Top 4 race / race abandoned (or maybe not) / Leicester & Chelsea in the process of bottling it

[redshaw]

United have been in a cycle out of the top 4 more often than not. Nothing wrong with being pleased or excited about finally establishing ourselves as top 3. It's progress and we keep building on that.

Perhaps some don't know how bad it is for United to be languishing in 7th, 5th, 6th, 6th. I'd even say 4th is a bit poor. We've not had back to back CL qualification through the league since Fergie left. It's about fecking time we did and keep improving from there.

 

[Maluco]

It’s hard to get excited about this when we are so inconsistent.

It won’t really mean a lot if we can’t consistently play well against lesser sides.

 

[Lee565]

If spurs drop points tomorrow and we win against west ham then you would think we would easily get top 4 and ole can put more focus the cup competitions

 

[Red & White]

Chelsea and Everton dropping points today is great for us in securing a CL place. How many times have we seen this, though, where us fans are desperate to capitalise on the results of others and we go and draw or lose in the same game week. The injuries are a concern for tomorrow I guess, so if we do slip up, at least others have, too.

 

[Coops73]

Next Sunday is the FA Cup...

Yeah, I know.

 

[432JuanMata]

I still don’t think there has been any or much progress this season on last season, the only difference is Liverpool fell off so much that we went up too 2nd along way off the pace. But I’m glad this will be back to back top 4 finishes as we have to establish ourselves as top 4 side. Next season we need more progress than this one but overall I don’t think we will get dragged into this race

 

[SinNombre]

If we beat West Ham tomorrow, it is done.

If that includes Spurs dropping points at Arsenal, I think our likelihood of a top 4 finish will be above 95% (it was 90% going into the weekend).

 

[charlenefan]

We're not beating West Ham tomorrow, we've going have no one available to put the ball in the net

 

[AltiUn]

We're not beating West Ham tomorrow, we've going have no one available to put the ball in the net

Yeah I'm nervous. We'll be likely starting with a front 3 of James, Greenwood and Amad, not sure where I see the goals coming from if you take current form into account.

 

[giggs-beckham]

I'm not personally one for gloating at the best of times to be honest.
Revelling in Liverpool's demise by all means, but not gloating about United.

After all, we just watch. It's nothing we're doing!

I dunno because I went to the toilet in the pub in 2001 and Leverkusen scored and we went out. I've still not forgiven myself for that.

 

[Irwin99]

Even a draw or worse tomorrow wouldn't be the end of the world given the results this week, although it would still be disappointing. Fancy Spurs to drop points tomorrow too and maybe Leicester (the dreaded new manager bounce)

It's a good chance to put more distance between the rest of the challengers and even if the worst happens it's one of the trickiest fixtures out the way.

 

[Eire Red United]

Yeah agree with this. Given how inconsistent those below us are, we'd have to go on an absolutely stinking run of form not to make it.

99% certain we’ll make top 4 but anything below second from here will be a failure imo. Need to be a solid second, be good to get within 10 points of City.

 

[acnumber9]

Yeah I'm nervous. We'll be likely starting with a front 3 of James, Greenwood and Amad, not sure where I see the goals coming from if you take current form into account.

Where they usually come from. Bruno.

 

[AltiUn]

Where they usually come from. Bruno.

True, will take that.

 

[Feed Me]

IT IS ALREADY DONE.

 

[Red & White]

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a comfortable run in! It feels like everything the last couple years has been far from certain and by the skin of our teeth, whether that’s performances, comeback wins etc. I’d absolutely love us to win today and be comfortable for a top 2/3 finish this season.

 

[Bilbo]

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a comfortable run in! It feels like everything the last couple years has been far from certain and by the skin of our teeth, whether that’s performances, comeback wins etc. I’d absolutely love us to win today and be comfortable for a top 2/3 finish this season.

It'll never feel comfortable from our point of view, but ask any rival fans and 99% would have us in a top 4 position right now

 

[ZolaWasMagic]

You think Liverpool will make up 10 points on Leicester?

thats the only possible difference from last seasons top 4

 

[P-Nut]

A win today would be huge, but with the amount of injuries we could potentially have a draw would be a decent result.

Ideally a couple more wins when others slip up and we could rest players for cup games if we get beyond Milan and Leicester this coming week.

