Yeah we definitely need to keep both routes open now with Spurs and Newcastle right on our tails
Race for top 4 | Finito.
- Thread starter Andycoleno9
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Can't see us getting less than 68 points, which should be enough.
Spurs away and Newcastle away are now absolute must not lose situations for us. No matter what happens, we simply cannot lose either of those games. I'd take two extremely boring 0-0s at this point.
I find it very difficult to see how United finish below both Spurs and Newcastle from this position as well as failing to win the Europa. There is still the possibility Liverpool put a silly run together, but still…If we’re playing Europa League football next season everyone ought to be ashamed.
I can't even see that now to be honest.
To beat us 7-0 and then immediately lose the next game to the bottom placed side was a critical blow to them I think. If that win against us wasn't enough to give them the momentum to go on a run they have no chance.
Was always the case, not sure why some here thought otherwise especially looking at such hectic schedule ahead.
Absolutely.
It’s very simple.
If we don’t get back our injured players before our next league games (Martial, Erikson, Sabitzer and Antony) and our midfield don’t step up, we will be out of the top 4. We will have to rely on europa league for qualification.
Again, our performances are not great also. We also seem immune to scoring goals, hopefully Martial and Erikson being back will help. I am just worried they need a few games before they kick on.
If we don’t get back our injured players before our next league games (Martial, Erikson, Sabitzer and Antony) and our midfield don’t step up, we will be out of the top 4. We will have to rely on europa league for qualification.
Again, our performances are not great also. We also seem immune to scoring goals, hopefully Martial and Erikson being back will help. I am just worried they need a few games before they kick on.
You'd think we were 6th place and chasing 4th from some of the posts in here.
For the 1000th time, the other clubs have to play matches as well - which they can draw or lose.
Still loads of games left yet.
Sabitzer is already back
I wasn't even aware there was a game tonight.
Just checked the score and saw it's a 93rd minute pen to win it
I know we've had our share of late wins over the years but it really is baffling how often the teams you need to drop points get a last minute winner.
We're in a real fight now compared to where we were. If we lose our next league game we're likely going to be in 5th...
Just checked the score and saw it's a 93rd minute pen to win it
I know we've had our share of late wins over the years but it really is baffling how often the teams you need to drop points get a last minute winner.
We're in a real fight now compared to where we were. If we lose our next league game we're likely going to be in 5th...
Badly need another steady source of goals bar Rashford for this run-in. If we can start scoring more freely again, i'll be more confident.
We’re 5 points ahead of Spurs, three points ahead of Newcastle with a top manager, a better squad than both and a pretty good fixture list so I’m struggling to see why people are having a meltdown.
Isn’t it 2 points ahead of Spurs?
Okay 2 points with a game in hand. We’re fecked.
Never said you were fecked, I wondered if I was looking at the wrong table.
We have to play them at SJP so that will play a massive role in how this plays out
It doesn’t change my overall point which is it would be a bit of a disaster to finish below both Newcastle and Spurs from this position. We’re strong favourites to finish 3rd let alone top 4 and favourites to win the EL - a last minute Newcastle win away to a very poor forest isn’t worth the meltdown at this stage.
Even if we're favourites for top 4, it's simultaneously very possible we don't finish top 4, which would be a disaster financially and for our progress as a team. We've been told for weeks that it's not even a concern and yet we're facing the situation now where we could be 5th in our next league game, so clearly it's nowhere near as certain as many on here thought it was.
You've given us the positives. The caveats are we have FA cup and European games which the other teams don't have. We've also won just 3 games in our last 8 league games, dropping points to relegation fodder Palace, Leeds and Southampton. We also have a goal difference of just +6. Our winning run after the world cup deceived our fans massively as to how good we actually are, we're just one of the contenders, with a slight points advantage over the others at the moment. Casemiro has also managed to get himself another long suspension, and Martial can't get fit or stay fit which is a real problem.
Our remaining games are not all that tough. Got to play Newcsl and Tottnum. So if we can at least get a draw from both we'll be fine.
The possibility of 19 games in 60 days means a pretty good fixture list doesn't exist.
I'm not sure why people take so much comfort in this when we've just dropped points to Palace, Leeds and Southampton. We go into every game fearing dropped points, even against relegation fodder at home.
