Race for top 4 | Finito.

We've had a tendancy to crumble in previous seasons when chasing top 4.

It'll be refreshing to see these players show some resilience, keep Liverpool at arm's length and get the job done - which I think we'll do.


We're going to have to win on the last day. That's not keeping them at arm's length. If we make it, we'd have just about squeezed through.

Hopefully there's a reset over the summer and big signings. I want us to aim for at least the semis of the CL. Not just take the money we get for qualifying and then get knocked out in the group stages or RO16 against a mid table Spanish club. Can't write songs about CL money, but nights in Turin, Paris etc.? Yes, please.
 
It begins. Lads, forget Liverpool, they're getting 71 points. It's only down to us.

My mind is already set on that, but I wouldn't put it past Villa to shock Liverpool. They have been one of the best teams in the league for the last 3 months.
 
@Drizzle man, they just don't get it.
No. After we beat Wolves saw a fair few 'well that should be top 4 sewn up now' comments on twitter and fan channels. How are people so dense?

I mean, we've got a decent chance of top 4, but personally I'm saying it's 50/50. We have to beat Bournemouth and I cannot say I'm particularly confident of that. We just don't have enough goals in us. It's perfectly possible we could play well and not win.
 
Hopefully Rash is back for the weekend. If we win in the weekend, it's done, we're in the top 4. If not, we're out, we screwed a lot of points.
 
Anyone who is confident is just in denial. Pool will win all their games, they’re in that mood again and have the killer instinct we have never found. We have Chelsea who we always struggle against and Fulham, who were cooking us in the last match before their red card implosion. This and an away match on top, where it seems we forget how to play football.

The confidence is, nice but this team has not earned that level of trust as of yet.
 
Anyone who is confident is just in denial. Pool will win all their games, they’re in that mood again and have the killer instinct we have never found. We have Chelsea who we always struggle against and Fulham, who were cooking us in the last match before their red card implosion. This and an away match on top, where it seems we forget how to play football.

The confidence is, nice but this team has not earned that level of trust as of yet.
Agreed. I'll be confident after we've got 6 more points, not a moment before.
 
Anyone who is confident is just in denial. Pool will win all their games, they’re in that mood again and have the killer instinct we have never found. We have Chelsea who we always struggle against and Fulham, who were cooking us in the last match before their red card implosion. This and an away match on top, where it seems we forget how to play football.

The confidence is, nice but this team has not earned that level of trust as of yet.

Spot on. Only slight glimmer of hope is having Garnacho and Varane back.

Liverpool are not only back to swatting sides away with ease, they also have easier games. Villa at home, Southampton away.

They will batter both.
 
Anyone who is confident is just in denial. Pool will win all their games, they’re in that mood again and have the killer instinct we have never found. We have Chelsea who we always struggle against and Fulham, who were cooking us in the last match before their red card implosion. This and an away match on top, where it seems we forget how to play football.

The confidence is, nice but this team has not earned that level of trust as of yet.

See, I disagree that this team has not earned some level of trust. We've been through an extremely difficult season. Not much has gone for us. Our schedule has been horrendous on both a mental and physical level, and yet they've won a cup, have another final to play and are on the brink of CL qualification. It's about time we gave these boys some credit.
 
Anyone who is confident is just in denial. Pool will win all their games, they’re in that mood again and have the killer instinct we have never found. We have Chelsea who we always struggle against and Fulham, who were cooking us in the last match before their red card implosion. This and an away match on top, where it seems we forget how to play football.

The confidence is, nice but this team has not earned that level of trust as of yet.
Ok, maybe im misreading another jinx here but Chelsea have only beaten us once in the league since 2017 while we have beaten Fulham and Bournemouth three times this season. Add in how atrocious Chelsea are by the way.
What are you trying to scare us with here?
 
As someone who's perrenially pessimistic about United's chances going into games, I find it encouraging by those of you that are optimistic -- fair play to you all, you give me hope!

Our away form is worrying going into the Bournemouth game. Despite them having nothing to play for in theory, it's their final home game of the season and they'll want to go out on a high. There's an extremely pessimistic part of me that thinks the change to having a week's rest between games is actually going to be more damaging to us than when we were playing Thursday/Sunday every week. I don't know why, can't put my finger on it -- but I'm probably just looking for reasons to be pessimistic, to be honest.

Whilst on paper the home games should be dead certs, we always find a way of making it hard for ourselves -- it's what we do.

I agree with the majority that Newcastle have a tougher run of games than we do (marginally), so are in theory more likely to drop points. I also agree with the majority that Liverpool look to have turned a corner and are getting results at the right time. I don't see them dropping points now to either Villa or Southampton. Working assumption that Liverpool finish on 71 points. So we will definitely need two wins out of three remaining fixtures.

Ideally, we're not going into the final game against Fulham needing a result. But I'm not confident that will be the case.
 
Anyone who is confident is just in denial. Pool will win all their games, they’re in that mood again and have the killer instinct we have never found. We have Chelsea who we always struggle against and Fulham, who were cooking us in the last match before their red card implosion. This and an away match on top, where it seems we forget how to play football.

The confidence is, nice but this team has not earned that level of trust as of yet.
I’ll be confident if we beat Bournemouth. Chelsea is always difficult and you don’t want it going to the last day but a 4 point buffer with those two games would be great.
 
