1 hour ago, coco said:

Forget utd, they have to gain 6 pts AND an 8 goal difference. We just need to put Watford to bed by the same scoreline that Arsenal beat Brighton by (if), and then match the score in their away to Burnley in our game away to Leciester. We better make sure we have some good comms between the bench and players in the last game, we may need to know the score at Burnley so we can adjust our tactics through the game at Leicester.

It's not out of the question, I'm not just being negative either if we had their games I would be very confident on top 4. 

Arsenal have a difficult game against Burnley which they can lose, United can still get top 4 it's up to us and Arsenal not to bottle it. If we win our next 2 games we're top 4, we've got it the easiest out of the 3 because of our situation but I'm not going to get carried away just yet, we are more than capable of f**king it up, we should've beaten Burnley and we didn't, Leicester and Watford are just about the same pedigree. 

32 minutes ago, Slojo said:

It's not out of the question, I'm not just being negative either if we had their games I would be very confident on top 4. 

Arsenal have a difficult game against Burnley which they can lose, United can still get top 4 it's up to us and Arsenal not to bottle it. If we win our next 2 games we're top 4, we've got it the easiest out of the 3 because of our situation but I'm not going to get carried away just yet, we are more than capable of f**king it up, we should've beaten Burnley and we didn't, Leicester and Watford are just about the same pedigree. 

Put your money on them then if youre that confident, 1000% interest on your money at 10/1

 

9 minutes ago, coco said:

Put your money on them then if youre that confident, 1000% interest on your money at 10/1

 

Never said I was confident on them getting top 4, I said I'm very confident of them winning their games, right now it's in our hands, United have to rely on us to not win both of our games, Arsenal have to rely on us to lose at least one while they win their last two. It's clear the ball is in our court, but I'm not banking on anything with the way we've been against top 10 sides this season. 

Edited April 29, 20197 yr by Slojo

4 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Never said I was confident on them getting top 4, I said I'm very confident of them winning their games, right now it's in our hands, United have to rely on us to not win both of our games, Arsenal have to rely on us to lose at least one while they win their last two. It's clear the ball is in our court, but I'm not banking on anything with the way we've been against top 10 sides this season. 

oh i see did you mean if we had their remaining fixtures,

15 minutes ago, coco said:

oh i see did you mean if we had their remaining fixtures,

Yeah, it's another one of my classic badly worded statements again. 

I would be very surprised if United didn't win their two next games, Brighton and Huddersfield are awful at the moment. 

Any betting man would put it on us right now, but it's not a given with the way we have been against top 10 sides, another performance like that against Burnley and we are done for. As for the United match, we were better the 2nd half. 

1 hour ago, Wearyourblue said:

Look things fans don't like... players often do.  If you were a player would you rather have to play a different role every game based on who you're playing, or just go out and play your game.  It's one of the things that long term will help Sarri at Chelsea, as his guys learn their roles more and more, they will think quicker.

I would rather be with a team that has good players and a manger that puts everyone in the best position to win.  Currently, that's not us.  It certainly used to be.  But it isn't now.

 

55 minutes ago, coco said:

Put your money on them then if youre that confident, 1000% interest on your money at 10/1

 

i reckon a few will be getting on united the way chelsea and the goons have been dropping points

2 hours ago, enigma said:

Looking at the table, Watford and Leicester got pretty much nothing to play for. I don't think they can get Europa League football. They will be going into the games against us with little to play for apart from pride. We on the other hand will have securing top four to play for. I want to see some fight and effort from the players to get that.

Players always talk about CL meaning so much, so they should show it. After all, they are getting paid handsomely to put the effort in. Two games left, they need to show some grit and determination. Making top four will all be in vain though if we receive the transfer ban. We will have no chance of winning it or progressing anyway without a clear out in the summer. 

I'm not sure our lot have much fight in them, and Sarri by his own admission can't motivate them so I hate to say it, by I think there's more twists and turns to come in this top four race,  still reckon between the manager and team we will f**k it all up

A  story circulating that some players only play for personal glory, last season-end poor performances and then we turned up for the FA final, personally thought some were a little work shy against Utd .... personal glory being saved for Frankfurt? 

