Finishing outside The Top Four.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

With the rise in Spurs 'fortunes, Arsenal's creditable opening, Scouse brief flirtation with top spot and well deaervwd victory over the filth, could Gingerpubes lead them to a disasterous non qualification? They certainly look to have some problems so far.
Is it possible that any one of the three preseason title favourites, could miss out too?

[AG7]

With the rise in Spurs 'fortunes, Arsenal's creditable opening, Scouse brief flirtation with top spot and well deaervwd victory over the filth, could Gingerpubes lead them to a disasterous non qualification? They certainly look to have some problems so far. Is it possible that any one of the three preseason title favourites, could miss out too?

Early days but City/Chelsea to fight for 1/2 ... Spuds/Arse for 3/4, Liverpool/Scum for the 5th (Europa spot) ... (Probably even Swansea or Everton could lock horns with them two for that 5th easily).

[Green & Blue]

Only if the teams concerned take the majority of points off them when they face the rags.You will still have teams that show them far too much respect and are as good as beaten before they set foot on the pitch.

[Breks]

Out of there 7 league goals only 4 have been from open play. They have a big problem so it is not far fetched to suggest they could be outside top 4.

[aaron bond]

It's a definite possibility. One of Taggart's strengths was his ability to get great performances out of mediocre players. Whether Moyes can do that remains to be seen.

I won't get ahead of myself just yet as they usually land on their feet, but I definitely think this is the first season in a very long time where they have to be wary of the the teams that are usually just below them.

One of the main factors is whether Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool have the stamina to last the season at the top. Arsenal usually have enough to scrape by for 4th, but Spurs habitually crack in March/April and blow the hard work they've put in for the previous 7-8 months. Liverpool will gradually move down the table now - can't see them finishing above 6th.

Whilst Chelsea have had some mixed performances, I think Mourinho will resolve the issues and keep them near the top of the table. Although why he has such an issue with Mata I'll never know!

I'm more confident in our prospects now following yesterday's game. If we can put a good run together now following our sloppy start to the season, we should put ourselves in a good place to be in or around the top come the end of the season.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Jeezes these topics. Some people NEVER learn.

[mr_nool]

They're only three points behind us and five behind the top two, so I won't start celebrating just yet.
But one can of course hope that last nights performance have made other teams realise that they are their for the picking.
Without their effortlessly being gifted three points at places like Sunderland, they will definitely struggle.

[Esky]

I still make them favourites. They were 11 points the better team last season and their core squad (and squad depth) will have them chasing, even if Moyes seems tactically poor in the big matches.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Jeezes these topics. Some people NEVER learn.

It's just a question, based on the three title favourites looking pretty ordinary whilst Spuds, Scouse and Arse have maybe done better than expected.
As money is the defining aepect in modern football it would be difficult and very very poor for one of those clubs to miss out. I include us in this. It could also leave a very large black hole in a club's finanaces. It's not that long ago Scouse were on the Chumps League gravy train but they have found in incredibly difficult to get back there. Could the same happen at the Sty and what would be the consequences be? They haven't looked this vulnerable in many years; So it's a valid question.

[Goaters 103]

We have 6 teams - us, them, Chelsea, Are, Spurs and Liverpool - fighting for 4 spots.

At this stage you cannot guarantee anyones place in the top 4. The good news is that Liverpool and Arsenals squads are paper thin so when injuries and suspensions do bite, they are the likelyist to drop off the pace.

[HeyMark]

Look at their next 5 league games. I would expect them to get maximum points from that run. Extremely early days

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Look at their next 5 league games. I would expect them to get maximum points from that run. Extremely early days

22 points after 10 games will probably put the scum in 2nd ,maybe 3rd spot.Way to soon to be predicting their demise no matter how much we all want it to happen.

[Chinners]

Look at their next 5 league games. I would expect them to get maximum points from that run. Extremely early days

22 points after 10 games will probably put the scum in 2nd ,maybe 3rd spot.Way to soon to be predicting their demise no matter how much we all want it to happen.

Agreed, some people were 'celebrating/predicting' their demise after the 6-1 ...

[Tim777]

They're only three points behind us and five behind the top two, so I won't start celebrating just yet.
But one can of course hope that last nights performance have made other teams realise that they are their for the picking.
Without their effortlessly being gifted three points at places like Sunderland, they will definitely struggle.

