Both are worth 3 points.
Top 4 race 2016/17
- Thread starter Yorkeontop
- Start date
Didn't say they weren't?
No sign of Liverpool slowing down. Can't see why some think they are more at risk of dropping out than Arsenal.
Anyone else annoyed that we've won 3 in a row and not moved from 6th place?
Feels like such a false position, but the teams above us just won't drop points
Feels like such a false position, but the teams above us just won't drop points
4 in a row now. It's very frustrating, but the gap has definitely been cut. We were 9 points away from 4th before our run and now we're 4 points behind. We'll definitely cut the gap between the top teams if we beat Boro too (due to Liverpool v City), so it's not too bad.
Competition is so fierce. I think we'll just miss out and finish 5th unfortunately, but it's not as impossible as I thought it was a few weeks ago.
It is annoying. Regardless though, we need to keep taking it game by game and concentrating on ourselves. If we keep up our current level, I'm positive we'll nick one of these top four positions.
1. Chelsea
2. Pool
3. Arsenal
4. United
5. City
6. Spurs
Pep will focus fully on the CL towards the latter stages of the season, losing out in the league to both Arsenal and United.
City will end up losing the CL final and be in the Europa League for 2017/18
2. Pool
3. Arsenal
4. United
5. City
6. Spurs
Pep will focus fully on the CL towards the latter stages of the season, losing out in the league to both Arsenal and United.
City will end up losing the CL final and be in the Europa League for 2017/18
I think top 4 will finish as it is now.
We might pinch 5th from Spurs.
We left ourselves too much work to do and cant afford anymore slip ups.Europa league and FA cup will also throw a spanner in the works for us.
We might pinch 5th from Spurs.
We left ourselves too much work to do and cant afford anymore slip ups.Europa league and FA cup will also throw a spanner in the works for us.
They have outscored most of their opponents so far, but you sense they are there for a big cock up.
We've had big cockups, have you not been watching? Bournemouth, West Ham, etc.
If we can win our next two then we'll really be breathing down their necks, just sad that Arsenal have such an easy looking fixture list until February as they look to be the vulnerable ones just now, but longer term Liverpool are the ones I think we will overtake if we are to make it.
Indeed. That's the reason why i can't you and us being real contenders.
But you originally responded to a post about us dropping out of the top four. Now you're talking about contendership. Two very different things.
I don't see it, there's nothing to suggest the goals will dry up. They've played Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Everton away from home already which would be some of their most likely slip ups and they have an 'easy' run in with no Europe.
They are more likely to win the league than drop out of the top 4.
My bad. I got confused. However, you have shown you are well capable of cocking up (like us
)Hmm yeah well they had 3 wins recently, before that a draw and a loss, 2 wins, 1 draw, 4 wins, 1 draw... they might lose points against City in the next match day.
I would say every 3 or 4 games they ought to lose some points. If United can come with that, they might close the gap slowly.
Yup. Time to move Sheldon out of his comfy chair.
Absolutely, but we left ourselves with a hell of a lot to do. We'd need a whole lot more of this to nick 4th.
We need to win more games against the Top 5, really. Only beat Spurs in the first half of the season. Draws don't do much good to try and close the gap when the other teams at the top aren't really dropping points when we win our games.
Liverpool the only side unbeaten against the Top 6 in four games so far. The two that Chelsea lost were at the start of the season before they changed formation and hit that sweet spot.
Well pointed out. I didn't realize we'd done that poorly against the top 5.We need to win more games against the Top 5, really. Only beat Spurs in the first half of the season. Draws don't do much good to try and close the gap when the other teams at the top aren't really dropping points when we win our games.
Liverpool the only side unbeaten against the Top 6 in four games so far. The two that Chelsea lost were at the start of the season before they changed formation and hit that sweet spot.
Also while only second to Chelsea in the form table, the next teams after us are Liverpool, City, Spurs and Arsenal.
It just seems this season that the big teams all seem to have got their shit together a bit more.
There's normally always at least one surprising team up there at this stage who then fall away. E.g. Palace, Southampton, West Ham, Newcastle (just thinking back over the last few seasons)
We almost made top 4 last year and managed it the year before while being largely shite - it's going to be a lot tighter this year.
It just seems this season that the big teams all seem to have got their shit together a bit more.
