Top 4 race 2016/17

Games like this and the Hull draw makes things so, so much more difficult for us.

We really should be challenging with Chelsea, but we lack the mentality that they've got to kill teams off.
 
Raoul said:
I disagree strongly. We squandered points on draws but the others are not better than us. Half of Arsenal want their manager sacked and Liverpool have definitely not been better than we have, especially since the beginning of the year.
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Arsenal fans have been twats about Wenger for years though. The difference for those two teams is that they will score more goals than us. They may lose more but they'll win more for a start. Though I still think we'll finish above Liverpool. But Chelsea, City, Spurs and I think Arsenal just about are more likely to win games than we are.
 
acnumber9 said:
Arsenal fans have been twats about Wenger for years though. The difference for those two teams is that they will score more goals than us. They may lose more but they'll win more for a start. Though I still think we'll finish above Liverpool. But Chelsea, City, Spurs and I think Arsenal just about are more likely to win games than we are.
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I don't think that will be the case. All the clubs are going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment due to fixture pileups, injuries, a loss of focus etc. Its just a normal part of playing a long grueling season replete with multiple cups, Europe etc. The other sides tend to have an easier time with the lower league clubs which creates a perceptual illusion that they are better than us, but then they also drop more points against the more decent top ten clubs so it all balances out.
 
Raoul said:
I don't think its a fair shout at all. We have been playing very well since December and haven't lost a game in ages. The other teams above us have managed to scrape by and remain above us, but that won't last much longer.
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Yeah it's great we're difficult to beat but we're not so good at killing teams off, especially if Zlatan doesn't score. As for the bit in bold, that has generally been what a fair few have been saying since about December, in particular about Arsenal and more recently Liverpool. We're where we are because we deserve to be there, with away trips to Spurs, Arsenal and City to come I think Top 4 is beyond these players this year but they're capable of producing in the Cups as is our manager. I actually think we've got a better chance of winning the Europa than finishing top 4, as long as we don't make the mistake of prioritising the league over Europe.
 
Those home draws are probably going to cost us.

In previous seasons we'd have scrapped into the Top 4 but given the added competition I think we'll miss out.

5th Arsenal getting 4th. Need to win the EL.
 
By by hook or by crook I hope we make the Champions League.

I can't stomach another season in the Europa League.

Our stock in Europe is falling with each season we spend away from the top table. It hurts.
 
Running out of games now.. We cant close the gap... the fixture congestion is only going to make it worse
 
Raoul said:
I don't think that will be the case. All the clubs are going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment due to fixture pileups, injuries, a loss of focus etc. Its just a normal part of playing a long grueling season replete with multiple cups, Europe etc. The other sides tend to have an easier time with the lower league clubs which creates a perceptual illusion that they are better than us, but then they also drop more points against the more decent top ten clubs so it all balances out.
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The concern is that we won't have an easier chance to make points than we did today. A team in rotten form with a staggeringly bad defence playing half a game with ten men on a rare week we didn't have a midweek game and a penalty thrown in to boot. The fixtures only get more difficult from this point. We haven't exactly had a tremendous record against the other top ten teams either. We have 16 points from 11 games against them.
 
Personally can't see us getting 4th unless we're ruthless here on out including in the tough away games we have towards the end of the season and other teams around us really screw up. Think it's unlikely though, we'd need to up our game and others really drop as well. Winning euopa league looks like the best bet for me.
 
JinnerJamie said:
Burnley
Stoke
Hull
Arsenal
Bournemouth
West Ham

12 pts at home thrown away this season, that is the reason we will miss out on the top 4.

We cannot expect to pick up enough points in the rest of the games unless there is a sharp uptake in chances being taken.

Away: Man City, Tottenham, Arsenal, Sunderland, Southampton, Middlesbrough, Stoke and Burnley.
Home: Chelsea, Palace, West Brom and Everton.
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All teams (except Chelsea) can point to results where they didn't get their due.

City got home draws vs Everton, Soton, Boro and Tottenham that cost them dearly and I'm sure the other teams have similar tales to tell.
 
