Is it too early?
I still think there is a small small chance. we would have to beat manure at old trafford and hope chelski beat manure at the bridge and then get some favourable results. we are 11/1 to win the league now. i'm gonna put a bet on that...we must still get behind the team. you never know...but its unlikely!
If you haven"t noticed we have picked up 4pts out of the last 15. It is all over. we have just the CL to play for.lincs123 wrote:I still think there is a small small chance. we would have to beat manure at old trafford and hope chelski beat manure at the bridge and then get some favourable results. we are 11/1 to win the league now. i'm gonna put a bet on that...we must still get behind the team. you never know...but its unlikely!
augie wrote:Matt M wrote:Ofcourse our chance isn't gone!
It doesn't look good, but we still have a chance.
Matt for the love of jesus come back down into the real world man. Truth be told we had blown our chances before today but if you think that we still are in with a chance after todays defeat then you need therapy
People said in 1998 when we were 11 points behind Man Utd at Christmas that we had no chance. Bookies even paid out on Man Utd.
Ofcourse those same people completely denied saying such things when we ended up winning the league, and I guarentee you were one of them judging by the above comments
So to say our chance of winning the league is gone now, is rather silly.
Ofcourse it doesn't look like we're going to win it now, but to say, with a certain arrogance (which is odd), that we have no chance is something else.
I wouldn't put money on us winning it. But I do have a belief that if we win every one of our remaining games, then we will be champions.
Whether that can happen or not is just something nobody knows for sure.
EXACTLY MATE!Matt M wrote:augie wrote:Matt M wrote:Ofcourse our chance isn't gone!
It doesn't look good, but we still have a chance.
Matt for the love of jesus come back down into the real world man. Truth be told we had blown our chances before today but if you think that we still are in with a chance after todays defeat then you need therapy
People said in 1998 when we were 11 points behind Man Utd at Christmas that we had no chance. Bookies even paid out on Man Utd.
Ofcourse those same people completely denied saying such things when we ended up winning the league, and I guarentee you were one of them judging by the above comments
So to say our chance of winning the league is gone now, is rather silly.
Ofcourse it doesn't look like we're going to win it now, but to say, with a certain arrogance (which is odd), that we have no chance is something else.
I wouldn't put money on us winning it. But I do have a belief that if we win every one of our remaining games, then we will be champions.
Whether that can happen or not is just something nobody knows for sure.
We MUST win all of our games from now on, no hesitation, no dilly-dallying, no dawdling like Hleb does, just fucking put the ball in the back of the opposition's net! We should've beat Wigan, Boro, Birmingham and ch*lski, villa we played shit against a decent side, if us and chelsea beat manure then the title race is blown wide-open, and it would be handy to win 4-0 in every game now for goal-difference. If we win all our games left, and chelski draw one and lose one, and manure lose twice and draw once we've won it! HAVE FAITH!
Matt M wrote:augie wrote:Matt M wrote:Ofcourse our chance isn't gone!
It doesn't look good, but we still have a chance.
Matt for the love of jesus come back down into the real world man. Truth be told we had blown our chances before today but if you think that we still are in with a chance after todays defeat then you need therapy
People said in 1998 when we were 11 points behind Man Utd at Christmas that we had no chance. Bookies even paid out on Man Utd.
Ofcourse those same people completely denied saying such things when we ended up winning the league, and I guarentee you were one of them judging by the above comments
So to say our chance of winning the league is gone now, is rather silly.
Ofcourse it doesn't look like we're going to win it now, but to say, with a certain arrogance (which is odd), that we have no chance is something else.
I wouldn't put money on us winning it. But I do have a belief that if we win every one of our remaining games, then we will be champions.Whether that can happen or not is just something nobody knows for sure.
