Top 4 Race 19/20 | duffer: "We [Chelsea] are getting 3rd. Despite what the lunatics in here think, Man United are not all that."

Paul_Scholes18 said:
Can it be two finals in the end? Us vs Leicester for 1 spot and Chelsea vs Wolves for the other?
With draws it might complicate things though.
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I think it's almost a certainty that it will be 2 finals in the sense of a "winner" from each match qualifying for the CL. That is to say I don't see many realistic scenarios where United and Leicester or Chelsea and Wolves finish in the top 4.

I guess it could be Chelsea drawing their last 2 matches and finishing on 65 points which would mean 2 wins for each of United and Leicester to finish ahead of them but even that's a stretch I think.
 
ZolaWasMagic said:
No, i dont think Wolves will beat us despite being a tough team, and i do not understand the almost certainty on this forum that they will win. Its because, IMO, your fans of course are convinced it is happening, and really want it to happen to solidify your place in top 4.... but i dont think a lot of your fans really are as certain as they make out.

I think its more a way of convincing/reassuring yourselves you will be top 4. Like a coping mechanism so to speak If that makes any sense at all... ive no idea.
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So yeah then.
 
ZolaWasMagic said:
Wolves will be tough but i think some are going a little bit OTT in their assertions that we will lose. I get the reasoning, its because they want it to happen and are almost sure it will; in order to assure themselves that they will make top 4

Myself I am almost certain we are going to be top 4... because i really dont think Wolves are beating us, we need 4 pts right now to get top 4. If other results went in our favour, that will of course drop. We are right in the driving seat with it in our hands
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No, it's because we've been on the end of a Nuno masterclass 5 times in the last two seasons. We are saying they'll be tough because you have much the same weaknesses we've had when facing teams who sit deep and Wolves are like Sheffield United, they like you to have the ball and come out to play so that they can capitalise on the spaces you leave behind. Add in your porous defence and dodgy keeper, that game will be anything but simple for you.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
So you think Chelsea have no hope at home against a team we put 5 past this season already without our two best players? :nervous:

Also, given the absurd fixture congestion, why would we play at anything besides a pedestrian speed once it became clear Norwich offered no tangible threat to our goal? Seems to me that managing workloads and avoiding injury should be more of a priority over running up the score.
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Wolves are very overrated on this forum as we tend to struggle against them. The idea that they'd be favourites at Stamford Bridge in a game they must win to get CL is ridiculous.
 
WeePat said:
Our win last night was definitely laboured. We may have had 22 shots, but how many were actual genuine chances? The goal aside, very few, if any. We struggled to create.

Side to side passing and the occasional cross into the box/header over the bar isn't my idea of a vibrant, dynamic performance.
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Then your definition of laboured win is different to mine. For me a laboured win is what we had against Crystal Palace. A game you genuinely felt we were lucky to come out with the win...not a game our opponents barely struggled to go past their half, had no shots on target, 2 shots all game. It was a well deserved win which lacked the gloss multiple goals would have placed on it.
Mid season I would have complained but at this point of the season, with what is at stake I'd take this for the rest of our games.
 
Dave Smith said:
Chelsea had all that possession and shots but how many were clear cut? Giroud had a few chances but most of them were him under pressure and/or they came to him when they had bounced off someone else.

When watching the Norwich game, apart from two 10 minute spells, Chelsea played at a pedestrian speed and I would say at a level that was similar to the last 60 minutes against Palace and Sheff Utd. The only way Chelsea got away with it was due to Norwich having no desire to do anything other than prevent a hammering.

For me, Chelsea are in a very tricky position. I can really see something like this happening:

Wolves beat Burnley
Utd beat Palace
Sheff Utd beat Leicester

Wolves beat Palace
Chelsea draw with the Dippers
Utd beat WHU
Leicester draw with Spurs

That would leave it as:

3rd - Utd - 65 points
4th - Chelsea 64 points
5th - Wolves 61 points
6th - Leicester 60 points

So, yes Leicester would be out of it and Utd will be qualified by the last game. That however means a play off between you and Wolves. Personally, I see Wolves winning that one as they are a better side than Sheff Utd and they gave Chelsea a right tonking. Only way I see Chelsea getting CL is if they beat the Dippers. I have a draw for that one as Chelsea have given them a couple of games this season. However, I do not see Chelsea winning it. The only way I see Chelsea getting CL is if Wolves fail to beat Burnley.
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You reckon Chelsea will get a draw vs Liverpool but won’t be able to vs Wolves?
 
Riz said:
I think it's almost a certainty that it will be 2 finals in the sense of a "winner" from each match qualifying for the CL. That is to say I don't see many realistic scenarios where United and Leicester or Chelsea and Wolves finish in the top 4.

