2023/24 - The Race For..................

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Neither Newcastle or Man Utd are anywhere near consistent enough to overtake us.

They are already 10 points behind, and my most pessimistic prediction would have us getting 6 more points this season
That is 16 points for the pair of them to make up in 6 games. That's 5 wins and a draw.

Man Utd are 17 behind us in goal difference.

I may not be as optimistic as Mr.Pink, but no way am I so pessimistic that I think that either of them can catch us now.

It would require an almost unprecedented end of season collapse.

If Man U or Newcastle managed to overtake us at this point of the season, then I would put a big question mark on the future of our manager. It would take a collapse that big.

It ain't happening.

 

[Ginola+Tonic]

Neither Newcastle or Man Utd are anywhere near consistent enough to overtake us.

They are already 10 points behind, and my most pessimistic prediction would have us getting 6 more points this season
That is 16 points for the pair of them to make up in 6 games. That's 5 wins and a draw.

Man Utd are 17 behind us in goal difference.

I may not be as optimistic as Mr.Pink, but no way am I so pessimistic that I think that either of them can catch us now.

It would require an almost unprecedented end of season collapse.

If Man U or Newcastle managed to overtake us at this point of the season, then I would put a big question mark on the future of our manager. It would take a collapse that big.

It ain't happening.

Absolutely agreed.

I’d be very much questioning Ange and his future should we lose top 5 from here.

 

[talkshowhost86]

They literally both can’t because they play each other, one can if they win all their games, but that absolutely isn’t going to happen.

I understand the worry and the doom, but we’d need 6 points and any of those teams behind us have to win at least 5 and draw 1.
And I think we’ll get more than 6 points from our remaining games anyway.

It would be a monumental drop off and an incredible run of form from others to lose 5th spot from here.

Ah fair point on them playing each other.

And I also don't think either of them will win all their games. I agree that would be a massively improved and unlikely run from either team.

But I also think us getting more than 6 points from the games we have left would be a change in form as well.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

You think we lose our current 5th spot to one of the teams behind?

Pretty unlikely, I think we are more or less nailed on for 5th.

 

[rossdapep]

Definutely mate.

Look if we get pumped next Sunday ill join in with the doom and gloon group.

But if we manage to win, suddenly things could look a lot better and we need to exert pressure on Villa, not give up lol.

Thats all Im saying. Going into a massive NLD all negative ,when we can dent their title hopes and keep us in the mix for top 4, seems silly to me.

I think you are right to stay on the side of optimism mate.

 

[ItsBoris]

We'll need to win 4 or 5 of our remaining games to get 4th. Idk if we have that consistency,

I'm getting comfortable with the idea of Europa league next season, think it'll be a good opportunity to get more practice with the style of football Ange wants us to play particularly against teams that will sit a bit deeper and play on the counter, which is what we struggle with tbh. And we should be able to keep more squad players happy with more games, whereas in the CL we'd have less ability to rotate.

 

[mattstev2000]

Can't see anything but 5th now - which I think considering the squad we have and the money we've spent will be a disappointing result.

The problem with the Europa League is we never seem to play well in it. It always seems to be a grind where we eke out some ok results but never put in a performance. Add that to the pretty dismal performance we put in to the domestic cups this year and the prospect of EL doesn't excite me at all.

At least the players seem to raise their game for the Champions League. We've got much closer to winning the CL than the EL over the last decade or so. I think the idea some people have that we're better in the EL because we're not ready for the CL is probably just a coping mechanism for the poor performance we've had over the later part of the season.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Can't see anything but 5th now - which I think considering the squad we have and the money we've spent will be a disappointing result.

The problem with the Europa League is we never seem to play well in it. It always seems to be a grind where we eke out some ok results but never put in a performance. Add that to the pretty dismal performance we put in to the domestic cups this year and the prospect of EL doesn't excite me at all.

At least the players seem to raise their game for the Champions League. We've got much closer to winning the CL than the EL over the last decade or so. I think the idea some people have that we're better in the EL because we're not ready for the CL is probably just a coping mechanism for the poor performance we've had over the later part of the season.

It's clearly a coping mechanism to say we might be better off in the EL than the CL.

But I disagree to a certain extent that it's a disappointment if we don't come 4th.

I think 5th was a sensible target at the start of the season and even that would have assumed a finish above 1 of 5 teams who have all spent a lot of money.

I think the disappointment is that we started so well and that it's Villa who look likely to pip us, rather than one of the 'big boys'.

It's a disappointment from the highs we saw early in the season but overall 5th feels reasonable considering where we were and the limited time Ange had to sort things out.

 

[Trix]

Can't see anything but 5th now - which I think considering the squad we have and the money we've spent will be a disappointing result.

