Shadow Puppets

I'm predicting a draw and anything else is a bonus. Depends which Spurs show up, and depends on how much momentum we can build early on. If we come out of the blocks and get an early goal, the crowd get going etc, I can see a comfortable win, but my head says Spurs are better than we give them credit for.

Just catching up with this. I agree with what most have said, I think the normal flags should be present every game, and maybe big surfers for 9 or 10 big games during the season. However, for games like Sunday, I really think it's important we get flags or scarves or pieces of paper etc on every seat... like last year's Arsenal game. That game felt the most intimidating to me.

I personally can't see us not winning at least 3 games, but could feasibly win 5 in my opinion, if we show up and perform how we have been. St James' will be rocking for Spurs, Brighton, Arsenal... I could definitely see us winning two of those. Weirdly I'm more concerned about the likes of Southampton and Leicester at home and Everton away. Games where the crowd might not be bang up for it which can sometimes seep down onto the pitch.

He's been pretty conservative with some of our results though. Drawing with Spurs, Brighton, Arsenal and Everton and losing to Chelsea. Rest wins.

It's clearly working a treat ?

Even if we don't beat Spurs it's still infinitely doable. Liverpool just aren't going to get maximum points from their last 8 games. In fact, I'll wager that they'll drop points away at West Ham and potentially at home to Spurs next week.

Just done a predictor where Liverpool win all of their remaining games. They can get a maximum of 71 points. We would still finish above them on 72 points if we manage to achieve... Spurs (h) - W Everton (a) - D Southampton (h) - W Arsenal (h) - D Brighton (h) - D Leeds (a) - W Leicester (h) - W Chelsea (a) - D I mean chances are we may lose one or two of those (or we might even win more), but the chances are Liverpool aren't going to get maximum points either considering yesterday's win was their first in their last 5 games. I do think they've got a relatively easy run in, but there's still teams in there that will at least get a couple of draws.

If we get another 12 points we'll almost definitely be finishing top 4 like.

Great! (Should we make it)

On paper, if we play as we know we can at home, we should win. But I keep having nightmares of Liverpool at home... injuries and red cards. Fingers crossed it's a great atmosphere and dominant performance.

I haven't followed the Champions League closely in years... do 4th place still have to go through a qualifying stage in order to reach the group stages?

The game reminded me of NUFC vs Man Utd, but this time we were on the receiving end. A good team that couldn't get going, getting battered by a team that was clicking in everything they did.

I wouldn’t class any of our remaining games as easy. All away games are tricky against teams battling for points. The home games are against decent teams. We just need to continue our points per game ratio and we’ll be fine.

Patchy ?

Eh? Define “recently”? Wolves at home = Good deserved win Forest away = Excellent performance and deserved win Man Utd home = played them off the park and won West Ham away = largely very good performance, barring about 20 poor minutes. Brentford away = poor first half, excellent second half Villa away = very poor

VAR check!!!

2-2 Spurs

I think (hope) we can put that one down to a very bad day at the office. Pretty much every player had a stinker, particularly in midfield. Those games thankfully are few and far between these days! Only real positive was seeing Miggy back. Villa were excellent ?

Very poor half. Midfield has been non existent, weirdly, considering it’s arguably our strongest 3. Gordon’s been poor. Murphy ok (one great cross). Everyone else just not reacting anywhere near fast enough.

We need Man Utd to beat Spurs mind

I love big Jo and Willock but I do understand people’s frustrations with Willock from time to time. For me he’s so close to being an excellent player, but I find myself, at least 2 or 3 times per game getting wound up because he appears to be needing an extra touch on the ball, or doesn’t react to a situation fast enough. Also needs to seriously work on his finishing to be a true top player. Big Jo is the more enjoyable player to watch IMO. But I do love them both.

I maintain… and I’ve messed with the predictors 5 or 6 times now… that if we draw with spurs and win 3 more games no one will catch us. Pretty much all scenarios I’ve worked, and I’ve tried to be really downbeat on our results, still lead to us finishing 4th on between 68 and 72 points.

Kind of hope Man Utd get moving again. If we avoid defeat to Spurs and Man Utd can beat them away, then we are almost a shoe-in for top 4. Done 3 predictors and we can get away with only winning 3 more games.

I have us finishing 4th on 69 points, 5 points ahead of Spurs. That includes us only winning against Brighton (h), Leicester (h), Southampton (h)… draws with Spurs (h), Villa (a), Everton (a), Leeds (a), and losses to Arsenal (h) and Chelsea (a). Also includes Man Utd beating Spurs away though.