It’s going to be an interesting end to the season. Leicester: 4 games Newcastle (H) United (a) Chelsea (a) Spurs (H) Chelsea: 4 games City (a) Arsenal (H) Leicester (H) Villa (a) Spurs: 4 games Leeds (a) Wolves (H) Villa (H) Leicester (a) West Ham: 5 games Burnley (a) Everton (H) Brighton (a) West Brom (a) Saints (H) Liverpool: 5 games Saints (H) West Brom (a) Burnley (a) Palace (H) United (a) Everton: 5 games West Ham (a) Villa (a) Sheff United (H) Wolves (H) City (a) Whilst Chelsea and Leicester may have more points on the board, their remains fixtures are particularly tricky. West Ham and Liverpool not only have a game in hand, but they definitely have the more favorable fixtures. it’s simple for us (as we know), we just have to win all 4 and hope for the best. The fixtures involve many of these teams having to play one another, as well as some nasty ones against city and United thrown in there. I have no doubt we’ll bottle things as usual, but West Ham (in particular) could be dark horses for a CL spot here, taking advantage of those dropped points that are inevitable between the rest. how many points do you think each team will pick up?
Hard to predict what points I think we'll get but I don't see us getting in the CL and leapfrogging either of Chelsea or Leicester. I think the top four is more or less set. A 5 or 8 point swing in our favour with just 4 games left feels quite impossible if I'm honest. I do though think we have a chance at getting Europa. West Ham and Pool have the games in hand but I'm hoping there's a slip up at least with West Ham, if not Pool. Their next two fixtures are ones that can throw a spanner in the works for them, Burnley are never easy and Everton will also be hoping they can do enough to reach a Europa spot. Pool should more or less win all theirs with the exception of Utd. On paper we should get at least three wins out of the remaining four but our form this season just makes it so tough to be confident with. Getting Europa at the end of a disastrous season will at least be a small comfort - and I really do mean small. To stick my neck out, and this requires a West Ham collapse, I'll say: Leicester Chelsea Pool Spurs West Ham From 3rd-7th. Though knowing us this season, we'll lose the next four
The timing of these games is very important. It looks like the bottom 3 is nailed on, so I guess it’s a question over what sort of effort we’ll see from those that are pretty much safe. perhaps Burnley will go all out today, which will all but secure them safety. - that in turn puts a dent in west hams hopes. As I say, lots of twists and turns coming up for different reasons. I reckon the following: Leicester - 4 points Chelsea - 7 points Spurs - 7 points West ham - 9 points Liverpool - 10 points Everton - 8 points
Leicester: 4 games Newcastle (H) 3pts United (a) 1pt Chelsea (a) 1pt Spurs (H) 3pts Total 8pts making 71pts Chelsea: 4 games City (a) 1pt Arsenal (H) 3pts Leicester (H) 1pt Villa (a) 3pts Total 8pts making 69pts Spurs: 4 games Leeds (a) 1pt Wolves (H) 3pts Villa (H) 1pt Leicester (a) 0pts Total 5 points making 61pts West Ham: 5 games Burnley (a) 3pt Everton (H) 1pt Brighton (a) 3pts West Brom (a) 3pts Saints (H) 3pts Total 13 pts making 68pts Liverpool: 5 games Saints (H) 3pts West Brom (a) 3pts Burnley (a) 3pts Palace (H) 3pts United (a) 1pt Total 13pts making 67pts Everton: 5 games West Ham (a) 1pt Villa (a) 3 pts Sheff United (H) 3pts Wolves (H) 3pts City (a) 0 pts Total 10 points making 62 points Think we'll finish 8th ... at best.
I predict that we'll finish 7th..... ....but Chelsea will finish 5th and Arsenal 10th. However, both will win in the CL and EL respectively, meaning that....... ....yes, you've guessed it. We won't qualify for anything, apart from EL II, which we will subsequently lose the final of, to the Sozopol Blind School's B Team, on penalties, having squandered a 10-0 lead. Daniel Levy will refuse to resign as manager, DoF, Chairman or Club President.
Interestingly if we happened to win all four games those other results would leave us fourth but behind Chelsea so safe from being bumped from the CL by Chelsea/Arsenal CL/EL wins
I'm going to voice what is a radical and probably unpopular opinion, and it really does pain me to say it, but I'm really in two minds about us qualifying for the CL next season. I think finishing outside the top 4 for the second season running could be the kick up the arse Levy and the board need. Scraping 4th could well lead to them papering over the obvious cracks and neglecting the squad/manager all over again. They need to realise once and for all that their recruitment strategy of both players and managers over the past 3 years has been a complete wreck. I'm not sure that will happen if we finish 4th. My gut instinct is that where we finish won't matter one iota to Kane - he is either going to stick it out for one more year or he's totally done regardless. Might be unpopular but I see real long-term dangers on the horizon of the short-term gain of CL football for one more year.
This team isn't going to make the CL. If it did. it wouldn't make it out of the group stage. I'm more worried that we won't make the EL. As much as we mock it, we could make a success of another run in this competition and failing to qualify will further ruin our attraction to potential signings, income, reputation and coefficient for the future. If we fail to make that competition, Levy should be shot, not sacked.
I think our slim CL hopes will be over once and for all after our next game, because I have a feeling we will fail to beat Leeds.
It pains me to say it but I really think you will, last night was in my opinion your hardest remaining game and on the back of successive defeats, I was hopeful you would slip up again, but fair play you won again and now its in your hands.
Most successful teams speculate to accumulate, not accumulate to speculate. But this is what happens when your owners rate profit higher than glory.
Only 2 Europa places now? You say unless Chelsea or Leicester finish there - even as FA Cup runners up? I thought that didn't bring EL place any more?
The only examples of what you claim are Chelsea and Man City. They did it by spending the ill gotten gains of their owners which is little more than a money laundering exercise. You have made it clear in previous posts that cheating is fine with you so I can understand why you want ENIC out and a bunch of criminals in, but count me out of that.