Cool Run-ins
As prompted by Hornchurch Yid, now that action is really hot and the end of the season is just over the brow, let’s take a glance at the clubs up for the UEFA spots and see how the run-ins look.
Five teams, three places and us at the bottom of the stack, for now but let’s start with the good news. If we win our last four games we will go through. Fact. So what are they:
Tottenham
‘Boro (away), Charlton (away), Blackburn (home) and City (home). Now, these are all very winable games and we’ve got to be looking at maximum points. Worst case I’m thinking two home wins and two draws away for a total of 8 points and 58 for the season.
Portsmouth
Liverpool (home), Everton (away) and arsenal (home). Not a chance. They’ll be lucky for a point, three if I’m feeling generous. So, 53 for the season.
Reading
Yes, three easy games but then that’s what they’ll be saying about us. Newcastle (home), Watford (home) and Blackburn (away). I’m thinking a draw and two wins for a total of 7 and 58 for the season.
Bolton
Now this lot have got their work cut out. Chelsea (away), West Ham (away), Villa (home). They’ll lose to Chelsea, draw with the Hammers and….hmmm……draw with Villa. That’s just 2 points for a season total of 56. Even if they win one of my predicted draws they’ll only be on 58 and they currently have an even worse goal difference than us.
Everton
No easy run in here either and maybe without old AJ as well. Man U (home), Portsmouth (home) and Chelsea (away). One win, 3 points and 57 for the season.
So yes, Readin do have a good chance but so do we. The way The Bagel sees it:
5. Reading 58
6. Spurs 58
7. Everton 57
8. Bolton 56
9. Portsmouth 53.
Lose one game and we must win all the others and just to clear up some other bits and pieces while we’re here.
a) Huge congratulations to Dimitar the Great for his place in the PFA team (Please send our respects Yid of the North) but I don’t care what anyone says, the big Bulgarian is going nowhere. Not yet.
b) Chimbondabonda is going nowhere. We simply wouldn’t let him.
c) Didier Zee may leave but I seriously doubt it, even if we find someone else to take his place, I’m sure we’d want him to stay. To have cover of his quality would be a very good thing. Besides where else can he milk the fans like he does ours? Do-do-do-don’t reckon he’s going anywhere.
d) Comolli, well he said it himself:
“I don’t know why I want to leave - what I’m doing at Spurs is with passion. It’s not even an issue.”
What The Bagel’s saying today is don’t worry. I’m not worried and I’ll bet you MJ isn’t sitting there with his tea cup rattling on its saucer. No, he’s out on the field drilling seven shades of shit out of the squad and filling them full of edam, pancakes and Lilywhite love. We’re going to Europe and Berbatov’s coming with us.
The way of the bagel,
The Bagel.
April 25th, 2007 at 7:32 am
Hi Bagel
My heart fills with pride for my eldest son, I should really try to track down his Mum, Nadia, but I fear Mrs Yid might not be best pleased! I’ve just got to work on Mini-Yid, he’s got aspirations for the Spurs first team!
Glad to read your comments on the rumoured moves, you can imagine all the norvern-monkey, plastic mancs harping on about how my eldest son will just have to go to them in the summer, Spurs being unable to refuse etc… etc… Further to this I had a very in depth conversation with big bruv, Yid-of-the-West who is already in panic mode, after attending the game against the arse, telling me how Dimi-Dimi was doing his nut at the rest of the team, big bruv’s take on this was that Dimi-Dimi is clearly unhappy at Spurs & will therefore leave, I concluded that the fact is that MJ encourages constructive criticism within the team & this was no more than that
Anyway, I’m already preparing for the trip to smog town on Saturday with Mini-Yid, I agree whole heartedly with you run in prediction, let’s hope we’re right
COYS!
April 25th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Dimitar the Great’s mini-tantrums were not lost on The Bagel either and without mircalulous early season form, buckets of cash or the promise of freedom for all those Bulgarian nurses, I imagine we’ll be waving goodbye to the big guy in the January sales or more likely come next summer.
He didn’t come to England just to look pretty. He was loved at Leverkusen. He’s a legend at the Lane but like them all he wants a Champions League medal swinging between the shoulders of his with a proud smile on his face like Jim has just fixed it for him.
Many of his moods were justified the other day but there are times when he’s got to accept that other players are not going to know what’s going on in his head.
The Bagel.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
The Bagel should go down the bookies and stick a few crumbs down on it. You never know, you might get some dough back.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Using the BBC Predictor, I have us coming 7th with 58 points. But this does depend on Everton losing to Man U and Chelsea - key games in their run-in methinks.
April 26th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
I appreciate that at this late stage of the season with tired legs and minds it is difficult for the boys to put in a consistent 90 minutes. This has become a problem though.
Our last 3 games have seen us under perform for large parts of the game. 1st half against Sevilla, 2nd half against the scum and the Wigan game was patchy throughout.
If we can put in a good performance against Boro and get at least a point then I’m sure we can go on and finish the season well.
The threat of the Inter Toto must surely provide ample incentive for our boys to dig deep and see us back in to 5th spot and Europe again.
April 26th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
How does the Fair Play league translate to european qualification? I understand that spurs are currently top of the table with villa not far behind, and I thought whoever’s on top qualifies directly for UEFA. Am I mistaken?
On a side note, does anyone know anything about Russian teen Diniyar Bilyaletdinov? He dazzled me in his performance against Estonia. Possible left side solution?
April 27th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Either he-with-the-fancy-name-ov, or for probably only 50 grand more per week, Keiron Dyer, according the grauniad. Now him on the left, and Aaron on the right. hmmmm.
April 27th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Hello ATL - I think that the team from each country that tops their fair play league then goes into a draw, and so many teams (not sure howmany) are then drawn to see who qualifies.
We were in the draw a couple of season ago but missed out.
April 27th, 2007 at 11:34 am
My prediction for Saturday. 2-0 to Spurs with Woodgate netting twice.
April 27th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Good reading, thanks, Bagel
April 28th, 2007 at 8:29 am
Bagel, might want to take a look at this guy named Andres Guardado from Mexico. About 20 years old, currently playing for Atlas.
Pace, skill and most importantly an absolutle beauty of a left foot if the clips i’v seen are anything to go by, try youtube to see him in action, I personally see a lot of potential in this guy.
May 4th, 2007 at 11:49 am
i’me so worried about getting into europe.