PL Top 4 race

Redstain

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The problem with optimism is there needs to be a strong basis / momentum for it be considered. Biggest issue this season hasn't been results but performances, performances augments consistency and that's what's lacking. I think it's not on United to cover the ground but more Spurs / Villa imploding.
 

VP89

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I wish I could have bet that that response was coming!
It's almost as though you know it's a weak argument.
I refer back to my earlier you must be a rich man point. Someone that knows better than the betting markets and can predict results must be. If not you're wasting your superior knowledge.
You're right, people can never win against the mighty betting spreads.
We should watch out for Wolves. They also have 19 points from the last 10 so will carry on the same form or better, right?
I'm unsure why you're moving goalposts. Can you explain why, if Ten Hag has 19 in the last 10 with key players out, he can't be expected to replicate similar form in the next 10 with key players back?
 

MiceOnMeth

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We have a chance surely when looking at Spurs fixtures. They could realistically lose all 4 against Newcastle, city, arsenal and Liverpool and west ham won't be easy either
 

Leftback99

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It's almost as though you know it's a weak argument.

You're right, people can never win against the mighty betting spreads.

I'm unsure why you're moving goalposts. Can you explain why, if Ten Hag has 19 in the last 10 with key players back, he can't be expected to replicate similar form in the next 10 with key players back?
No I've just heard it before from others that also didn't have a clue what they were talking about.

Yeah we'll win every game from now on, you've convinced me.
 

VP89

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No I've just heard it before from others that also didn't have a clue what they were talking about.

Yeah we'll win every game from now on, you've convinced me.
You come out and whinge regardless of the result, and have been proven to get shit wrong because of being overly pessimistic.

I've just asked you to give me something reasonable to explain why we can't replicate similar form, and you've resorted to sarcastic nonsense that isn't remotely what I've implied. And we don't even need title winning form, we just need to do better than villa or Spurs by >6 pts. Those sides have a tougher run in and are capable of fecking up against smaller sides themselves.

I dont actually think we are favourites, but I laugh at this notion that we don't have a decent chance to get it done.
 

Leftback99

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You come out and whinge regardless of the result, and have been proven to get shit wrong because of being overly pessimistic.

I've just asked you to give me something reasonable to explain why we can't replicate similar form, and you've resorted to sarcastic nonsense that isn't remotely what I've implied. And we don't even need title winning form, we just need to do better than villa or Spurs by >6 pts. Those sides have a tougher run in and are capable of fecking up against smaller sides themselves.

I dont actually think we are favourites, but I laugh at this notion that we don't have a decent chance to get it done.
I don't need to explain anything. I'll just come back if we don't and say 'you're proven to get stuff wrong'.
 

BenitoSTARR

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I don't need to explain anything. I'll just come back if we don't and say 'you're proven to get stuff wrong'.
Everytime I read your posts I have to remind myself of the rule.

“Post not poster”

So with that in mind dear Lord your posts are woeful and have reached the point where you just look like a WUM as a result of your consistent posting displaying those characteristics.

I hope that you manage to post with some positivity as your posts don’t seem like they come from a happy or contented place.
 

croadyman

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End of last season from a similar position that we're in now Liverpool went on a great run with 8 wins and 2 draws from the last 10 league matches, they still fell short of the CL. It's difficult to see us going on a similar run, and even if we did we'd also probably fall short.

If it happens great, but like Liverpool showed the important thing is to finish the season strong and carry momentum into the next one.
I would love to think we could find that kind of run,however just don't believe we possess the consistency to not lose any of 10 games
 

BenitoSTARR

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To be fair, our team doesn't give people much reasons to be content nowadays. :lol:
There’s plenty of wins, exciting young players and things to be positive about for the future. There’s also a difference between expressing a negative view and being the posting equivalent of a dementor.
 

jadajos

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I think some people can’t separate their emotions of hoping and expecting. If you’re against the odds you can expect the probable but still hope or thrive for the best. It’s not only a more enjoyable attitude when following football teams but in life in general. Just because you’ve been disappointed before doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have hope and a positive outlook on things.
 

BenitoSTARR

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I think some people can’t separate their emotions of hoping and expecting. If you’re against the odds you can expect the probable but still hope or thrive for the best. It’s not only a more enjoyable attitude when following football teams but in life in general. Just because you’ve been disappointed before doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have hope and a positive outlook on things.
E.g. I think we’ll lose to Liverpool and as things stand I don’t expect us to finish in the top 4. But that isn’t going to ruin my weekend/day or make me feel the need to be relentlessly negative to random strangers on the internet.
 

FrankWhite

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E.g. I think we’ll lose to Liverpool and as things stand I don’t expect us to finish in the top 4. But that isn’t going to ruin my weekend/day or make me feel the need to be relentlessly negative to random strangers on the internet.
Also, problem is because they've defended their negative opinion so much, they get so invested in it that they start hoping we lose just to be consistent.
 

Doracle

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Also, problem is because they've defended their negative opinion so much, they get so invested in it that they start hoping we lose just to be consistent.
If we go toe to toe with Liverpool this afternoon, have 20 shots each and lose to a last minute deflected Salah goal, I doubt anyone will be critical.

If we have 30% possession, they have 30 shots to our 2 and the same thing happens, I’d expect there to be critical comments.

