Using a very, very rough and simple analysis, where I took into account last year's last 14 games results and the form of this year's 24 games results, here is the final table, weighted 63% for this year's and 37% for last year's.
1. Chelsea 87
2. City 79
3. United 69
3. Saints 69
5. Spurs 68
6. Liverpool 67
7. Arsenal 66
8. West Ham 57
9. Stoke 54
10. Swansea 53
11. Everton 47
11. Newcastle 47
13. Palace 44
14. Sunderland 38
15. West Brom 36
16. Burnley 34
16. Aston Villa 34
18. Hull 32
19. QPR 29
20. Leicester 27
*Used Fulham for Burnley, Norwich for QPR and Cardiff for Leicester.
If you used this year's form for the final table, or simply the teams achieved the same last 14 results as last year, the teams which differ more than 5 points are Liverpool and Everton (14 and 11) Palace (7) and Stoke and Newcastle (6). All four except Newcastle had really strong runs last year compared to this year's current form.
No real surprises. 5 teams gunning for places 3 and 4 and QPR and Leicester definitely going down with Hull fighting Burnley and Aston Villa to survive.
I like it a bit in that Arsenal finish 7th & Liverpool 6th but not happy about missing out on 4th again
Liverpool should really fall away because last season they won 12/14 and I don't think they can reach that level again. They have no leeway.
The rest is tough because Saints and ourselves lost 5 times and Arsenal and United 4 times.
United & Arsenal went 7-3-4
Spurs 8-1-5
Saints 6-3-5
United have the most difficult last 14 games this season amongst the four teams though.
Surely a more helpful metric would be the results of the same games (i.e. Liverpool away) from last season, rather than the last however many matches from last year. Could be skewed by things such as playing some teams once and some teams three times.
But we have Bentaleb!They are a different team with Yaya Toure in the equation though. If we'd have played them over January I'd have fancied our chances more.
Liverpool now ahead of us in the betting to finish in the top 4 at 7/2, we have been pushed out slightly to 4/1
Odds on Arsenal and Man Utd ( both 2/5) suggest that is who they expect to finish 3rd and 4th. Southampton are 2/1
On a side note yesterday's TV deal means the Champions League isn't the all important gravy train it used to be, obviously it is a prestigious competition and the best players want to play in it but far more money in the Premier League.
we also could quite easily go out to Fiorentina.
We are also playing alot better than we were early season, seems a better feel and mentality about us
Don't think Europa knocks anyone out of the top 4 if you win itwant us to win Europa and qualify, hopefully at someone elses expense.
Don't think Europa knocks anyone out of the top 4 if you win it
want us to win Europa and qualify, hopefully at someone elses expense.
Don't think Europa knocks anyone out of the top 4 if you win it