Are we hoping for Man Utd to reach the final?

I’m not really sure what Man Utd winning Europa means for 5th spot, does that mean whoever finishes 5th gets relegated into Europa league?

Europa final is on 21st of May, we play Utd on 16th. So we could be facing a second string side.

1 hour ago, dansubrosa said:

Are we hoping for Man Utd to reach the final?

I’m not really sure what Man Utd winning Europa means for 5th spot, does that mean whoever finishes 5th gets relegated into Europa league?

Europa final is on 21st of May, we play Utd on 16th. So we could be facing a second string side.

Race for Europe: How many clubs...

Race for Europe: How many clubs could qualify?

Tom Hancock looks at all the permutations as the Premier League's chasing pack compete for European football next season

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Arsenal - Generally portrayed that Arteta has the arsenal team firing on all cylinders, that they have had a cracking season, and were the closest challengers to Liverpool.

...and yet they have won just a single game more than dysfunctional, split personality Chelsea.

1 hour ago, nonotnowjim said:

Arsenal - Generally portrayed that Arteta has the arsenal team firing on all cylinders, that they have had a cracking season, and were the closest challengers to Liverpool.

...and yet they have won just a single game more than dysfunctional, split personality Chelsea.

Good point, but their ability to get draws out of losses is why they are a clear second. No one except Liverpool has realistically shown any title-chasing character.

3 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

Arsenal - Generally portrayed that Arteta has the arsenal team firing on all cylinders, that they have had a cracking season, and were the closest challengers to Liverpool.

...and yet they have won just a single game more than dysfunctional, split personality Chelsea.

Arsenal are probably going to finish about 14 points short of their points total for last season. I 'm expecting them to be the 4th worst team in the PL in terms of YtY regression on that one ....

The worst 4 YtY are going to be (in order) Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal. In a nutshell why Liverpool have had such an easy ride this year. Most of their traditional "big club" rivals are in serious decline (mainly through piss poor recruitment for me).

3 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Arsenal are probably going to finish about 14 points short of their points total for last season. I 'm expecting them to be the 4th worst team in the PL in terms of YtY regression on that one ....

The worst 4 YtY are going to be (in order) Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal. In a nutshell why Liverpool have had such an easy ride this year. Most of their traditional "big club" rivals are in serious decline (mainly through piss poor recruitment for me).

Which all could feed into Marescas narrative about how it has been a good season (not regressing like others). I didn’t agree with him, and see it an an opportunity missed….but you know that’s how the club will spin it

16 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Which all could feed into Maresca's narrative about how it has been a good season (not regressing like others). I didn’t agree with him, and see it an an opportunity missed….but you know that’s how the club will spin it

Maresca can say whatever he likes. The reality is obvious (and different) to anyone with a grasp of simple maths, let alone a pair of eyes to assess the "style" of play !

For sure the club will come up with a load of old flannel to justify keeping him, and as a result my relationship with the club will become yet more distant.

Nottingham Forest Opened the door a Crack tonight, but you have to be honest and say they have much more favorable fixtures before we met at their place.

palace (a)

Leicester (h)

West Ham (a)

Compared to ours:

Liverpool (h)

Newcastle (a)

Man United (h)

Then have to factor in Villa if we both keep falling:

Fulham (h)

Bournemouth (A)

Spurs (h)

United (a)

2 teams on the beach and 2 dreaming of winning the europa league.

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Nottingham Forest Opened the door a Crack tonight, but you have to be honest and say they have much more favorable fixtures before we met at their place.

palace (a)

Leicester (h)

West Ham (a)

Compared to ours:

Liverpool (h)

Newcastle (a)

Man United (h)

Then have to factor in Villa if we both keep falling:

Fulham (h)

Bournemouth (A)

Spurs (h)

United (a)

2 teams on the beach and 2 dreaming of winning the europa league.

Their fixtures look more favorable but Forest have definitely lost some form recently. Also, while Leicester are 3 points for most teams, their local rivalry with Forest will ensure this adds a bit of spice to that fixture. I think we need to concentrate and picking up points in our remaining games rather than worrying about other teams. We could certainly do with spoiling Liverpool's party for 3 points on Sunday.

One step at a time.

If, and its a big if, but if we beat Liverpool and a result or two goes in our favour then it could get interesting.

All starting tonight with one of the most in form teams in the division. Come on Wolves!

West Ham beating Forest means Potter securing CL for Chelsea.

Times Up Potter!!

I wonder if fatigue has finally hit Forest at the worst time. They've had a pretty recognizable XI the majority of the season.

Anyone know what the Opta computer is saying for our finishing position now ?

Newcastle's last 3 fixtures are harder on paper than ours now (they have Arsenal after us, and then Everton at home). Could we even get Top 4 let alone Top 5 ? Obviously key not to lose at St James' ...

Newcastle looked flat vs Brighton yesterday. Isak had 2 touches in the box in the whole 90 mins (and one was a penalty). They are beatable I think.