 

[ZolaWasMagic]

I think we are assured of top 4 so this seems like an excellent weekend for Spurs if we beat WH and they beat Arsenal.

assured is stretching it, youre only 3 pts ahead of us. And we are apparently on "dodgy" ground for top 4.

I'd rather a set of results today where Utd draw/win, Leicester draw at best, Arsenal win.

Hypothetically, and i dont see it happening, but if you lost today and West Ham stayed below us on GD, they play Arsenal next. Next round of fixtures then we should both beat WBA and Brighton. Then when we hopefully beat Palace, you have spurs, so one of you has to again drop pts.

Theres a few scenarios where itll swing each way... but top 4 is certainly not assured, at all

 

[cyberman]

assured is stretching it, youre only 3 pts ahead of us. And we are apparently on "dodgy" ground for top 4.

I'd rather a set of results today where Utd draw/win, Leicester draw at best, Arsenal win.

Hypothetically, and i dont see it happening, but if you lost today and West Ham stayed below us on GD, they play Arsenal next. Next round of fixtures then we should both beat WBA and Brighton. Then when we hopefully beat Palace, you have spurs, so one of you has to again drop pts.

Theres a few scenarios where itll swing each way... but top 4 is certainly not assured, at all

Yeah but we have a game in hand and you didnt put any pressure on us to win. Thats why we're assured imo. Every week it seems we are under pressure to win, and because we are a EL team and play after everybody, it gets to our game and oh, dropping points here wouldn't be too bad after all. You need to win these games because your last 4 games are a shitshow of a run and yet its 3 draws from 5. you play 3 top 4 rivals so thats 3 weeks minimum where teams that have to go on a run to overtake us are guarenteed to drop points.

 

[Tallis]

The margins seem quite close and all the teams excluding city have been inconsistent.

I think it’s still very open. We shouldn’t take this for granted - one game at a time, don’t worry about prior seasons or the next season.

 

[duffer]

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a comfortable run in! It feels like everything the last couple years has been far from certain and by the skin of our teeth, whether that’s performances, comeback wins etc. I’d absolutely love us to win today and be comfortable for a top 2/3 finish this season.

Where's the fun in that!

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Clear favourites now after yesterday on the FiveThirtyEight predictor: https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/premier-league/

Team	SPI	OFF	DEF	GD	Points
Man. City 71 pts	93.9	2.9	0.2	+55	89
Man. United 54 pts	87.4	2.5	0.4	+30	73
Chelsea 51 pts	89.1	2.3	0.2	+26	68
Leicester 53 pts	76.9	2.0	0.6	+17	68
West Ham 48 pts	78.0	2.1	0.6	+13	64
Tottenham 45 pts	80.7	2.3	0.6	+23	63
Liverpool 43 pts	87.7	2.5	0.4	+21	63

 

[CM]

I really don't see us beating West Ham unless there's a miraculous recovery from one or two of the forwards, especially after we played on Thursday.

We're still in the box seat, mind, and even a point against West Ham wouldn't be a terrible result.

 

[Eire Red United]

We're not beating West Ham tomorrow, we've going have no one available to put the ball in the net

Trust Amad!

 

[ZolaWasMagic]

Spurs losing today is a bonus for us drawing with Leeds

Utd win or draw later would be ideal, too

 

[Red & White]

So, Chelsea draw, Everton and Spurs lose. How often have we been here and blown chances like this? A win would all but secure CL again for next season and we could go for it in both cups. Come on, lads!

 

[ZolaWasMagic]

So, Chelsea draw, Everton and Spurs lose. How often have we been here and blown chances like this? A win would all but secure CL again for next season and we could go for it in both cups. Come on, lads!

it really doesnt, for anyone yet. Theres too many pts to lose, clubs around each other playing each other.

 

[cyberman]

So, Chelsea draw, Everton and Spurs lose. How often have we been here and blown chances like this? A win would all but secure CL again for next season and we could go for it in both cups. Come on, lads!

We are secure as it is. Everybody has turned to shit below us. We should get through if we win every second game at this rate

 

[Feed Me]

it really doesnt, for anyone yet. Theres too many pts to lose, clubs around each other playing each other.

United are secure irrespective, as are Leicester.

 

[P-Nut]

it really doesnt, for anyone yet. Theres too many pts to lose, clubs around each other playing each other.