If we have 30% possession, they have 30 shots to our 2 and we somehow win 1-0, I’m sure everyone will be delighted. It will still be entirely fair to call out that such a result isn’t sustainable in the long term though.
 

vanrooney

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We were on a small run when everyone was fit (esp Shaw, Martinez and Hojlund). Let’s see what’s possible without Shaw but if we have no more injuries I am sure it will go down to the last game. Spurs will do everything possible to spurse it
 

BenitoSTARR

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If we go toe to toe with Liverpool this afternoon, have 20 shots each and lose to a last minute deflected Salah goal, I doubt anyone will be critical.

If we have 30% possession, they have 30 shots to our 2 and the same thing happens, I’d expect there to be critical comments.

If we have 30% possession, they have 30 shots to our 2 and we somehow win 1-0, I’m sure everyone will be delighted. It will still be entirely fair to call out that such a result isn’t sustainable in the long term though.
If we go toe to toe with Liverpool an objectively far better side than us at this point in time we will lose.
 

erikcred

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If we go toe to toe with Liverpool an objectively far better side than us at this point in time we will lose.
Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Villa all went toe to toe this season with City -- an objectively far better side than any of them. Didn't lose.

Our situation is different because we even have a manager who's probably struggling to hold on to his job. Going to be difficult for him to transmit a lot of confidence to the players.

Maybe he could interest Rashford in a contract extension right before kick off.
 

BenitoSTARR

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Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Villa all went toe to toe this season with City -- an objectively far better side than any of them. Didn't lose.

Our situation is different because we even have a manager who's probably struggling to hold on to his job. Going to be difficult for him to transmit a lot of confidence to the players.

Maybe he could interest Rashford in a contract extension right before kick off.
What does toe to toe look like to you?
 

Doracle

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If we go toe to toe with Liverpool an objectively far better side than us at this point in time we will lose.
So you agree that people aren’t “hoping we lose” or being negative for the sake of being negative?

They are being negative because we are in a situation where we can’t even expect to have a fighting chance in a home match against our main rivals, without parking the bus.
 

crackers0seven

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No hope of catching either villa or spurs. They have tough fixtures, but ours aren't easy enough for us to put a run together and catch them. If we as reliable as pool were when they got players at end of last season,then I could see villa or spurs folding when pressure was applied. But we fold every second week too.
 

Leftback99

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So you agree that people aren’t “hoping we lose” or being negative for the sake of being negative?

They are being negative because we are in a situation where we can’t even expect to have a fighting chance in a home match against our main rivals, without parking the bus.
Our centre back is injured though!

I wouldn't even interact with the "hoping we lose" comments.
 

FrankWhite

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Villa losing today would make this is very interesting. Westham have their first 11 back for the first time in while, while Villa are missing a couple. I don't think Villa win today.
 

BenitoSTARR

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So you agree that people aren’t “hoping we lose” or being negative for the sake of being negative?

They are being negative because we are in a situation where we can’t even expect to have a fighting chance in a home match against our main rivals, without parking the bus.
I would argue that a vocal minority would take some joy from being able to say “told you so” if we were to lose. There are posters on here who appear gloaty in our losses so for some whether they admit it or not I feel some aspect of our losses they feel validated and so derive some satisfaction from it. I’m not saying that outweighs their disappointment when losing but it plays a role.

There are absolutely posters whose negative views are at the point where anything Ten Hag does they will criticise.

If he defends deep and we scrape a win I can all but guarantee I’ll be able to find a post saying something like “how far we’ve fallen” or that he’s “lucky” or “got away with it” or something that indicates it’s a sub par decision whatever he decides rather than being happy that we’ve managed to beat a far superior side as things stand. That doesn’t mean Liverpool will always be in that position over us but right now they are an

And while that is a shame that we can’t go toe to toe with Liverpool you also need to look at the context of the two sides.

I said last week I think we can beat them. I still maintain we could but I don’t expect in our context that we will.

I just think there is levels of negativity and at some point it becomes unhealthy and for many on here I think it’s an unhealthy negative obsession.
 

Telsim

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I'm expecting Aston Villa to meltdown before the end of the season. I don't think they will hold on to 4th or even 5th, while also having European football. Their fixture list is very tough. So, it leaves it between us and Tottenham, and their failure yesterday has left the door open. We still have a chance to make it if England gets the additional Champions League quota. We will also get a boost of returning players after the break. It will all be in the hands of this manager then. That's what I'm hoping for at least, but my expectations of Ten Hag verge on the nonexistent at this point.
 

Sara125

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Christ. Cringiest fanbase in the country. Worse than the Scouse lot by far. I know this thread is about the title race and this tweet is about the CL but I think everyone needs to see this.


Btw, it’s even worse when you live in London and are therefore in closer proximity. They’re like annoying mosquitos that don’t go away the minute that they creep into 1st place for even one weekend.

*shudders* I almost want city or Liverpool to win the league because of shit like this.
 
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pascell

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Villa losing today would make this is very interesting. Westham have their first 11 back for the first time in while, while Villa are missing a couple. I don't think Villa win today.
We're not getting anywhere near top 4, don't do it to yourself.

Chelsea (A)
Liverpool (H)
Newcastle (H)
Arsenal (H)
Brighton (A)

Those are all iffy games.
 

AndySmith1990

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It'd really make a laughing stock of the whole "strongest league in the world" argument if we end up finishing 4th
 

NicolaSacco

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It'd really make a laughing stock of the whole "strongest league in the world" argument if we end up finishing 4th
4th place is always like this I think. Teams seem to compete NOT to get it, starting around match time.