Run for Top 4 - The Way I See It

[brite blu sky]

I agree with that. Your previous post read (to me anyway) like we were not affected by those traits. Based on the last 10 years, we are the least experienced of the lot in my opinion ... it's going to be nailbiting whatever happens, can we do it? certainly. Will we do it? I'm not so sure

as fans we are in new territory ( well since maybe the early 90's ). As a team we are not even the same as last year and tbh i dont think anyone knows what they are capable of in terms of mentality.. but i do get a sense that, and it is not only my own opinion but that of many other City fans ( and others tbh ), we are getting stronger and certainly have got nowhere near our peak.. so confidence is starting to build albeit slowly, there are a lot of people, even on here, that are starting to believe.

Now if you ask me that is a bit of a sea change, we look like we are coming together at the right time.. City getting stronger in the run-in! yer avin' a larf ain't yer.

Anyways we have to get past Everton first.. if we do that i am prepared to put my head on the chopping block and go straight down the bookies and see what odds i can get on us taking 76pts out of the season.

[The Man In Blue]

it is a huge game on Wed. Beat the dippers and we are well on our way - we will be in fourth, with the confidence that having something to defend can give. Plus, it might sound mad but i rate Everton as a better side than Spurs. They are tougher, play with a better tempo and seem to have much more of a team mentality. could also be something to do with my innate inability to give the southern twats any credit at all.

If we get the win on wednesday night i might be in danger of getting seriously excited.

[Moonchesteri]

I can't predict who will finish where this season. I'm too nervous and don't want to jinx anything.

Same here mate. Also every time when I try to think about this I come up with a different results lol. And anyway football is a funny old game - you really shouldn't rule out anyone or you'll just end up eating humble pie!

[Kladze]

I'm pretty much in agreement on the fact I think Villa will be our main rivals....but you can never discount the scousers...

One thing is for sure is it's going to be one of the most exciting finales to a season in the top division that we have ever had as fans under a questionable age ;-)

Speaking as one of those of a questionable age, I object to being called questionable ;-o

[Vhero]

people say scouse are out but except the Chelski game they got quoite an easy run out till the end but they only got 7 games left which will go against them. I think the main thing here is we hold ALL the cards in the run up to the end of the season.. Spurs got the hardest games, Bin dippers got the lowest point count available and Villa have also got us at our place... Honestly the only game I see us dropping 3 points at now is at the Emirates.

[Kladze]

Truth of the matter is that, irrespective of who you have to play; whether or not you're still involved in a cup; regardless of who your manager is; the seeming class of your players individually, that from this stage of the season it's all about momentum. Take it from an old 'un who's seen it before.

Oh, and I'm happy to say City have a little momentum shift going our way at this time :-)

[s1ty m]

some key points:

1. City have 6 games at home, where we are awesome by any measure. Unbeaten since way back and certainly all of this season, in all competitions.

2. All sides will drop points. It's inevitable.

3. Spurs (imo our closest rivals for 4th) have a much tought run-in.

4. We have Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy. Both lethal.

I have done the bbc league predictor a couple of times and i have us squarely in 4th both times. I did it before the Scouse game, which I allowed a 1-1 draw, with a 1-1 draw at stoke too, followed by us getting a caking at chelsea, whatever a caking is, i just made it up. So we are well up on what I predicted. Have a go yourself:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... efault.stm

[irblinx]

some key points:

1. City have 6 games at home, where we are awesome by any measure. Unbeaten since way back and certainly all of this season, in all competitions.

2. All sides will drop points. It's inevitable.

3. Spurs (imo our closest rivals for 4th) have a much tought run-in.

4. We have Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy. Both lethal.

I have done the bbc league predictor a couple of times and i have us squarely in 4th both times. I did it before the Scouse game, which I allowed a 1-1 draw, with a 1-1 draw at stoke too, followed by us getting a caking at chelsea, whatever a caking is, i just made it up. So we are well up on what I predicted. Have a go yourself:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... efault.stm

I think you are stretching things a little by stating we are "awesome" at home.

For me the Everton game is a must win for us, if we don't win it is all down to Spurs. Spurs have to play 3 out 3 of the top sides yes, but we have to play two of them and Spurs and Everton (two teams that have taken us apart this season). In addition to that Spurs have proved far more adept at beating the also ran teams than us this season, much more free scoring in those games than us.

I had a go at the predictor:

1. Scum 88
2. Arse 86
3. Chelski 81
4. Spuds 72
5. City 69
6. Villa 67
7. Scouse 65

City 1 v 1 Everton
City 2 v 1 Wigan
Burnley 0 v 2 City
City 3 v 2 Brum
City 1 v 1 Scum
Arse 1 v 0 City
City 1 v 1 Villa
City 1 v 1 Spurs
West Ham 0 v 2 City

Spurs 4 v 2 Pompey
Mackems 1 v 2 Spurs
Spurs 2 v 2 Arse
Spurs 1 v 0 Chelski
Scum 1 v 0 Spurs
Spurs 2 v 0 Bolton
City 1 v 1 Spurs
Burnley 0 v 2 Spurs

[btajim]

Tottenham have been consistently good all season so I think they'll push us all the way for 4th. I must admit that I don't think Villa will manage it. They began to slow down last season and were losing against Wolves on Saturday. We've got the stronger Squad.

[Blue Since 76]

I hope you're still all this confident when everton rip us a new one on wednesday and then we only get a point against wigan on monday!

