Palace have conceded 7 goals against Hull and Swansea in the last 2 games. Nailed on the play out of their skins against us 
Fixtures over the next 30 days
- Thread starter Raoul
- Start date
I wouldn't have heard of their goalie before but nailed on he'll make 5000 saves and make Buffon look like a Sunday league goalie
You don't need to lose matches for points to be lost or for the team to be losing ground on the teams ahead. We have dropped so many points by drawing with teams we could/should have beaten.
There are many reasons to think that this team cannot win 3-4 matches in a row, we're seeing it in almost every match. Hopefully it's just me being extra cautious and I'm dead wrong in a month or so.
Nah, we've just been shit for a couple of years now
feck rotation.
Play the best team throughout and then ring the changes for the FA cup game. Confidence from this way, the way we've been playing and adrenalin will see the players through. We need to win at least 4 of these games to make anything of our season now.
Play the best team throughout and then ring the changes for the FA cup game. Confidence from this way, the way we've been playing and adrenalin will see the players through. We need to win at least 4 of these games to make anything of our season now.
I'm not really confident about these next two fixtures. Not that Palace or WBA are flying at the moment, it's more that we can't just finish all our chances properly and away from home it's mandatory to be clinical.
We were good and solid in our last away matches, but we conceded silly goals, so I'm just afraid of the same against these teams that won't sat and wait us. They all know that they can hurt us so that will be very difficult.
Palace A --> Draw
West Brom --> Draw
Sunderland H --> Win
Boro H --> Win
West Ham A --> Draw
We were good and solid in our last away matches, but we conceded silly goals, so I'm just afraid of the same against these teams that won't sat and wait us. They all know that they can hurt us so that will be very difficult.
Palace A --> Draw
West Brom --> Draw
Sunderland H --> Win
Boro H --> Win
West Ham A --> Draw
I look at that list and think 7-9 points is probably what will happen. We do need a run of wins though, if we won all 5 we'd have a decent shot at Top 4.
I do love the festive fixtures though, games coming think and fast. To hell with winter breaks.
I do love the festive fixtures though, games coming think and fast. To hell with winter breaks.
Really don't like Palace and WBA back to back away from home.
Hoping we can make it through those two with at least 4 points and it sets us up well for 2 home games between Xmas and New Year.
Hoping we can make it through those two with at least 4 points and it sets us up well for 2 home games between Xmas and New Year.
The days of yore are coming back. ......but not where we blast 5 from 5.
3 wins and two draw's will do me. We ARE getting there.
3 wins and two draw's will do me. We ARE getting there.
I imagine it'll be Ahley Young comng in for Valencia to overlap with Mata. No way Darmian plays anywhere but left back right now.
I think expecting five wins out of five is unrealistic, we'll probably batter all teams and somehow manage to draw at least 2 of them. My guess would be- given how well West Brom are playing and how well they did vs Chelsea, that they'll get a draw. Plus, David Moyes will come in and park the bus, we'll still batter them but Jordan Pickford will play like Gigi Buffon on steroids and they'll nick a draw, with the media falling over themselves making points comparisons between Jose and Moyes and suggesting Moyes should've been given more time.
My real concern is actually not Mkhitaryan's injury, because Mata has been playing very well, but rather with the games coming thick and fast, there is no way Carrick can play all the games. We've already seen how much better we look with him in the team, and with him being rested, inevitably Herrera and Pogba will have to drop deeper, with either Mata or Rooney completing the midfield trio depending on whether Jose picks Rooney or Lingard. Personally, I'd rather he picked Rooney, I think Rooney- Pogba- Herrera is a reasonable midfield and with Mata also drifting infield should give all four players a reasonable amount of freedom given we won't be playing teams that will put them under too much defensive pressure. It really is imperative that we find a Carrick replacement going into next season; her's hoping there is another Bailly-like gem out there on Jose's radar.
All of that said, Liverpool have now had a couple of poor results, Spurs have also looked a bit off in recent weeks and the wheels seem to be coming off for City. With City having games against Arsenal and Liverpool comng up, five wins out of five, and we may be onto something here. Anyway, I think we have a good chance at the EFL cup, and even though we finished second, I'd fancy ourselves against most teams in the Europa League draw so this season might yet be quite exciting.
Agreed. One of many reasons I enjoy the Premier League so much.
If we don't go on a run now, at least we won't see a thread of the type until next season.
I don't think we'll drop points at Palace because they're not the type of side we struggle against. They won't sit 11 men in front of their goal and strangle us. They can be dangerous going forward but we'll score goals against them.
West Brom on the other hand are a nightmare for us. Can't see us winning there, especially not after watching them against Chelsea this weekend.
West Brom on the other hand are a nightmare for us. Can't see us winning there, especially not after watching them against Chelsea this weekend.
4 wins would be brilliant but let's see. We're hard to predict at this moment in time. If we take our chances, we could get 12-13 points
We'll draw at least 2.
Loss of Mkhi is huge for us, especially as we will run into resolute defences who sit deep. I think Fellaini will actually have a part to play as a means of breaking them down.