I guess it could be Chelsea drawing their last 2 matches and finishing on 65 points which would mean 2 wins for each of United and Leicester to finish ahead of them but even that's a stretch I think.
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United and Leicester could happen if Leicester find form and United continue to do so. Two wins each and Chelsea failing to beat Liverpool means United and Leicester will let game theory dictate a 0-0 draw.
 
Why do so many here always need to think in absolutes? Is is it really so difficult to conceptualise that Chelsea will roughly get 0.85 points on average at Anfield and something like 1.7 at home against Wolves? There is no point in ridiculous predictions à la "can't see X winning vs Y".
 
Siorac said:
Wolves are very overrated on this forum as we tend to struggle against them. The idea that they'd be favourites at Stamford Bridge in a game they must win to get CL is ridiculous.
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Agreed. They're a tidy side and could 100% win the match, but the absolutism is frankly ridiculous if you ask me.
 
Siorac said:
Wolves are very overrated on this forum as we tend to struggle against them. The idea that they'd be favourites at Stamford Bridge in a game they must win to get CL is ridiculous.
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Favourites is certainly over-egging it, but its going to be a tough game. Since Chelsea beat Wolves in September their form has been basically identical - Chelsea have picked up 3 more points having played a game more. Both teams' form since lockdown has been comparable too. Could definitely go either way.
 
Pagh Wraith said:
Why do so many here always need to think in absolutes? Is is it really so difficult to conceptualise that Chelsea will roughly get 0.85 points on average at Anfield and something like 1.7 at home against Wolves? There is no point in ridiculous predictions à la "can't see X winning vs Y".
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I’d usually think like that, but with three games to go you can think through all the scenarios.
 
Anyone believing Wolves beating Chelsea is a foregone conclusion is living in a dream world.

Chelsea are in complete control of the situation. They won't let it slip now.
 
Eire Red United said:
You reckon Chelsea will get a draw vs Liverpool but won’t be able to vs Wolves?
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Yes. Chelsea are a decent side when allowed to play but awful when stifled. Liverpool will let them play but Wolves will smother them. Chelsea are now essentially like Arsenal where under Wenger.
 
Random Task said:
Anyone believing Wolves beating Chelsea is a foregone conclusion is living in a dream world.

Chelsea are in complete control of the situation. They won't let it slip now.
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I agree with you completely, Wolves will get a draw at best (I have Chelsea as Lose (Liverpool), Draw (Wolves)).

I have Chelsea ending up on 64 points, I can't see Chelsea beating Liverpool either.

The predicted table (as per one source) has has United and Chelsea on 65 points respectively, and Leicester on 62.

I genuinely feel at this point IF Leicester fail to get 3 points versus Sheffield United (I see Leicester winning this game).

And IF United get 3 points versus Leicester I think top 4 is done at that point (although mathematically it isn't).

The issue is I think United and Leicester are quite even going into the current match-day, both are equally likely of winning, but failing to get all 3 points at this stage is disastrous.

The Palace game really is a cup final tomorrow.
 
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TheNewEra said:
I agree with you completely, Wolves will get a draw at best (I have Chelsea as Lose, Draw).

I have Chelsea ending up on 64 points, I can't see Chelsea beating Liverpool either.

The predicted table (as per one source) has has United and Chelsea on 65 points respectively, and Leicester on 62.

I genuinely feel at this point IF Leicester fail to get 3 points versus Sheffield United (I see Leicester winning this game).

And IF United get 3 points versus Leicester I think top 4 is done at that point (although mathematically it isn't).

The issue is I think United and Leicester are quite even going into the current match-day, both are equally likely of winning, but failing to get all 3 points at this stage is disastrous.

The Palace game really is a cup final tomorrow.
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Glad we agree.

I think it's fairly obvious that Chelsea will win their remaining three games, and by a comfortable distance to boot. They are truly a top side.
 
Random Task said:
Glad we agree.

I think it's fairly obvious that Chelsea will win their remaining three games, and by a comfortable distance to boot. They are truly a top side.
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I can't see Chelsea winning against Liverpool, but looking at the Wolves game I can't see Chelsea losing.

Chelsea are the first team to get top 4 currently, Wolves don't even have a chance.

Pretty much 90% of who finishes top 4 alongside Chelsea will be decided tomorrow if United or Leicester slip up or not.
 
Random Task said:
Glad we agree.

I think it's fairly obvious that Chelsea will win their remaining three games, and by a comfortable distance to boot. They are truly a top side.
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:lol: :lol: that Sheffield United performance really was a long time ago.
 
ShinjiNinja26 said:
Seem to be more and more by the day. However if they fail to get CL I suspect they’ll disappear pretty sharpish.
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I really don't get it. I'd maybe have a quick glance at rival forums at times but never in a million years would I sign up to one, never mind post constantly. Goes to show that we live in our rivals heads rent free.
 
