Bale has plaayed a part in 90% of your goals over your last 12. ... not that naive. And there isn't anything wrong with riding one of the best players in the world. Suarez has been 75%.

Look storts, I like Spurs. Like what they do, like how they carry themselves. Said so in earlier posts. You came on here whinging about inferiority and slagging off Suarez.

I think its really naive to suggest you could "kill the game off" for 35 minutes. If you honestly thought the drama was gone after 2-1 then you're either extremely overvaluing your team or haven't been following Liverpool (or the rest of the PL) that much. Liverpool have led the PL in scoring since December and are 4th in points since that time. On form, Liverpool isn't inferior. The last 35 was going to be frenetic no matter what. You could have been a goal up on Reading and they would have made it interesting. Either way, game was enjoyable. Played with pace, pressure and excitement

You're right, you made errors as did Liverpool in the two set pieces. The game was far from put to bed at any point, and while the "british press" (known for their objectivity ofcourse) may be willing to pass off the defeat for Spurs as a minor bump, all will agree what a big win it is for Liverpool.

I think thats a bit hard on your side, Hawkspur. The mistake that led to the 2nd goal was comical, to say the least... but despite the 20 minutes to start the second half in which Spurs held the ball well, the game was very even. Once the game was drawn Liverpool elevated to the front foot.

Hard to imagine that Spurs were planning on keeping the ball the entire 2nd half (as Storts believe they should have to my lowly, inferior side). Liverpool actually did very well the last 30 minutes of controlling the middle of the field and limiting Spurs chances, despite struggling to create their own.

As for Liverpool, we know we were fortunate to get even. Its fortuitous to finally get the break. To be honest, if a Spurs fan wants to ring up the loss to Walker, they'd be hypocritically ignoring the very poor circumstances in which they scored both goals, or the shambolic display by the ref in letting atleast one, if not two previous penalty shouts go unheard. (peaches thinks Coutinhos was but Sturrdiges was soft, i thought they were both legitimate).

either way, despite Storts contentions otherwise, the game was never in hand by Spurs. I thought they played frenetic, passionate football and deserved a draw. the loss was a kick in the stomach, but one i'm happy my team delivered instead of received

Quick question, which run in looks more favorable on paper:

Arsenal
@ Swansea
vs Reading
@ West Brom
vs Norwich
vs Everton
@ Fulham
vs Man United
@ QPR
vs Wigan

Spurs
vs Fulham
@ Swansea
vs Everton
@ Chelsea
vs Man City
@ Wigan
vs Southampton
@ Stoke City
vs Sunderland

Chelsea
vs West Ham
@ Southampton
vs Sunderland
vs Spurs
@ Liverpool
vs Swansea
@ Man United
@ Aston Villa
vs Everton

For me I think Arsenal does as their two toughest matches remaining, in my mind(Man U and Everton), are home matches, Chelsea and Spurs have to pay each other(Spurs do that in the middle of a run that includes City, Everton and away to Swansea), and the possible match congestion due to Spurs and Chelsea's cup obligations could play a factor as well. In the end I think the Top 4 battle could and probably will come down to the final game yet again, Liverpool might sneak into the fight they only have Chelsea to face, but both Arsenal and Chelsea have a game in hand also. And then Everton, I don't really know what's gonna happen with them as they seem to be all over the place lately.

Actually, I reckon Liverpool's run in is the most favorable of all. I'm totes biased, though...

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Arsenal and Liverpool have the easier run ins (on paper) with Everton and Spurs the more difficult. Trying to pick winners in the PL this year is far too difficult to try. Chelsea and Spurs still seem the favorites for Rth, with Arsenal and Liverpool to battle for 5th. Evertons schedule looks to have them drop. But this is their time of year.

Based on current form (and taking into account Arsenals win yesterday, and future cup ties) id say:

United
City
Spurs
Chelsea
Liverpool
Arsenal
Everton

Arsenal is the wild card here, with the ability to jump to 4th or fall to 7th

I think the biggest X-Factor for Arsenal is their record against clubs below them in the table, only 1 of their losses have come to a club below them in the table at the time of the match, 2 losses against clubs below them in the table at the current moment. Only problem is that those 2 losses have come against Swansea and Norwich, who Arsenal have left to play the return fixtures.

