Paullow

Shit.

Argh. Everton's best chance by a mile there.

I think Spurs have generally looked more threatening. Had more of the ball, and got into some OK positions, but Everton have defended quite well. Kane could have had a couple, probably should have scored a header. I could possibly see Everton nicking a 1-0 as they often have under Dyche, but think Spurs look more likely to score first, and while Everton did come back twice vs Chelsea, I think if Spurs do take the lead, it'll be very hard for Everton to get anything out of it.

First 10-15 minutes was OK, but aye, been fairly poor since then. Mind, while I'm invested, and it's currently a result I'd be happy with, I'm OK watching relative dross. A potential late Spurs winner would be annoying though if the second half is similar and you've sat through it all.

Yeah, I'm watching and thinking probably 0-2, but then we play them a few weeks later and I'll be thinking it's a really tough away match. Guess it's still the Ashley mindset somewhat.

Can't see this staying 0-0 for too long. Better start to the game (for neutrals, which I'm not) than I was expecting.

A draw wouldn't be bad as Spurs would still stay below us having played 2 games more, and it would probably be considered 2 points dropped considering they are circa 5/4 favourites, but I'm far more interested in Newcastle's fortunes than what I might quite like to see happen at the other end, so definitely hoping for a home win tonight.

Yeah, it would be surprising / disappointing if we only lost 3 games in 27 up until now, and then lost 3 in a row. I'm sure it won't happen, but individually we can very much lose each of the next 3, even something like 2 draws and a loss is not that unfeasible, but would obviously be a very poor return, and hopefully we get at least 4 points. I'm just going to take each game as it comes, and continue to hope that the others around us drop points to make the task easier for us. We are in a great position - not sure I've seen us as short as 1/2 before, but I'm still in the mindset of being 'fine with 6th' for this season. The results have gone fantastic for us these past 3 weeks or so since the Wolves match - we have taken 9 points (from 3 games), Man Utd 1 (from 2), Spurs 4 (from 2, play tonight), Liverpool 0 (from 2), Brighton 5 (from 3), Brentford 5 (from 4), so we have gained on all of them, significantly in some cases, but that also shows that things can change quite quickly. Man Utd have gone from being supposedly in the title race to possibly outside the top 4 tonight in a few weeks.

It's not looking great for Southampton, and they are as it stands by far the most likely to go down in terms of odds, and their remaining fixtures aren't great, but I can still remember Sunderland giving themselves yet another stay of execution in 2014 under Poyet. Look where they were in mid April after 32 games. Only two more points than Southampton, a worse PPG, 6 games to go, 7 points adrift and trips to Man City, Chelsea, and Man Utd in their next 4 matches. You'd normally think win your 6 pointer against Cardiff and nick a point or two in those other 3 games and that would be a good return, but they somehow ended up with 10 points, and ended up getting out of with a game or two to spare. There were no signs of an upturn at that point either. Awful GD, so not like they were narrowly losing 1-0 most of the time. They did get to the League Cup final a few months earlier, but then Southampton got to the SF this season putting out Man City, and Sunderland had only 1 point from 8 games prior to that Man City match. There's obviously Leicester too just a year or so later under Pearson. I do fear for Forest though and I'd like them to stay up, but they were close to taking 4 points from their last two home games, both at home, but ended up with only 1, and they really will need an upturn in away form out of nowhere. I think it'll be those 2 and one other. Bournemouth most likely in terms of odds, but they have won 3 of their last 6 and the games they didn't win were away at in form Villa, Arsenal and home to Man City, so they are definitely giving themselves a fighting chance, and have a few decent looking, albeit huge, fixtures, as astras post shows. I'm just delighted we don't need worry about it as we'd clearly be in the thick of it again without the takeover, if we somehow managed to stay up under Brucie last season.

Yeah, 5 points would be great. It would mean 2 more draws, but draws against the likes of City at home, Arsenal and Man Utd away, Brighton away, and one or two others are very much points gained, and if we were to draw at 2 of Villa, West Ham, and Brentford, and win the other, the same would apply there. At home to any of those sides would generally be considered 2 points dropped pre match.

