Top 4 Race 19/20 | duffer: "We [Chelsea] are getting 3rd. Despite what the lunatics in here think, Man United are not all that."

[duffer]

I know what you're trying to do

My prediction

Chelsea 6 points
Leicester 7 points
United 5 points

I'm genuinely not jinxing with that post (although I did lose £20 when that Saints equaliser went in!). I can easily see us losing to Wolves and Liverpool.

I don't really care if you lot qualify or not so long as we do!

 

[passing-wind]

Extremely poor result given the circumstances.

 

[AltiUn]

I think you lot will drop points against norwich too.

I don't think so, Norwich are bloody dreadful.

 

[bondsname]

We are cursed.

I honestly think the players doesn't have it in them yet. Too much nerves, and are afraid of failure. That's why it usually takes a goal for us to settle the nerves and we can go and play some pretty neat football for 20 minutes. But if we dont score again, we allow the opposition to put us on the back foot.

 

[NK86]

We're not really. 3 wins and we are in. The problem I have is that I was hoping we'd be out of sight of Leicester come the final day. We're going to have to go there and get a result and I can see the calamity now. West Ham 2015/16 vibes.

I can easily see Leicester getting just 1 point out of the next 6 with the way they are playing currently.
We win our next 2 and we will be out of sight by the time we face them.

 

[sammsky1]

I’m confident we won’t lose any more games, but we will need 3 points vs Leicester in final game.

Ole has messed up rotation so all first XI are now knackered. Not sure how he picks a team for Palace.

 

[Offside]

Remember we only need to catch one of Leicester or Chelsea. We’ve gotta pray Leicester continue their free fall but they will be massively encouraged by that result tonight.

 

[kidbob]

I suppose if we somehow beat leicester on GD we will get the final spot, assuming everyone gets maximum points in the next 3 fixtures.

Its chance after chance wasted from us though. Even throughout the whole match, we had at least 2 chances to make it 3-1 and Martial missing the one on one right from the start. Our statistics for winning when being up 1-0 in a match at OT is ridiculous.

Everyone can't get maximum points in the last 3 because we are playing Leicester on the last day. If we win the last three we are certain of top 4 regardless of goal difference. Looking at the remaining fixtures of the three teams I'd certainly choose ours.

Although after tonight I'd fully accept putting out a second team against Chelsea in the FA cup, top 4 is more important.

 

[DevilRed]

We are level with Leicester ffs, if we beat them we go above them by 3 points

Tall order when we can't even best soton at home.

We've also yet to play palace away. None of our matches are as easy as they look.

WH won't sit down and relax either. They could still be in a relegation battle.

 

[sammsky1]

I honestly think the players doesn't have it in them yet. Too much nerves, and are afraid of failure. That's why it usually takes a goal for us to settle the nerves and we can go and play some pretty neat football for 20 minutes. But if we dont score again, we allow the opposition to put us on the back foot.

We struggled today because of fatigue and a very poor performance from Pogba. But the issues are not endemic and we will bounce back, albeit I’m not sure where the energy comes from.

 

[duffer]

tole has messed up rotation so all first XI are now knackered. Not sure how he picks a team for Palace.

Rotation is a big concern for me as well. We've played Willian and Pulisic into the ground recently and they're our only performing players.

 

[DevilRed]

I'm genuinely not jinxing with that post (although I did lose £20 when that Saints equaliser went in!). I can easily see us losing to Wolves and Liverpool.

I don't really care if you lot qualify or not so long as we do!

You'd get twatted by the dippers. Probably draw or loss to wolves.

Over the course of the season leicester deserve top four more than you lot.

Had it not been for injuries to Pogba and co., we would have easily been in the top four by now.

 

[SirScholes]

Tall order when we can't even best soton at home.

We've also yet to play palace away. None of our matches are as easy as they look.

WH won't sit down and relax either. They could still be in a relegation battle.