Just focus on bournemouth for now, its imperative we get a win there!
 
Looking at the remaining fixtures, I’d say it’s more likely that Newcastle drop out than Utd.
 
Anyone else torn on what we want to happen with Brighton vs Newcastle?

Brighton win and it looks likely that if anyone were to drop out of top 4 it would be Newcastle. A Newcastle win however would mean it’s less likely Liverpool get top 4 but places United in a slightly more precarious position.
United getting in is the priority. Next is Liverpool not.

Brighton win is best.

However you'd then have to start thinking, is there an outside chance Brighton win their last 3 games if they beat Newcastle? Probably not as they play City home and Villa away, but worth noting City will have nothing to play for. We need 5 points to guarantee finishing above Brighton if they pulled off a miracle and won all their games.
 
Anyone else torn on what we want to happen with Brighton vs Newcastle?

Brighton win and it looks likely that if anyone were to drop out of top 4 it would be Newcastle. A Newcastle win however would mean it’s less likely Liverpool get top 4 but places United in a slightly more precarious position.
Either is ok? It’s still in our own hands. Even a Newcastle draw means they may only have to win one more game after that since Liverpool (before last night) are only winning by one goal margins. Plus Newcastle still has to play that same Leicester to boost their GD themselves.
Saying that a draw suits us and I’ve changed my mind!
 
I think we will get 3rd and Liverpool 4th. I think Newcastle will lose more points while Liverpool can go all the way unfortunately.
 
Brighton win is best.

However you'd then have to start thinking, is there an outside chance Brighton win their last 3 games if they beat Newcastle? Probably not as they play City home and Villa away, but worth noting City will have nothing to play for. We need 5 points to guarantee finishing above Brighton if they pulled off a miracle and won all their games.

Agreed about wanting Brighton to win. They aren’t likely to be a threat to us if they win, as I don’t see them making up five points on us in three games, with those fixtures.

If Newcastle drop out to Liverpool so be it.
 
We play 3 teams that have nothing left to play for. They can't get relegated and they can't get European football (not even the Conference League). If we can't get 2 wins from that then it's a failure for sure.

Villa might get something from Liverpool this weekend though. They can still get both EL and Conference.

I think Newcastle will drop points too. Brighton are tough and Leicester are fighting for survival.

I've seen most of Leicester's recent games and they might be in the relegation zone but they definitely aren't fighting for survival!

Newcastle will brush them aside no problem.
 
Newcastle to bottle their final 3

I can see:
United 3rd
Pool 4th
Newcastle 5th

Although I can't stand Liverpool, I'd rather them keeping Newcastle out of the CL. Atleast they're a proper club. If Newcastle get CL the spending will be insane.
 
Unfortunately, the only thing you can confidently call in this race at the moment is Liverpool taking full points from their remaining games. I don’t see that being the case for either us or Newcastle but it doesn’t need to be.
 
Newcastle missing out would be good in the long run tbh.
 
Newcastle missing out would be good in the long run tbh.
I don't believe it would have much of impact on them in long run or what that matter even next season .

Infact none of Liverpool , United or Newcastle would be majorly impacted if they miss out on Cl when it comes to recruitment they would all get most of their first choice targets .
 
The only thing Utd can do is win 2 more games to finish above Liverpool. I'm not going to get wrapped up in the Newcastle situation because their GD means outgaining them on the points front.
 
I think we will get 3rd and Liverpool 4th. I think Newcastle will lose more points while Liverpool can go all the way unfortunately.
I kind of agree. I can see Liverpool taking over Newcastle.
 
To be honest I think a decent run in, winning all games would help with the cup final, at least building some momentum and positivity. Whether that happens or not I can't predict. As I've said before Fulham worries me most because of what happened in the semi-final game and Mitrovic being back, they'll have a chip on their shoulder.

Yeah we really need to win next two and make that game about trying to finish 3rd having already secured top 4,however as we know this is Utd and never make anything easy
 
Agreed about wanting Brighton to win. They aren’t likely to be a threat to us if they win, as I don’t see them making up five points on us in three games, with those fixtures.

If Newcastle drop out to Liverpool so be it.

Problem with that is Mac Allister will definitely pick them,however should they miss out then we are suddenly a more attractive destination
 
All the people who said a few weeks ago that Liverpool winning all of their remaining games was an absolute impossibility, must be shocked at what has transpired thus far.

I still expect it to go to the last day. We'll drop points vs Chelsea and then will have to beat Fulham on the final day to make it over the line.
 
All the people who said a few weeks ago that Liverpool winning all of their remaining games was an absolute impossibility, must be shocked at what has transpired thus far.

I still expect it to go to the last day. We'll drop points vs Chelsea and then will have to beat Fulham on the final day to make it over the line.
It's fine, Newcastle will lose to Brighton at the weekend and then they'll lose on the final day at Stamford Bridge. We'll fall arse backwards down the stairs and land safely in Champions League pillows.
 
Problem with that is Mac Allister will definitely pick them,however should they miss out then we are suddenly a more attractive destination

I’m not fussed. I don’t think he’ll be signing for us anyway. We don’t have £70 million to spend on a midfielder if we’re going for a striker.

I would be massively wary of paying big money for anyone at Brighton, it reeks of players performing fantastically in a specific system. Obviously that’s the job of people who know far more about football than me to decide.