A few weeks ago I thought that we would need 75 points minimum for top 4. We have managed 2 points from our last 9, yet amazingly still gained ground on our rivals. Now 73 points would guarantee it. Problem is that is still 2 wins from 2 games, including 1 away from home, and with Europa League games sandwiched between. If we can at least get a win against Watford we may find that is enough but Arsenal will surely win a game or 2 sooner or later. Hopefully we can secure 4th spot. 2 wins gives an outside chance of 3rd the way Spurs have been dropping points recently too. We can hope at least.

i think we need to beat watford and hope for a draw at leicester, the goons will surely drop points at turf moor

4 minutes ago, luckywerthers said:

i think we need to beat watford and hope for a draw at leicester, the goons will surely drop points at turf moor

On recent form I agree, although I would rather not rely on it.

7 hours ago, Boston Blue said:

I would rather be with a team that has good players and a manger that puts everyone in the best position to win.  Currently, that's not us.  It certainly used to be.  But it isn't now.

 

Eh... changing systems is for underdogs. Eden Hazard is having a career year numbers wise.  Kante IMO has become a better player and legitimate scoring option.  They are in great positions to win, sometime you've got to bite the bullet.  Changing systems to make Victor Moses more effective, just incentives the board to buy more Victor Moses.  The thing with being systematic is it makes player acquistion easier and more predictable, it's not buy a bunch of players and see what you can do with them.  It will force the club to target specific players and skillsets.  It's the direction we should take.

Us and Spurs still have two tough fixtures and Arse have Burnley away. I guess it's a good thing that Spurs may still potentially drop points so that we will have 2 spots to fight for instead of 1.  It will be a huge disappointment if we manage to f**k it up from here. 

1 hour ago, Wearyourblue said:

Eh... changing systems is for underdogs. Eden Hazard is having a career year numbers wise.  Kante IMO has become a better player and legitimate scoring option.  They are in great positions to win, sometime you've got to bite the bullet.  Changing systems to make Victor Moses more effective, just incentives the board to buy more Victor Moses.  The thing with being systematic is it makes player acquistion easier and more predictable, it's not buy a bunch of players and see what you can do with them.  It will force the club to target specific players and skillsets.  It's the direction we should take.

This. This is also why I think we should keep Sarri for at least another season. 

1 hour ago, evissy said:

This. This is also why I think we should keep Sarri for at least another season. 

And watch this boring football with inept tactical decisions and unmotivated players, no thanks mate

2 hours ago, chi blue said:

And watch this boring football with inept tactical decisions and unmotivated players, no thanks mate

If we get the scoring going I don't think it is boring. We are basically City with out scoring in terms of style. Granted I have never been a fan of possession football but I think we should stick what we are trying to do. I believe we will be more interesting place for young players if we have a style and an identity of football. Now we are just sailing between this and our history of defending deep. 

Please tell us how you will succesfully replace Sarri? Who would you hire and why? 

8 minutes ago, evissy said:

If we get the scoring going I don't think it is boring. We are basically City with out scoring in terms of style. Granted I have never been a fan of possession football but I think we should stick what we are trying to do. I believe we will be more interesting place for young players if we have a style and an identity of football. Now we are just sailing between this and our history of defending deep. 

I think people only call it boring because for a while, it really was. We seem to be more direct now and as you say the issue is scoring now. There's still some players who continue to play with their back to goal which is a real issue for this style (willian for one is awful at that) but many now are looking to turn and play forward which drives us on (Kante, hazard, RLC). 

Edited April 30, 20197 yr by bisright1

13 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

A  story circulating that some players only play for personal glory, last season-end poor performances and then we turned up for the FA final, personally thought some were a little work shy against Utd .... personal glory being saved for Frankfurt? 

Not sure i'd agree with this: firstly, i think if they are after personal glory then 4th place is pretty important to everyone and constitutes glory of sorts, bringing CL football next season and the opportunity for more glory... Secondly, i think the players gave their all v united. Thirdly, i think the players and coaches know it's foolish to put all your eggs in one basket. 