All teams will still lose games they should win and win games you'd expect them to lose - that's why they're chasing 4th rather than the title.

If we win the next 2, I might feel more confident, but we'll still slip up. I'll be happy if we go into the last game with it still in our own hands. Nervous, but happy.

[Socrates]

If we keep getting the 2.00 points per game average we have had so far with Mancini then I don't think that can be beaten - or if it is you just have to say "too good!"

[dazby]

Just a brilliant season.

And, it's only going to get better.

[btajim]

I hope you're still all this confident when everton rip us a new one on wednesday and then we only get a point against wigan on monday!

All teams will still lose games they should win and win games you'd expect them to lose - that's why they're chasing 4th rather than the title.

If we win the next 2, I might feel more confident, but we'll still slip up. I'll be happy if we go into the last game with it still in our own hands. Nervous, but happy.

Everton won't rip us a new one. Besides, we've already beaten Arsenal and Chelsea at Home this season and held Liverpool to a draw. If Everton win then it'll be a close contest. Will we remain unbeaten at Home all season? I doubt it.

[john@staustell]

Tottenham have been consistently good all season so I think they'll push us all the way for 4th. I must admit that I don't think Villa will manage it. They began to slow down last season and were losing against Wolves on Saturday. We've got the stronger Squad.

Within the space of 3 weeks they play Arsenal, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs. If they come through that they may deserve it. However I believe they are in danger of losing all four.

Watch the Dippers! It's up to us to keep putting points on the board.

[colonel_muck]

I don't think we'll get it, we haven't really shook off that typical city mentality you can see it in our failure to kill games off. We played well against Fulham but could easily have come away with one point. My prediction is Liverpool will win 5 games in a row and take it, they have the experience. I said at the start of the season we would be in the hunt all season and miss out. I just hope we don't sack another manager.

[brite blu sky]

I don't think we'll get it, we haven't really shook off that typical city mentality you can see it in our failure to kill games off. We played well against Fulham but could easily have come away with one point. My prediction is Liverpool will win 5 games in a row and take it, they have the experience. I said at the start of the season we would be in the hunt all season and miss out. I just hope we don't sack another manager.

muck sir.. i dont see that much evidence that Pool are going to improve or stiffen their resolve in their last 7 games.. ok they have experience, but fucl, that experience has not shown itself all season, they are still all over the place, Torres and Gerrard are still off the boil and they are really struggling to turn in performances. They are totally unconvincing and are not getting any better. if they were improving a little bit you might say they will yet prove a threat, but i just dont see it based on the evidence. I wouldn't right them off to dredge up some results, but cant see them stringing a few together, and that is what they need to do.
I think one of the problems they have is all the other teams in the prem are not respecting them as much as previous years so they are finding it tougher going.

[colonel_muck]

fair enough i understand what you're saying but i still see them as a team who ran for the title last year. they only lost alonso and even when torres is playing shit he only needs one chance in a game. i would rather see any other team than liverpool take it cos i want to have some faith that the mould can be broken, but i've not seen enough from the other teams either. we should be miles ahead of them all, we've had so many opportunities that we haven't taken, under both managers, and from our point of view i see many more wasted opportunities before the season finishes. glum i know.

[btajim]

Within the space of 3 weeks they play Arsenal, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs. If they come through that they may deserve it. However I believe they are in danger of losing all four.

Watch the Dippers! It's up to us to keep putting points on the board.

But we play Arsenal, Tottenham and Man Ure in due course. Most Clubs have a tricky run in. If opponents aren't pushing for Europe then they might be fighting relegation.

Tottenham lose all 4 of those Matches? I don't think they will.

[DoomMerchant]

Within the space of 3 weeks they play Arsenal, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs. If they come through that they may deserve it. However I believe they are in danger of losing all four.

Watch the Dippers! It's up to us to keep putting points on the board.

But we play Arsenal, Tottenham and Man Ure in due course. Most Clubs have a tricky run in. If opponents aren't pushing for Europe then they might be fighting relegation.

Tottenham lose all 4 of those Matches? I don't think they will.

in fact i could see them winning all four before losing all four tbh. either would be remarkable, but...

this will be an exciting next 6 weeks or so that's for sure.

cheers

[brite blu sky]

fair enough i understand what you're saying but i still see them as a team who ran for the title last year. they only lost alonso and even when torres is playing shit he only needs one chance in a game. i would rather see any other team than liverpool take it cos i want to have some faith that the mould can be broken, but i've not seen enough from the other teams either. we should be miles ahead of them all, we've had so many opportunities that we haven't taken, under both managers, and from our point of view i see many more wasted opportunities before the season finishes. glum i know.

well misgivings about our own performances and ability are one thing, but leaving those aside and looking at Pool, they were challenging last year yes, but that was last year, this year they have really struggled to play well, which basically has led to poor results. Torres is way off form, he is missing more sitters than he is taking and in recent games i have seen of them he is off the pace ( due to injury i suppose ) he gets the ball taken off him and has been almost a passenger in some games. He played a bit better against the rags, but still was off the pace. Gerard also seems unable to get his form together. Put those two together and it is not looking like they are going to improve enough, fast enough to take advantage of their last 7 games, imo
They are EXPECTED to be there and get it together.. but they have had all season to do that and haven't managed it. I wouldn't count them out, but it just is not the Liverpool we all know and hate.