Remaining fixtures:Race for the Champions league Newcastle Fulham (away) Villa (home) Sunderland (away) Birmingham (home) WBA (away) Chelsea Villa (away) Everton (home) Fulham (home) West Ham (away) Liverpool (home) Everton Liverpool (home) Chelsea (away) Villa (home) Fulham (away) Man Utd (home) Liverpool Everton (away) Charlton (home) WBA (away) Man City (home) Chelsea (away) Looking at the above for the run in it would seem that the Toon have the easier-on paper anyway-run in of all the teams and should have no problem in reaching the champions league again. Everton would seem to have the hardest-again on paper-of all the teams with having to play 3 of the top 6 teams.Doesn't mean they won't be in the champs league next season by any means, however it does make it extremely tough for them. Now-that leaves the red scousers. Taking away the derby and Chelsea fixtures it wouldn't be to big of a stretch to see them get the maximum 9 points. Looking at our fixtures i don't expect to get anything from West Scum, we usually do bad there, and i think Villa will be a point at best. It's going to come down to the fixtures against the toffees i believe for the both of us. I would really rather see an Everton victory over Liverpool as they would gain no ground over us at all regardless of our result against the Villa and, of course, a victory for us over the toffee men as liverpool would yet again gain no ground over us. Liverpool have always been the main threat for the remaining place as they are still a force in the premiership regardless of their poor run.I don't think for a second that they are better than us, but, they aren't worse by and means. And, after the Easter weekend i think it's fair to say that the run in favours them--with the massive exception of that final game. What a game that could turn out to be. Probably overshadow the build up to the FA Cup.
After Easter Monday, this is the remaining schedule: Chelsea (63) v. Fulham (h) v. West Ham (a) v. Liverpool (h) Newcastle (62) v. Sunderland (a) v. Birmingham (h) v. West Brom (a) Liverpool (61) v. West Brom (a) v. Man C (h) v. Chelsea (a) Chelsea's magic number to a CL spot is 7 points, i.e. the total points gained by Chelsea and lost by Liverpool added up to 7. In other words, the blues can get only a draw and a loss against Fulham and the Hammers, as long as they beat Liverpool - Chelsea gain 4 points, Liverpool lose 3 points. It's unlikely that Chelsea can wrap up the CL spot before the season finale, thanks to Charlton's defensive lapses at the end of Monday's game.
The way i see it come down is that we will beat Fulham and lose to West scum. Liverpool will end up on 67 points coming to Stamford Bridge with Chelsea on 66 thus making it a must win game for us.The Toon will probably have secured Cl footie by then and that will mean the loser of the game will make the UEFA cup. Of course a point a Upton would mean we would only need to draw to secure 4th. How nice it would be though if newcastle would oblige us both by choking in their derby with Sunderland
I think the Toon will slip up. They're in poor form right now. I actually think Sunderland can nick a draw on Saturday. Sunderland hasn't gotten a single point since Jan. 11 (!) so I don't know... I think they'll get a draw against birmingham and win at WBA which would leave them at 67. Wins for 'Pool at WBA, Home against Man City and Draw at the Bridge, so 68 for them. Wins for us Fulham, Draw @ West Ham, Draw vs. 'Pool. 68 Points for us, 3rd place on Goals Difference. Of course I'd like the Chelsea to Win out all the games
The last thing I want to see is that by the time of Chelsea x Liverpool, Chelsea needing a draw and 'pool needing a win, then Michael Owen comes up with a performance like in Munich 2001... Don't laugh, this dude is capable of doing hsit like that... Of course, now our only hope is the 'toon slipping up...
I really can't see the Toon sliping up so much that they will not get into the CL. It could happen, but i don't see it. Now 'pool haven't been playing well of late and a return to so-so performances could yet render our last game meaningless.A shocker away to West Brom could happen. It's hard to tell really.Take the West scum game for instance.I would have much prefered that they were relegated by the time it came around as that would effectively have ment no real desire to win for them.Now we are faced with the probability that if we beat them they will be guaranteed to go down whereas if they win they will still have a shot at staying up. It's going to come down to simple desire, who wants it the most.Will the desire and will to win by Gallas be deeper than the will to survive from the mostly English born team that the hammers will put out.Of the top of my head i think the field 7-9 home grown players don't they? I tend to think that the threat of relegation to the homegrown lads will produce the necessary performance for the victory they will crave.And crave it they will-like a crack addict. No, i fear a defeat at their hands to be honest. But, on a brighter note we do have the more skillful players and a moment of brilliance from any of them-ala Zolas goal against the toffees, or his free kick against spurs in the home game or guddys against the Leeds etc etc etc could turn the game for us.The Hammers had only one player of that caliber, the one that won the game for them at Stamford Bridge, and he won't be playing. All in all though it's shaping up to be a real cracker for that last game. Now if only those midland lads could pull off a win against each of the Toon and pool- it could change the whole picture in a flash.
