Its a huge result because it would seem that for Spurs to miss out on top 6, Blackburn or City would have to move past us (in addition to Bolton). It seems that Wigan will continue to slide down, so I think that one of those two teams will have to jump us on the table. It seems that West Ham and Wigan will realize that they're newly promoted and not of the requisite quality soon. Newcastle seems too far back at 14 points, and no Michael Owen. Charlton got started at sucking way early this season, and Villa is 15 points back without games in hand. I assume that Bolton and Arsenal will be there to push to the end, which leaves City and Blackburn, now 12 and 10 points back, respectively. This group just has a desperate grip on the top-4 position. They are battling and scrapping to make sure they hold on, and I love it. If they keep it up, who knows where we'll wind up? UCL qualifier might be the answer.
It will between us and Arsenal. I cannot see us losing more than 5 games for the rest of the season. If Allardyce moves to Newcastle, which it looks like he will, then Bolton will crumble and Newcastle may rise gradually, but to no effect to our CL hopes.
...because I can't see him taking Bolton any further than what he has done. At least at Newcastle, he'll have cash to burn and a full stadium every home game.
I agree with most of what has been said so far. I see our main goal as finishing top 6 and am pretty confident that we can do so. Though there are certain dangers in heading into the Champions League without being ready for it (see Everton, for example) a top 4 finish would certainly generate more revenue, help attract better players and give our lads an invaluable experience. More than half-way through the season, Champions league footy is looking like a distinct possiblity. Right now (as has been pointed out already) the only two teams who can beat us to that spot are Bolton and the Ar5e. I see no reason why we cannot get there ahead of them. Now that the Christmas period has been successfully negotiated, the next challenge is January without Mido. Despite the stick he's been getting, I am quietly confident about Rasiak. I think he'll surprise more than a few when given a chance. He's very different from Mido - less explosive, a little slower, but he holds the ball really well and is more comfortable with his back to goal. In this sense, I think he'll combine better with Defoe - but we'll see...
He won't have any cash at Newcastle, not unless he sells or waits a few years. Souness spent all of it, and they'll have no European football to make up for it.
....I can guarantee you that he'll have money made available to him in the close season if he were to join them. Newcastle's pockets are deep.
Saw a thing on SSN earlier. He said there have been no crisis talks and he will be looking to strengthen during Janvier. Interesting really. The dilemma is: Sack him and let a new manager deal in Jan or let him loose in Jan then sack him/keep him later. Which would mean any new manager is left with his players.
Whatever they decided on doing, we can snuggle up to a warm cup of tea whilst thinking that we'll safely win the lovely wager brought on to us by a certain Geordie Storm Trooper.
Oh YEAH, YEAH! SAY IT! SAY IT!! STORRRRRRRRM! Oh I'm a dirty bitch. Don't I just love it! Yes I do, I'm such a naughty Stormtrooper. *smacks his own ass and walks off*
The chances of us playing champions league football next season are still very slim because A) if Arsenal win the champions league and we come 4th then we won't be playing champions league football due to Uefa's new rule B) We probably won't finish in the top 4. I've got a feeling Arsenal are gonna win the champions league so looks very doubtful in my mind.
Well they have a chance in the CL, but they are only in the last 16. I wouldn't rule it out but it looks unlikely. They are much more likely to finish 4th, they are a side capable of putting together a string of 10 or so wins, something we aren't at the moment. cIf they continue to stumble and we continue to win then we're in with a good chance but I would agree they are still the most likely 4th placed team.
would be funny if we finished 4th but they came 5th and won the CL I doubt very much that will happen though. Come on Real
FIFA made an announcement at the beginning of this season saying that even if a side wins the Champions League but doesn't make the competition via their respected league, the team in question will not be allowed to participtate. So even if Arsenal win it, and we are 4th, we will get in there, while they won;t.
Why are you so doom and gloom? Optimism, try it out sometime Colm. You'll live longer. Arsenal won't win the Champions League. They suck in Europe. It's one of those things that is a certainty, but nobody really has a reason as to why it is one. Just relax, and take deep breaths.
Are you sure? Because when they made the announcement that Liverpool was in they amended the rules so that the title holders would bump out the 4th place team. http://www.uefa.com/uefa/news/Kind=128/newsId=308644.html
us finishing fourth, ahead of the arse, but being disqualified from the champions' league with them as holders, is a nightmare that will haunt my dreams from now until the moment they are eliminated from this year's champions' league. HALA MADRID!!
Come on, what's the odds of two English teams winning the CL while finishing 5th and their city rivals finishing 4th, two years in a row? Slim at best.