Ranieri has said our target now is the Europa League and I think this is another good move by him and another way of deflecting pressure and playing down what we can achieve.
Setting mini targets now gives the players an additional focus rather than just win as many games as we can. Now the aim is to do enough to qualify for the EL, then aim for CL qualification and once that is guaranteed it's all out for the title.
With City winning the League Cup I think sixth place qualifies for the EL and if either West Ham or United finish fifth and win the FAC, then seventh will qualify. Last season Southampton finished seventh with 60, Liverpool sixth with 62 and Spurs fifth with 64. So if West Ham or United finish fifth and win the FAC we should have enough to finish seventh and qualify. If neither win it then we'll need another four points to pretty much guarantee Europe. I think it's safe to say that little target will be achieved soon enough.
United finished fourth with 70 last season and West Ham will need another 21 points to reach that and United 23, so I'd say another 10 points and CL will be secured and then see what happens I guess but I reckon six points will see us crowned Champions. So these are our mini targets;
EL = 4 points (one win, one draw, seven defeats)
CL = 10 points (two wins, three draws, four defeats)
PL = 16 points (four wins, four draws, one defeat)
I think our first target will be achieved in the next two games and that will also ensure that we go into April still top of the league and will mean we've remained top for over three months.
I had a look at how long we've spent at the top and after game 13, we've only been off top for five games but four of those we were level on points. Not bad for a side who weren't going to get through December without slipping down the league
Mini Targets
posted on 14/3/16
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posted on 14/3/16
It doesn't matter what Ranieri says, there is only one thing occupying the players thoughts right now.
Impossible to think of anything else.....
posted on 14/3/16
The only thing in the players minds right now is beating Newcastle. Then their focus will be to beat Palace and Southampton etc etc. Their next game is all they're thinking about the last eight following this game will be approached in exactly the same way. One game at a time!
posted on 14/3/16
Thats such bs fox dude.
posted on 14/3/16
Shut up idiot! It's how they've approached every game since this run started back in April and every single game is played like it's our last. There is no talk of winning the title am
You really don't have a clue what you're talking about so go take your bullshiitt somewhere else. You're ridiculous!
posted on 14/3/16
^ no talk of winning the title amongst the players, it's one game at a time and that's why we're top and have been for the last three months. We don't get carried away and that's not going to change now. This approach is what has served us so well over the last year so why the fook we change now?
posted on 14/3/16
Lol, the players are clearly thinking about winning the title. It would be weird if they werent.
posted on 14/3/16
comment by Wahl Icht (U10322)
posted 11 minutes ago
Lol, the players are clearly thinking about winning the title. It would be weird if they werent.
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There's having it in your mind and talking about it and they're two totally different things. Of course they think they can win it but in order to win it they know they need to think about the next game and only the next game.
This is how we approach our play and it's not going to change. Now all that matters and all they'll be thinking about it beating Palace. We will probably stumble if we get too far ahead of ourselves and stop doing what we've been doing so well.
posted on 14/3/16
Ye, fair enough. Arent you worried that youre not playing good anymore though? Every game you win is only 1-0 now
posted on 14/3/16
comment by Wahl Icht (U10322)
posted 8 minutes ago
Ye, fair enough. Arent you worried that youre not playing good anymore though? Every game you win is only 1-0 now
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Of course not, these are the type of games that show what you're about, how many games did Maureen win 1-0?
The fact we can win when not playing well is the sign of Champions and gives me more confidence!