There's normally always at least one surprising team up there at this stage who then fall away. E.g. Palace, Southampton, West Ham, Newcastle (just thinking back over the last few seasons)
We almost made top 4 last year and managed it the year before while being largely shite - it's going to be a lot tighter this year.
Yep, it's what i meant.
You all dropped a lot of points after the opening 3 wins. From there till the start of this winning streak it was P11 W2 D6 L3. That's 12 out of a possible 33 points, for about a quarter of a season's worth of games!
Seeing arsenal above us is annoying. We should have beaten them plus they got a couple of very late wins in the past few weeks...
I'm more optimistic now, we are finally winning games and not only play well, which is a good thing. But we are still a step away and the teams in the PL behind the Top6 are all a bit shit, so I expect the other teams to win the majority of the games against them, which means we really need to win more in a row and also need to take more risks against the other top teams. 2 points against City, Chelsea, Pool, Arsenal isn't good enough, especially because 2 of those were at home. The other teams have more points and also more goals because they are capable of smashing those teams behind them and they proved that this week again, except for Arsenal, who still won and dominated the whole game. We can do that too, but still don't make enough of it, so I hope we can collect more wins and improve the GD too. Miki back in action and hopefully Martial back in form could be a gamechanger for us and will help us score more goals alongside Zlatan, who is on par with the top strikers in the league like Costa, Sanchez or Aguero, but we don't really have more players who can score on a consistent level. Boro is a must-win of course, with Pool - City we can close the gap to one of them a bit, Chelsea and Arsenal will get another win imo, Tottenham could have it tougher, so could be a decent matchday for us, after that we really need to show what we are capable of, the last wins were great, but of course you kind of expect those wins. If we can pull of at least 2 wins against West Ham (a), Pool (h) and Leicester (a), then we are upthere imo.
Other than we are Liverpool why do you think a collapse is imminent ?
I'll be naturally as disappointed as anyone if we do miss out, but I think what's more important is the fact that we are moving in the right direction for the first time since we won our 20th title. Let our rivals take all the jabs they want at us being in 6th I say, certainly while they can, as we quietly continue our progress.
All United can do is keep playing well and keep winning and hope one or two of the teams above you slip up. We are in the same position with catching Chelsea. Most of you seem to think it will be Liverpool who will slip up. I think if one team you will overtake it's Spurs.
Chelsea are nailed on top four. City most probably and Arsenal seem to habitually make the top four.
So if we slip up which doesn't look likely as we've bounced back from two shit results which a lot of people thought that was the start of our slip. It wasn't.
What Iam trying to say is fourth spot maybe between us , yourselves and Spurs if we slip.
I said before the Arsenal game which I think was after the International break that I felt United would twat Arsenal because I felt there had been a mental shift at United. I think I was right.
Youse have done well since that break as if youse had kept up the pre break form then United would be with the Evertons and the like.
I really can't see Spurs or Arsenal getting top 4 this season. Both look like teams who will lack the bottle when it comes to the crunch.
This is where the top 4 will be shaped.
It depends on the look of the table when we play these teams.
I do worry that Jose's natural caution may catch us out. All those teams we play will be happy to sit back and let us come at them due to the points lead they have over us.
If we are say 4-7 points behind Klopps pool when they come to OT we will have to throw caution to the wind and actually try when the game. That'll suit them to a tee as they are always better against teams that try to play.
On the other hand if we were somehow able to pass them out by then and the shoe was on the other foot we will win.
Basically what I'm saying is Jose is not an expert at "having" to beat rivals.
When it comes to "not losing" against his rivals there aren't many better. The shite 11 game run will come back to haunt us as it's given our rivals a nice buffer over us.
It depends on the look of the table when we play these teams.
I do worry that Jose's natural caution may catch us out. All those teams we play will be happy to sit back and let us come at them due to the points lead they have over us.
If we are say 4-7 points behind Klopps pool when they come to OT we will have to throw caution to the wind and actually try when the game. That'll suit them to a tee as they are always better against teams that try to play.
On the other hand if we were somehow able to pass them out by then and the shoe was on the other foot we will win.
Basically what I'm saying is Jose is not an expert at "having" to beat rivals.