Chelsea is their own worst enemy at this moment as they always seem to create an illusion that they're turning the corner, only to take 2 steps back when we aren't looking. Spurs will probably finish Top 4 if they can get by that daunting 4 game run where they face Swansea, Chelsea, Everton and City. Everton seems to be on a mission to hurt themselves and Liverpool seem to be relying more on Suarez with each game.

I think Si is right, Arsenal do have that kind of style where it seems that they can finish Top 4 or 7th. In the end I think it will end up being Spurs and Arsenal(namely cause the Gunners always find a way into the Top 4 similar to how Wigan always finds a way to stay in the EPL), Liverpool or Chelsea will finish 5th.

Liverpool has the best record against teams in the bottom ten, and play 7 of 9 in that part of the table. I like that run in. But, like Arsenal, both teams are so dramatically inconsistent its hard to say where they land.

While we know that Chelsea will struggle, but also nick points, its really down to whether Liverpool or Arsenal (or both) can take advantage of their run in and play with the form they are capable.

Hard to put faith in that, given how the season has gone. Liverpool have been on quite the run, but I catn put faith they can take 20+ of 27 (which they need to challenge for 4th)

Liverpool's CL chances (in percentages)

0 f---ing percent

horrid

*sigh*

Well, there goes that.

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That was a great result for Arsenal today. Awesome that Nacho got his first goal, and how important it could be we'll find out, and even more amazing is that Gervinho scored a quality goal for once. Swansea should feel hard done as they were good in the midfield but the final third, on both sides of the pitch, they were just horrific at times. The best way to describe Swansea today was that they played with a sword against their throat and it got pushed in. Fabianski didn't have to work much seeing as the Swans didn't have a shot on target, Michu of course was the closest with that shot that went around the post. I also feel Oxlade-Chamberlain deserved a goal for his performance in the first half, sucks he didn't get it but oh well.

Gervinho's was hardly a quality goal. He was in acres of space one on one and finished it as any player in that position should.

Either way you deserved to win today, Swansea were poor, didn't really create anything and it seems they will just cruise through to the end of the season in second gear, hopefully it will be the same when we play them in two weeks time.

Don't need to say anything about Liverpool

Maybe I should rephrase that, that goal by Gervinho was quality by his standards, mostly cause we've seen him muck up easier chances than that one, and that was easy to begin with.

I really like what I'm seeing from Arsenal's defense the last two games. Shutting down that dangerous Bayern attack, and limiting Swansea to zero shots on target, and making Michu seem nearly invisible(first time I've seen him like that). Arsenal should have a simple run with Reading, West Brom and Norwich until they host Everton in 3 1/2 weeks. I do see WBA being a pain in the butt but not sure about the other two and hopefully this Arsenal, from the last two games, stays for a while.

And with that, talk of a Spurs meltdown is heating up big time. Should Chelsea win, they'll go 3rd and Arsenal could 1 point behind Tottenham(or jump over them) if results fall in the Gunners favor the next week or two. Now Spurs are in the same position as Arsenal where they can't not afford to drop points, especially with the next 4 games, 3 of which are against top 6 clubs in the table.

Don't need to say anything about Liverpool[/quote]


Or Spurs.....

Or Spurs.....[/quote]

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Touché


Shocking performance that I really can't be bothered to analyse.

We miss Lennon greatly and didn't have a single player perform well. Oh well need this break to regroup for Swansea

Ha. Fulham with the lesson in humility.

Seemed like Bale also went missing for a while after that knock he took in the first half, fooled me into thinking he was subbed off.

I do think Arsenal caught somewhat of a break with how Swansea played, more to do with lack of quality by Swansea in the final 3rd and Arsenal defensive performance, and I don't really think that'll happen again for Spurs.

Status quo at the top of the table. Reading and QPR look like near locks for the drop and Villa didn't do anything to convince me they are staying up either.

Well to an extent, as Chelsea mucked up an easy looking game like the one against Southampton, it seemed to me like they had one eye on that FA Cup replay on Monday.

As for Arsenal, nice to see them dominate a game the way they did, though Reading didn't look like a threat all game, even when they did score that only seemed like the one time in the entire game, in my opinion, where Arsenal didn't pay any attention. It was also great to see Gervinho play great for the majority of his time on the pitch, probably was a bit greedy at times but he played a part in Arsenal's first 3 goals and that's actually good to see, though it also reminded me of how bad his performances he's been for the most part this season.