I'm with you on this.
Liverpool and us have never been afraid of them, and to a lesser degree, Spurs. But the rest, including Chelsea & Arse all the way down to ground zero, shudder & go into freeze mode even before kick-off. A freak lashing or two from mediocre teams will help to alert more predators. I'm afraid our punishments, however harsh, don't seem to decrypt the message much.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Purple nose ain't dead you know. Best I hope for is Moyes to keep them in and around without winning anything, so the chosen one doesn't feel the need to return from retirement. Them being up there but not good enough to win anything would be fine by me.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

I still make them favourites. They were 11 points the better team last season and their core squad (and squad depth) will have them chasing, even if Moyes seems tactically poor in the big matches.

[Dronny]

[highlight][/highlight]

We have 6 teams - us, them, Chelsea, Are, Spurs and Liverpool - fighting for 4 spots.

At this stage you cannot guarantee anyones place in the top 4. The good news is that Liverpool and Arsenals squads are paper thin so when injuries and [highlight]suspensions do bite[/highlight], they are the likelyist to drop off the pace.

I see what you did there!

[Patrick]

I dont like to laud that cunt baconface, but unfortunately I have to concede that he made a huge difference to the scum - he instilled an unbeatable mentality that picked them up whenever they had dark days - he gave them confidence - 20 odd years of confidence

Now he is gone, and no matter how red tinted any scum fans glasses are, Golum isnt in the same league.

The reactions from their fans is wonderful to behold - they havent been here before in a generation and they dont know how to react - they dont know what is going to happen and for the first time in the last couple of decades they are truly scared.

Sure they have the talent in the squad to compete for top 4 and even the title..... but on sunday a great big blue knife sank deep into their hearts, just when they were feeling vulnerable...

Granted, they could bounce back in style and steady the ship, but certainly damage has been done - opposition will chance their arm more, teams will stand up and test them...... And deep down, they all know, their time may over.

In conclusion.... hahahahahahahahaha

[john68]

In truth Paddy, the rags haven't been a great side for a number of years. Though they have remained successful domestically, they have faded gradually but significantly against their greater European rivals.

I would suggest that this process has been ongoing for quite some time but year on year they have managed to get away with it, based on the performances of their main strikers. The Trannie's 40 odd goals in one season, followed by the year on year goals by Shrek and last season by Van Penis, rescuing games they were failing in and winning them a significant number of points they never deserved.

Over the years, even recently, they have built this psychological myth of invincibility. The above factor a major part of that. Self belief that they can/will always win and an identical fear instilled into opponents. It is this seemingly insurmountable barrier to success against the rags that is now crumbling. There seems to be more coaches that are willing to take them on. As has been seen with City, once we surmounted the fear factor, results changed dramatically.

In the past, Taggart was always there to repair any psychological damage for them, always on hand to mend them mentally, both in the dressing room and outside where, with help of a compliant media, he played his mind games. Poor Gollum is fucked and the World of football isn't gradually waking up to the reality that the rags are no longer invincible. More importantly, without their master and guru. the events of Sunday will hurt and damage the rags...apart from Shrek, who was in Kompany's pocket, not one of them showed any mental strength for the fight.

[john68]

In truth Paddy, the rags haven't been a great side for a number of years. Though they have remained successful domestically, they have faded gradually but significantly against their greater European rivals.

I would suggest that this process has been ongoing for quite some time but year on year they have managed to get away with it, based on the performances of their main strikers. The Trannie's 40 odd goals in one season, followed by the year on year goals by Shrek and last season by Van Penis, rescuing games they were failing in and winning them a significant number of points they never deserved.

Over the years, even recently, they have built this psychological myth of invincibility. The above factor a major part of that. Self belief that they can/will always win and an identical fear instilled into opponents. It is this seemingly insurmountable barrier to success against the rags that is now crumbling. There seems to be more coaches that are willing to take them on. As has been seen with City, once we surmounted the fear factor, results changed dramatically.

In the past, Taggart was always there to repair any psychological damage for them, always on hand to mend them mentally, both in the dressing room and outside where, with help of a compliant media, he played his mind games. Poor Gollum is fucked and the World of football isn't gradually waking up to the reality that the rags are no longer invincible. More importantly, without their master and guru. the events of Sunday will hurt and damage the rags...apart from Shrek, who was in Kompany's pocket, not one of them showed any mental strength for the fight.