The thing is we will pretty much need Zlatan to play all of these games, and he may be in the red-zone if that happens.
The thing is we will pretty much need Zlatan to play all of these games, and he may be in the red-zone if that happens.
He's only gone for what about a week or two ? I'm sure we can adapt with the likes of Mata involved.
Margins so fine though. From recent years of how visits to Palace and Hawthorns have gone, they have been very tough to break down. I'd much rather we were there with our most creative talents is all. Of course, we can win without Mkhitaryan, but we will find it harder to break teams down, and won't be as incisive.
12 minimum
We're playing them at the perfect time. They have a small squad and will suffer from playing 3 games in a week
Think we need to start scoring more. 8 goals in our last 9 league games:
And our goal difference is +4 compared to at least triple that for the teams above us. Getting our European/cup scoring form in the league would hugely help with confidence. Like you say, City have tough fixtures coming up without Fernandinho and Aguero so great opportunity to close in on them.
Yeah, that's the issue
- 8 goals in 9 games
- 1 goal in October
- big gap between the top 4 and the others in offensive terms
Palace and West Brom will be good indicators to how far Jose has actually got this team playing. Without HM, how will he approach two tough fixtures (and they are tough away from home). I actually do think both are winnable games, but he needs to have a go at them because both will score. Plus side is that 6 points from these and the team will be full of confidence - obvious statement but they are tough away fixtures without our new best player.
I think the goalscoring issue will resolve itself. Mkhitaryan looks like he will add a fair few from the right, We have seen some signs of Martial rediscovering last season's form and an "off form" Zlatan has still chipped in with 8 league goals and 5 (I think) in other competitions.
Then we can include Rooney and Mata who can contribute and surely Pogba will score more than he has been.
The main thing is that we are creating more chances and getting into positions. The shots that have been hitting the post, or saved my seemingly robot 'keepers, will soon turn into goals and a few teams will get smashed by 5+.
Sorry for the positive post, I seem to have started the day in a good mood
Then we can include Rooney and Mata who can contribute and surely Pogba will score more than he has been.
The main thing is that we are creating more chances and getting into positions. The shots that have been hitting the post, or saved my seemingly robot 'keepers, will soon turn into goals and a few teams will get smashed by 5+.
Sorry for the positive post, I seem to have started the day in a good mood
3 draws and 2 wins at our going rate.
4 wins and 1 draw if we have finally turned a corner.
4 wins and 1 draw if we have finally turned a corner.
Palace have a shocking defensive record. Swansea of all teams scored five against them. I'm certain we'll score 2 but I admit i'm worried about Bentekkers.
We should be winning all 5 but you can guarantee at least one of those team's keeper having a worldie
1 down 4 to go
West Brom will be a much tougher game.
It's simple. We have less difficult games, and we need to win all of them. West Brom are in good form, but we are too, and should dispatch them. The other games, you can't realistic expect less complicated games than those.
The next game is looking like it will be a real test, especially with some rotation to be expected. Without Carrick i'm far less confident, so i'm hoping he can start on Saturday.
Carrick is certainly playing against WB. Our next game after the West Brom one is 9 days away, there is no point resting Carrick and he is perfectly able to play that game. He's 35, not some dying grandpa.
Carrick and our wide players will be key. We lacked serious pace until Rashford and Lingard came on, and even then I wouldnt want to be relying on either in what is such a huge game for our season.
It's gonna be tough...
It's gonna be tough...
WBA will be the hardest one to score against. I think it's about time Pogba puts his shooting boots on and scores a 30 yard screamer.
After I saw them vs Chelsea with 6 at the back. I just hope they will open up a bit since they are playing at home.
Fingers crossed I really want us to Win against them.
After I saw them vs Chelsea with 6 at the back. I just hope they will open up a bit since they are playing at home.
Fingers crossed I really want us to Win against them.
I think WBA will set up too defensively against United and offer little threat. In this instance, I'm fairly convinced that you will break them down and have a day that is much more comfortable than it should be. Sunderland is a banker. If these two things happen, I'd suspect Middlesbrough could get something out of the game at Old Trafford because they are usually solid defensively and United have been a constant case of two steps forward and one step back. West Ham have the potential to beat you if they show up but who knows what West Ham you'll get? I think their fans will be up for a cold new year's game under the lights and it could be a banana skin for yous.
I'll go for an optimistic 9/12 from your next four.
I'll go for an optimistic 9/12 from your next four.
Don't look now but we are currently 4 points off 2nd place with Sunderland, Boro, and West Ham ahead.
Hopefully City and arsenal draw tomorrow, and Everton beat Liverpool on Monday.
Yep, completely realistic for that to happen. We could easily find ourselves within a point or so of 4th going into 2017.
2 down, 3 to go
Yep, and I can't see Arsenal being as good in the second half of the shanks as they were the first, nor Liverpool.
I'm now quietly confidently about top 4.
Just have to keep doing what we're doing. An abundance of confidence flowing through this team atm, look capable of beating anyone.