Too many teams dropping points to close the gap if we can open up a 9 point gap with 9 games to go we'd need a maximum of 18 points from 9 games. Given that no team will pick up maximum points that will be a lot less

 

[Feed Me]

Job done.

 

[The Urban Goose]

If we beat West Ham tomorrow, it is done.

If that includes Spurs dropping points at Arsenal, I think our likelihood of a top 4 finish will be above 95% (it was 90% going into the weekend).

Happy?

 

[SinNombre]

This is done and dusted.

Happy?

Yep, time to win a trophy now.

Leicester are almost confirmed as well

 

[Bojan11]

Remaining fixtures as of 07.03

Man Utd
Man Utd - West Ham (D)
Man Utd - Brighton (H)
Spurs - Man Utd (D)
Man Utd - Burnley (H)
Leeds - Man Utd (A)
Man Utd - Liverpool (D)
Villa - Man Utd (D)
Man Utd - Leichester (D)
Man Utd - Fulham (H)
Wolves - Man Utd (D)
Final points: 72

Chelsea
Chelsea - Everton (H)
Leeds - Chelsea (A)
Chelsea - West Brom (H)
Palace - Chelsea (A)
Chelsea - Brigton (H)
Chelsea - West Ham (D)
Chelsea - Fulham (H)
City - Chelsea (H)
Chelsea - Arsenal (H)
Chelsea - Leichester (D)
Villa - Chelsea (D)
Final points: 71

Leichester
Leichester - Sheffield (H)
Leichester - City (A)
West Ham - Leichester (D)
Leichester - West Brom (H)
Leichester - Palace (H)
Soton - Leichester (D)
Leichester - Newcastle (H)
Man Utd - Leichester (D)
Chelsea - Leichester (D)
Spurs - Leichester (D)
Final points: 70

Everton
Chelsea - Everton (H)
Everton - Burnley (H)
Everton - Palace (H)
Brighton - Everton (A)
Everton - Spurs - (A)
Arsenal - Everton (A)
Everton - Villa (D)
West Ham - Everton (D)
Everton - Sheffield (H)
Everton - Wolves (D)
City - Everton (H)
Final points: 64

West Ham
West Ham - Leeds (H)
Man Utd - West Ham (D)
West Ham - Arsenal (H)
Wolves - West Ham (D)
West Ham - Leichester (D)
Newcastle - West Ham (A)
West Ham - Chelsea (D)
Burnley - West Ham (A)
West Ham - Everton (D)
Brighton - West Ham (A)
West Brom - West Ham (A)
West Ham - Soton (H)
Final points: 71

Spurs
Arsenal - Spurs (A)
Villa - Spurs (D)
Newcastle - Spurs (A)
Spurs - Man Utd (D)
Everton - Spurs (A)
Spurs - Sheffield (H)
Leeds - Spurs (A)
Spurs - Wolves (D)
Spurs - Villa (D)
Leichester - Spurs (D)
Final points: 65

Liverpool
Wolves - Liverpool (H)
Arsenal - Liverpool (D)
Liverpool - Villa (D)
Leeds - Liverpool (A)
Liverpool - Newcastle (H)
Man Utd - Liverpool (D)
Liverpool - Soton (H)
West Brom - Liverpool (A)
Burnley - Liverpool (A)
Liverpool - Palace (H)
Final points: 64

Final standing
City
United
Chelsea
West Ham
Leichester
Spurs
Liverpool
Everton

West Ham lost a game.

 

[Judas]

Should be a done dealio now, would be beyond inept to feck it up from here. Next need to cement 2nd.

 

[Irwin99]

I think this weekend has pretty much nailed it down for United. Would take a catastrophic collapse to fall out of the top 4. Chelsea's defence might see them to a 4th place finish and Leicester to squeeze 3rd.

 

[EC689908]

Yep, one quick look at the league tells you 70 points will get you top 4 this year (almost certainly less), that would be just 13 points from 9 games which would be a disappointment if we didn’t get more than that. Think the top 4 will finish as it currently is. West Ham, Everton not good enough and Spurs and Liverpool too far behind you would think unless Leicester have another collapse. Chelsea look strong with the bounce from Tuchel. Let’s hope we can win one of the Europa/FA cups.

 

[Bobcat]

West Ham lost a game.

Two rounds in and my prediction has already gone to shit.

This is why i dont bet