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Post by Trouserdog on Sept 1, 2015 19:05:34 GMT
From what we've seen so far the gap between the big 4 and the rest seems to have narrowed.
Clubs like Swansea, Palace and West Ham have already won games that in previous years would have probably ended in defeats to the usual suspects. I think we're another team who are perfectly capable of pulling off a few surprise results.
It's still a big ask for anyone outside the usual big 4, plus Liverpool and Tottenham, to qualify for The Champions League, but with some of the players that the mid-table clubs have added thanks to the extra TV money- Ayew, Payet, Cabaye and of course Shaqiri- could we see a real outsider actually sneak into the European places? I reckon one of them might get 6th this season, possibly at Tottenham's expense, which would still be a fair achievement. Can't see it being us but you can dream can't you...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2015 19:09:48 GMT
I had dream after the Luton game ....it involved PULIS riding a white stallion ....
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Post by pyrus on Sept 1, 2015 19:12:22 GMT
Stoke making a CL place?!
I'll have some of what you're on.
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Post by StokieNath on Sept 1, 2015 19:13:08 GMT
From what we've seen so far the gap between the big 4 and the rest seems to have narrowed. Clubs like Swansea, Palace and West Ham have already won games that in previous years would have probably ended in defeats to the usual suspects. I think we're another team who are perfectly capable of pulling off a few surprise results. It's still a big ask for anyone outside the usual big 4, plus Liverpool and Tottenham, to qualify for The Champions League, but with some of the players that the mid-table clubs have added thanks to the extra TV money- Ayew, Payet, Cabaye and of course Shaqiri- could we see a real outsider actually sneak into the European places? I reckon one of them might get 6th this season, possibly at Tottenham's expense, which would still be a fair achievement. Can't see it being us but you can dream can't you... No, no not really. |
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Post by alansuddick on Sept 1, 2015 19:20:23 GMT
ill be happy to stay up after what ive seen
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Post by potterblade on Sept 1, 2015 19:27:38 GMT
From what we've seen so far the gap between the big 4 and the rest seems to have narrowed. Clubs like Swansea, Palace and West Ham have already won games that in previous years would have probably ended in defeats to the usual suspects. I think we're another team who are perfectly capable of pulling off a few surprise results. It's still a big ask for anyone outside the usual big 4, plus Liverpool and Tottenham, to qualify for The Champions League, but with some of the players that the mid-table clubs have added thanks to the extra TV money- Ayew, Payet, Cabaye and of course Shaqiri- could we see a real outsider actually sneak into the European places? I reckon one of them might get 6th this season, possibly at Tottenham's expense, which would still be a fair achievement. Can't see it being us but you can dream can't you... I believe its fully possible in the next few seasons and for the foreseeable future. The logical economic conclusion now is that in a few years EVERY top player will be in the Prem. Narrowing the gap, levelling the playing field, etc. |
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Post by Staying up for Grandadstokey on Sept 1, 2015 19:30:28 GMT
I had dream after the Luton game ....it involved PULIS riding a white stallion .... That's not a dream, that's a nightmare,! |
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Post by march4 on Sept 1, 2015 19:30:06 GMT
Palace look a good team to me.
