Top 4 race 2016/17
- Thread starter Yorkeontop
- Start date
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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.
The way I see it:
Liverpool:
Southampton (H) - D
West Ham (A) - W
Middlesbrough (H) - W
7 = 76 points.
City:
Crystal Palace (H) - W
Leicester (H) - W
West Brom (H) - W
Watford (A) - D
10 = 76 points.
United:
Arsenal (A) - D
Spurs (A) - L
Southampton (A) - W
Crystal Palace (H) - W
7 = 74 points.
Arsenal:
United (H) - D
Southampton (A) - W
Stoke City (A) - D
Sunderland (H) - W
Everton (H) - D
9 = 69 points.
Liverpool:
Southampton (H) - D
West Ham (A) - W
Middlesbrough (H) - W
7 = 76 points.
City:
Crystal Palace (H) - W
Leicester (H) - W
West Brom (H) - W
Watford (A) - D
10 = 76 points.
United:
Arsenal (A) - D
Spurs (A) - L
Southampton (A) - W
Crystal Palace (H) - W
7 = 74 points.
Arsenal:
United (H) - D
Southampton (A) - W
Stoke City (A) - D
Sunderland (H) - W
Everton (H) - D
9 = 69 points.
They don't have to. We're now in the spell of fixtures which the likes of myself were most concerned about, after dropping points in Swansea, Everton and WBA games i expected us to win. We should have had a cushion of points to try to cling onto by now, not still be chasing.
Don't see us making it Top 4 and I'm not too bothered if we're in the CL at all. What are the main advantages of CL football?
A) Europe's top competition to win? No English team stands a chance in the CL.
B) CL pull to attract players? Last summer proved we don't need CL to get the players we need.
The only downside to not qualifying for the CL will be having to play the Europa and I hope we play the kids there next season and concentrate on the League. Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool having CL football is a good distraction for them and should help us if we're in for a serious title challenge next season.
A) Europe's top competition to win? No English team stands a chance in the CL.
B) CL pull to attract players? Last summer proved we don't need CL to get the players we need.
The only downside to not qualifying for the CL will be having to play the Europa and I hope we play the kids there next season and concentrate on the League. Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool having CL football is a good distraction for them and should help us if we're in for a serious title challenge next season.
More and more, EL is looking as our best chance for CL football next year. If we beat Celta 0-2 or better, we can still field a strong team at Arsenal and keep fighting for top 4 as long as the door is open. But if the EL away leg this Thursday is not so good, we need to start playing Rooney and the kids in the PL.
If we win Europa League we automatically qualify to CL group stage.
I don't think we should be deliberately sabotaging our chances.
If we go to EL final, we will certainly have to field a very weakened team against Crystal Palace. That match is 3 or 4 days before the final.
I am saying if we don't get a very good result this Thursday, we will need to prioritise and focus on the Europa League, resting many key players prior to return leg.
utd have 65 points ...if the add 7 it would be 72 imo
For that to happen, Liverpool or City need to lose some points. It seems rather complicated.
Not exactly true. Though should be.
The UEFA Europa League winners enter in the group stage if the UEFA Champions League winners qualify directly for the UEFA Champions League group stage via their domestic league programme. This is what happened the past two seasons after success for Barcelona and Real Madrid.
All of this has become too convulated. I'm just taking it a game at a time and lets see where that takes us.
Top 4 is such a tease, we are in touching distance, for that reason alone Jose should play strongest team available and somehow we are not in top 4 and players are dropping like flies in every game.
I don't think we can finishing in top 4 considering our games are against Spurs, Arsenal and Sputhampton all away, combined with playing on thursdays. We should just play the kids in the league and concentrate completely on Europa league. Our first choice players needs a proper rest.
I don't think we can finishing in top 4 considering our games are against Spurs, Arsenal and Sputhampton all away, combined with playing on thursdays. We should just play the kids in the league and concentrate completely on Europa league. Our first choice players needs a proper rest.
Definitely don't think we'll get top four.
Not getting top 4 imo, and we should focus on Europa regardless.
Bit too late now, we have already lost some of our best players due to the insistence of a 'no rotation' policy.
I am of the same opinion
At this point, I'm not sure what our best eleven is. Our weakened team might actually fare better than the tedious affairs we are forced to witness week in week out. I say, let's give it a try!
76 points to get you top 4. United have to win all of the remaining games in the league. That wont happen as we will draw against crystal palace.
It's 99% certain though that any of the four remaining CL contestants will qualify directly for the next CL via their domestic league.
Do you really think we will win the EL now? Most of our defenders are injured, most of the players are tired. You cannot underestimate any team in the EL. I'm nervous that our players will feck it up in the EL and we will finish out of top 4.
You'll beat Celta Vigo over 2 legs but when it gets to a final, it's anyone's game. For Lyon and Ajax, a final would be the biggest match in their recent history so you can't underestimate how fired up they'll be against a potentially makeshift Utd defence.
Feels weird saying it but Fellani being available in Europe may be the very thing you need.
I think you'll win it but it won't be easy
All our defenders will be back by then
I didn't know that. In that case, you should be fine
I think Celta Vigo are being slightly overlooked to be honest. They have nothing else to play for, so it won't be easy, although I think we should do it, it won't be easy.
The final will be a toss of a coin.
Rojo out for season.
Shaw, probably out for season.
Bailly, unknown.
Smalling / Jones, who knows.
They just need to win ugly now. They don't need to play well.When's the last time Liverpool won three games in a row?
5 MONTHS AGO
It's going down to the last day for 3rd and 4th place. GD likely. Again
It's Liverpool, they're about as good at setting up to win ugly as your lot are.
Liverpool need to get out of the habit of only winning when playing at our best, we need to win ugly with luck and a bit of fortune. Last night was an example of this, a tight game but we still got the points. To only be able to win when you're at your best just isn't sustainable. That said, l don't want us becoming Bobby Gould's Wimbledon of course, you need balance.
They need to show they can open deep laying defences. Relying on Can wondergoals and the opposition missing last min must score chances wont work for a 3/4 game span.
It hasn't since Xmas.
I hear ya. But that requires bucking the habit they have had this year of not doing it.
I know a lot have been joking about Arsenal being in it still...but there's still an outside chance. I don't think any of United City or Liverpool fans can be certain of it!
You've not be playing with the same cavalier as earlier on in the season though. Your wins against Burnley, Stoke and West Brom where you only won by one goal prove that. I think you should be fine. Winning at least two of those remaining three.
So what happens to the Europa League winner if the UEFA Champions League winner does not qualify to the group stage directly?
Have to qualify via the playoffs (much like finishing 4th).
Thanks! We should focus on the EL from now on.
Your source?
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2444525.html
Where the winners enter
• The UEFA Champions League winners enter in the UEFA Champions League group stage as normal.
• The UEFA Europa League winners enter in the UEFA Champions League (at a minimum level of the play-offs).
• The UEFA Europa League winners enter in the group stage if the UEFA Champions League winners qualify directly for the UEFA Champions League group stage via their domestic league programme. This is what happened the past two seasons after success for Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Juventus, Real, Monaco and Athletico are all almost certainly going to qualify directly though so it's not something to worry about.