It is one thing being 11 pts down at christmas(with games in hand I might add) but another thing being 6 pts behind with only 7 games to go and displaying relegation type form
And lets get things straight - 1 bookie paid on manure that season and he did that for the publicity and of course he was a manc. Again that season we had momentum with us whereas right now our momentum is going down not up I understand fans wanting to defend their club to the death but anybody who thinks we are still in with a shout of winning this league is far beyond the point of insanity. I have not got involved in the age debate on this forum lately but I very much doubt that any of the older more experienced fans believe that if we win our last 7 games we will be champions - that is the stuff of fairytales and only kids believe in fairytales
augie wrote:Matt M wrote:augie wrote:Matt M wrote:Ofcourse our chance isn't gone!
It doesn't look good, but we still have a chance.
Matt for the love of jesus come back down into the real world man. Truth be told we had blown our chances before today but if you think that we still are in with a chance after todays defeat then you need therapy
People said in 1998 when we were 11 points behind Man Utd at Christmas that we had no chance. Bookies even paid out on Man Utd.
Ofcourse those same people completely denied saying such things when we ended up winning the league, and I guarentee you were one of them judging by the above comments
So to say our chance of winning the league is gone now, is rather silly.
Ofcourse it doesn't look like we're going to win it now, but to say, with a certain arrogance (which is odd), that we have no chance is something else.
I wouldn't put money on us winning it. But I do have a belief that if we win every one of our remaining games, then we will be champions.Whether that can happen or not is just something nobody knows for sure.
It is one thing being 11 pts down at christmas(with games in hand I might add) but another thing being 6 pts behind with only 7 games to go and displaying relegation type form
I understand fans wanting to defend their club to the death but anybody who thinks we are still in with a shout of winning this league is far beyond the point of insanity. I have not got involved in the age debate on this forum lately but I very much doubt that any of the older more experienced fans believe that if we win our last 7 games we will be champions - that is the stuff of fairytales and only kids believe in fairytales
To add to the patronizing age thing, I'm actually 27 years old.
It's simply common sense to say "yes, we still have a chance of winning the league".
It's insanity to say that we have no chance.
And that's not even an opinion, it's a fact, because mathmatically we do have a chance to win the league!
To say people who (correctly) say that yes we do have a chance of winning the league are insane, is somewhat over the top. And quite simply wrong.
For the record, I DON'T think we will win the league. I don't think we will win all our remaining games.
But to suggest we have no chance is ridiculous. It's nothing to do with 'defending your club to the death'.
So Everton and Liverpool fans must be sitting there thinking "We could still do it".... And Derby fans will be thinking "We could still stay up".Matt M wrote:It's simply common sense to say "yes, we still have a chance of winning the league".
It's insanity to say that we have no chance.
And that's not even an opinion, it's a fact, because mathmatically we do have a chance to win the league!
To say people who (correctly) say that yes we do have a chance of winning the league are insane, is somewhat over the top. And quite simply wrong.
For the record, I DON'T think we will win the league. I don't think we will win all our remaining games.
But to suggest we have no chance is ridiculous. It's nothing to do with 'defending your club to the death'.
I'm generally an optimist about Arsenal topics but there is a limit. We absolutely had to win yesterday to stand a chance (and even then it would have been very tough). Yes, literally speaking it's still a possibility that we could be crowned champions in May, but with seven games to go it's so unrealistic to think it could still happen. The CL is our target now. And then hopefully Wenger will see over the summer that to get the best out of this excellent group of young and previously unknown players, we need to get one to three established, top class players in.
26may1989 wrote:So Everton and Liverpool fans must be sitting there thinking "We could still do it".... And Derby fans will be thinking "We could still stay up".Matt M wrote:It's simply common sense to say "yes, we still have a chance of winning the league".
It's insanity to say that we have no chance.
And that's not even an opinion, it's a fact, because mathmatically we do have a chance to win the league!
To say people who (correctly) say that yes we do have a chance of winning the league are insane, is somewhat over the top. And quite simply wrong.
For the record, I DON'T think we will win the league. I don't think we will win all our remaining games.
But to suggest we have no chance is ridiculous. It's nothing to do with 'defending your club to the death'.
