Still don't see us doing it. Spurs, Saints, City and Arsenal away are just really really difficult games.
Top 4 race 2016/17
- Thread starter Yorkeontop
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
United finishing top 4 and winning the Europe League = Liverpool qualifying to Champions League anyway, right??
Even if we don't do it, wouldn't it be funny if we finished 5th behind a 4th place Liverpool and knocked them out of the CL by winning the Europa League? Beating them at their own game.
That won't happen. If we win Europa, there will be 5 English teams in the CL next year assuming we finish out of the top 4.
If United and this a big if, beat City Arse and Spurs they'll be all but assured a top 4 finish. Liverpool messed up today and could potentially open it up for Arsenal too..
3 Liverpool Pld: 34 GD: 28 Pts: 66 - Watford (a), Southampton, West Ham(a), Middlesborough
4 Man City Pld: 32 GD: 28 Pts: 64 - United, Middlesbrough (a), Palace, Leicester, West Brom, Watford (a)
5 Man Utd Pld: 32 GD: 26 Pts 63 - City (a), Swansea, Arsenal (a), Spurs (a), Southampton(a), Palace
7 Arsenal Pld: 31 GD: 23 Pts: 57 - Leicester, Spurs (a), United, Southampton (a), Stoke (a) Sunderland, Everton
3 Liverpool Pld: 34 GD: 28 Pts: 66 - Watford (a), Southampton, West Ham(a), Middlesborough
4 Man City Pld: 32 GD: 28 Pts: 64 - United, Middlesbrough (a), Palace, Leicester, West Brom, Watford (a)
5 Man Utd Pld: 32 GD: 26 Pts 63 - City (a), Swansea, Arsenal (a), Spurs (a), Southampton(a), Palace
7 Arsenal Pld: 31 GD: 23 Pts: 57 - Leicester, Spurs (a), United, Southampton (a), Stoke (a) Sunderland, Everton
Oh. So it's different than winning the CL (like Liverpool did), because I think that kicked out the 4th place Premier League team (which I thought was Spurs at the time).
United in the driving seat for sure.
Exactly! What a brilliant post!
A lot depends on if Arse and Spurs have anything to play for.
We have fecking bottled it this season. The Mane and Lallana injuries have hurt us but today was just shocking. They should have spent some money, they have neglected the sqaud but to get so close and potentially miss out on CL football and only to end up with Europa is going to sting. United are in a nice position and are on form. Fair play.
Europa is both a blessing and a curse for United, hopefully the momentum that they could generate will be enough to overcome the fatigue and carry them over the line.
I still expect City to be ok with their run of fixtures. Liverpool as well in all honesty but games aren't won on paper. We might come up short with the fact that we have Europa League in our run where as the other teams now just have league games to concentrate on. The 18 involved today is basically what we have left. We just need to scrap the wins out and hope it's enough.
On a side note, Palace, away to Liverpool, Spurs, City and us out of their last few games. They might help us out.
On a side note, Palace, away to Liverpool, Spurs, City and us out of their last few games. They might help us out.
Yea, we completely fecked up, no excuses there.
Our fixtures are shocking, saying that if we beat City we could probably afford to drop points against Arse or Spurs and be ok.
Our run in is much more difficult compared to others. We have City, Arsenal and Spurs to come. The Europa League should be the way forward, although, if we finished 3rd-4th and won the EL, that would be nice since someone from Liverpool or City would miss out on CL football.
Liverpool will finish top 4. We probably stand a better chance of overtaking City than them but that's unlikely as well.
That's the thing though, all we will hear is excuses in the summer if we end up fifth/sixth. We will be hearing the typical "oh there were no players of quality to go for in January" which is a fair enough point but when you fail to strengthen adequately in the summer, you analyse the squad and the prospects during the season so far and you try and strengthen in the winter if you can. Knowing how thin our squad was I bet nobody from the club even enquired about a fecking signing. Even someone like Gabbiadini for christs sake, it might have made the difference between fighting for the title and where we are now.
With us still to play City and Arsenal (never mind Spurs), I have to think Liverpool are still in a strong position. It looks like they don't have any room for error but they do. We can't all win out so they'll surely have some more cushion against at least 2 of those teams. If United win out, City and Arsenal will have dropped at least 3 more points, etc.
