Fourth place this year really is looking like it's going to be a tough long haul, It'll require the best of us. I think we have an advantage in that we really are doing the business against the top teams in and around us, however we're at a disadvantage as we're in the worst position at the moment, and we have serious problems finishing games off. I think it's fair to count City out of this argument, I also think only an optimist of Dreambelievers former stature could argue that United would get pulled down into the battle for the champions league, so it's a straight up five teams for two places.
I don't like to jinx them as they have been fantastic and they really proved it against United on Saturday, but Newcastle surely have to fall at some point, they've played four of the top six, picking up three points along the way, not great, I expect them to struggle similarly against us and Chelsea, and I do expect there momentum to run out soon. Hopefully for us it will, but hopefully they'll nick some points off of the others along the way, still I shouldn't write them off, they have been great, I just think they'll eventually falter.
Spurs are the team that really fuck me off amongst this lot. I can't speak rationally about this club as I hate them more than I've ever hated anything, they're constantly overrated and there fans are complete arses and working in London, people and papers make them out to be Barca on roids. Still hate aside, they're in the best position, by quite a way, however they've been on a very nice run lately of quite easy games, and the next few games are kind of them too. I don't think they're great against good opposition and there squad is very weak for me. They're kind of the opposite of what we are. I don't know if it's logical reason or just my hate for them, I do expect them to falter, probably around Christmas time into January, and once they falter, I don't think that squad (although Harry can) is the type to bounce right back, however the position there in is so great, will they falter enough?
Arsenal, are really quite unpredictable amongst this lot, they're rely on RVP to the max right now, but so what? He's fantastic, we relied on Torres (okay not quite as much) and came second, why can't Arsenal break into the top four with him playing like he is? Well it's summed up by the game at the weekend, Arsenal lose points at baffling of moments, and against the top sides they just don't seem to turn up this season. Not to mention an injury to RVP (which isn't a rarity) will leave them toothless. Still they always seem to rally when you least expect it, so you can never count them out.
Then it's just left with Chelsea really, they're the chronic underachievers this year, maybe suffering from old players not adapting to a new policy by a young and promising coach combined with players who clearly miss there old club. Chelsea for me have a grit though, a bit like United, even when they keep faltering, they'll be there or there abouts (even with their clown of a centre back). I think AVB is the right man for them, it's just going to take time. Next season will be a big one for them, they have Mata, Sturridge, Lukaku, Ramires and some other promising younger players, they have a strong base and will no doubt strengthen it further with more young promising players, they just need to pick themselves up now and soldier on. I think they'll beat Tottenham come 22nd of December and that will be a big pick up for them, and hopefully a big knock down for Spurs.
I've thought a lot about this since last week, and the result yesterday kinda concreted it for me, it was a great result at the end of the day, fantastic in fact, but the position we're in, and the point in the season we're now in, we really really needed three points to keep up with the pack. We are potentially 8 points behind Spurs and I don't have faith of beating Chelsea in the long haul. My heart says we'll do it, my head isn't so sure.
I think it'll be
City
United
Chelsea
Spurs
Liverpool
Arsenal
Newcastle
However and irrational, hopeful, side of me just has a gut feeling it'll be this
City
United
Chelsea
Liverpool
Spurs
Arsenal
Newcastle
We have a huge task ahead of us, and I'm glad from a neutral perspective that we've got such an exciting and close league this season, but why did it have to be this season of all seasons?