I'm generally an optimist about Arsenal topics but there is a limit. We absolutely had to win yesterday to stand a chance (and even then it would have been very tough). Yes, literally speaking it's still a possibility that we could be crowned champions in May, but with seven games to go it's so unrealistic to think it could still happen. The CL is our target now. And then hopefully Wenger will see over the summer that to get the best out of this excellent group of young and previously unknown players, we need to get one to three established, top class players in.
That's different and you know it. I said saying that Arsenal have a chance of winning the league isn't an opinion, it's a fact.
Saying Liverpool still have a chance of winning the league is a fact.
Very unlikely, but a fact nonetheless.
Which is why when anyone says Arsenal have 'no chance' of winning the league, it means they are incorrect.
And you can't compare Liverpool's chances with Arsenal's really.
The fact of the matter is, that if Arsenal win the remaining games (which includes beating Utd) they only need Utd and Chelsea to drop a few points here and there.
Why that is so outlandish to some here is beyond me.
As I've said before, I don't think we will win the league, but the throw in the towel mindset of some on here is disturbing.
Imagine if the players read this forum, they'd probably think "oh seeing as we have no chance, we may aswell not bother then"
Ok, you're digging your heels in, fair enough. I know you think we won't win the league, and that your point is that it's still a possibility, but I don't see anything wrong with accepting the position now - we need to make sure we get second spot (because we have been better than Chelsea this season, even if not United), battle on (because the players, the manager and the fans should always want to achieve the most possible) and above all focus on the CL.Matt M wrote:That's different and you know it. I said saying that Arsenal have a chance of winning the league isn't an opinion, it's a fact.
Saying Liverpool still have a chance of winning the league is a fact.
Very unlikely, but a fact nonetheless.
Which is why when anyone says Arsenal have 'no chance' of winning the league, it means they are incorrect.
And you can't compare Liverpool's chances with Arsenal's really.
The fact of the matter is, that if Arsenal win the remaining games (which includes beating Utd) they only need Utd and Chelsea to drop a few points here and there.
Why that is so outlandish to some here is beyond me.
As I've said before, I don't think we will win the league, but the throw in the towel mindset of some on here is disturbing.
Imagine if the players read this forum, they'd probably think "oh seeing as we have no chance, we may aswell not bother then"
I hate the fickleness and rank stupidity of the many Arsenal fans who think the sky has fallen in, that Wenger should be sacked (what the fuck??!) and that the whole season has been a failure. What a load of bullshit.
BUT, having got to February with a five-point lead, (being realistic) we have missed an opportunity none of us thought we'd get this season. Perhaps if the Eduardo injury had happened before the end of the January transfer window, Wenger would have signed Anelka, but he took a gamble and that gamble didn't pay off. I admire the fact that he resists the pressure people like us put on him to do the obvious thing and sign players we've all heard of, but this time just one big-name signing could have made the difference in our very gifted squad doing something truly remarkable and winning the league when no-one gave them a breath of a chance in August.
And we still can in the CL, and we definitely need to focus on lifting the players for that. This could yet be a glorious season.
26may1989 wrote:Ok, you're digging your heels in, fair enough. I know you think we won't win the league, and that your point is that it's still a possibility, but I don't see anything wrong with accepting the position now - we need to make sure we get second spot (because we have been better than Chelsea this season, even if not United), battle on (because the players, the manager and the fans should always want to achieve the most possible) and above all focus on the CL.Matt M wrote:That's different and you know it. I said saying that Arsenal have a chance of winning the league isn't an opinion, it's a fact.
Saying Liverpool still have a chance of winning the league is a fact.
Very unlikely, but a fact nonetheless.
Which is why when anyone says Arsenal have 'no chance' of winning the league, it means they are incorrect.
And you can't compare Liverpool's chances with Arsenal's really.
The fact of the matter is, that if Arsenal win the remaining games (which includes beating Utd) they only need Utd and Chelsea to drop a few points here and there.
Why that is so outlandish to some here is beyond me.
As I've said before, I don't think we will win the league, but the throw in the towel mindset of some on here is disturbing.
