That was my first thought when I saw that (+ Pogba but CL red cards don't affect prem)Shame looks like Martial and lingard will miss Liverpool visit to old Trafford.
I don't think it's time to disregard Arsenal in the race for top four, they won't catch us, none of them will but the other two are not safe.
Having said that I am not necessarily backing them this year, however I do think they are doing right thing, unlike Chelsea they didn't just go out and hire the latest name manager to get them into the CL and unlike United they weren't blinded by the romance of an old star coming back to save them as United may well do this summer so watch then next year and beyond.
Apologies in advance for longish post.
I have to say we are still very much outsiders for the title but having looked at the fixtures and after this week's results I'm more optimistic than before. And I think it really justifies Poch's decision to go weak in the FAC Vs Palace.
The tough bits were obviously:
1. The Chelsea - Arsenal - CL R16 (Dortmund away) run in 6 days
2. Liverpool & Citeh away
3. Injuries
So in (1) as well signposted we're going to play Chelsea 3 days after CC Final but also they will have played Europa on the Thursday before plus FA cup Vs Man U this coming Monday (4 games in 9 days) whereas we will have only Burnley the Saturday lunchtime in between now and then. Arse's game with us is also the 4th in 9 days (and because they lost 1-0 to Bate they are going to need to play a strongish team to make sure). And again I don't think that they are playing so well that they can afford to be complacent against either Southampton or Bournemouth in between. Those sides will be all over any signs of tiredness.
And because of the 3-0 Vs Dortmund I don't think we need to be considering resting anybody beforehand. There's literally no reason why we can't beat Chelsea and Arse in a row and go through against Dortmund
In (3) injuries seem to be clearing up and of course we will benefit from the rest that those injured players have had.
(2) remains the hardest part. Which is why we are still outsiders. We need to at least take a point off whoever is furthest ahead (or has most points) at the time. It is great that Citeh are (basically) guaranteed to go through in the FAC and ideally (very likely given who is left) they'll keep going to the latter stages
Furthermore, I noticed that Citeh have Schalke in the CL midweek before going away to Man U in March. Whereas Man U will have a week's rest (FAC replays aside) because they play PSG the week before and will probably be out of the CL by then and have a point to prove
Liverpool's bad run (that we know of) is coming up next - Bayern Munich, Man U away, Watford and Everton away in 12 days. We have to hope they drop points somewhere there. If they win those (league) games comfortably then it will be difficult to overhaul them unfortunately
But overall with the above and the way we took Dortmund apart on Weds I am definitely more confident than I was a few days ago
If we win all of our remaining games we'd set the all-time Premier League points record. Liverpool and City both have weaknesses, as shown in previous weeks, and they will drop a few points when they shouldn't just like everyone else does.It might be stating the obvious, but I think we'll end up needing to win all of our remaining league games to win the title. Possibly, we could draw one of them, probably against Liverpool, but that's about it.
Trouble is, I don't see Man City dropping any more points, even though they've got Utd to play.
I think the only way we win the league is for Liverpool to lose against Utd and lose another, and for us to win all our games until we play City and then basically beat them in a 'Cup Final' at theirs. After that, we've got 3 winnable games to see the season out.
I know football always has its twists and turns, but I think that's how it will play out if we do win the league.
I don’t know. I think the CL will still be a factor. If City draw Barca in the QF say, they will be vulnerable to fixtures around those games, through fatigue, lack of focus, etc etc.It might be stating the obvious, but I think we'll end up needing to win all of our remaining league games to win the title. Possibly, we could draw one of them, probably against Liverpool, but that's about it.
Trouble is, I don't see Man City dropping any more points, even though they've got Utd to play.
I think the only way we win the league is for Liverpool to lose against Utd and lose another, and for us to win all our games until we play City and then basically beat them in a 'Cup Final' at theirs. After that, we've got 3 winnable games to see the season out.
I know football always has its twists and turns, but I think that's how it will play out if we do win the league.
If we want to win the title I think we need to win away at Man C and Liverpool. Not impossible, but very, very difficult.
This season has shown me anyone can drop points to anyone else on any given day, especially if the weaker team is at home. A good atmosphere and quick start and you never know.If we want to win the title I think we need to win away at Man C and Liverpool. Not impossible, but very, very difficult.
If we do will you make us a promise that you will be optimistic?If we want to win the title I think we need to win away at Man C and Liverpool. Not impossible, but very, very difficult.
This season has shown me anyone can drop points to anyone else on any given day, especially if the weaker team is at home. A good atmosphere and quick start and you never know.
Hopefully United do the business against Liverpool and then West Ham show up against City. But, ultimately we have to do our job first and win at Burnley to get it down to 2 points.
If we want to win the title I think we need to win away at Man C and Liverpool. Not impossible, but very, very difficult.
Don't actually know whether I'd want to move into the new stadium any more this season. Wembley is a know factor now and to a certain degree we know how to play there. Playing for the first time on a new pitch in conclusive run-ins of the season, might not be a blessing.
Dunno bout that. We are in a flow at the moment. What we need are injury free players and a bit of luck. We don't need to throw unknowns at a period of already good results.Dont see how in our case tbh. It maybe new surroundings but the atmosphere alone would give us an extra boost whilst it would be a daunting prospect for opposition players. Its entirely different to spam for example who it totally hindered mainly due to most fans not being able to see the pitch as its so far away. Many of them had to go to specsavers and get sorted before they could even watch their team play there.
I can't decide whether it would be beneficial or detrimental to play the last 5 games in the new stadium. Part of me agrees it might disrupt things to change and I don't want us to be affected that way, but also part of me says the atmosphere will be amazing and intimidating to the teams going there. Then again, wouldn't those teams play out of their skins to be able to say they beat us there?Don't actually know whether I'd want to move into the new stadium any more this season. Wembley is a know factor now and to a certain degree we know how to play there. Playing for the first time on a new pitch in conclusive run-ins of the season, might not be a blessing.
That's it. For instance hosting West Ham in the new stadium. The added uncertainty is just too much. For instance, we don't KNOW whether the atmosphere will be that grand. Did Arsenal deliberately build a stadium void of atmosphere? Of course not, they too thought that the new stadium would be so amazing to play at. Turns out it is just another stadium. Personally, I just think we are doing to well to actively want to experiment if we don't have to.I can't decide whether it would be beneficial or detrimental to play the last 5 games in the new stadium. Part of me agrees it might disrupt things to change and I don't want us to be affected that way, but also part of me says the atmosphere will be amazing and intimidating to the teams going there. Then again, wouldn't those teams play out of their skins to be able to say they beat us there?