5 yes cannot see the top 4 not including City even as bad as they are right now, Chelsea, Arse and Liverpool nailed on 1-3
Top 4 (let's hope top 5) race
- Thread starter Andycoleno9
- Start date
I'll be happy if we finish in top10. Literally zero chance to reach top5. We're still crap, although a different kind of crap than under ten Hag. Theoretically we could sign some new players in January, build a new team but the problem is, because of the PSR and FFP regulations we have to get rid of a few scrap first which obviously won't work.
We've had the worst start to a season ever and we're still only 5 points off. Got some winnable games coming up this month so there's no reason we shouldn't be right back in the mix come January.
Forest; Brighton, Fulham, Bournemouth etc. will all drop off in the second half of the season.
I think we’ll just squeak 5th.
In Amorim’s games so far whilst we haven’t created a great deal at least you can see what the plan is. It’s been largely promising in my opinion.
Once we start clicking up front I can see us going in a little run. I’m not disappointed in missing out on a two legged semi in the league cup, at this point I think we’d benefit more from some extra time on the training ground.
In Amorim’s games so far whilst we haven’t created a great deal at least you can see what the plan is. It’s been largely promising in my opinion.
Once we start clicking up front I can see us going in a little run. I’m not disappointed in missing out on a two legged semi in the league cup, at this point I think we’d benefit more from some extra time on the training ground.
Personally I'd rather we focused on Cups and let go of the league. We're not getting CL spot this season, especially with this Amorim "preseason everybody gets a chance" approach. But I can understand the club would absolutely rather have us finished 7th than 11 even if that makes zero difference in the end. But I feel we've thrown the Tottenham game away because of rotation so it's also less games now for us anyway.
Not enough goals in the side for top 5.
Unless they've got something up their sleeve for January.
Unless they've got something up their sleeve for January.
Some of you guys really underestimate this squad or just don't watch/follow the other teams.
Spurs, Newcastle and Villa aren't better than us. The rest of the teams ahead of us, other than the obvious 4 of course, will almost certainly fail to keep up the pace needed to finish on 65+ points.
We are also just 5 points off of 5th currently, with all the shit that has gone down this season for us after 16 games.
So how exactly is it impossible to finish top 5?
The Spurs-Newcastle-Villa trio are still the only teams we should be looking at right now in the race, with Brighton being the likeliest team IMO to have a chance from the remaining mid-table sides currently punching above their weight. However, all of them are inconsistent and the first team to put together a small winning streak will immediately find themselves in 5th or 6th.
So why is that not going to be us? It's not exactly asking Amorim to win the league or suddenly go on a title winning pace for the remaining 22 games. It's basically expecting the squad to perform to their true level from now on, which should be between 4th-6th on paper. We're lucky that other sides have messed up their own seasons so far too, but it gives us a chance of still getting top 5. We just need to sort ourselves out before they do.
Spurs, Newcastle and Villa aren't better than us. The rest of the teams ahead of us, other than the obvious 4 of course, will almost certainly fail to keep up the pace needed to finish on 65+ points.
We are also just 5 points off of 5th currently, with all the shit that has gone down this season for us after 16 games.
So how exactly is it impossible to finish top 5?
The Spurs-Newcastle-Villa trio are still the only teams we should be looking at right now in the race, with Brighton being the likeliest team IMO to have a chance from the remaining mid-table sides currently punching above their weight. However, all of them are inconsistent and the first team to put together a small winning streak will immediately find themselves in 5th or 6th.
So why is that not going to be us? It's not exactly asking Amorim to win the league or suddenly go on a title winning pace for the remaining 22 games. It's basically expecting the squad to perform to their true level from now on, which should be between 4th-6th on paper. We're lucky that other sides have messed up their own seasons so far too, but it gives us a chance of still getting top 5. We just need to sort ourselves out before they do.
We aren't far off top 5 at all, and 5th is looking guaranteed so far. League and Europa league all the way.
Also it's not a preseason approach. It's a normal rotation approach. It's the sort of thing Ten Hag should have done to prevent countless injury issues over the years. It's what Sir Alex always did and how he managed so many competitions. The only thing that'll change there long term with Amorim is he'll get better squad players to rotate with less hassle.
If we win our next 3 games (all winnable), we will be 6th or better at the half way point.
That's a very very good place to start off the 2nd half of the season and get to a top 5 position.
That's a very very good place to start off the 2nd half of the season and get to a top 5 position.