Imagine if the players read this forum, they'd probably think "oh seeing as we have no chance, we may aswell not bother then"
I hate the fickleness and rank stupidity of the many Arsenal fans who think the sky has fallen in, that Wenger should be sacked (what the fuck??!) and that the whole season has been a failure. What a load of bullshit.
BUT, having got to February with a five-point lead, (being realistic) we have missed an opportunity none of us thought we'd get this season. Perhaps if the Eduardo injury had happened before the end of the January transfer window, Wenger would have signed Anelka, but he took a gamble and that gamble didn't pay off. I admire the fact that he resists the pressure people like us put on him to do the obvious thing and sign players we've all heard of, but this time just one big-name signing could have made the difference in our very gifted squad doing something truly remarkable and winning the league when no-one gave them a breath of a chance in August.
And we still can in the CL, and we definitely need to focus on lifting the players for that. This could yet be a glorious season.
I think we all accept the position now, but I just disagree with people who think we have 'no chance' of winning the league when we clearly do.
If our only goal left in the league is to go for second spot, then we may aswell play our Carling Cup team for the rest of the season, because 2nd or 3rd doesn't really matter, especially when we still have a slight chance of finishing top.
I just really don't think we should give up on the league. The players won't, and neither should the fans.
I think we can all pick at things that Wenger should or shouldn't have done, but everyone should remember that we've had an incredibly unlucky season - injuries, decisions going against us, playing very well and still not winning etc.
And as you said, it could still end up being a very special season, which makes our harbingers of doom even more irritating!
I think you are being economical with the truth dont you matt ? You are saying that we all accept it is unlikely we will win the league now but just a short while ago you stated that you believe that if we win all our remaining league games we will be champions. You also have just stated that all we need is to win our 7 games and for manure and chelski to drop points here and there and you say it like there is 15 games to go
Fact 1. We are not playing like a team that can win 7 league games in a row right now. Add to that the fact that one of those games is away to a manure side absolutely flying and with experience on how to actually win a league and I think you would have to say that it is unlikely.
Fact 2. We dont just need to win 7 games in a row. Manure would have to lose at least 1 more and draw another to enable us to overtake them. Add to that fact that even if that happened we still may not be champs cos we would also need chavski to slip up.
As I said before only a total fool could see us winning all 7 games, manure slipping up a total of 3 times in those 7 games and chavski slipping up too Of course technically it is still mathamatically possible but unlike some I prefer to live in a realistic world and not in some fairytale world where everything works out cos I want it to
Fact 1. We are not playing like a team that can win 7 league games in a row right now. Add to that the fact that one of those games is away to a manure side absolutely flying and with experience on how to actually win a league and I think you would have to say that it is unlikely.
Fact 2. We dont just need to win 7 games in a row. Manure would have to lose at least 1 more and draw another to enable us to overtake them. Add to that fact that even if that happened we still may not be champs cos we would also need chavski to slip up.
As I said before only a total fool could see us winning all 7 games, manure slipping up a total of 3 times in those 7 games and chavski slipping up too
Of course technically it is still mathamatically possible but unlike some I prefer to live in a realistic world and not in some fairytale world where everything works out cos I want it to augie wrote:I think you are being economical with the truth dont you matt ? You are saying that we all accept it is unlikely we will win the league now but just a short while ago you stated that you believe that if we win all our remaining league games we will be champions. You also have just stated that all we need is to win our 7 games and for manure and chelski to drop points here and there and you say it like there is 15 games to go
Fact 1. We are not playing like a team that can win 7 league games in a row right now. Add to that the fact that one of those games is away to a manure side absolutely flying and with experience on how to actually win a league and I think you would have to say that it is unlikely.
Fact 2. We dont just need to win 7 games in a row. Manure would have to lose at least 1 more and draw another to enable us to overtake them. Add to that fact that even if that happened we still may not be champs cos we would also need chavski to slip up.
As I said before only a total fool could see us winning all 7 games, manure slipping up a total of 3 times in those 7 games and chavski slipping up too
Yes, as I said I think it's unlikely we will win the league. I think it's unlikely we will win all of our remaining games, but if we DO (which is ofcourse possible) then I think we will be champions, simply because I think Man Utd and Chelsea are more than capable of dropping points and even losing games.
