Football 2013-2014

[pink_triangle]

Arsenal have Utd, Everton, City and Chelsea in their next 8 games and a few tough CL games in between - Dortmund and Napoli. Both away. Not surprising that the two teams with the same manager from last season started well with easier fixtures.

[kaosmark2]

Another possible advantage (although they wouldnt see it this way) that Arsenal may have is lack of champions league football, I would say they are 50/50 at present in terms of making the next round. Im not sure how serious they would take the europa league if still top of the premiership.

[eFestivals]

I dont think liverpool or everton have the squad depth for top 4, I think for both seeing the side who looked most at risk of dropping out at the start of the season (Arsenal) starting so strongly, it must be a bit of a blow.

by normal reckoning liverpool or everton don't seem to have the squads to make top 4, but I'm not entirely sure normal reckoning is going to count for much this season - too many of the teams at the top are dropping too many points.

I reckon there's plenty of room there for a surprise of some sort to happen.

[kaosmark2]

by normal reckoning liverpool or everton don't seem to have the squads to make top 4, but I'm not entirely sure normal reckoning is going to count for much this season - too many of the teams at the top are dropping too many points.

I reckon there's plenty of room there for a surprise of some sort to happen.

[eFestivals]

Top teams are more likely to drop points against weaker opposition earlier in the season though, before injuries start to hit and squad depth has the same degree of impact.

yep, but there's also the major chunk of top-team vs top-team matches still to come, where at least one of those top teams is guaranteed to drop points.

I'd say Arsenal and City are certain for the top 4, just by the number of goals they're both scoring.

The others? There's not the spaces for all of them, and the right run of good luck or good form for any of those teams could be what keeps a more-expected one out.

Edited November 4, 2013 by eFestivals

[kaosmark2]

yep, but there's also the major chunk of top-team vs top-team matches still to come, where at least one of those top teams is guaranteed to drop points.

I'd say Arsenal and City are certain for the top 4, just by the number of goals they're both scoring.

The others? There's not the spaces for all of them, and the right run of good luck or good form for any of those teams could be what keeps a more-expected one out.

[eFestivals]

I will be astounded if Chelsea miss out on the top 4. I think Man U will get in, but Liverpool or Spurs could pip them (although I reckon it unlikely).

if Chelsea or Utd missed out it would be astounding, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

Sooner or later it will happen to both of those teams, and while it might not be this season this season looks more likely with what's happened so far than it ever did in other recent seasons.

[kaosmark2]

if Chelsea or Utd missed out it would be astounding, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

Sooner or later it will happen to both of those teams, and while it might not be this season this season looks more likely with what's happened so far than it ever did in other recent seasons.

[LondonTom]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-transfer-news-joe-kinnear-2670971

Joe Kinnear tries to sign a Newcastle player on loan on at Birmingham.

[The Nal]

if Chelsea or Utd missed out it would be astounding, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

Sooner or later it will happen to both of those teams, and while it might not be this season this season looks more likely with what's happened so far than it ever did in other recent seasons.

Edited November 4, 2013 by The Nal

[kaosmark2]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-transfer-news-joe-kinnear-2670971

Joe Kinnear tries to sign a Newcastle player on loan on at Birmingham.

[pink_triangle]

Nah, I think Arsenal are certs to go through. They probably need 4 points to go through and still have a home game against Marseille to come.

[pink_triangle]

For all the talk of what could happen for the top 4, is anyone willing to put their cards on the table and predict a top 4 that's different to last season. As much as I would like things to be mixed up a little, I just cant see it.

[kaosmark2]

The other 2 games will be tough though, I suspect they will need a point away to Napoli which wont be plain sailing. Then again from memory the English sides have a good record against Italian teams, so they would probably be marginal favourites.

[The Nal]

For all the talk of what could happen for the top 4, is anyone willing to put their cards on the table and predict a top 4 that's different to last season. As much as I would like things to be mixed up a little, I just cant see it.

Edited November 4, 2013 by The Nal

[kaosmark2]

For all the talk of what could happen for the top 4, is anyone willing to put their cards on the table and predict a top 4 that's different to last season. As much as I would like things to be mixed up a little, I just cant see it.

[kaosmark2]

No. I think it'll be City, Chelski, Arsenal and Utd in no particular order. For reasons mentioned above. City favourites maybe if Kompany comes back and plays most of the games. They always struggle without him.

[The Nal]

I'm convinced the title's going to London. I think City are far too vulnerable without Kompany, while Man U lack stars in midfield and seem to have lost a degree of intimidation.