Shark said:
I really don't get it. I'd maybe have a quick glance at rival forums at times but never in a million years would I sign up to one, never mind post constantly. Goes to show that we live in our rivals heads rent free.
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I've looked at other fan forums to see their opinions about top 4, and about United players in general when we play them. I have to say the communities on those forums, and how active they are doesn't even come close to the United forum.

Redcafe is one of very few forums (besides technology forums) that is still actually active, Reddit killed nearly all forums.
 
sport2793 said:
:lol: :lol: that Sheffield United performance really was a long time ago.
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Shark said:
I really don't get it. I'd maybe have a quick glance at rival forums at times but never in a million years would I sign up to one, never mind post constantly. Goes to show that we live in our rivals heads rent free.
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This is by far the best forum for discourse I've found, including reddit (which is far more prone to groupthink). I'd rather chat with posters who are knowledgeable even if they support a rival instead of shouting into an echo chamber, personally.
 
Shark said:
I really don't get it. I'd maybe have a quick glance at rival forums at times but never in a million years would I sign up to one, never mind post constantly. Goes to show that we live in our rivals heads rent free.
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Aye don’t get it myself. Only thing is the Caf is a lot better than any other forums out there. The thing that bothers me is when you get rival fans signing up and proceeding to slate United while acting smug and bigging up their own clubs. It’s like do you realise where you are?
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:




This is by far the best forum for discourse I've found, including reddit (which is far more prone to groupthink). I'd rather chat with posters who are knowledgeable even if they support a rival instead of shouting into an echo chamber, personally.
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You're one of the better ones to give you your due :)
 
ShinjiNinja26 said:
Aye don’t get it myself. Only thing is the Caf is a lot better than any other forums out there. The thing that bothers me is when you get rival fans signing up and proceeding to slate United while acting smug and bigging up their own clubs. It’s like do you realise where you are?
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Exactly, not sure what they expect in that case. There's a Chelsea newbie just a few posts up calling us RAWK, someone probably needs to ban him for that crime.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:




This is by far the best forum for discourse I've found, including reddit (which is far more prone to groupthink). I'd rather chat with posters who are knowledgeable even if they support a rival instead of shouting into an echo chamber, personally.
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Ya to be fair, for all this quibbling about Chelsea and United, the reality is that there are very good reasons why both teams are where they are in the table. Both need to spend in the summer to close the gap.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:




This is by far the best forum for discourse I've found, including reddit (which is far more prone to groupthink). I'd rather chat with posters who are knowledgeable even if they support a rival instead of shouting into an echo chamber, personally.
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I'm not really saying there should be no rival posters here, some of you are indeed alright. I've just noticed a surge of smug Chelsea shites joining to come on here in recent weeks.
 
charlenefan said:
You're one of the better ones to give you your due :)
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:angel:

sport2793 said:
Ya to be fair, for all this quibbling about Chelsea and United, the reality is that there are very good reasons why both teams are where they are in the table. Both need to spend in the summer to close the gap.
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Agreed. I can't speak for others but personally I've never borne United tremendous ill will as compared to other top clubs. Obviously I wasn't best pleased after the final in 07-08 but it's not as if I could begrudge you the cup; you didn't cheat to win or anything like that. I've much more animosity towards Barcelona from that period.

Shark said:
I'm not really saying there should be no rival posters here, some of you are indeed alright. I've just noticed a surge of smug Chelsea shites joining to come on here in recent weeks.
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Shark said:
Exactly, not sure what they expect in that case. There's a Chelsea newbie just a few posts up calling us RAWK, someone probably needs to ban him for that crime.
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Yeah this should be stamped out. Should remember we're guests here after all.
 
EwanI Ted said:
Favourites is certainly over-egging it, but its going to be a tough game. Since Chelsea beat Wolves in September their form has been basically identical - Chelsea have picked up 3 more points having played a game more. Both teams' form since lockdown has been comparable too. Could definitely go either way.
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Yeah, I agree with that. It's just some are acting as if Chelsea had no chance. It's Wolves, not Bayern. They're a shithouse team but they rarely actually beat the big boys away from home.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:




This is by far the best forum for discourse I've found, including reddit (which is far more prone to groupthink). I'd rather chat with posters who are knowledgeable even if they support a rival instead of shouting into an echo chamber, personally.
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I agree.

It's also why I'm not super active in Chelsea twitter circles. I prefer to engage in a mixture of perspectives rather than shouting into an echo chamber, as you said. I understand the complaints though. When you sign up here, there's an element of feel the room that's sometimes missing in some of the back and forths we see
 
Wolves will not roll over against Chelsea. A win/draw there would most likely mean they go straight in the Europa League group stages rather than starting their season early again in the qualifiers like last season.
 
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