7 games to go is plenty of time for things to change, or have you forgotten that we were 5 points clear not so long ago and that changed around in less time.
I don't see what is so hard to understand about that
Response to 'Fact 1': As with many of our players this season, the team as a whole hasn't been consistent throughout the season. We've had good spells and bad. We've just had a bad spell, who is to say we might not now have another good spell and Utd a bad one?
Response to 'Fact 2': How many more times do I have to say I DON'T THINK WE WILL WIN ALL SEVEN GAMES!!
But, I hope I'm wrong. I hope my feelings that we won't win the league are wrong.
It's not about being right in saying we won't win the league, it's about supporting the team and just hoping that things go our way, especially when it's not the end of the season as some people seem to think.
At this point in time, with 7 games left, anything can happen.
Some of us would rather not be gloomy about the season and get on the backs of the team until it is actually all over.
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I think it's fair to say nobody thinks we are going to win the league but it is infact possible. The worst thing Arsenal do, and they do it to me again and again is give you hope. Just when you think it's going to happen they kick you in the balls.
I remember being in Paris at CL final and looking at clock and thinking "we only have 10 men but we are playing well 1 up and only about 12 mins to go". As soon as I said that to myself BANG 1.1 and you know your going to loose. When I left Villa park a couple of months ago I thought we didn't play well second half but won, that is league winning form.
So what a lot of people including me do is think we ain't going to win fcuk all then we don't feel so hurt when it all goes pete tong. Problem is in back of my mind I want it so much it hurts.
I will be going to Bolton next weekend thinking we are going to loose but if we do loose I will still be devastated. So it's a no win situation.
But you could be a spud fan and deep down expect nothing and most of the time get exactly what you expect.
I remember being in Paris at CL final and looking at clock and thinking "we only have 10 men but we are playing well 1 up and only about 12 mins to go". As soon as I said that to myself BANG 1.1 and you know your going to loose. When I left Villa park a couple of months ago I thought we didn't play well second half but won, that is league winning form.
So what a lot of people including me do is think we ain't going to win fcuk all then we don't feel so hurt when it all goes pete tong. Problem is in back of my mind I want it so much it hurts.
I will be going to Bolton next weekend thinking we are going to loose but if we do loose I will still be devastated. So it's a no win situation.
But you could be a spud fan and deep down expect nothing and most of the time get exactly what you expect.
Why we will win the league
Okay, I'm going to be as positive as possible about this (and I don't really believe we will win the league) and here is WHY WILL WIN THE LEAGUE:
Next weekend: 29-30 March
We will beat Bolton, I'm confident of that - leaving us above Chelsea, and only 3 points behind Man Utd. Arsenal win
Man Utd play next, but under a little bit more pressure against an Aston Villa side who got draws at Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool this season. Having said that, United should win. Man Utd win
Chelsea then play Middlesbrough on Sunday, who got a point at Arsenal, and will be confident having only lost 3 games since New Years' Day. Chelsea will be feeling the heat, back in 3rd and may rest players as they play in Turkey 3 days later. Chelsea win
So as you were then, but we've got our confidence back.
5-6 April:
Again, we play first, with a tough game against Liverpool. But, in between the big Champions League matches, I'm confident that Liverpool may rest one or two (particularly as after beating Everton there is a 5-point gap to 5th now), and that we will pick up the points. Arsenal win
Chelsea then face a trip to Man City, who are tough to score against, and keep grinding out decent results (they've only lost 4 in 16 in the League).
Chelsea will be finishing a Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday trot, tired from travelling to Turkey. I think they'll drop points here and we'll be 2nd. Draw
Man Utd play on the Sunday, but may have seen Chelsea slip the day before - hopefully they'll take it easy. I think they may only draw in Rome, so the 2nd leg will be vital. Middlesbrough consistently pick up points against United. They should win, but you never know. Man Utd win
Man Utd 79
Arsenal 73
Chelsea 72
13-14 April
Ok, this is make or break time.