A draw in the derby would be the worst result for them right?
A draw in the derby would be the worst result for them right?
More people need to think this way. Instead of, say, predicting a 1:1 draw with Burnley.
Let's do it!
Because the City and Arsenal games are 6-pointers (I think Arsenal still have a small chance to get top 4). We also have a better chance of beating these two as their record in home games is not that good. Whereas Spurs have won 15 and drawn 2 at home from 17 games.
You sound so certain, as if you haven't recognised that they have loads of injuries and just lost at home. To Palace!
One game at a time mate. Burnley away was ranked a tough game wasn't it? Let alone after a 2 hour marathon 3 days ago, whilst Burnley were enjoying a week rest
Plus, they have struggled in games like vs Palace all season. Is that suddenly going to change, if it hasn't at this point? unlikely.
The way I see it, Watford, Southamption and West Ham will all be tough games for them.
True but the next 4 teams they play have nothing to play for at all unlike Palace. I'd fancy them to get 9/10 points from the 4 games which should be enough unless us or Arsenal pull of incredible run ins.
Bring it on I say. This is who we are, we are a big team, the biggest club in the world and should rise to these challenges. We should believe that we can beat City, Arsenal and Spurs. The players should believe and I am pretty sure Jose has a plan for each of those games. We have lacked this in recent years since Fergie left, and I see this as the first major challenge to changing that mindset. The first step to building a winning team, is to build a winning mentallity and resilience, something that I believe Jose is trying very hard to do.
Can you imagine how invincible the players will feel if they go on and beat all those teams and win every single game until the end of the season? The mental strength will be immense for next season and they will feel like they can beat anybody. We shouldn't fear anyone, we should battle until the end and trust that we will keep solid at the back and grind out all these wins that we need. All fired up!!
Can you imagine how invincible the players will feel if they go on and beat all those teams and win every single game until the end of the season? The mental strength will be immense for next season and they will feel like they can beat anybody. We shouldn't fear anyone, we should battle until the end and trust that we will keep solid at the back and grind out all these wins that we need. All fired up!!
Ah, I see what you mean now.
Arsenal away is the one we might get something at. Spurs will be playing their final game ever at WHL against us and we saw how that transpired last time (vs West Ham) and well City away is never easy and even lesser so with all our injuries. We're definitely back in it but I still don't see it as a very likley scenario. Europa still our best hope.
The momentum and adrenaline from the other day would have helped you guys in a way as well though, no one likes to see horrible injuries in football but you can bet your last quid that Jose will be using that as a tool of motivation on his players to get the best of them and judging from today it worked and I fully expect United to win at City.
The only thing that makes
I think we have a better chamce of overtaking Liverpool. Their fixtures are harder. I expect Watford amd West Ham to cause them problems.
I think we have a better chamce of overtaking Liverpool. Their fixtures are harder. I expect Watford amd West Ham to cause them problems.
Spot on mate. Back to back games against the big teams are the kind of thing you live for as a football fan. Whether we get the results we want or not, I'm definitely excited for this run in.
Arsenal's fixtures are almost as hard as ours. Top 4 really is City's and Liveroool's to lose
There's no way we have to beat all of them.
Two wins would probably do it.
Though of course beating City has the added benefit of hurting them directly.
Last edited:
Terrible result. Terrible defending.
Still wide open in my opinion. This just leaves it a lot more precarious for Liverpool.
Still wide open in my opinion. This just leaves it a lot more precarious for Liverpool.
Spurs got knocked out when Chelsea won it.
The year Liverpool won it there were 5 English Teams though Everton didn't make it past the qualifiers.
It's moved from odds on in your favour, to a little in your favour now I reckon.
If we did manage to steal a win at City, then it swings a bit back to us.
Yeah, I think both Pep & Jose would bite your hand off right now for that result. A loss for either team is almost catastrophic.
Neither team has anything to play for. Watford didn't look bothered against Hull who were down to 10 men for most of the game. Given how hard the fixtures are for us and Arsenal they can most likely afford to lose one of their games and still get top 4.