1 minute ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Tonight’s result blows the top 4 wide open, Wolves did us a big favour, top 4 Citeh, liv, Us or the Arse!

Until tomorrows result that is 

It's not over 'til it's over

18 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Flip side to that is we look capable of losing to almost everyone too. With loses to Leicester, Wolves, Bournemouth and Everton.

It’s not so much that our form is erratic but more that we can’t be relied upon to beat even the most lowly opposition because we have no answer to teams that sit deep.

Sides, like those you’ve mentioned, are more confident of beating us so commit more men forward allowing us space to work with, which lower sides don’t. 

Yeah you're right, but I still have the faith that things are going to click into gear for us. Starting Ruben and CHO together will be the start of it - it's a no-brainer for Sarri. He will be getting the crowd onside whilst improving the starting xi at the same time.

Whilst I'm always one of the first on here to defend Sarri's tactics, I have questioned his team selections this season. Hopefully he starts seeing what the fans see and starts playing RLC, CHO, Emerson and Christensen more regularly.

4 minutes ago, DannyVblue said:

Yeah you're right, but I still have the faith that things are going to click into gear for us. Starting Ruben and CHO together will be the start of it - it's a no-brainer for Sarri. He will be getting the crowd onside whilst improving the starting xi at the same time.

Whilst I'm always one of the first on here to defend Sarri's tactics, I have questioned his team selections this season. Hopefully he starts seeing what the fans see and starts playing RLC, CHO, Emerson and Christensen more regularly.

Honestly if he was going to do it, he would have done it by now already. 

Perhaps genuinely he doesn't think CHO is ready to be starting, which is fine, that's what he's paid to do. But when those getting picked ahead of him, Willian specifically, aren't coming up with the goods where it matters most you can't help as a fan to question the decisions he is making. 

Willian currently has 3 league goals in 28 appearance, 23 as starts. I don't doubt for a second that had CHO been given those same opportunities he'd have delivered more goals, you only have to see his goal return in the cup competitions to see that. 

Same goes for RLC, whenever he's given a decent minutes he's generally impressing. He's got 7 goals and 3 assists in all competitions this season despite relatively few starts. Compare that to Kovacic who has just 2 assists all season in about 40 appearances. 

If Sarri hasn't seen to stop playing those who don't deliver where it matters most after 50 games in charge I have little faith he's going to change he ways for the final 10(ish). 

1 minute ago, ForeverCarefree said:

If Sarri hasn't seen to stop playing those who don't deliver where it matters most after 50 games in charge I have little faith he's going to change????? he ways? for the ?final 10(?ish?)??. 

Pep told me to pick a core 14 to improve, so I did. I picked the loanees, the retirees, the out the doors and the never were good enoughs... 

Spare 30 mins here's the run-in as it currently stands against our peers for top 4:

 

Edited April 3, 20197 yr by Strider6003

Ah darn why does liverpool have to fall between the Prague games?

Well we will just have to chance the B team in Prague and hope they do ok enough that we can salvage the return leg. We must do all we can to screw up the scousers chances.

7 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Ah darn why does liverpool have to fall between the Prague games?

Well we will just have to chance the B team in Prague and hope they do ok enough that we can salvage the return leg. We must do all we can to screw up the scousers chances.

We should play our B team against Liverpool... remember what happened last time?

Worth noting that this is also sandwiched between their two CL games against Porto (although they have an additional two days' rest beforehand). 

8 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

Worth noting that this is also sandwiched between their two CL games against Porto (although they have an additional two days' rest beforehand). 

If only Ricky Carvalho resign for Porto and kick a few lumps out of that shower...

Can't see us finishing in the top 4 just no consistency plus trips to Liverpool and united just can't see it happening.

 

Rather go all out for the Europa league it's silverware be another European trophy to the cabinet and the all important Champions League football for next season for winning it?

Three consecutive wins, a little consistency and though I don't expect us to beat Liverpool I think we might get a draw there. 

3 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

Three consecutive wins, a little consistency and though I don't expect us to beat Liverpool I think we might get a draw there. 

We really have been f**ked over by the PL / TV schedules for these games though Monday, Thursday (in prague) Sunday... 

24 minutes ago, Bonzodog29 said:

We really have been f**ked over by the PL / TV schedules for these games though Monday, Thursday (in prague) Sunday... 

Not just us though, I've noticed with other teams too at different times.

15 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

Not just us though, I've noticed with other teams too at different times.

Yeah but it doesnt matter when it happens to other teams ? * dons blue tinted sunglasses and walks off into the sunset*

20 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

Three consecutive wins, a little consistency and though I don't expect us to beat Liverpool I think we might get a draw there. 

I will take a draw all day long. Thankfully none of the other teams around us look consistent either. Arsenal have a load of away games.

Harry Kane being injured hasn't helped. Theyve been rubbish since he came back!

On 10/04/2019 at 09:55, bisright1 said:

I will take a draw all day long. Thankfully none of the other teams around us look consistent either. Arsenal have a load of away games.

Harry Kane being injured hasn't helped. Theyve been rubbish since he came back!

Re Harry, yes Son stepped up very nicely and show they still have a good threat even when Kane is out.

Yeah I’m hoping Son doesn’t bail them out of trouble again, he probably will. Such a good player.

Looks like Arsenal are becoming like a bad smell in this race for race for top 4.

Still think we might make top 4 as both Utd and Arsenal have potential banana skins.

The Utd game will be huge and luckily for us and like us they are pretty dire too. Just have to try and not give any penalties away because they love a penalty. Leicester away last game of the season really wont be easy either, thats not an ideal last game of the season.

8 minutes ago, jack_super_class said:

The Utd game will be huge and luckily for us and like us they are pretty dire too. Just have to try and not give any penalties away because they love a penalty. Leicester away last game of the season really wont be easy either, thats not an ideal last game of the season.

Agree that Leicester away will be tricky and think Rodgers will be determined to end on a high as well as getting one over us, the officials at OT often get swayed by the crowd yet think we can get a point there. A point may not be enough yet before we meet they face City. Even though it's just top 4 it's like GOT just now.

The run-in:

with it being so close for 3rd to 6th and all the different match days, the table will constantly be changing and teams leapfrogging each other, its where it ends up at that matters.

If the winners of the Europa have already qualified for the CL do the runners up get the CL spot?

Not feeling optimistic this morning.

The one thing that is a concern is that out of our peers for top 4 we are the only that has a difficult opponent on the last day of the season, some might say Arsenal at Burnley away though I expect Burnley to be comfortably safe by then with the deck chairs out and sunglasses on mode.