home 7 Away)
Feb 16 Arsenal(H) FA Cup 5th Rnd
Feb 20 Lyon(A) CL
Feb 23 Newcastle(A) PL
Mar 1 Fulham(A) PL
Mar 4 Lyon(H) CL
Mar 8 Bolton(H) PL
Mar 8 FA Cup 6th Rnd
Mar 15 Derby(A) PL
Mar 22 Liverpool(H) PL
Mar 29 Villa(H) PL
Apr 1-2 CL QF
Apr 5 Boro(A) PL
Apr 5 FA Cup SF
Apr 8-9 CL QF
Apr 12 Arsenal(H) PL
Apr 19 Blackburn(A) PL
Apr 22-23 CL SF
Apr 26 Chelsea(A) PL
Apr 29-30 CL SF
May 3 West Ham(H) PL
May 11 Wigan(A) PL
May 17 FA Cup Final
May 21 CL Final

Arsenal (5 Home 7 Away)
Feb 16 Man United(A) FA Cup
Feb 20 Milan(H) CL
Feb 23 Birmingham(A) PL
Mar 1 Villa(H) PL
Mar 4 Milan(A) CL
Mar 8 Wigan (A) PL
Mar 15 Boro(H) PL
Mar 22 Chelsea(A) PL
Mar 29 Bolton(A) PL
Apr 5 Liverpool(H) PL
Apr 12 Man Utd(A) PL
Apr 19 Reading(H) PL
Apr 26 Derby(A) PL
May 3 Everton(H) PL
May 11 Sunderland(A) PL

Chelsea (6 Home 6 Away)
Feb 16 Huddersfield Town(H) FA Cup
Feb 19 Olympiakos(A) CL
Feb 24 Spurs CC Final
Mar 1 West Ham(A) PL
Mar 5 Olympiakos(H) CL
Mar 8 Derby(H) PL
Mar 15 Sunderland(A) PL
Mar 19 Spurs(A) PL
Mar 22 Arsenal(A) PL
Mar 29 Boro(H) PL
Apr 5 Man City(H) PL
Apr 12 Wigan(H) PL
Apr 19 Everton(A) PL
Apr 26 Man Utd(H) PL
May 3 Newcastle(A) PL
May 11 Bolton(H) PL

Getting crowded for sure. This is the time of year where thoughts sway from 3 for 3 to 0 for 3 depending on the last result. Once you add in Chelsea's FA 6th round game we will have one game less than Chelsea before further unknowns factor in. If both of us reach the CL semi's and are still in the hunt for league April 22nd through the 30th becomes HUGE. With 36 points still on offer I can see Arsenal dropping from 6 to 16 points but most likely 10 which could make for quite a 3 way finish.