On 16/04/2019 at 12:02, ForeverCarefree said:

Our form has been so erratic this season. We've dropped points in 14 of our 34 games this season so history tells us there's a good chance of us dropping points in 2 of our remaining 4 games. 

Said it previously in this thread there was a good chance of us dropping points in two of our remaining four fixtures... I just didn't think it would be at home to Burnley!

We've got Watford and Leicester to play yet and our record against top 10 sides this season has been atrocious. 

We finished the season with 70 points last year with a squad that was apparently largely unhappy playing under Conte. We've effectively stood still this season despite all of the changes. 

3 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Said it previously in this thread there was a good chance of us dropping points in two of our remaining four fixtures... I just didn't think it would be at home to Burnley!

We've got Watford and Leicester to play yet and our record against top 10 sides this season has been atrocious. 

We finished the season with 70 points last year with a squad that was apparently largely unhappy playing under Conte. We've effectively stood still this season despite all of the changes. 

That's because just like last season we still haven't replaced Costa.

Kind of goes to show how good Hazard is that in our last 3 seasons including this one he's remained consistent no matter how good or bad the rest of the team is around him.

If we can beat Utd on Sunday we have a great chance as i feel Arsenal could drop points in any of there 3 remaining away games. If we won last night i would of been confident of getting a result at Old Trafford but not now, Winning the Europa is our best chance now i feel.

Got a feeling Utd will play counter-attacking against City and still get beat comprehensively and then will opt to play openly against us and we will win. Unsure even if this happens if we will finish fourth as both Watford and Leicester are likely to give us problems. 

55 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Said it previously in this thread there was a good chance of us dropping points in two of our remaining four fixtures... I just didn't think it would be at home to Burnley!

We've got Watford and Leicester to play yet and our record against top 10 sides this season has been atrocious. 

We finished the season with 70 points last year with a squad that was apparently largely unhappy playing under Conte. We've effectively stood still this season despite all of the changes. 

I think the difference is that I think that's actually a result. 

We've not signed a replacement for Costa, we've transformed our football, and we've managed to stay still (whilst also having a deep run in a European competition). 

I'm optimistic next year we improve. Whereas I think a lot of people assume teams get worse in a managers second season. 

8 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

I think the difference is that I think that's actually a result. 

We've not signed a replacement for Costa, we've transformed our football, and we've managed to stay still (whilst also having a deep run in a European competition). 

I'm optimistic next year we improve. Whereas I think a lot of people assume teams get worse in a managers second season. 

We've signed replacements for Costa but they've all been pants. 

We've got £90m worth of strikers out on loan and the one we've bought in to resolve our scoring problems in January can only score against relegation fodder. 

We've got a transfer ban hanging over that if upheld means there's a realistic chance of going into next season with a front 3 of Pulisic, Giroud and Willian. If that happens I can't say I'd feel confident of improving on our current position next year. 

23 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

? We've signed replacements for Costa but they've all been pants. 

? We've got £90m worth of strikers out on loan and the one we've bought in to resolve our scoring problems in January can only score against relegation fodder. 

? We've got a transfer ban hanging over that if upheld means there's a realistic chance of going into next season with a front 3 of Pulisic, Giroud and Willian. If that happens I can't say I'd feel confident of improving on our current position next year. 

Yes exactly. We are a basket case of a club. The fact that we've managed to still be in the hunt for the top 4 and a European trophy is a miracle. 

What we need to start hoping for is that Roman sells and we can have an owner come in with fresh ambition and ideas. 

18 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

Yes exactly. We are a basket case of a club. The fact that we've managed to still be in the hunt for the top 4 and a European trophy is a miracle. 

What we need to start hoping for is that Roman sells and we can have an owner come in with fresh ambition and ideas. 

Personally I'd prefer if his visa situation got sorted so he could come back and be more hands on in the running of the club like he was in the past.

24 minutes ago, Ray_Cfc said:

Personally I'd prefer if his visa situation got sorted so he could come back and be more hands on in the running of the club like he was in the past.

I dont think it matters. He cant attend games, and he cant turn up at the training ground, but would him not getting his Visa really affect his influence on the club? I'm sure he could make any decision he wanted from the comfort of one his yaughts, it's just over last couple of years, the decisions haven't been great. 

Marina might be the public figure, but it's still romans club, and I'm sure nothing happens or doesnt, without his say so.

I predict that all of us, Man Utd and Arsenal will lose all of our remaining games (us vs Man Utd will be a pitiful draw) and we will qualify for the Champions League by default.

33 minutes ago, big blue said:

I dont think it matters. He cant attend games, and he cant turn up at the training ground, but would him not getting his Visa really affect his influence on the club? I'm sure he could make any decision he wanted from the comfort of one his yaughts, it's just over last couple of years, the decisions haven't been great. 

Marina might be the public figure, but it's still romans club, and I'm sure nothing happens or doesnt, without his say so.

It matters quite a bit less when you never ever get to play with your expensive toy. 

I think he's just sleep walking us towards a sale. Not a bad thing, but it's why there won't be any serious investment over the next couple of years until it happens. It's why we aren't building the stadium, because Roman knows he is probably going to sell before that turns a profit. Before it is even built probably. It's why we were slow to sack Conte and why we haven't sacked Sarri. That is throwing money away. 

Question, If Arsenal get the Champions League spot and lets say for example, beat us in the final of EL. Do we get Champo League as they have already qualified?

