Top 4 race 2016/17

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).

Everton and they were still permitted to the qualifying round as 4th place. It was UEFA bending over to Liverpool's bitching that saw a fifth side enter.
 
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
Winning those three games is an incredible ask.
 
Winning those three games is an incredible ask.

That's why it's imperative we beat City now as the EL tie is sandwiched in between Arsenal and Spurs. Hopefully the other results go our way up to them giving us some leeway.
 
Odd thing to say, but I think we can afford to draw at City and Spurs as long as we win the rest - I believe that would sneak us into 4th.
 
Odd thing to say, but I think we can afford to draw at City and Spurs as long as we win the rest - I believe that would sneak us into 4th.
Then we'd be putting our fate back in the hands of either Liverpool or City.
 
We'd need to beat City. Even then, look at the respective run-ins:

qpwPc6s.png

Thanks ... Will pin that up on my wall!

Thursday/Sunday til season end so a chance to build some rhythm and momentum in the coaching calendar.

Fosu-Mensah and Tuanzebe need to be trusted at some point, else Bailly will also get injured soon.

Feels like 1999, albeit a much inferior quality experience. Still, massive progress given where we have recently been
 
Then we'd be putting our fate back in the hands of either Liverpool or City.
Indeed, but I don't think either side will take maximum points from the run-in, just like we won't. There's at least another draw each in there.

If we did go W4 D2 that's 77 Points. I can't imagine 77 Points being 5th Place.. but we shall see how it goes!
 
My guess is we'll draw against City, beat Swansea, win/draw against Arsenal, lose to Spurs, then 4 points from the last 2. So 9 or 11 points in the last 6 games, putting us on 72-74 points.

Liverpool, feck knows how they'll do. 4 games where with them it could be easy one game and a loss the next. My guess is 7-10 points, putting them on 73-76 points.

City will probably win the home games (draw with United though), then a draw or loss in one of the away games. My guess is 12-14 points from their last 6, so on 76-78 points.

We're up against it still, but a win on thursday would make me a lot more confident.
 
We're the best away side in the league in terms of points per game.

Chelsea and City have picked up more points on the road but have played two more away games.

Bodes well for upcoming fixtures.

But just to balance that out - the commentator mentioned that Burnley have taken more points at home than we have. Brutal stat.
 
We're the best away side in the league in terms of points per game.

Chelsea and City have picked up more points on the road but have played two more away games.

Bodes well for upcoming fixtures.

But just to balance that out - the commentator mentioned that Burnley have taken more points at home than we have. Brutal stat.
Burnley have a better home record than City too
 
Poor Dumbstar revelling in the fact we picked up injuries and would be forced to select unfancied players against Burnley.

Of course two of them score in a comfortable win.

Well done. Congratulations. Happy birthday.
 
On a side note, Palace, away to Liverpool, Spurs, City and us out of their last few games. They might help us out.

I spent 5 minutes on this sentence to understand, just couldn't ... please elaborate.
 
I spent 5 minutes on this sentence to understand, just couldn't ... please elaborate.
Yeah sure.

So Crystal Palace looking at their last ten games, Chelsea away, Arsenal home, Liverpool away. One them 3, did us (Utd) a favour. They now have spurs, city and us (Utd) away in their last few games.

Quite a tough run. Hopefully they can help us (Utd) out by getting results against spurs and city and then be on the beach when they play us.

You get me blud?
 
To beat Stoke and West Brom away and lose at home to Palace is bonkers behaviour.
 
I just really really want us to finish top 4 AND win Europa League so we take a champions league spot we don't need! :lol:

It would be fun for a bit, but truth is you want as many PL teams to qualify as possible: 1) coefficients, 2) keeping them also busy with groups, Chelsea wouldn't be so out of reach with two games a week and imagine how much farther Liverpool would be with all the extra injuries and tiredness that comes with playing more than 2-3 times a month.
 
It would be fun for a bit, but truth is you want as many PL teams to qualify as possible: 1) coefficients, 2) keeping them also busy with groups, Chelsea wouldn't be so out of reach with two games a week and imagine how much farther Liverpool would be with all the extra injuries and tiredness that comes with playing more than 2-3 times a month.

In the 18/19 season the big 4 leagues have automatic entry for their top 4 places, coefficients will mean nothing after next season other than group stage pot placement.
 
I think Liverpool will need to drop points in 2 of their last 4 for us to sneak it.
 
We'd need to beat City. Even then, look at the respective run-ins:

qpwPc6s.png

One game at a time, we need to beat City, and then, with 2 days rest, beat Swansea.

But most importantly, if we then beat Celta Vigo away, we will give ourselves a really good platform to get possibly 3rd and also get to the EL final.
 
If we beat City I'll believe (for the first time all season) we can finish top 4.
 
Also noticed our goal difference is only two behind Liverpool now, with two games in hand. Hopefully could bring that beyond theirs in the event we end level on points.
 
Also noticed our goal difference is only two behind Liverpool now, with two games in hand. Hopefully could bring that beyond theirs in the event we end level on points.

Mental how good our GD actually is (well compared with our nearest rivals) given how few goals we score, just highlights how poor all their defences are
 
To beat Stoke and West Brom away and lose at home to Palace is bonkers behaviour.

We're a bonkers team. Wouldn't be surprised if we finished 6th and lost 3 of our next 4 games - wouldn't be surprised if we went and won them all either.
 
Mental how good our GD actually is (well compared with our nearest rivals) given how few goals we score, just highlights how poor all their defences are
And how good yours has been. The number of league goals you've conceded since losing 4-0 at Chelsea is very impressive.
 
I think Liverpool will need to drop points in 2 of their last 4 for us to sneak it.

I reckon that's right. If Liverpool win all 4 they will finish in the top 4, dropped points in 1 will be touch and go for us all.
 
I reckon Arsenal will struggle to score more than 10-12 more points from here on in. Liverpool will finish on 76 and ourselves and City will finish on 77.

Not sure who'll finish 3rd on GD but I'm quite confident of top 4 now.

Edit: This is based on the fact I think we'll win our next 3 games and can afford to drop 2 or 3 points against Spurs.
 
If we beat City and Swansea, we could finish next weekend's fixtures in 3rd.
 
If we beat City and Swansea, we could finish next weekend's fixtures in 3rd.
If we win both of those games would we be relying on results elsewhere to be 3rd?
 
If we win both of those games would we be relying on results elsewhere to be 3rd?
Depends on who has better goal difference between United and Liverpool if they beat Watford (would both be on 69 points)

I think we would have a game in hand though
 
If we win both of those games would we be relying on results elsewhere to be 3rd?

Liverpool would need to draw Watford or else we would need to catch them on goal differential by then (we're two behind so let's say we beat City 1-0 and Swansea 3-0, and Liverpool beat Watford 3-2), we'd be in third with a game in hand even if they win.
 
Arsenal will make the top at the expense of Liverpool. This is where Wenger shines.

I hope we are able to pip City. Both City and Liverpool out of the top 4 will make this an even better season.
 
There is no way Arsenal are making the top 4. They wont beat us. They are too far behind.
 
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.
I really wasn't even thinking about the title, but that fact that we might miss out on my expectation after having been within touching distance of Chelsea says a lot about how badly we've managed this.