Everton just have 5 games left this season, whereas Arsenal will potentially play 9 should they win Manchester City in the FA cup. With both Everton and Arsenal sharing 57 points, let’s take a look at our upcoming fixtures and see how many points Koeman should earn us this season.
West Ham should be doing better with the likes of Ayew, Snodgrass and Kouyate, but they continue to disappoint and struggle by not providing sufficient supply to big man, Andy Carroll. As an aerial threat, we have no one who can stop him, so if the creators show up then West Ham are likely to score. Fan favourite, Lanzini has recently been playing less centrally and more out on the left, so Holgate will have to be ready for a difficult 90. Despite the threat they pose, Lukaku always scores against The Hammers. 3 points.
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We return up North to play Chelsea at home, who were recently dispatched by a highly prepared Manchester United. One thing we have learned about Koeman this season is he can execute a game plan, resulting in Guardiola’s largest league loss as a manager. With Koeman’s strategies and our current blistering home form, I can see us matching or possibly outscoring the league leaders on the day. 1 point.
Paul Clement is a true talent, but after poor transfer windows this season we have only witnessed Swansea regress. In Gylfi Sigurdsson they have a constant threat, he is a deadball specialist and can pick a pass to free the runners Swansea will seek to hit Everton with. However football games are won in the midfield, with Barkley on form and Schneiderlin, Davies and Gana running the show, Swansea will not be crushed beneath us. 3 points.
Watford at Goodison will be difficult, Watford are a team with heart and Okaka absolutely wrecked us last time we faced them. At centreback they have Prödl and though doesn’t compare in technical ability, he can physically get the best of Lukaku at times. Should Lukaku have a quiet game then we will need to find the goals from someone else. But with Mirallas looking feisty and Valencia becoming somewhat of a super sub recently, I think we will find those goals. 3 points.
Should my predictions be correct we will be sitting on 68 points with only Arsenal to play at the Emirates, our future firmly in our own hands. Last year 68 would have been enough to land 4th place, but this season it looks like we will need to win that last game against Arsenal to secure 6th.
If they win all their games they would secure 78 points, but in their current poor form, Ronald Koeman and his top goal scorer will smell blood.
Up the Ev.