All those people who joke about the "easy run" line that people trot out

[Monty91]

Out of the last 16 league games, the only ones we've dropped points in are against Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool Spurs and Everton, i.e. arguably the division's 6 strongest sides (along with us).

Spurs, meanwhile, in the same period have dropped points in 4 of their equivalent six games against the top sides.

[Peter]

Or that the jokes are not funny?

[Monty91]

[arse-nick (avid-analogue-addict)]

Wishful thinking and all that...

[Peter]

And the slightly unpredictable nature of the run-in, where games against **** teams can become trickier than against better sides with nothing to play for.

I have no right to be so worried about games against wigan and newcastle but i am. Strangely, i am far more worried bout the wigan game, arguably the easier of the two.

[Yesterday Once More]

[Monty91]

I imagine you're more worried about Wigan because we have several recent memories of struggling at home against lesser sides. We are more used to the pressures of playing away but eeking out tight wins at home still feels a little foreign.

And of course, because it's the next one.

[Monty91]

[Peter]

Cannot see us beating wigan under any circumstances. I have become utterly convinced it cant happen.

That is just ridiculous. It is a more a general feeling about the scenario. This year feels different. Spurs hvent crumbled, the constant late goals etc make me feel that this is going to e the year we miss out.

I have worried in other years but i still secretly thought we would be ok. This year jut feels different.

[Monty91]

a false sense of security about our chances. A little cocky perhaps after so effortlessly pulling back the 7 point deficit that opened up after they beat us, but in reality it was still always going to go to the wire.

We probably now have absolutely no margin for error. Nerves are perfectly understandable, and, being a football fan, I understand that pessimism is the default emotional setting.

Just be thankful that, rather than the relegation battle you predicted, our target is something altogether more desirable.

[Peter]

Relegation from the top four. We have been battling the drop for years.

The proper relegation battle is still a few years away yet.

[Monty91]

and only yesterday ensured avoiding the same fate this time round.

[Peter]

I take your point.

I wont miss the champions league for a year or two.if it wasnt spurs threatening to beat us to it i really dont think i would be all that bothered.

[Monty91]

I don't think we can know how important missing the CL would be short-term. For all we know, there is currently a top quality player (say, of Cazorla quality, to keep it realistic) somewhere in the world waiting to see if we quality before deciding whether to join us.

Afterall, I think even many of our more negative fans think we're only two or three good signings away from actually challenging.

[Peter]

We dont know whether loads of pur lot will want to leave. You would hope not, but how significant are the cl bonuses for their salaries?

Either way, we must get straight back in.

I think we are more than three signings away from a real challenge. Unless you are talking three signings who turn out to be world beaters on the pires, henry, vieira scale.

[Monty91]

[Peter]

:hehe:

[Monty91]

[Peter]

Although i suppose you are allowed to look

[Monty91]

which worked out well until I got the two confused.

I'm still banned from that strip club.

[Peter]

It has a certain clarity to it which i admire :-)