Win tomorrow and we're 3 points off 5th.
It will depend how long it takes for Amorim to get us going in the attacking phases. We're definitely creating more chances, but our decision making is very poor in far too many moments.
Eventually it will all knit together, but it's a mystery as to when that will happen.
Also, our players need to stop making stupid cock-ups, which is easier said than done.
But if we can kickstart our goalscoring form in late January or early Feb, we could have a blinding end to the season.
Eventually it will all knit together, but it's a mystery as to when that will happen.
Also, our players need to stop making stupid cock-ups, which is easier said than done.
But if we can kickstart our goalscoring form in late January or early Feb, we could have a blinding end to the season.
Even in my dreams I can't see United finishing above Liverpool and Arsenal.
Then it will be very difficult to finish ahead of Chelsea and City*
Which leaves a huge battle royal between Villa, Newcastle, Spurs and this seasons over-achievers Forrest, Bournemouth and Brighton.
A 6th place finish for United would be the best they could achieve this season I recon.
This could change with a few new faces in January.
Then it will be very difficult to finish ahead of Chelsea and City*
Which leaves a huge battle royal between Villa, Newcastle, Spurs and this seasons over-achievers Forrest, Bournemouth and Brighton.
A 6th place finish for United would be the best they could achieve this season I recon.
This could change with a few new faces in January.
You’re currently 12 points behind us. No chance you’re finishing above us.
I would give him benefit of the doubt but playing Antony as one of the #10s seemed like an obvious mistake, same as Bayandir in the goal, this was definitely forced because of "everyone given a chance" rule. It's fine, I respect managers decision and it's definitely better than "this is my XI" approach from Ten Hag.
I would rather play Garnacho in one of the #10s and Antony on the RWB. Mazraoui could play any wide CB role in this system more effectively than wing back imo.
On finishing in CL spot, it's definitely still on the cards but I feel we would be counting on too many teams dropping many points and for this reason I'm not optimistic.
I know. Just thought it was strange you had Liverpool & Arsenal in your “not in my wildest dreams” category and Chelsea merely “very difficult” implying it would be possible but not realistic.I predicted a 6th place finish for United
It was the league cup which was clearly bottom priority. Don't think amorim is too bothered about not being in it anymore, given the semis really boosts your schedule
Despite the obvious improvements in our general play, we're still not consistent, we concede a lot and our attackers, bar Amad, are poor. I doubt we'll finish in the top 4 this season.
4th is possible, there's no way Forest can maintain their form.
Unless we can start scoring enough goals and tighten up our defence and stop stupid errors, it still doesn't seem likely we could get higher than 6th or 7th.
However, if Amorim can sort these key issues out, we are close enough to 5th and even 4th, to have a real go at it and get the 4th place.
I know talking about might have's, is a bit pointless, but think of this.
Had we beaten Forest 2 weeks ago , it would have put us in a position where a win tomorrow against Bournemouth, would see us in 4th place (on goal difference) by tomorrow evening.
Go check the table !
.
However, if Amorim can sort these key issues out, we are close enough to 5th and even 4th, to have a real go at it and get the 4th place.
I know talking about might have's, is a bit pointless, but think of this.
Had we beaten Forest 2 weeks ago , it would have put us in a position where a win tomorrow against Bournemouth, would see us in 4th place (on goal difference) by tomorrow evening.
Go check the table !
.
We just lost to Spurs, Villa and Newcastle are winning and we are still behind City. I would give us a 5% chance of being 4th. Our attackers just aren't good enough.
Liverpool/Chelsea/Arsenal too far ahead and better teams than us.
The problem is we can say we can catch Forest with this many games to play, but we need to finish above City, which is possible given how bad they are at the moment, but it's also possible they just start winning games again after they get through the bad spell, in which case we're screwed in terms of top 4.
We were really reliant on Chelsea having a bad year as it seemed like City/Liverpool/Arsenal were a lock for top 3. Chelsea being better than expected is hurting us, but maybe City will continue their disaster form to give us a lifeline.
5th is definitely in play if we can win our next 2 or 3 games though to put us in the mix, the likes of Villa/Newcastle/Spurs are not great themselves, and you'd have to assume Forest/Bournemouth/Brighton will drop off eventually.
I also simply don't trust us to win games we're meant to, we've already had bad results against Ipswich and Forest during what is meant to be a period of new manager bounce. Our attack is weak, over reliant on Amad.