Luckily the other contenders are equally bad, but there's no such thing as a routine win with this United team.
Brighton away is arguably harder than both. I don't fancy us at away at West Ham with a fixture pile up either.
We have to make our home games count which is why i said last weekend was a disaster for us.
Agreed. Not sure where this panic is coming from. Of course we could fall apart and drop out of the top 4 but it isn't looking likely at the moment despite the injury and suspension concerns.
You'd think we were 6th place and chasing 4th from some of the posts in here.
For the 1000th time, the other clubs have to play matches as well - which they can draw or lose.
Still loads of games left yet.
Interesting. The top manager we have who knows far more than you and I thinks playing every 3 games is good and rarely rests his key players.
Yah the 5-1 v Betis was skin of the teeth stuff
This has got to be the most insufferable way of phrasing an argument and that is saying something
So we'll fall like dominoes is it?
That's more like it.
Lose to Newcastle away (our next league game) and the top 4 race is blown wide open.
Have Newcastle? Today they had loads of shots but only +1 on target to Forest (4v3) and won through a penalty.
Newcastle have been shite since Christmas (and we beat them comfortably in the Carabao Cup final), and spurs are spurs.
Some of you need to have a long hard look at yourselves.
Some of you need to have a long hard look at yourselves.
I hate these jammy b*****ds who score late goals just when I think it's a good result for us.
You can't bank on a knockout competition for a UCL finish. Given the criteria of this season if United finish outside the top four it has to be concluded as being a below average season. The manger also takes a hit in criticism for the all the praise he's rightfully deserved. Domestic cups are good but there's not enough depth to contend for the amount of competitions the team are presently in. The focus should solely be the league with the domestic cups and Europa second fiddle.
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Would happily sacrifice the fa cup and the extra games involved if it means keeping players relatively fresh to secure a top 4 finish which is obviously the main target for the season, it is absolutely unthinkable to even contemplate missing out on that.
Given Liverpool lurking in the background anything but two wins would be a poor result. The draw with Southampton and the one against Palace before the Arsenal game have thrown away any cushion for draws. Those are must win games.
If we beat spurs and Newcastle, then its done and dusted. If we lose both then its squeaky bum time.
we just need to win our games at home....nick points on the road at places like newcastle and spurs considering they are direct challengers for the top 4 then hopefully win away matches at teams we should beat like Forest and Bournemouth
if we can get draws at Spurs, newcastle and Brighton we should be just fine for the top 4
if we can get draws at Spurs, newcastle and Brighton we should be just fine for the top 4
Win against Newcastle and we are comfortably finishing top 4
We have 12 games left , Newcastle 12, Spurs 11, Brighton 13 and Liverpool 12.
We have 6 home, 6 away with Newcastle, Spurs, Brighton, West Ham, Forrest and Bouremouth away. With Fulham, wolves, Chelsea, Brentford, Villa and Everton. If we had a true number 9, Martial fit and reliable , Eriksen, Casemeiro, Sabitzer all available for every game I’d be confident, our GD is shocking and loses the club a point. We need to win 3 away games, Draw 2 and lose 1 preferably to Brighton if anyone then at home we must win 5 out of 6, the saints result was awful and puts us in the mix if we finish with 8 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat we end on 77 points that’s enough for third place, but if we show recent form of 18/20 points from 12 games plus fatigued play , we will be in trouble as 68/70 points could be 4th but more likely 5th or 6th this season and if we tie on points our GD is a huge issue!
Simple we need 8 wins from 12 games. More importantly we must not lose our next PL game against Newcastle and ideally win it !
I just don’t see us getting the points. We’ve failed to even score a goal against Brighton, Everton, Forest, Wolves, Palace and Bournemouth. We’re awful in general away from home and in any early kick off. We have non stop injuries and the senior players don’t look up for it.
We still have to go to West Ham, Leeds and Southampton. All of those will be at best a draw based on current form.
I think it’ll be Arsenal & City top two, followed by United and Spurs/Newcastle.
We still have to go to West Ham, Leeds and Southampton. All of those will be at best a draw based on current form.
I think it’ll be Arsenal & City top two, followed by United and Spurs/Newcastle.