Said a few weeks back if we can navigate this tricky January of injuries and international duty with a draw at OT and a win at home to Brentford then we have a chance of a good run at the remaining fixtures with a fully available squad. We saw yesterday with a very depleted team still imposing Angeball on Utd at OT and dominating all the positive stats just how well coached we’ve become in 6 months, compared to a team like Utd where ETH has been in post 18 months.
With Bissouma, Sarr, Maddison, Kulusevski and Son all to come back imminently, Romero, VDV and Bentancur now getting back to full fitness and a couple of astute squad additions in Dragusin and Werner I think a lot of oppo fans are sleeping on just how good we have the potential to be with these players and this coach. So, what could we potentially hope for, best case scenario? Here are our remaining games:
Brentford (H) winnable
Everton (A) winnable
Brighton (H) winnable
Wolves (H) winnable
Chelsea (A) draw at best
Palace (H) winnable
Villa (A) unlikely
Fulham (A) winnable
Luton (H) winnable
West Ham (A) draw at best
Forest (H) winnable
26 achievable points from the next eleven games IMO absolute best case scenario, would require nigh on title winning form of 2.3 points per game, same form with which we started the season (first ten games). That’s would put us on 66 points after 32 games, meaning that our maximum total could be 84 points with the final six games. However, those final six games run as follows:
Newcastle (A)
Man City (H)
Arsenal (H)
Liverpool (A)
Burnley (H)
Sheff Utd (A)
April looking like a very difficult month for us. Not that we’re not capable of beating any of those teams (save for Liverpool at Anfield which I’m writing off now), but it would require a phenomenal run of form and I certainly don’t see us reaching the 80 mark, but 75 is achievable if we can win the home NLD. Our lack of European football could work in our favour depending on how these teams get on in their respective competitions. The last two games could be against teams with safety still to play for (although expect Sheff U to be down by then).
All of this is if’s and but’s. This was always meant to be a transitional season with a new team and coach and fairly low expectations but Ange has had such an impact on the football style, the results and mentality and the unity with the fans that we are all suddenly believing we can do more - we have an identity again after 4 years of dross. If we can avoid the sort of absenteeism that derailed our strong start, then I think 3rd should absolutely be our target.
(Bear in mind the last time I predicted a series of positive results the Chelsea game happened and everything went to sheite for a month )
The Rest of Our Season
posted on 15/1/24
I should start charging you for all this education Sizz.
posted on 15/1/24
#TrustTheProcess
posted on 15/1/24
Ty from AFTV
posted 49 seconds ago
#TrustTheProcess
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posted on 15/1/24
comment by AFTP #TrustTheProcess (U21889)
posted 3 hours, 30 minutes ago
Where’s the lie though?
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what he's a one trick pony because he's got a style of play? I guess pep, klopp, emery, Poch and basically every manager of the last decade is a one trick pony then
posted on 15/1/24
I've separated out the ones where we're significantly under strength:
Brentford (H) 3
Everton (A) 1
Brighton (H) 3
=================
Wolves (H) 3
Chelsea (A) 1
Palace (H) 3
Villa (A) 1
Fulham (A) 3
Luton (H) 3
West Ham (A) 3
Forest (H) 3
Newcastle (A) 1
Man City (H) 1
Arsenal (H) 3
Liverpool (A) 0
Burnley (H) 3
Sheff Utd (A) 3
38+40 = 78 points
posted on 15/1/24
comment by Mack (U6574)
posted 7 hours, 23 minutes ago
Drawing 2-2 with mostly a reserve team at old Trafford is a great example of how far we have come in a few years. It wasn’t long ago the back up players were losing 3-0 to Zagreb.
We are close to being back to where we were in prime Poch days. Now can we actually push on and win something? Or will we level out again?
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posted on 16/1/24
comment by Bill Nick (U23088)
posted 4 hours, 50 minutes ago
comment by Mack (U6574)
posted 7 hours, 23 minutes ago
Drawing 2-2 with mostly a reserve team at old Trafford is a great example of how far we have come in a few years. It wasn’t long ago the back up players were losing 3-0 to Zagreb.
We are close to being back to where we were in prime Poch days.
Even that’s not good enough apparently.
posted on 16/1/24
good chunk of midfield and forwards out but cant call it a reserve team when we started our strongest back 5
posted on 16/1/24
comment by Phenomenonecoglou (U20037)
posted 17 hours, 18 minutes ago
Chelsea (A) draw at best
Villa (A) unlikely
West Ham (A) draw at best
fack that, should be all out revenging losing at home to these facker
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Villa (a) Unlikley because Romero is going to exact his own kinda revenge on Matty Cash and get
posted on 16/1/24
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Phenomenonecoglou (U20037)
posted 17 hours, 18 minutes ago
Chelsea (A) draw at best
Villa (A) unlikely
West Ham (A) draw at best
fack that, should be all out revenging losing at home to these facker
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Villa (a) Unlikley because Romero is going to exact his own kinda revenge on Matty Cash and get
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If Dragusin is as good as many folk seem to think he is then Romero needs to be careful because a few games out of the team due to suspension may cost him his place.
That said I'd love to see somebody give Cash a taste of his own medicine. Preferably a fringe player very late in the game with us leading by at least 2 goals.