You have a very very short memory
We also beat some very good teams and played great football...glass half full kind of view

 

[TMDaines]

Worst case scenario for you in the league is that you have a play off against Leicester for 4th place.


You'll finish 3rd is my bet right now.

I do think we’re just about favourites for third still given Leicester’s fixtures (although the news today may deflate Spurs and Sheffield) and Chelsea playing Liverpool, but I could also see us splutter to a finish. Recent seasons have had a common pattern of us playing our final league games poorly.

The chances of Leicester and United playing out a dull draw to screw Chelsea is still there too.

 

[duffer]

You'd get twatted by the dippers. Probably draw or loss to wolves.

Well yes, that's why I said I think we could get 3 points.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

Bottled it again tonight. Been the case with this team all season when are rivals drop points, when the pressures on and we have the opportunity to capitalise and get into the top 4 we shit the bed. Really hope this gives us the kick up the arse needed to get over the line and we don’t go the other way and the heads go down. Which at this point it’s hard to say cause there’s a mental fragility to this team and it could literally go either way.

 

[Baxter]

Tall order when we can't even best soton at home.

We've also yet to play palace away. None of our matches are as easy as they look.

WH won't sit down and relax either. They could still be in a relegation battle.

The team with the 4th best away record in the league?
OGS would’ve taken this going into the last three games. Not overly worried but would rather see us rotate heavily in the cup game.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

I'm genuinely not jinxing with that post (although I did lose £20 when that Saints equaliser went in!). I can easily see us losing to Wolves and Liverpool.

I don't really care if you lot qualify or not so long as we do!

I think Chelsea will qualify, thump Norwich, avoid defeat to Liverpool and just about beat Wolves who won't have anything to play for. The Liverpool result won't really matter.

 

[sammsky1]

Rotation is a big concern for me as well. We've played Willian and Pulisic into the ground recently and they're our only performing players.

We have a massive issue now at left back for next few games too!

How do you think Lampard will line up for FA cup?

Given City news, and today’s result, I think that game is now a very low priority for United and Chelsea?

 

[Wilt]

Before Southampton game, Utd were 1/20 ...now 1/3 for top 4

 

[CM]

We'll be fine. We were unlucky and I can still see Chelsea and Leicester dropping more points. I do expect a tough game against Palace though.

 

[DevilRed]

You have a very very short memory
We also beat some very good teams and played great football...glass half full kind of view

Forgive me but I don't have faith in this team coming up when it counts. As evidenced by today. Also last year too. Not sure who has the short memory?

I don't think im being out of line in saying that we need to rely on others to take points off our rivals at this stage. Unless we somehow get hold of the PED's that the dippers/citeh use.

 

[DevilRed]

Well yes, that's why I said I think we could get 3 points.

Underestimating norwich then?

 

[diarm]

If we had to drop points anywhere, I'm glad it was here. I think it'll keep us more focused to be chasing.

I wouldn't be 100% confident that a little complacency wouldn't sneak into this squad if we were sat in 3rd with 3 games to go. A good bollocking behind the scenes, a focusing of minds and 3 wins from our last 3 will see us finish 3rd anyway.

 

[Nickelodeon]

Now is not the time to lose our heads. Win the next two and we’ll definitely be in. Needing a draw on the final day should do it for us.

It was a bitter blow today but I trust Ole to push our players.

 

[Murder on Zidane's Floor]

My prediction for the final 3 games:

Chelsea - 3 points.
Leicester - 3 points.
Man United - 9 points.

Bold. 5 points for us. 6 for Leicester and 6 for Chelsea.

 

[AshRK]

We have dropped points at the worst possible time. Did all the hard work and had opponents drop points too and then this. Surely would give Chelsea and Leicester a hope and they might actually raise their game while we struggle. Still think we will be fine but today's result was unacceptable.

 

[Name Changed]

We struggled today because of fatigue and a very poor performance from Pogba. But the issues are not endemic and we will bounce back, albeit I’m not sure where the energy comes from.