It didn't take too long, got lucky with my first page search of around 60 and worked from there - came across this fascinating looking thread as well on my first page search

12 managers getting sacked after just circa 28 games is crazy, 2 teams sacking 2 permanent managers at this stage is even worse.

Yeah, not 100% similar, and Chelsea are in a worse situation than they were then, but they still have very talented players that could turn up at any time, probably more so now that they have taken action. Similar energy on this thread back then: Posted April 17, 2012 On 17/04/2012 at 09:33, nufc4eva said: I don't get how Chelsea winning Champions League (Not going to happen) would prevent 6th going into europa. Surely they would take 4th place spot, 5th would take the spot and there would still be FA cup place? - is it not just substituting teams ? why would UEFA remove a europa place when we would then have less teams in europe? They're not. This isn't happening. Chelsea won't win the Champions League. I don't think Chelsea shutting out Barca means they're going to win the Champions League. I'm slightly more worried about it now, but it won't happen. I still think Barca will finish them off in them off in the 2nd leg, but even if Chelsea pull it off i reckon Madrid or Bayern would beat them in the final...... There was definitely a consensus that 'it was not going to happen', and was extremely unlikely, but it did. It's more matches this time, but still just 5 matches, and they've only 12/1, so not like some 50/1 no hoper.

Spurs fans would have thought similar in 2011/12 when they finished 4th and an out of sorts Chelsea with Di Matteo as caretaker manager had to beat reigning CL champs Barcelona over 2 legs in the semi final and then Bayern Munich in the final in the German's home stadium, but they did, and Spurs missed out (that was our season finishing 5th under Pardew, would have been gutting if it was us...), so while extremely unlikely they will beat Real, then City/Bayern in the SF, and then the final, you can't fully rule it out.

There can be 5 English teams in the CL, but not 6, so we'll be fine in 4th if Man Utd finish outside top 4 and win the Europa, or if we finish 4th and Chelsea win the CL, but NOT if both of those situations occur. If English sides won both (bigger) European competitions and neither finished in the top 4, then 4th place would miss out, although that scenario is pretty unlikely. I've replied to Llwydiarth there, but they didn't really answer NUFCDoog's question - if Man Utd finish 3rd and win the Europa. 5th would NOT get in the CL.

At least we can all 100% want Chelsea to beat Liverpool on Tuesday. There's no way they will pass us in the league now.

Chelsea have definitely improved as the match ahs gone on, dominating the stats.. Looks like they have a goal disallowed here. Still 0-1.

Imagine if Villa didn't have Stevie G for the first 12 or so games. Good signs for them long term mind.

Good save by Martinez, albeit from his own mistake. I think if Chelsea score early, they will go on to win fairly comfortably. If they did win then they would temporarily go within 6 points of us (albeit played 2 games more), but they play Liverpool on Tuesday, which would become a bigger match generally, and at least one of them would obviously be dropping points there. Watkins with a great chance just now. It's been a decent start to the match.

But while what you say is currently true (albeit hand picked to suit), on the other hand, if Chelsea get just a solitary point later today then their (Brighton) 'top 9' record will suddenly become W3 D3 L3, which looks significantly better, and will be pretty respectable, and will feel far more legit having matches against a traditionally strong team like Chelsea in it than a newly promoted side like Fulham when analysing results against the 'better' teams. Our record against the current top 8 and Chelsea is 3W 4D 3L, so not much different.

I'm quite looking forward to it to be honest. Quite an interesting game, and Villa being in form adds to the intrigue. It doesn't massively affect us (which is also quite nice), but I probably hope it's a draw, just to keep them both more at arms length. A draw will be a good result on paper for Villa (like Sunderland last night), but both really need to win if they are going to threaten the top 6.

Thought that was Brighton with the winner there the way Jeff was celebrating (his son supports them, so he obviously likes them), but forgot about Hartlepool

Just stuck £2 on Brighton to win at 15/2, just in case

Looks like a penalty to Brighton. 10 men? Hopefully they don't get a winner.

Cardiff 2 Swansea 2. This match is pretty much always on TV, or at least moved to 12.30 for crowd reasons if not selected. They probably will have, but not sure I've ever seen it be a normal 3pm KO before.