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Post by march4 on Sept 1, 2015 19:31:41 GMT
I had dream after the Luton game ....it involved PULIS riding a white stallion .... IF we are in trouble at Christmas, he will be back. (Big IF and unlikely). |
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Post by Trouserdog on Sept 1, 2015 19:31:43 GMT
Stoke making a CL place?! I'll have some of what you're on. Did you just read the title and make the rest up yourself? |
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Post by cousindupree on Sept 1, 2015 19:33:50 GMT
Sadly for us it looks like a season of consolidation. The Europa league place will be an interesting tussle between Lpool Spurs Wham Palace Swansea and Soton...with Lpool and spurs being run very close and I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the above in the mix for 5th or 6th
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Post by itsmorethanagame on Sept 1, 2015 19:37:48 GMT
Don't think the top 4 will change but 5th place onwards is achievable. Swansea looking very good but I think lack of depth will see them slip away at some point. Injuries to a couple of key players would hit them hard. Surprised they let Dyer go out on loan. Liverpool and Tottenham don't look to be getting any nearer to 4th whilst plenty of sides behind are catching them up and narrowing the gap
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Post by chigstoke on Sept 1, 2015 19:44:59 GMT
I had dream after the Luton game ....it involved PULIS riding a white stallion .... IF we are in trouble at Christmas, he will be back. (Big IF and unlikely). Fucking hell imagine this messageboard if that happened. All hell would break loose. I can see the team now Butland Cameron - Wollscheid - Wilson - Pieters Diouf - Sidwell - Whelan - Adam Walters Crouch Incredible pace, The meltdown would be borderline Chernobyl level  |
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Post by samba :) on Sept 1, 2015 19:51:51 GMT
IF we are in trouble at Christmas, he will be back. (Big IF and unlikely). Fucking hell imagine this messageboard if that happened. All hell would break loose. I can see the team now Butland Cameron - Wollscheid - Wilson - Pieters Diouf - Sidwell - Whelan - Adam Walters Crouch Incredible pace, The meltdown would be borderline Chernobyl level Pieters wouldn't play full back |
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Post by keasie1863 on Sept 1, 2015 20:06:32 GMT
I had dream after the Luton game ....it involved PULIS riding a white stallion .... IF we are in trouble at Christmas, he will be back. (Big IF and unlikely). I would burn my season card,if that happened. Fuck me,it would be like having a nightmare,you were unable to wake up from. |
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Post by peterthornesboots on Sept 1, 2015 20:10:59 GMT
I think that the gap is closing, but I can't see anyone apart from Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal making up the top four.
The money / investment gap is far to large. Even Spurs will struggle to get close any time soon!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2015 20:11:53 GMT
Swansea will be the closest, and will be as far away as ever.
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Post by clarkeda on Sept 1, 2015 20:12:54 GMT
This board is like looking into schizophrenic mind and 'we're getting relegated' is one voice and 'we're going to finish in the top 4' is the other
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Post by Trouserdog on Sept 1, 2015 20:30:00 GMT
This board is like looking into schizophrenic mind and 'we're getting relegated' is one voice and 'we're going to finish in the top 4' is the other And yet not a single person on the entire thread has actually said that or anything like it.  Could it be that hardly anybody actually reads anything beyond the thread titles, and half the time they don't even read them properly. Twitter generation I guess. |
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Post by Bojan Mackey on Sept 1, 2015 20:32:54 GMT
I put us in a "Mini-league" with Swansea, Southampton, Palace, West Ham and Everton.
Going off early season form, I'd be going for Swansea as your surprise entrant at the moment Trousers.
Can see Palace slipping away as I still find Dann & Delaney a bit iffy.
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Post by Vadiation_Ribe on Sept 1, 2015 21:30:39 GMT
I think it's unlikely in the near future. 6th is a possibility. I don't think West Ham or Crystal Palace will be anywhere near. Probably not Southampton either. So that leaves us, Swansea keep surprising me and maybe Everton (I've never rated Martinez). The surprise challenger to the top 8 or 9 could be Newcastle. I think we're best equipped to challenge for the top 6, but I don't think we'll finish that high and wouldn't like to predict it!