Huge match at Old Trafford. Even if we are still 6 points behind at this point, a win here would blow the thing wide open - I don't think anyone could disagree with this. We have to believe we are good enough. Hopefully we will be on a post-Champions League high (minus the travelling). Van Persie should be firing by now, and Rosicky back too, this could be our moment to turn things around. Remember, the pressure will be on United, we're goners as far as the title is concerned. It's theirs to lose. Still, I think a draw wouldn't rule us out just yet. And its realistic. Draw
Again, Chelsea play after us on the Monday, under pressure, but I think they will still easily beat Wigan, and bring up 100 home games without defeat. Chelsea win
As you were, but we've proved we can cope with United. We're not out of it just yet.
19 April
All three teams in action on the Saturday, but again we go first, and if we have beaten United, we go level on points with them today when we see off Reading. Arsenal win
Chelsea play second, four points behind by now, and have a tough trip to Everton, who are desperate for the points for 4th place. I think they'll drop points here. Draw
Man Utd travel to Blackburn in the tea-time game and this could be a tough one for them. There is a chance they will drop points here, particularly if they have their eyes on a testing match with Barcelona in the Champions League, albeit a slim chance. Draw
Man Utd 81
Arsenal 77
Chelsea 76
26-28 April
Chelsea v Man Utd, 12.45 Saturday. Am banking on Chelsea to do us a fabour here. This is in between European games, but Chelsea will have played on the Tuesday in England, while Man Utd went to Barcelona on the Wednesday. I think a Chelsea win is easily possible. They will know that they must win to get back in the title race too. A draw is no good to them. Chelsea win
So we go to Derby, hopefully on the Saturday because it will mean we are still in Europe, and we'll surely win there! Arsenal win
Man Utd 81
Arsenal 80
Chelsea 79
3-4 May
We have Everton at home, who might be out of the race for a Champions League spot by now (Liverpool have had a nice run: Blackburn, Fulham, Birmingham). We'll win this one. Arsenal win
Chelsea go to Newcastle, but we're more interested in overhauling Man Utd by now. Chelsea win
Man Utd v West Ham: How we'd love a Hammers favour. I think we'll get one too - like last day of the season last year. West Ham will be confident, they've beaten Derby and Newcastle in the past 2 weeks, while Man Utd will be starting to panic. Draw
Arsenal 83
Man Utd 82
Chelsea 82
Final weekend
We go to Sunderland, where Keane will be looking to ruin it for us.
Man Utd go to Wigan, where Bruce will do 'em a favour.
And Chelsea host Bolton, which is 3 points in the bag.
But it's in our hands by now, which is a miracle. And we're not gonna blow it.
Thats how we win the thing, by a point.
Ok - so you reckon Man Utd won't draw against Blackburn and West Ham?
Quite possibly you're right. But then again when it really matters, we might beat them at Old Trafford, and it will be in our hands, a week earlier.
This is how we win the thing.
I really think it helps that we play first the next two weekends, meaning that we feel in the title race, as we're back to just 3 behind.
If Chelsea, 5 points behind, are in it, then so are we, surely. They should drop points along the line, with trips to Everton and Man City to come. Both Man Utd and Chelsea will have European trips abroad, while we won't.
Anyone convinced? I'm feeling more positive already.
Next weekend: 29-30 March
We will beat Bolton, I'm confident of that - leaving us above Chelsea, and only 3 points behind Man Utd. Arsenal win
Man Utd play next, but under a little bit more pressure against an Aston Villa side who got draws at Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool this season. Having said that, United should win. Man Utd win
Chelsea then play Middlesbrough on Sunday, who got a point at Arsenal, and will be confident having only lost 3 games since New Years' Day. Chelsea will be feeling the heat, back in 3rd and may rest players as they play in Turkey 3 days later. Chelsea win
So as you were then, but we've got our confidence back.
