Spurs, Liverpool or Arsenal for Top 4?

I don't know, people go on about Arsenal's second half of the season performances but Liverpool's sort of go out of the window... we were up there in the second half as well. I think we only lost 2 of out last 15 games.

Mignolet is a massive signing for us. We lost games because of Reina's inconsistency. So he's an improvement, but he's the only real improvement in the starting XI. Aspas and Alberto are simply there for depth.

I have no faith in Kolo Toure. If we sign a new CB, I can see us challenging the others and surprising a few.  Not to say we will get there, but I can see us putting up a fight.

We also have improved from last season.

This is the first Liverpool team to in 4 years or so to play a consistent playing style from the prior season. Players have matured (Sterling etc) and Lucas looks back to his best. We also kept Suarez, who will put in 100% to those that have their doubts.

If we sort out our defence, we will be lot closer to top 4 compared to previous season.

Liverpool I cheer for them

DeviAngel wrote:Liverpool I cheer for them

We are not going to sign Matri, btw,

I believe Arsenal and Tottenham can/will both break into the top 4. Way too much respect is automatically given to man city and chelsea this year.

City will have a lack of chemistry, totally new manager to the epl, Silva & Dzeko not firing for a while buying a whole country of players isn't the best strategy. They have the squad to cope but if a determined Tottenham or Arsenal get at them they should worry.

Chelsea's strike force is questionable. Mourinho never likes a poacher like Ba, and he will probably use Lukaku this year if he doesn't get anyone else. Also with a lack of strength in Chelsea's midfield it's obvious to me that Chelsea will have a fight on their hands.

If Tottenham keep their bale and Arsenal get a gustavo or a few good key players anything can happen.

HEIL MEIN REDS wrote:

DeviAngel wrote:Liverpool I cheer for them

We are not going to sign Matri, btw,

that makes me sad and happy in same time, I hope he doesn't end up in Napoli

Spurs if they keep Bale.

United will finish 4th. arsenal are going to finish 3rd. based on second half of 2012-13.

DeviAngel wrote:

HEIL MEIN REDS wrote:

DeviAngel wrote:Liverpool I cheer for them

We are not going to sign Matri, btw,

:(that makes me sad and happy in same time, I hope he doesn't end up in Napoli

But do you really think that Napoli will challenge juve for title? Saw Higuain yday, he was in tremendous form, seems like great signing for them if he could d same what he did for NT

Arsenal won't fail to make the top4, they'll scrape through somehow.

I would personally love a Liverpool resurgence, though.

VivaStPauli wrote:Arsenal won't fail to make the top4, they'll scrape through somehow.

I would personally love a Liverpool resurgence, though.

nice to see people cheering for liverpool

Spuds easily..

Arsenal have an established footballing identity and team ethic. They also have a competent coach so they'd be my pick out of the three teams mentioned. Problem is the law of averages will eventually catch up with them. If my years following Wigan have taught me anything is that you can only walk the tight rope for so long before you fall off. Arsenal need to try and get a legit title push from their team at least that way they'll have a better chance of finishing top 4. If they set 4th as their target from the get go I don't think they'll make it. Like I said though they're my pick if only because I know they can do it and they probably know that as well.

Spurs have on paper at least a better squad and probably the best attacking player in the league if you ask me, so they have a chance for sure. Problem is there are doubts about whether Spurs can step up when they need to and I personally don't think they have it in them, but if I'm proven wrong on that front then I can see them finishing top 3. AVB is a good coach, he's not as good as he thinks he is imo but he won't do a bad job, plus he is imo a good motivator.

Liverpool always seem to struggle against the smaller teams. If you want to make the top 4 you need to avoid the dropping of valuable points to teams well below you on the table. They usually do well against teams around and above them but those points should be seen as a bonus for them because imo they have the weakest personnel on their squad. They seem to be building a good team ethic though so that might give them a shot but I don't think they have the individual quality needed to beat the weaker teams with the machine like consistency that United or Chelsea have for example. Also I'm not completely sold on Rodgers just yet, his tactics aren't bad per se but I don't think he has character to really will his team on during a long season.

You may as well add Chelsea , and possibly everton as well on that list.