The problem with the Europa League is we never seem to play well in it. It always seems to be a grind where we eke out some ok results but never put in a performance. Add that to the pretty dismal performance we put in to the domestic cups this year and the prospect of EL doesn't excite me at all.

At least the players seem to raise their game for the Champions League. We've got much closer to winning the CL than the EL over the last decade or so. I think the idea some people have that we're better in the EL because we're not ready for the CL is probably just a coping mechanism for the poor performance we've had over the later part of the season.

The biggest problem we've had in the lesser comps is that there hasn't been enough strong competition for places imo. We've either gone full strength and the players all know they'll be in next match anyway, or we've put out a second string that know it won't push them further into the managers thinking. We need better options with hungry players and some youth added in to create competition. I think Ange will definitely look to give layers opportunities in the Prem if they impress in the Europa for example.

 

[Ginola+Tonic]

Can't see anything but 5th now - which I think considering the squad we have and the money we've spent will be a disappointing result.

The problem with the Europa League is we never seem to play well in it. It always seems to be a grind where we eke out some ok results but never put in a performance. Add that to the pretty dismal performance we put in to the domestic cups this year and the prospect of EL doesn't excite me at all.

At least the players seem to raise their game for the Champions League. We've got much closer to winning the CL than the EL over the last decade or so. I think the idea some people have that we're better in the EL because we're not ready for the CL is probably just a coping mechanism for the poor performance we've had over the later part of the season.

I understand what you’re saying and definitely agree Champions league is always better for numerous reasons.
But for squad management and squad building the Europa league would be more beneficial at this stage given we’d be able to rotate more and give youngsters game time and confidence.
If we take it seriously a season in the Europa league could be very beneficial.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

It's clearly a coping mechanism to say we might be better off in the EL than the CL.

But I disagree to a certain extent that it's a disappointment if we don't come 4th.

I think 5th was a sensible target at the start of the season and even that would have assumed a finish above 1 of 5 teams who have all spent a lot of money.

I think the disappointment is that we started so well and that it's Villa who look likely to pip us, rather than one of the 'big boys'.

It's a disappointment from the highs we saw early in the season but overall 5th feels reasonable considering where we were and the limited time Ange had to sort things out.

We spent the second most (gross) 3rd most (net) this season.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

I understand what you’re saying and definitely agree Champions league is always better for numerous reasons.
But for squad management and squad building the Europa league would be more beneficial at this stage given we’d be able to rotate more and give youngsters game time and confidence.
If we take it seriously a season in the Europa league could be very beneficial.

Cant agree with the squad building part of that comment.

CL gives you a lot more money and some players care about playing in it enough that it does effect their choice of transfer.

 

[Ginola+Tonic]

Cant agree with the squad building part of that comment.

CL gives you a lot more money and some players care about playing in it enough that it does effect their choice of transfer.

Agree with you there, champions league is obviously more prestigious therefore attract better players.
But I was more thinking about rotation and building a squad with the Europa league.

 

[talkshowhost86]

We spent the second most (gross) 3rd most (net) this season.

Very true.

But we'd also had 3 managers worth of trying to destroy our very DNA whilst selling our best player.

So morally we win.

 

[stormfly]

I’m completely chilled about it. We will finish up where we deserve to finish up. I have no power to change the result or decide how we play so what will be will be.

 

[14/04/91]

Cant agree with the squad building part of that comment.

CL gives you a lot more money and some players care about playing in it enough that it does affect their choice of transfer.

Postecoglou has said he doesn’t want any player that is joining because we’re in the champions league.
I love that. Otherwise you could end up with players agitating for a move if we miss out in future years.

We’ve signed plenty of top players without CL football over the years; Lloris, Vertonghen, Modric, Romero, VdV, Maddison.

Ange is about character and fitting in much more than any recent manager.

 

[SpursSince1980]

Given our next six games compared to Villa, it’s really hard to envisage us winning four or five of the six. I think in all likelihood we will pick up another 7 to 8 points this season. That should probably be more than enough for fifth or sixth.

 

[greavesy461]

I get the doom and gloom but it could swing back in our favour so quickly. Villa lose to Chelsea and we beat Arsenal and then Chelsea and we are level on points with a game in hand. Let’s stay positive. Particularly fans in the ground. You never know!

 

[Marauder]

I’m completely chilled about it. We will finish up where we deserve to finish up. I have no power to change the result or decide how we play so what will be will be.

Is that you Ryan?

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I’m completely chilled about it. We will finish up where we deserve to finish up. I have no power to change the result or decide how we play so what will be will be.

Me too actually. I at least like this group of players and manager. I don’t feel on edge in the way I usually do.