5-6 April:
Again, we play first, with a tough game against Liverpool. But, in between the big Champions League matches, I'm confident that Liverpool may rest one or two (particularly as after beating Everton there is a 5-point gap to 5th now), and that we will pick up the points. Arsenal win
Chelsea then face a trip to Man City, who are tough to score against, and keep grinding out decent results (they've only lost 4 in 16 in the League).
Chelsea will be finishing a Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday trot, tired from travelling to Turkey. I think they'll drop points here and we'll be 2nd. Draw
Man Utd play on the Sunday, but may have seen Chelsea slip the day before - hopefully they'll take it easy. I think they may only draw in Rome, so the 2nd leg will be vital. Middlesbrough consistently pick up points against United. They should win, but you never know. Man Utd win
Man Utd 79
Arsenal 73
Chelsea 72
13-14 April
Ok, this is make or break time.
Huge match at Old Trafford. Even if we are still 6 points behind at this point, a win here would blow the thing wide open - I don't think anyone could disagree with this. We have to believe we are good enough. Hopefully we will be on a post-Champions League high (minus the travelling). Van Persie should be firing by now, and Rosicky back too, this could be our moment to turn things around. Remember, the pressure will be on United, we're goners as far as the title is concerned. It's theirs to lose. Still, I think a draw wouldn't rule us out just yet. And its realistic. Draw
Again, Chelsea play after us on the Monday, under pressure, but I think they will still easily beat Wigan, and bring up 100 home games without defeat. Chelsea win
As you were, but we've proved we can cope with United. We're not out of it just yet.
19 April
All three teams in action on the Saturday, but again we go first, and if we have beaten United, we go level on points with them today when we see off Reading. Arsenal win
Chelsea play second, four points behind by now, and have a tough trip to Everton, who are desperate for the points for 4th place. I think they'll drop points here. Draw
Man Utd travel to Blackburn in the tea-time game and this could be a tough one for them. There is a chance they will drop points here, particularly if they have their eyes on a testing match with Barcelona in the Champions League, albeit a slim chance. Draw
Man Utd 81
Arsenal 77
Chelsea 76
26-28 April
Chelsea v Man Utd, 12.45 Saturday. Am banking on Chelsea to do us a fabour here. This is in between European games, but Chelsea will have played on the Tuesday in England, while Man Utd went to Barcelona on the Wednesday. I think a Chelsea win is easily possible. They will know that they must win to get back in the title race too. A draw is no good to them. Chelsea win
So we go to Derby, hopefully on the Saturday because it will mean we are still in Europe, and we'll surely win there! Arsenal win
Man Utd 81
Arsenal 80
Chelsea 79
3-4 May
We have Everton at home, who might be out of the race for a Champions League spot by now (Liverpool have had a nice run: Blackburn, Fulham, Birmingham). We'll win this one. Arsenal win
Chelsea go to Newcastle, but we're more interested in overhauling Man Utd by now. Chelsea win
Man Utd v West Ham: How we'd love a Hammers favour. I think we'll get one too - like last day of the season last year. West Ham will be confident, they've beaten Derby and Newcastle in the past 2 weeks, while Man Utd will be starting to panic. Draw
Arsenal 83
Man Utd 82
Chelsea 82
Final weekend
We go to Sunderland, where Keane will be looking to ruin it for us.
Man Utd go to Wigan, where Bruce will do 'em a favour.
And Chelsea host Bolton, which is 3 points in the bag.
But it's in our hands by now, which is a miracle. And we're not gonna blow it.
Thats how we win the thing, by a point.
Ok - so you reckon Man Utd won't draw against Blackburn and West Ham?
Quite possibly you're right. But then again when it really matters, we might beat them at Old Trafford, and it will be in our hands, a week earlier.
This is how we win the thing.
I really think it helps that we play first the next two weekends, meaning that we feel in the title race, as we're back to just 3 behind.
If Chelsea, 5 points behind, are in it, then so are we, surely. They should drop points along the line, with trips to Everton and Man City to come. Both Man Utd and Chelsea will have European trips abroad, while we won't.
Anyone convinced? I'm feeling more positive already.
