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Well my last flood of optimism led to only one failure - Everton - and I must admit looking at the next 7 fixtures it is starting to look inconceivable for us to lose some of these games. It would be a major surprise if we didn't win 6 of these games, with the 7th - away at the Swamp - a nailed-on 0-0. It is very possible we go into the last part of the season in first place after these fixtures. But of course our run-in is harder, so being top on 6th March is no guarantee of success.

But it will put us in a damn good position! Anyone else starting to get dangerously optimistic?

15 January 2011 15:00 H Wolves
22 January 2011 17:30 A Aston Villa
01 February 2011 19:45 A Birmingham City
05 February 2011 15:00 H West Brom
12 February 2011 12:45 A Manchester Orcs
28 February 2011 20:00 H Fulham
05 March 2011 15:00 H Wigan Athletic

john@staustell wrote: It is very possible we go into the last part of the season in first place after these fixtures. But of course our run-in is harder, so being top on 6th March is no guarantee of success.

Our run in is no harder than that of our main opponents. Let us take one game at a time and bear in mind Man U in reality have in all probability an 8 point advantage going into the latter part of the season. 2 ahead plus their two games in hand, so you are getting carried away a bit too early.

A top 4 spot looks good.

citoeast wrote:

john@staustell wrote: It is very possible we go into the last part of the season in first place after these fixtures. But of course our run-in is harder, so being top on 6th March is no guarantee of success.

Our run in is no harder than that of our main opponents. Let us take one game at a time and bear in mind Man U in reality have in all probability an 8 point advantage going into the latter part of the season. 2 ahead plus their two games in hand, so you are getting carried away a bit too early.

You sound like a RAG with these much-vaunted games in hand mate!! They have won 2 games away all season and the 2 games in hand are Chelsea and Blackpool away! In fact:

16 Jan Barclays Premier League Tottenham A 16:10
22 Jan Barclays Premier League Birmingham H 15:00
25 Jan Barclays Premier League Blackpool A 19:30
01 Feb Barclays Premier League Aston Villa H 20:00
05 Feb Barclays Premier League Wolves A 17:30
12 Feb Barclays Premier League Man City H 12:45
26 Feb Barclays Premier League Wigan A TBC
01 Mar Barclays Premier League Chelsea A 19:45
05 Mar Barclays Premier League Liverpool A TBC

During the same period they have 9 games, 6 of them away, starting with a loss at White Hart Lane, and ending with Liverpool and Chelsea away. I think that's a whole lot harder for them, and we need to get in front and stay in front.

EDIT: and after that ours IS harder mate.

john@staustell wrote:Well my last flood of optimism led to only one failure - Everton - and I must admit looking at the next 7 fixtures it is starting to look inconceivable for us to lose some of these games. It would be a major surprise if we didn't win 6 of these games, with the 7th - away at the Swamp - a nailed-on 0-0. It is very possible we go into the last part of the season in first place after these fixtures. But of course our run-in is harder, so being top on 6th March is no guarantee of success.

But it will put us in a damn good position! Anyone else starting to get dangerously optimistic?

15 January 2011 15:00 H Wolves
22 January 2011 17:30 A Aston Villa
01 February 2011 19:45 A Birmingham City
05 February 2011 15:00 H West Brom
12 February 2011 12:45 A Manchester Orcs
28 February 2011 20:00 H Fulham
05 March 2011 15:00 H Wigan Athletic

Why stop at 7 ? Or is your choice an indirect reference to the 'Ides of March" ?

It's surely much easier on the head and the digestion taking one game at a time. The next one being the potential stumbling block at Leicester tomorrow

We're about half way through the season meaning that everybody has to play almost everybody.

So they have to face most of the same sides we do before may, I dont think this will come down to scheduling or anything like that, it will just come down to football.

I still have hopes that they will become bogged down in a fixture pile up. I don't believe that they have the depth of squad to cope with a run of tough fixtures. Couple of cup replays and a Euro fixture or two to hinder them might conceivably see them have a run of poor form. We have to be ready to take advantage.

Don't be too focussed on Us versus the rags for the title...Arsenal are still very much in the mix and should they win their game in hand, they could go 1pt ahead of us.
Their fixture list over the same time period doesn't seem too challenging for them either.
West Ham (A)
Wigan (H)
Everton (H)
Newcastle (A)
Wolves (H)
Stoke (H)
Spurs (A)
Sunderland (H)

Like Piccs said, I can see the rags suffering from squad strength but I don't see the same applying to the Gunners.
I can see us overtaking the rags and think that Arsenal will be our biggest challenge if we want to win the League. There will be no room for us to slip up and we need to have Dzecko hit the ground running and making an impact. He could make the difference.

john@staustell wrote:Well my last flood of optimism led to only one failure - Everton - and I must admit looking at the next 7 fixtures it is starting to look inconceivable for us to lose some of these games. It would be a major surprise if we didn't win 6 of these games, with the 7th - away at the Swamp - a nailed-on 0-0. It is very possible we go into the last part of the season in first place after these fixtures. But of course our run-in is harder, so being top on 6th March is no guarantee of success.

But it will put us in a damn good position! Anyone else starting to get dangerously optimistic?

15 January 2011 15:00 H Wolves
22 January 2011 17:30 A Aston Villa
01 February 2011 19:45 A Birmingham City
05 February 2011 15:00 H West Brom
12 February 2011 12:45 A Manchester Orcs
28 February 2011 20:00 H Fulham
05 March 2011 15:00 H Wigan Athletic

Out of the last set you posted, we indeed only fucled up the Everton game. I had 3 draws down as acceptable to get on a title challenging form. We have nearly done that. I also take the idea that looking at prospective fixtures is only about 'seeing the lay of the land' and nothing more.
Managers do look ahead at fixtures otherwise they wouldn't rest players, although they dont admit it publicly, quite rightly.
So given that it is purely getting a sense of what is ahead, i dont see a problem in it. In our current form those are all winnable matches, the derby standing out as the totally unpredictable one, although we are getting better at dealing with such games in a pro manner.. not just going for it and hoping. if we continue to improve i would go for us nicking it from a Dzeko header in a set piece ;)

In order to stay on form and have a challenge worthy return from the season as a whole of over 2pts/game we can only drop 2 pts in that lot.. just the one draw.

As i pointed out in the 80pts thread, to stay on track we can only afford 2 losses and 2 draws in the rest of the season.

Personally i am optimistic but i dont get a sense of the danger in it tbh. if things dont go right or as expected i just take it on the chin and move on within the blink of an eye. Each to their own i guess.
On a philosophical note, life tends to pan out on its own course, despite our best attempts to control it and manipulate it, ultimately it is beyond control and we can only try and do our best, football is the ultimate expression of that packaged up in 90 +7mins bursts ;)