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Post by The Drunken Communist on Sept 1, 2015 22:07:37 GMT
And yet not a single person on the entire thread has actually said that or anything like it. Could it be that hardly anybody actually reads anything beyond the thread titles, and half the time they don't even read them properly. Twitter generation I guess. In fairness, why title your thread "A surprise Champions League Qualifier?" And then say "It's still a big ask for anyone outside the usual big 4 - Plus two more clubs after them - to make the Champions League"....... "But could we see an outsider sneak into the European Places?" Why not just title the thread "A surprise European contender?" (Although seeing as you then mention players who've signed for clubs like Swansea, West Ham & Stoke, who've played in Europe recently, would any of them be a surprise?) |
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Post by y_oh_y_delilah on Sept 1, 2015 22:34:47 GMT
. . . Can see Palace slipping away as I still find Dann & Delaney a bit iffy. Wouldn't mind that 'iffy' pair being the Stoke centre half's for the foreseeable future. |
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Post by Paul Spencer on Sept 1, 2015 23:03:19 GMT
From what we've seen so far the gap between the big 4 and the rest seems to have narrowed. Clubs like Swansea, Palace and West Ham have already won games that in previous years would have probably ended in defeats to the usual suspects. I think we're another team who are perfectly capable of pulling off a few surprise results. It's still a big ask for anyone outside the usual big 4, plus Liverpool and Tottenham, to qualify for The Champions League, but with some of the players that the mid-table clubs have added thanks to the extra TV money- Ayew, Payet, Cabaye and of course Shaqiri- could we see a real outsider actually sneak into the European places? I reckon one of them might get 6th this season, possibly at Tottenham's expense, which would still be a fair achievement. Can't see it being us but you can dream can't you... To quantify your post Trousers - could Swansea finish above ManU? It'd be a big ask but it's not a ridiculous suggestion, their depth of squad being the biggest issue (as it will be for any side outside of the top six). |
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Post by ayem on Sept 1, 2015 23:10:08 GMT
The money pouring in will only help close the gap. Players going for crazy money like de bruyne(who is definitely good) and martial aren't that much better than players like Shaqiri, yarmolenko, etc. It may come down to composition of players and managing. I'd put the likes of MH and Monk(though I want to punch his face) against van gaal and Rodgers any day on a level field.
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Post by samba :) on Sept 1, 2015 23:13:00 GMT
The money pouring in will only help close the gap. Players going for crazy money like de bruyne(who is definitely good) and martial aren't that much better than players like Shaqiri, yarmolenko, etc. It may come down to composition of players and managing. I'd put the likes of MH and Monk(though I want to punch his face) against van gaal and Rodgers any day on a level field. van gaal wouldn't know where to start at a club without money and the other way round for Hughes (qpr) |
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Post by Gods on Sept 1, 2015 23:17:12 GMT
I put us in a "Mini-league" with Swansea, Southampton, Palace, West Ham and Everton. Going off early season form, I'd be going for Swansea as your surprise entrant at the moment Trousers. Can see Palace slipping away as I still find Dann & Delaney a bit iffy. We'd better get going then, we're about 6 or 7 points behind most of that lot, and you can add a few more to that with Arsenal away up next  |
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Post by Paul Spencer on Sept 1, 2015 23:19:02 GMT
The money pouring in will only help close the gap. Players going for crazy money like de bruyne(who is definitely good) and martial aren't that much better than players like Shaqiri, yarmolenko, etc. It may come down to composition of players and managing. I'd put the likes of MH and Monk(though I want to punch his face) against van gaal and Rodgers any day on a level field. Yes that's an excellent way of quantifying it. |
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Post by samba :) on Sept 1, 2015 23:21:38 GMT
I put us in a "Mini-league" with Swansea, Southampton, Palace, West Ham and Everton. Going off early season form, I'd be going for Swansea as your surprise entrant at the moment Trousers. Can see Palace slipping away as I still find Dann & Delaney a bit iffy. We'd better get going then, we're about 6 or 7 points behind most of that lot, and you can add a few more to that with Arsenal away up next we've only played 4 games and one of them was with 9 men |
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Post by Gods on Sept 1, 2015 23:52:26 GMT
We'd better get going then, we're about 6 or 7 points behind most of that lot, and you can add a few more to that with Arsenal away up next we've only played 4 games and one of them was with 9 men Yes, I don't know if that makes it better or worse. |
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