10 minutes ago, Fruity66 said:

Question, If Arsenal get the Champions League spot and lets say for example, beat us in the final of EL. Do we get Champo League as they have already qualified?

No we have to do it ourselves unfortunately. Either win the EL, or finish 3rd or 4th*.

*Even finishing 4th this season isn't a sure thing. If Spurs won the CL (I know) and finished out of the top 4 and Arsenal won the EL also finishing out of the top 4 we would be in the Europa even after finishing 4th.

It's quite complicated but the way to make it certain is to finish 3rd or win the EL.

11 minutes ago, Fruity66 said:

Question, If Arsenal get the Champions League spot and lets say for example, beat us in the final of EL. Do we get Champo League as they have already qualified?

No, we don't.

It's either top four finish or EL win, or both. Arsenal beating us in the EL final won't help us get an extra place in the CL. if we finish fifth in the league.

On 21/04/2019 at 15:23, Stim said:

We are all outdoing each other to see who plays worst away from home. Unfortunately for us we play them away.

Also unfortunately for us, we can play sh*t at home as well!!

33 minutes ago, Fruity66 said:

Question, If Arsenal get the Champions League spot and lets say for example, beat us in the final of EL. Do we get Champo League as they have already qualified?

Just spat my tea out reading that!

Not having a pop as it's a very reasonable question but f**k me, let's look for every loophole to try and gain entry to the CL! We're very nice (don't think we have had a red card this season from memory?), perhaps we can qualify through fair play or something?

To be honest, I know financially we need to be qualifying, but thinking about next seasons squad with no Hazard, think we could be badly embarrassed and it might be for the best if we aren't in it.

 

40 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

It matters quite a bit less when you never ever get to play with your expensive toy. 

I think he's just sleep walking us towards a sale. Not a bad thing, but it's why there won't be any serious investment over the next couple of years until it happens. It's why we aren't building the stadium, because Roman knows he is probably going to sell before that turns a profit. Before it is even built probably. It's why we were slow to sack Conte and why we haven't sacked Sarri. That is throwing money away. 

Kepa,Pulisic,Jorginho none of which have come cheap and that's only in the last year or so.I don't think the investment will stop wheather he wants to sell or not.

 

We have many problems but we really need some more goal scorers in the team.

I was looking at the PL top scorers the other day and it was obvious the main thing City, Liverpool & Spurs (less so) have over us. They all have 2+ players competing for most goals.

City - Aguero (19) & Sterling (17)

Liverpool - Salah (19) & Mane (18) & Firmino (12)

Spurs - Kane (17) & Son (12)

We have Hazard on 16, Pedro on 8 & Willian on 3.

So coupled without a decent striker and is it any wonder we don't win games? How many more would just one more decent player win us? Or even 2?

8 minutes ago, Ray_Cfc said:

Kepa,Pulisic,Jorginho none of which have come cheap and that's only in the last year or so.I don't think the investment will stop wheather he wants to sell or not.

 

Kepa, an asset on a 7 year contract. Jorginho is mid 20s, pulisic a USA young player, an asset.

These are all players that don't affect the value of our club negatively or significantly. Any buyer can look at that and agree.

If he stopped buying any players, that would be a sign he wants to sell at any price. But he's not an idiot, that would drive down our value. 

30 minutes ago, rtwelch said:

We have many problems but we really need some more goal scorers in the team.

I was looking at the PL top scorers the other day and it was obvious the main thing City, Liverpool & Spurs (less so) have over us. They all have 2+ players competing for most goals.

City - Aguero (19) & Sterling (17)

Liverpool - Salah (19) & Mane (18) & Firmino (12)

Spurs - Kane (17) & Son (12)

We have Hazard on 16, Pedro on 8 & Willian on 3.

So coupled without a decent striker and is it any wonder we don't win games? How many more would just one more decent player win us? Or even 2?

I think Costa debacle and Morata coming as a replacement played a big part in our goalscoring problems. Conte was wrong in his Costa treatment but to be fair Diego wanted out the moment he signed for us and was taking half a season off even when we were winning titles. Apparently he hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire since returning to Madrid, either. Morata turned out to be a bust, but again, to be honest he was the best option available in the market at the time, along with Lukaku, and I remember being happy about us signing him instead of Romelu, who I don't rate either. Giroud and Higuain were more like desperate signings, past their sell by date strikers coming at relatively little expense and hence, little risk.

What would have been nice is if our scouting uneathed a gem of a striker, or two. I forgot the last time we found a quality player for a little amount of money. What happened to people who got Azpilicueta, Ivanovic etc?

Spurs playing against a team sitting back defending for their lives, Pochettino had Son, Llorente, Janssen, Ali, Ericksen and Rose all attacking with both fullbacks playing advanced and wide.

0-0 at 72 mins, long may it continue too.

Damn my internet didn't refresh, oh well............

Edited April 23, 20197 yr by Strider6003

23 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

Spurs playing against a team sitting back defending for their lives, Pochettino had Son, Llorente, Janssen, Ali, Ericksen and Rose all attacking with both fullbacks playing advanced and wide.

And if Sarri had a little of this in him, we might be several points better right now.

We lack a m/f that crack a shot from distance and score. Barkley has a go yet rarely beats the keeper, Lampard on the other hand..........

22 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

We lack a m/f that crack a shot from distance and score. Barkley has a go yet rarely beats the keeper, Lampard on the other hand..........

Bringing Kovacic on and then keeping him and Jorginho on doesn't help at all, one manager knew the importance of 3 points.