We were 2-1 up when Pogba left the field. He did not cost us that second goal.

 

[Pav1878]

Sounds tough to say this after such a good run, but it's still the problem.

Off nights for Greenwood and fernandes, pogba probably a 3/10. When we needed it most the team failed again. And I like the guy but its another goal from poor lindelof defending

Agree with the other points but that's not just on Lindelof. How about the four players at the near post not winning the header, especially Matic.

How about James not closing down quicker, and AWB putting it out for the corner.

Also ole making stupid subs.

 

[Bastian]

If we had to drop points anywhere, I'm glad it was here. I think it'll keep us more focused to be chasing.

I wouldn't be 100% confident that a little complacency wouldn't sneak into this squad if we were sat in 3rd with 3 games to go. A good bollocking behind the scenes, a focusing of minds and 3 wins from our last 3 will see us finish 3rd anyway.

Yeah, I agree. Personally, I'm delighted.

 

[bosnian_red]

Was always a long shot for us to win 8 league games in a row when we only just managed to do 4 for the first time in ages. Now we have 3 remaining, we'll be focused, Chelsea will still drop points in at least 1 of the 3 and Leicester can easily drop in both games leading up to our game. If they drop in both, we can clinch before our game.

 

[SirScholes]

Some absolutely embarrassing posts on here
A load of people said Southampton will be difficult, rashford and martial had good chances to end it, we lost both left backs and finished with 10 men.
Southampton for their efforts didn’t really trouble de gea and scored a scrappy goal.

sometimes that happens, try not to jump off a cliff tonight guys.

personally Mctom should of been on instead of Fred, I feel like you know what he will give, Fred is very hotor cold

 

[PoTMS]

Chelsea will get 6/9. We will get 4/9. Leicester will get 4/9. It will come down to GD.

 

[Infra-red]

We've completely let Leicester and Chelsea off the hook. Despite some decent form, we are still stuck in fifth place, with now only three games to play. Incredibly frustrating.

We are obviously still in the hunt, but we are going to need to beat Leicester at the King Power. Difficult to overstate how massive that game is - the consequences for missing out on CL this year would be absolutely dire for the club.

 

[ManRed]

7 points from last 3 games should get us through. I dont see Chelsea and Leicester winning all their games with their form anyways.

 

[Welbeckham]

It will be tight, others will definitely drop more points but I don’t currently see us beating Palace away, our first XI is knackered (and now there’s some injuries too) and the lack of quality back-ups is appalling.

 

[duffer]

How do you think Lampard will line up for FA cup?

This is what I want (bit of rotation) for that cup game...
.....................Willy
James..Rudiger..Zouma.Azpi
Kovacic..Jorginho...Mount
RLC...Tammy...Pedro.....

This is what Frank will pick barring injury....
....................Kepa.
Azpi Christensen Zouma Alonso
......Kante..Kovacic.Mount
.....Willian..Giroud.Pulisic.

 

[SirScholes]

Forgive me but I don't have faith in this team coming up when it counts. As evidenced by today. Also last year too. Not sure who has the short memory?

I don't think im being out of line in saying that we need to rely on others to take points off our rivals at this stage. Unless we somehow get hold of the PED's that the dippers/citeh use.

You do! I’m talking about the last few weeks/months with this team

you’re harping on about last year with 2 managers with different playing styles and different players.

 

[Silverman]

If we beat Crystal Palace & West Ham (Very likely) and Leicester draw against Sheffield United & Tottenham (Very possible) we will have CL before even facing Leicester.

No need to panic. Roll up the sleeves and get back to business. Southampton are a strong team on a great run.

 

[wr8_utd]

I don't think Leicester will beat either Sheffield or Spurs to be honest. However I see us drawing one of our next two games as well so we'll need to avoid defeat in the final game. I'll be amazed if Leicester win both their games.