The problem is we can say we can catch Forest with this many games to play, but we need to finish above City, which is possible given how bad they are at the moment, but it's also possible they just start winning games again after they get through the bad spell, in which case we're screwed in terms of top 4.
We were really reliant on Chelsea having a bad year as it seemed like City/Liverpool/Arsenal were a lock for top 3. Chelsea being better than expected is hurting us, but maybe City will continue their disaster form to give us a lifeline.
5th is definitely in play if we can win our next 2 or 3 games though to put us in the mix, the likes of Villa/Newcastle/Spurs are not great themselves, and you'd have to assume Forest/Bournemouth/Brighton will drop off eventually.
I also simply don't trust us to win games we're meant to, we've already had bad results against Ipswich and Forest during what is meant to be a period of new manager bounce. Our attack is weak, over reliant on Amad.
Europa league is a better bet.
Even with mediocre league form you've still proven a good cup team in last decade making multiple finals and winning three.
I'd back you to knock out Spurs over two legs at business end of competition. They're currently rated as favourites for some reason which bemuses me given likes of Bilbao are in the competition and would be a difficult team to knock out over two legs.
Even with mediocre league form you've still proven a good cup team in last decade making multiple finals and winning three.
I'd back you to knock out Spurs over two legs at business end of competition. They're currently rated as favourites for some reason which bemuses me given likes of Bilbao are in the competition and would be a difficult team to knock out over two legs.
They are really good, but some of the people performing for them right now have very sketchy injury records, and they have been pretty lucky. I don’t know what their depth is like.
Where we finish will be determined by who we buy in January. If we have a good window we can easily get into the top 4 still.
Yes I was thinking this. Don't think there's even been much talk about transfers compared to usual, unless I'm just blocking it out in my old age.
But with a new manager, with a new formation, you'd expect some signings. Realistically we're probably short on genuine wing backs.
Our attack remains poor and a quality, goal scoring #10 would make a huge difference. But this might be reliant on moving on Rashford and/or Antony.
Replacing Eriksen and Casemiro can probably wait til summer, unless a Saudi club would actually pay us some money.
They said that about Leicester a few years back
Except it's not likely we we'll buy anyone in January
Liverpool and Arsenal are obvious ones. Chelsea may drop more points later in the season than they currently are but still surely will get top 4. City are in crisis but they'll get 1-2 signings in January and finish comfortably in top 4. Then it's about 5th place. Villa, Newcastle, Spurs, United... Forest have been great but you'd think they'll fall behind and finish lower than 6th. As much as I'd like it, don't think we'll finish 5th and something more similar to a last season's 8th finish could happen. Don't expect us to spend in January either. We'll have some good and promising results but also some bad ones and think it won't be enough to finish as high as fifth in the league despite other teams not being that good either.
Winning Europa is our best chance for CL football next season imo. There's a few difficult teams (especially Bilbao and Sociedad as we tend to struggle a lot with Spanish sides) but you'd think our players are our more suited to winning a cup tournament/competition like in last 2 seasons than to improve enough to finish 5th in league.
They're so unpredictable but with Vicario, Romero van de Ven and Bentancur back I'd back Spurs to repeat their last season and finish 5th again.
Winning Europa is our best chance for CL football next season imo. There's a few difficult teams (especially Bilbao and Sociedad as we tend to struggle a lot with Spanish sides) but you'd think our players are our more suited to winning a cup tournament/competition like in last 2 seasons than to improve enough to finish 5th in league.
They're so unpredictable but with Vicario, Romero van de Ven and Bentancur back I'd back Spurs to repeat their last season and finish 5th again.
There's not a chance.
Well we can safely say this won't be happening 
We're not gonna finish top 10.
I wanted to believe but this was really never happening. All in for the Europa League.
Sickening as the top 4 is wide open. Forrest and Bournemouth in 4th and 5th having both come to OT in the past fortnight and won
Really poor
Really poor
With Liverpool and Villa doing well in the CL the PL has a good chance of getting 5 CL places next season.
It will but we'll be nowhere near 5th.
love your ambitions...always have to aim high, but asking to beat Bournemouth at OT is a stretch too far.
Forget it
Can someone start a race to top thread? Think we have a chance. Only a small chance though!
This. No difference in 10th, 12th, 16th in the league. Just win Europa. If we can't get CL, we won't attract the players needed to really restart this project.