Villa are interesting - their run in seems easy.

Would 4 points be enough? Say a draw vs Newcastle and a win vs United?

8 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Newcastle looked flat vs Brighton yesterday. Isak had 2 touches in the box in the whole 90 mins (and one was a penalty). They are beatable I think.

Villa are interesting - their run in seems easy.

Would 4 points be enough? Say a draw vs Newcastle and a win vs United?

Villa have to go to Bournemouth. Very difficult game. In fact Bournemouth are slight favourites with the bookies. City have the easiest run in for sure, if you still include them. The good thing we have over Villa is the GD so even if we are to lose next game and they win, our GD would be superior. Forest have a very difficult game tonight but if they were to win they would feel confident, especially because they have relegated Leicester at home next.

31 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Anyone know what the Opta computer is saying for our finishing position now ?

Newcastle's last 3 fixtures are harder on paper than ours now (they have Arsenal after us, and then Everton at home). Could we even get Top 4 let alone Top 5 ? Obviously key not to lose at St James' ...

I think that we’ve broken the computer and algorithm. That’s what Chelsea does every time and again, break all odds.

It’s 43% chance but I anticipate that to increase later today if Forest fail to beat Palace.

4 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

It’s 43% chance but I anticipate that to increase later today if Forest fail to beat Palace.

I quite like our chances now !

Maresca in

I reckon city will get one of the spots. Leaves 2 more up for grabs between Newcastle, us, Forest and Villa.

As a reminder the remaining games for each of the 4 are:

Newcastle:

Chelsea (h)

Arsenal (A)

Everton (h)

Us:

Newcastle (a)

United (h)

Forest (a)

Forest:

Leicester (H)

West Ham (a)

Chelsea (H)

Villa:

bournemouth (a)

Spurs (h)

United (a)

Key for me is the newcastle match. Win that and we have a great shot at making CL.

Forest and Villa still have the best chance of winning all three remaining games, but it's probably too little, too late for Villa as they can only finish on 69 points maximum and need everyone else to drop three points.

Forest having a game in hand directly against us is big. Anything less than 6 points means that Forest only need a draw on the last day to finish above us, regardless of what they do. To face the best low-block in the league, away from home on the last day is a terrific ask.

Realistically though, with Murillo out, we're one win away from CL qualifcation and we'll get it against Man U.

3 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Forest having a game in hand directly against us is big. Anything less than 6 points means that Forest only need a draw on the last day to finish above us, regardless of what they do. To face the best low-block in the league, away from home on the last day is a terrific ask.

Forest don’t have a game in hand against us do they?

3 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Forest and Villa still have the best chance of winning all three remaining games, but it's probably too little, too late for Villa as they can only finish on 69 points maximum and need everyone else to drop three points.

Forest having a game in hand directly against us is big. Anything less than 6 points means that Forest only need a draw on the last day to finish above us, regardless of what they do. To face the best low-block in the league, away from home on the last day is a terrific ask.

Realistically though, with Murillo out, we're one win away from CL qualifcation and we'll get it against Man U.

But surely if we get 7 points from our remaining games we can't be caught. We must beat Man Utd. On paper it's the easiest game, they're in horrendous formant hopefully will be hung over from winning the Europa League.

If we beat Newcastle and Man Utd then a draw is enough against Forest. Draw Newcastle and beat Man utd then we need to go to Forest and win.

All this is assuming that none of the others implode either.

Edit: In fact Newcastle potentially have it as tough as us. If we beat Newcastle that really puts the pressure on them as the next game is us against Man utd whilst they travel to Arsenal. We beat Man Utd at home that puts us right on Arsenal's shirt tails so they will want to beat Newcastle on their last home game. That happens and we're in anyway. A lot of permutations, granted, but we are definitely in the mix.

Edited May 6, 20251 yr by WhiteWall

1 hour ago, WhiteWall said:

But surely if we get 7 points from our remaining games we can't be caught. We must beat Man Utd. On paper it's the easiest game, they're in horrendous formant hopefully will be hung over from winning the Europa League.

If we beat Newcastle and Man Utd then a draw is enough against Forest. Draw Newcastle and beat Man utd then we need to go to Forest and win.

All this is assuming that none of the others implode either.

To me MU game is the most difficult.

1 hour ago, evissy said:

To me MU game is the most difficult.

WHY?

THEY HAVE ROTATED MOST OF THEIR PLAYERS FOR THE LAST 3 GAMES, THEY AREN'T GETTING RELEGATED AND CAN ONLY GET EUROPEAN FOOTBALL BY WINNING THE EUROPA LEAGUE (ENTRY INTO CL), SO THEY WILL NOT CARE HOW THEY GET ON AGAINST WEST HAM, VILLA OR US, THEIR MAIN PRIORITY IS NOT TO GET ANY OF THEIR MAIN PLAYERS INJURED