Raoul said:
I don't think that will be the case. All the clubs are going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment due to fixture pileups, injuries, a loss of focus etc. Its just a normal part of playing a long grueling season replete with multiple cups, Europe etc. The other sides tend to have an easier time with the lower league clubs which creates a perceptual illusion that they are better than us, but then they also drop more points against the more decent top ten clubs so it all balances out.
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The problem is, is that not winning games like today gives us less margin for error. We are playing catch up and we now have to beat these teams we want to catch up to which will become much more difficult when considering the fixture congestion we have. We're also not in great form at the moment imo.
 
We have only scored 39 goals so far, and probably had clear cut chances for about 100. We also inexplicably dropped eight points against Stoke, Burnley, Hull and Bournemouth at home... you can excuse a couple of results a season, but not much more than that. We only have ourselves to blame, but I'm sure we won't make it after today. I mean we're still behind Liverpool FFS, who haven't been brilliant all year either to say the least.
Jose should put all our eggs in the Europa League basket.
 
AXVnee7 said:
The problem is, is that not winning games like today gives us less margin for error. We are playing catch up and we now have to beat these teams we want to catch up to which will become much more difficult when considering the fixture congestion we have. We're also not in great form at the moment imo.
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We've been in very good form since the beginning of hte year. Today was just a complete loss of focus. I expect us to resume our good form in the next fixture. The important thing is to not dwell on today, but make the apporpriate corrections before Thursday.
 
Sandikan said:
I wouldn't be too enthusiastic in your position either pal, as you've had a free shot at top 4 with a minimum of cup outings.
If you don't get in there this season, you'll have blown a great chance.
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Don't disagree with that.
 
Raoul said:
We've been in very good form since the beginning of hte year. Today was just a complete loss of focus. I expect us to resume our good form in the next fixture. The important thing is to not dwell on today, but make the apporpriate corrections before Thursday.
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Our form has slumped of late imo. I think of the St Etienne games, the League Cup final and today. Difference is today we didn't make what we did create count. But I agree we just have to get on with prep for the next game.
 
United blow so many chances and it seems to build. You guys should have been out of sight before the game today descended into shite. So reliant on Ibrahimović, when he doesn't score you make such hard work of games. Hopefully he doesn't get a retrospective ban from your point of view because ye have a nice run of games and need his goals.

From a city fans pov, hope he gets 3 games as you may drop more points without him.

At least Liverpool or arsenal will drop points, Spurs have it tough with Everton and city have a shocking record at Sunderland. Your result today is 2 points dropped but may not change things too much over the weekend.
 
AXVnee7 said:
Our form has slumped of late imo. I think of the St Etienne games, the League Cup final and today. Difference is today we didn't make what we did create count. But I agree we just have to get on with prep for the next game.
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Generally, I think we've looked poor for the best part of 2017. We're better at winning games, but we're not at all free-flowing and still struggle to score goals.
 
It's time to focus on the Europa League. Would rather win that anyway than sneak the 4th place trophy but both would be very nice.
 
I've never changed my opinion that our best route back in to the CL is the Europa league. Our inability to score will cost us in the league, but in a knockout competition our ability to not lose will be a big advantage. However, I still don't think we'll win the EL. I'm almost resigned to accepting another season out of the CL, and I've seen enough positives to be okay with that. But we have to get it right next season. There can be no more excuses after another summer of spending and a full season under Mourinho's belt.
 
padr81 said:
Your result today is 2 points dropped but may not change things too much over the weekend.
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Unfortunately it changes an awful lot. It was the easiest game we had left, Liverpool play Arsenal, Tottenham an in-form Everton. We blew an excellent chance to move up the table once again, showing once more after our display against Hull at home that we lack the mentality to make it count.

Our fixture list looks difficult and we're chasing four teams ahead of us... I simply can't see us finishing anywhere else but 6th if we can't make it count when it matters. Big game today, failed miserably.
 
Raoul said:
I don't think that will be the case. All the clubs are going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment due to fixture pileups, injuries, a loss of focus etc. Its just a normal part of playing a long grueling season replete with multiple cups, Europe etc. The other sides tend to have an easier time with the lower league clubs which creates a perceptual illusion that they are better than us, but then they also drop more points against the more decent top ten clubs so it all balances out.
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We've dropped more points vs top 10 clubs though. Only one with a comparable record in that regard is Arsenal.