When it comes to "not losing" against his rivals there aren't many better. The shite 11 game run will come back to haunt us as it's given our rivals a nice buffer over us.
I don't think you can be ahead of us by the time that game comes about. We're 7 ahead and you can only gain a maximum of 6 points on us before our game on 15th January.
You were extremely lucky to not go 0-2 in the first half yesterday and that was with Crouch on the field who provided nothing really for Stoke. Some other sides would exploit you last night much better than Stoke did. Is Matip injured or what? Your back 4 look pretty shaky still, hickups are bound to happen sooner or later if you don't sort that out.
My two cents:
Chelsea are almost certain for the the top 4 but a bad injury to a key player like Costa may jeopardise their season. They looked good vs Bournemouth without Costa and Kante but that's just one game vs a modest opposition and it was at home.
Liverpool play good football but do not have enough options on the bench. Still, they are not in Europe and are not dependent on one player to get goals. They will probably make the top 4 if they manage to avoid an injury crisis.
City are the most unpredictable team. Their squad lacks ballance: they have too many 30+ and U23 players. Fatigue may be a problem but they have rotated quite often and no one of their players have played a lot. Gabriel Jesus may help them big time. Or not. His record for Brazil is sensational (5 goals in 6 games) but he may need time to adjust his game to the PL.
Spurs are difficult to predict too. If their main players stay fit in the second half of the season, I can see them getting 78 points. Their squad has more depth this season.
United have more options in defence and midfield than any other team in the EPL. Plus the best keeper. The team is performing very well right now. I see several potential problems: the improvement is based on the form of two 35 y.o. players (Carrick and Zlatan), the team plays the rivals for the top 4 at their ground (City, Arsenal, Spurs) and the fixture list will become increasingly difficult in the last 2-3 months of the season, especially if the team is still in the EL (and the FA cup).
I think that at least 77-78 pts will be needed for a top 4 finish, maybe even more, as the top teams look more consistent than in previous seasons. To make the top 4 United will have to show a title winning form in the second half of the season. If Zlatan and Carrick manage to maintain their form, it won't be impossible to make the top 4. It is not a small if though. United are likely to play more games than any other team.
Chelsea are almost certain for the the top 4 but a bad injury to a key player like Costa may jeopardise their season. They looked good vs Bournemouth without Costa and Kante but that's just one game vs a modest opposition and it was at home.
Liverpool play good football but do not have enough options on the bench. Still, they are not in Europe and are not dependent on one player to get goals. They will probably make the top 4 if they manage to avoid an injury crisis.
City are the most unpredictable team. Their squad lacks ballance: they have too many 30+ and U23 players. Fatigue may be a problem but they have rotated quite often and no one of their players have played a lot. Gabriel Jesus may help them big time. Or not. His record for Brazil is sensational (5 goals in 6 games) but he may need time to adjust his game to the PL.
Spurs are difficult to predict too. If their main players stay fit in the second half of the season, I can see them getting 78 points. Their squad has more depth this season.
United have more options in defence and midfield than any other team in the EPL. Plus the best keeper. The team is performing very well right now. I see several potential problems: the improvement is based on the form of two 35 y.o. players (Carrick and Zlatan), the team plays the rivals for the top 4 at their ground (City, Arsenal, Spurs) and the fixture list will become increasingly difficult in the last 2-3 months of the season, especially if the team is still in the EL (and the FA cup).
I think that at least 77-78 pts will be needed for a top 4 finish, maybe even more, as the top teams look more consistent than in previous seasons. To make the top 4 United will have to show a title winning form in the second half of the season. If Zlatan and Carrick manage to maintain their form, it won't be impossible to make the top 4. It is not a small if though. United are likely to play more games than any other team.
What do you think about Arsenal? I think they're in danger of missing out if they don't get a run of wins going before February.
I forgot about them.
They are very good at getting points vs the smallish teams and this is a great quality to have in such a race. I think they will get 78-80 pts, so they will probably make it. Thir squad is better than in previous seasons and Sanchez is on fire.
I agree, I'm even more relaxed as i think we will win the EL.
As for the EPL, I think we will finish 5th.
People say that about Arsenal every year yet they qualify.
Right now I'd guess the title will be between Chelsea and Liverpool by a distance, with us getting into 4th just. Hope the Europa doesn't affect our league form when it starts back up.