Same old scousers, always stealing. 3 teams and 2 places, the 2 teams that have been consistently good throughout the season are the Toon and Us, the team that has been consistently lucky – stealing games at the last are the scousers. I see ya point about the English born lads, but remember it isn’t only that our foreign chaps are the more skilful, players like Gallas, Cudicini, Desailly and even Melchiot of late are extremely disciplined and professional and that will be a factor too. How disciplined was Joe Cole the other day? Acting like a young rock head won’t be helping the hammers cause any. I think we can get the 9 points from the 3 games and finish 3rd . Our Foreign “mercenaries” have proven themselves to be committed to the Chelsea cause. Players like Ediur have the right attitude, no wonder he’s a good mate of Dennis Wise. Even Big Des, who everyone thought would just stay for a season and then leave, has been with us for a while now and recently offered to play for free. I trust the commitment of Gronks, Melchiot, Gallas, Zola, Jimmy, Eidur. I am little suspect of Zenden to be honest, he doesn’t seem happy., and his performances over the last two years have been dubious. Over our entire foreign contingent have been successful at the bridge and our cosmopolitan approach has been a winner. Our Italian manger has to get us some European success next year though – And look how well the disciplined Italian sides have done in the CL (although I think Real will win it) – IF it were Arsenal, Newcastle and Man Utd in the last 4 we’d be claiming all sorts for the GREAT English game. The toon, Chelsea and the Scousers - I think that Liverpool are the weakest team of the 3, even though they have some great players tremendous individual players, I get a sense that all is not happy in the Liverpool camp at the moment. Houellier is a pratt and his players know it. Speaking of Joe Cole - the Daily Express tells us that Chelsea are on the brink of buying Joe Cole from West Ham for £7m. All Claudio Ranieri is waiting for is a top-four finish and Champions League qualification to loosen the purse strings (and the absence of a counter-bid from Old Trafford). Both Terry’s best m8 Dunn and Cole would be nice additions to our lack luster midfield.
Scouser Graveyard (part Deux) Disappointing Chelsea against Fulham – We knew something would happen didn’t we? WE’ve been following this team long enough to know that you don’t always get the breaks. The finishing against Fulham was pisspoor and then we let them back in. And as we all suspected/expected it will all come down to the last game of the season against the scouser vermin ---- A game where we should play as a solid counter-attacking team and put Gallas on the new in-form Owen (man to man). Close the scousers down and kick them a lot. Everyone is fit, pick the best players, maybe the likes of De Useless will never get to wear a Chelsea kit ever again (fingers crossed). for the Liverpool game maybe: Melchiot -----Gallas----Desially----Terry---Le Saux -------------Petit---- Lampard ----------------Gronks/Zola --------Eidur--------------Jimmy------------- Only happy with 3 of our mids – Petit, Lamps, Gronks. we NEED at least 6 quality mids, all fit and all UP FOR IT, if we want to seriously challenge for the title and be successful in the CL
Scouser Graveyard (part Deux) Disappointing Chelsea against Fulham – We knew something would happen didn’t we? WE’ve been following this team long enough to know that you don’t always get the breaks. The finishing against Fulham was pisspoor and then we let them back in. And as we all suspected/expected it will all come down to the last game of the season against the scouser vermin ---- A game where we should play as a solid counter-attacking team and put Gallas on the new in-form Owen (man to man). Close the scousers down and kick them a lot. Everyone is fit, pick the best players, maybe the likes of De Useless will never get to wear a Chelsea kit ever again (fingers crossed). for the Liverpool game maybe: Melchiot -----Gallas----Desially----Terry---Le Saux -------------Petit---- Lampard ----------------Gronks/Zola --------Eidur--------------Jimmy------------- Only happy with 3 of our mids – Petit, Lamps, Gronks. we NEED at least 6 quality mids, all fit and all UP FOR IT, if we want to seriously challenge for the title and be successful in the CL
Boys oh boys Keeps geting worse by the game for us doesn't it. West scum win at maine road and now have the smell of survival firmly in their nostrils as the win their second in a row...major milestone for that lot ...and we are left with what will be an almighty kich fest and display of what will come down to bad tempered poorsportsmanship towards the end if they are losing next weekend. I am not hopeful of a result against them to be honest.
Geting worse by the minute Latest news out of Stamford Bridge is that Jesper Gronkjaer is out for the rest of the season with a groin strain. Great Our pathetic cover in the center of the field is gonna kill us. Fuckin De Useless and Morris against the likes of Gerrard and Murphy.........