Just checked out the updated league tables, where we've gone into the top half, having swapped places with Spurs on goal difference.

I still believe we have an outside chance of finishing 6th:

The teams above us, not counting the top 5 are:

Pos.- Team - Played - Points - Goal Diffce. 6. Villa 33 52 +10 7. SMB's 32 51 +5 8. Everton 33 45 +9 9. West Ham 31 45 -5 then, 10. NUFC 31 43 +8

I haven't yet checked out the remaining fixtures.

Obviously the best case scenario would be to finish 6th., we have 2 games in hand on Villa; they're gointg to Wembley, will they risk injuries, prob. as 6th. guarantees a place in Europe. Our chance of overhauling Villa = fair (IMHO)

We have only one game in hand over the SMB's and we're 8 pts. behind, with a slightly better goal diffce. On current form (theirs and ours) we've a fair chance of catching them and, SURELY, we have the desire!

We should pass Everton to finish at worst 8 th.; we've 2 games in hand and similar goal diffce.

West Ham, very inconsistent, poor goal diffce., should be easily overhauled.

More comment on this from me, when I've checked the remaining fixtures and got over yesterday's result.

Any news on Big Dunc?

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Answers

I was just about to ask the same question about Big Dunc. Anyone have any news on him? Watching him on the telly, he didn`t look happy from the start. Makes you wonder how things would have gone if he hadn`t picked up an injury doesn`t it!

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Superstition time

Please nobody talk about what position we'll be in if we beat Weat Ham this week. I couldn't cope with a 2-0 away defeat (which is what always happens)
Thank you

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

According to the official (rubbish) site, Big Dunc has fluid on the knee, and is expected to return by 23rd April.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

He obviously didn't go to the hospital I went to when i had fluid on the knee. They told me I'd be okay in one week and that was 8 bloody weeks ago. You think the NHS is bad? It's fantastic compared to the rubbish over here.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

The West Ham game is now hugely important. Obviously it will leap frog us over them and secure value points in our drive for 6th or 7th place. But also we need to keep the momentum going - it'll be tempting for players to lose interest and watch the season tail off into mediocrity. A season not playing in Europe will set us back another year, because it'll be harder to attract the players we need during the summer.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Will/ should Bobby Robson freshen the team up and give the players who gave it all yesterday a rest on Wednesday ?

If the players feel half as bad as we do then they are going to be pretty low today, and I'm not sure they'll be any better by Wednesday. Just think about it, how many of us would be looking forward to another trip to the smelly place in two days time ?

There are a few options to change things around. Harper and Given are completely interchangable. In the middle of defence he has the Helder/Goma/Marcelino options. The other option is to bring last year's semif-inal hero back into the team. Griffin could come in at either right or left back, could be time to give Hughes a rest, but Warren may be due a rest too.

In midfield he must be thinking about giving Gavilan a few games before the end of the season.

Up front we're a bit stuck but maybe he could give the Robinson ego a run out. Ketsbaia shouldn't be getting a game as he's still a hairless chicken.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

I only think he should rest players if they physically need a rest. Otherwise it's a bit like a car crash - you need to get back in there driving straight away, otrherwise it'll fester. We desperately need a win off the back of this, to dispell the ghosts that are closing in. Don't let the players mope.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

A game as early as Wednesday could be a blessing or a curse. The players really ran their kn@ckers off yesterday and this could prove to be a real problem - especially for the likes of Speed, Lee and AS who have already played too many games without a rest.

DF is obviously out: KD was clearly injured for the final 20 minutes and seems likely to be out: it may have been my imagination, but I thought Howey and Domi were limping slightly at the end: Helder is apparently injured and not considered yesterday. In addition, I wonder why Gallacher wasn't considered yesterday? If he had been fit he would surely have been on the bench.

The players must be very low after the cruel absence of even a shred of luck of yesterday, and this will be another real test of BR's motivational skills.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

Well, as I failed to make it to that other place (begins with 'W') on Sunday, I'm going to ensure we lose on Wednesday by going to the Hammers game :-)

If we take just 10% of the play and chances created yesterday we'll do it.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

If Chelsea qualify for Europe via the league (which they will), and Aston Villa qualify for Europe also via the league (which is possible), then who takes the FA Cup winners spot? A play off v Bolton?

Tell me I've overlooked something. There has to be a catch here but I can't spot it.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

The FA cup space will go to the winners and the next placed team in the league will qualify for Europe through the league position. Now if Chelsea win the champions League and Villa win the cup.....

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

The FA Cup winners take a UEFA spot, if they haven't qualified for the Champions League. If they are already in a UEFA spot by dint of their league placing, that spot goes to the next team in the league. The UEFA spot via the FA Cup only goes down the line, if those eligible for it are in other competitions already.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

If Chelsea win the European Cup, then Villa will qualify for the UEFA via the FA Cup using the runners up card that we know only too well. Assuming ManU win the Premiership, and Liverpool finish second (thus also qualifying for the Champions League), then UEFA spots via the League will probably go to Leeds, Arsenal and someone else. Should Leeds or Aresnal actually win the UEFA Cup, then there'd be yet another UEFA place via the league for grabs. Since Villa are one of the teams vying for the 6th/7th spot, the fight over the last UEFA spot could very well be between us and Sunderland. I don't think I could bear it if they pipped us at the post for it. We have to finish ahead of them.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

#31 to go to Upton Park. Can afford it, won't pay it.

Gotta say no some time.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

A must win game against WHU.
If we lose it and the season falls away, this will indeed set our club back a year and we'll lose out on a much needed fortune (Europe n that).
We lost and we're down, we need a up for it hero. Frankly - I think we'll struggle but you never know. Howay the lads.
If we can win at WH and beat Leicester at home and the s**th**ds get beat at ManUre - game on. Howay the lads.

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000

I think that, though obviously very disappointed, the lads will be brimming with confidence after a very solid and encouraging perfomance at Wembley. They know they should have won, they know they did more than enough to win. I am convinced that the team will be looking to make amends in the remaining league games. I would hate to play us in the next month or so.

pete

-- Anonymous, April 10, 2000