Edited November 4, 2013 by The Nal

[kaosmark2]

I don't think Utd will win it. Theres quality dotted around the field but not all round and yeah, the fear factor has gone. Especially at home. Although the last two games were promising. Playing shit and coming back from behind vs Stoke and then going 3 nil up early vs Fulham. Even if the 2nd half was pants. But Utd won the league doing that last year. Still think the bigger games are a huge challenge.

City are really dangerous. But they need Kompany for about 25 of the next 28 games or they wont win it.

Chelsea. Hmmmm. Im skeptical about this Mourinho part two thing. Was from the start. Doesn't really have the same momentum as his first spell does it? Or his time at Inter. Not sure why. Something just seems forced about it. His interview after on Saturday was odd too. Like a manager whos not managing his own team or something. Again, no fear factor. The Drogba, Terry, Lamps, Cole, Makele, Ballack team used to scare the bejesus out of people.

Arsenal haven't really been challenged yet. Spurs and LFC were both a bit disjointed against them. But some of their passing in the last third is beautiful to watch at the moment.

But if Liverpool take a few scalps from the next few weeks vs City, Chelsea, Everton etc they'll be right in there with a shot of the top 4. At the very least least.

The champions League will play a huge part though I'm sure. All four clubs will think they can go far in it. Very interesting league thus far.

[Bobs]

In regards to Everton, I know we're a good team! But saying 'top 4' is very naive.

I felt Sunday, in the first 45 minutes, we were very ropey, and had Spurs actually had a goalscoring threat, they could have easily put us to bed.

Second half we were much, much better! But we've played Hull, Aston Villa and played poorly and won, and now Spurs, we've got a point, Spurs fans were jubilant to get one of those, as they've been hard to get at Goodison in this calendar year!

But there's a lot of hard work to come, we would not even be a threat if we didn't have Lukaku, and there is far far too much pressure on Barkley, and i think week-in-week out 90 minutes, plus England International Duty is taking it's toll.

Palace away next week is a huge game for us... with Liverpool, United and Arsenal in our next 3 games, and a tricky tie against Stoke too.

The way it's going i still think it'll be Chelsea, City, Arsenal and United for the top 4, but then again, United could easily lose form again! Or any of them!

[thetime]

In regards to Everton, I know we're a good team! But saying 'top 4' is very naive.

I felt Sunday, in the first 45 minutes, we were very ropey, and had Spurs actually had a goalscoring threat, they could have easily put us to bed.

Second half we were much, much better! But we've played Hull, Aston Villa and played poorly and won, and now Spurs, we've got a point, Spurs fans were jubilant to get one of those, as they've been hard to get at Goodison in this calendar year!

But there's a lot of hard work to come, we would not even be a threat if we didn't have Lukaku, and there is far far too much pressure on Barkley, and i think week-in-week out 90 minutes, plus England International Duty is taking it's toll.

Palace away next week is a huge game for us... with Liverpool, United and Arsenal in our next 3 games, and a tricky tie against Stoke too.

The way it's going i still think it'll be Chelsea, City, Arsenal and United for the top 4, but then again, United could easily lose form again! Or any of them!

[eFestivals]

I'm afraid it's going to be a predictable top 4 again, which order is anyone's guess.

I'm still not so sure. That takes applying a fergie-factor to Utd and a Moaniho-factor to Chelsea, when there's no particular reason to think that either is there.

I expect Utd to be a bit better from now, but whether that better is going to be enough is yet to be seen.

And I'm not convinced by striker-lite Chelsea nor Moaniho mk 2 - who if the rumours are to believed only took the job to save face at not getting the Utd job.

Not everything is fully in the hands of any team. For example, if Spurs were to start playing at the level their spending can suggest, then Utd would have to do better than they'd otherwise have to be.

It's hard not to think that Chelsea and Utd will make top 4 on the basis of the past, but the past doesn't define the future.

[thetime]

Its interesting that most of the top sides are struggling with no more than 1 striker that will get them regular goals. There's only united, city and Liverpool who have more than one and if giroud get injured then arsenal will struggle to get the goals needed.

The way united have played/dropped points they should be no where near top 4 and they are 3 points of 2nd never mind 4th. What moyes does need is a big performance against arsenal wether that's 3 points or play well.

[kaosmark2]

Its interesting that most of the top sides are struggling with no more than 1 striker that will get them regular goals. There's only united, city and Liverpool who have more than one and if giroud get injured then arsenal will struggle to get the goals needed.

The way united have played/dropped points they should be no where near top 4 and they are 3 points of 2nd never mind 4th. What moyes does need is a big performance against arsenal wether that's 3 points or play well.

[zahidf]

I think man Utd are more likely to be out of the top 4 than Chelsea at the moment.

Liverpool are still in top 4 contention, but winning the league would be beyond them i think.