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Arsenal still have so many top 10 sides left to play as well so a win today could have been perfect to put the pressure on them. Now, we'd need to beat at least two of Spurs, City and Arsenal along with holding our own against the other sides and beat Everton and West Brom.

Soon enough, City will be the only side in Europe aside from us so the other teams can focus on just the league.
 
Damien said:
We've dropped more points vs top 10 clubs though. Only one with a comparable record in that regard is Arsenal.

Arsenal still have so many top 10 sides left to play as well so a win today could have been perfect to put the pressure on them. Now, we'd need to beat at least two of Spurs, City and Arsenal along with holding our own against the other sides and beat Everton and West Brom.

Soon enough, City will be the only side in Europe aside from us so the other teams can focus on just the league.
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Nice picture but don't forget the bottom 6 or 7. They are being scary and as the gap to the relegation zone is so slim, they are going to be more and more scary towards the end of the season :D
 
Liverpool beating Arsenal means the top 4 spots are done now I think. Just the order will change.
 
Well, we now have a better record against the top half than Arsenal... not much of a consolation though.

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If our run in wasn't so bad, it would be doable but with the games we have left, I see no chance of us making Top 4. Besides, Arsenal will soon go on their brilliant end of season runs when the pressure is off.
 
Struggle to see how we're going to get top 4 now. I really think we need to focus on Europa.

Liverpool and Arsenal (once out of CL) will have just the league to focus on. They both also have an easier run in than us.

People predicting us to finish top 4 are incredibly wise, or incredibly deluded!
 
In all honesty it's going to come down to the games we play against the sides around us.

So far this season we haven't been good enough in those games and that's why we're 6th.

If... and it's a big if we can turn it around in the big games and win at least 2 of them then I think we'll do it. If we perform as poorly as we have so far in the big games then we've got no hope.
 
P-Nut0712 said:
In all honesty it's going to come down to the games we play against the sides around us.

So far this season we haven't been good enough in those games and that's why we're 6th.

If... and it's a big if we can turn it around in the big games and win at least 2 of them then I think we'll do it. If we perform as poorly as we have so far in the big games then we've got no hope.
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I agree 100%
 
These home draws against the dross have killed our too 4 chances. It's incredibly frustrating.
 
Leftback99 said:
Liverpool beating Arsenal means the top 4 spots are done now I think. Just the order will change.
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People's opinions change every single weekend. Monday night you would have been laughed at for saying Liverpool will finish 4th.

Loads of balls to be kicked yet.
 
We're close but we continue to let it slip away.
Our schedule doesnt look good also. Next in the league us Boro who are currently offer. So a draw there probably.
 
I just want to win the Europa and get the next season to start. Ive written off this season in terms of the league.
 
Peanut Butter said:
People's opinions change every single weekend. Monday night you would have been laughed at for saying Liverpool will finish 4th.

Loads of balls to be kicked yet.
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This. We screwed up today but the top teams, aside from Chelsea, are all dropping points. Where there is life, there is hope.
 
I don't think Pool will finish in top 4. Mainly because of their poor record vs non top 6 clubs. And they have only City left to play where you can expect them to play well.
Ours is doubtful mainly because of our run in. We have Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs within a month of each other, which will get further compacted as the Chelsea game is on the FA Cup SF weekend and one of us is going there. Add to that, we'd also be playing City around that same time. There is no way we came from those weeks unscathed especially if we remain in the hunt for Europa League

Edit: Also, we are yet to play Sunderland. Irrespective of Moyes remaining their manager by then or not, Sunderland do up their game in April making that a tricky fixture as well
 
We have to play: Everton(H), Soton(A), Chelsea(H), City(A), Ars(A), Spurs(A)
Ars has to play : City(H), Spurs(A), Utd(H), Everton(H)
Liverpool has to play:City(A), Everton(H), Soton(A)

With Ars out of UCL both them and Liverpool only have the EPL to focus on. We're trying to win a losing battle for me the top 4 race has been over since the end of January and only a miracle can get us top 4 - ucl football next season :(
 
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