Zealous wrote:Arsenal have an established footballing identity and team ethic. They also have a competent coach so they'd be my pick out of the three teams mentioned. Problem is the law of averages will eventually catch up with them. If my years following Wigan have taught me anything is that you can only walk the tight rope for so long before you fall off. Arsenal need to try and get a legit title push from their team at least that way they'll have a better chance of finishing top 4. If they set 4th as their target from the get go I don't think they'll make it. Like I said though they're my pick if only because I know they can do it and they probably know that as well.

Spurs have on paper at least a better squad and probably the best attacking player in the league if you ask me, so they have a chance for sure. Problem is there are doubts about whether Spurs can step up when they need to and I personally don't think they have it in them, but if I'm proven wrong on that front then I can see them finishing top 3. AVB is a good coach, he's not as good as he thinks he is imo but he won't do a bad job, plus he is imo a good motivator.

Liverpool always seem to struggle against the smaller teams. If you want to make the top 4 you need to avoid the dropping of valuable points to teams well below you on the table. They usually do well against teams around and above them but those points should be seen as a bonus for them because imo they have the weakest personnel on their squad. They seem to be building a good team ethic though so that might give them a shot but I don't think they have the individual quality needed to beat the weaker teams with the machine like consistency that United or Chelsea have for example. Also I'm not completely sold on Rodgers just yet, his tactics aren't bad per se but I don't think he has character to really will his team on during a long season.

Interestingly enough, last season only United and Arsenal picked up more points against bottom 10 teams in the league than us. We fixed our problem of struggling against scrubs and often beat them with 4/5/6 goals, whereas we struggled against top teams. Key will be finding the right balance.

I think it's too early for the thread, as a lot can happen until end of the window. We could sign up to 3-4 players and that could make a lot of difference. but as it stands, Spurs have the best squad of all 3 teams. But they have to cope with EL and well their bottling mentality.

I was gonna make that point... Last season the issue was brief mental lapses against top teams (both games against City, red card against ManU, both games against Everton, letting up 2 goals in five minutes against Arsenal, etc. etc.) which cost us points rather than poor performances against bottom sides. While I'd love to iron out the West Brom/Aston Villa fluke games from last year, realistically we're not going to go undefeated against the bottom 10, so if we could just hold on to a few more of those wins against top teams I'd be happy.

Anyone saying we should add Chelsea is incredibly deluded.

Everton have zero chance of competing.

Defensive mid tottenham  

EL Patron wrote:Defensive mid tottenham  

Because they didnt sign Holtby, Dembele and Siggurdsson over the past couple of months.

I have a feeling Arsenal is gonna win the league this season actually. And Spurs could very easily take one of the other 3 out of the Top 4. United central midfield is still a weak point, Vidic and Ferdinand are both done, Rooneys unhappy and Fergie is gone. City is just a clusterf*ck of big players but still haven't shown that they're a real quality TEAM. And Chelsea I personally just don't find that strong. Lampard, Terry, Torres, etc are done, and Hazard and Mourinho and a few others cant carry them forever. Liverpool is out of the question honestly. They've been getting better but not quite good enough for Top 4.

EL Patron wrote:Defensive mid tottenham  

The only DM's at Tottenham right now are Sandro and Capoue, the latter of which was brought in because of his ability to play CB as well.

something-red wrote:You don't get top four by aiming for a European spot.
You get top four by aiming on winning the league. (Even if you fall off 10+ points, there is a good chance you're playing in Europe next season.)  

Using the Great Shankly's words

But in all honesty these days, reality is that you can aim for the sky all you want but if you haven’t got the cash for a plane ticket, you’re staying on the ground.

Gil wrote:

EL Patron wrote:Defensive mid tottenham  

Because they didnt sign Holtby, Dembele and Siggurdsson over the past couple of months.

Holtby is average doesn't count, pretty sure Dembele played defensive mid last season and Siggurdsson played left mid. They have Sandro, Paulinho and Capoue who can all play defensive mid and will prob play there so defensive mid Tottenham  

EL Patron wrote:Defensive mid tottenham  

DMeelan of England.

Dembele didn't play DM. Paulinho will play CM like Dembele will this season and did last season.

To quote myself:

The only DM's at Tottenham right now are Sandro and Capoue, the latter of which was brought in because of his ability to play CB as well.

What you are saying is like me saying "DMArsenal, they have Arteta, Diaby, Frimpong and I'm pretty sure at times Wilshere was a DM last year." Hur dur.