By the way, kudos on your call several weeks back for plenty of twists and turns in the 4th place battle. I think it was you, though I doubt you expected it to be THIS nuts, with this many fumbles by the teams involved. 

3 minutes ago, Dean said:

By the way, kudos on your call several weeks back for plenty of twists and turns in the 4th place battle. I think it was you, though I doubt you expected it to be THIS nuts, with this many fumbles by the teams involved. 

Yes just thought with others having away trips to teams like Wolves and Leicester (under Rogers) and London derbies plenty of potential for upsets.

Still somewhat disappointed we haven't been able to capitalise on it better.

14 hours ago, luckywerthers said:

i reckon a few will be getting on united the way chelsea and the goons have been dropping points

United have been dropping points as badly as anyone else. They've only got 4 points in their last 5 league games. We've had 8 points in 5, which is bad enough. Only Arse have been worse with 3 in 5.

Edited April 30, 20197 yr by Kentonio

10 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

Yes just thought with others having away trips to teams like Wolves and Leicester (under Rogers) and London derbies plenty of potential for upsets.

Still somewhat disappointed we haven't been able to capitalise on it better.

yes it is disappointing. really should have beaten Burnley 

3 minutes ago, Kentonio said:

United have been dropping points as badly as anyone else. They've only got 4 points in their last 5 league games. We've had 8 points in 5, which is bad enough. Only Arse have been worse with 3 in 5.

So we have the best of the sh*te form of the top 4 chasers! It’s something 

11 hours ago, Wearyourblue said:

Eh... changing systems is for underdogs. Eden Hazard is having a career year numbers wise.  Kante IMO has become a better player and legitimate scoring option.  They are in great positions to win, sometime you've got to bite the bullet.  Changing systems to make Victor Moses more effective, just incentives the board to buy more Victor Moses.  The thing with being systematic is it makes player acquistion easier and more predictable, it's not buy a bunch of players and see what you can do with them.  It will force the club to target specific players and skillsets.  It's the direction we should take.

Disagree with this.  Sorry.  

Kante is not a legitimate scoring option.  He's scored 6 league goals in 3 seasons with us, 4 of them this year.  While I think he has done well in the new position, I think we miss having his protection in front of our defenders.  

The board isn't going to run off and buy more Moses' (Is the plural Mosi?).  Conte used him because he had them and adapted a style to the players he had.  

For the last several years, the board have always bought the players they want and left it to the coach to figure out how to use them.  And they bought one or two players at the manager's request.  This is likely due to the fact that managers don't last long.

Spurs change systems and formations.  Mourinho did it with us.  Conte to some extent.  As Conte said, the coach is like a tailor, weaving what he has to make it work.  He had Moses, he had Alonso, he recognized their strengths and played to them.  A good coach gets the best out of their players.  

1 hour ago, Boston Blue said:

 

Spurs change systems and formations.  Mourinho did it with us.  Conte to some extent.  As Conte said, the coach is like a tailor, weaving what he has to make it work.  He had Moses, he had Alonso, he recognized their strengths and played to them.  A good coach gets the best out of their players.  

I do however think that this has been a problem with the club in general for the past few seasons, when Jose first came in (and admittedly Roman had an open wallet policy) he identified the type of player that fitted in with the style of football he played so we ended up with a team of massive players strong etc. to bully other teams, since that first incarnation (and towards the end of it as well) the club seemed to start buying players and the drop them onto the manager who would then need to try and form them into a workable team.

I would rather us now take a direction of the style we want to play and then get the players to fit that, if that means the manager sets the system I am happy to give it a go for a couple of seasons, assuming it means we can bring through some players as well who are coached in that method.  

It does however mean we need a DOF in order to set that direction and also to decide if Sarri is the man whose "vision" is the route we want to take. This doesnt mean we cant have tweaks etc to a formation but the scatter gun approach to signings has to end and if it means a few years of cup runs and top fours in order to get the house in order then I can live with it.