Enjoy the...

Like the Arsenal away win,
we find ourselves claiming the most important 6 points against a rival in London
whom we must finish above – IF 7th is to prove a realistic target.


Many, many outstanding individual efforts
that helped bring about a successful, constructive, mature team performance.


With little need to praise these players, nor dwell on those who previously have let us down,
please may we take an in-depth look into the mouth-watering AND fascinating climax to the fixture list.



Nine points behind 4th-placed Chelski,
with four games left to play;
anything higher than 5th-placed West Ham Utd is now beyond us.

The two clubs in-between us and the Hammers, you’d probably assume have too much left to be overtaken at this stage,
allowing for no James Rodriguez or Jerry Mina at Vila Park this Thursday. 


It leaves West Ham Utd –
3 points ahead (zero, if we make Vila Park’s ‘game-in-hand’ visit count) –
the biggest target for Europe
(now that Arsenal are out of Europa League 2020-21 contention).



The problem is not only “Can West Ham Utd be caught?”,
but “Can we ALSO stay ahead of 9th-placed Arsenal – after that closing fixture at The ETIHAD?”.


The Gooners travel to west London tonight,
with a similarly-short journey to Crystal Palace
and a home closer vs Brighton;
so let’s hope Chelski do us a favour at the Bridge.


With a superior goal difference on us,
Arsenal are 3pts adrift of us and 6pts behind West Ham.


The Hammers have away fixtures at Brighton and West Bromich Album,
before finishing at home to Southampton.


The latter detail would suggest to Arteta & co. that maximum points for Arsenal is completely non-negotiable.
They’ve done this many times before, as many spurs fans will tell.


Considering how impressive both Man City teams that won at Goodison in 2021 were, with absolutely ZERO sign of complacency evident to cling to; even if Pep Guardiola were inclined to field a bench loaded with first team debutants, any form of result at Eastlands would have to be considered a lottery win.


So at least 7 points needs to be the target – even though this tightly-congested fixture list (as a result of the first UK Covid-19 lockdown encroaching on the 2020-21 season) will mean more freak results – AND injuries.



This goes some way to Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to keep Seamus Coleman on the pitch last Sunday afternoon for the full 90 minutes. It was a big gamble, for we’ll badly need everything he can offer us in the final push for 7th.


Tomorrow’s fixture at Villa Park raises many questions of individual character.

You can bet Dean Smith will be telling his players: “Go after those [so-and-sos]” after the Goodison defeat the previous Saturday.
It’s down to us to have an emphatic answer – an answer again minus James Rodriguez, plus no Jerry Mina –
so those who DO play must show great strength within, in outperforming hungry and excited opposition.


Expect substitutions to be crucial – as they were at Bramall Lane and Molyneux this season.


Those two home fixtures vs the Blades & Wolves quickly following;

I’m fascinated at how this end to a strange season with play out, with cautious enthusiasm –
the prize there for the taking AND the failures of previous seasons all adding to a unique cocktail of emotions, this season and before.


It’ll be very, very close. Ancelotti has to work almost-minor miracles, but in him I really do trust.



We’ve had to wait a very long time for genuine hope to mean more than blind faith for us.

Enjoy the climax...