We need to bring backups for Ibra and Carrick in this january window. Seing fellaini in Carrick position wont help our case to take that 4th spot.
Top 4 race 2016/17
- Thread starter Yorkeontop
- Start date
1. Chelsea
2. Liverpool
3. Manchester United
4. Manchester City
5. Arsenal
2. Liverpool
3. Manchester United
4. Manchester City
5. Arsenal
Liverpool:Sunderland A, Man Utd A,Swansea H, Chelsea H
Arsenal:CP H, Bouremounth A,Swansea A,Burnely H,Watford H
City :Burnley H,Everton A,Spurs H,West Ham A
Spurs:Watford A,Chelsea H,Westbrom H,City A, Sunderland A
United: Westham A, Liverpool H,Stoke A, Hull H
We will be in Top 4 by end of Jan.
Arsenal:CP H, Bouremounth A,Swansea A,Burnely H,Watford H
City :Burnley H,Everton A,Spurs H,West Ham A
Spurs:Watford A,Chelsea H,Westbrom H,City A, Sunderland A
United: Westham A, Liverpool H,Stoke A, Hull H
We will be in Top 4 by end of Jan.
Arsenal and Spurs should win most game there. If Utd win all their games, they will be 5th I think. City is the most vulnerable team at the moment. Spurs usually bully the small teams around. Hence apart form playing us, they should easily win all other fixtures.
Spurs and City will drop 3-6 points . We win our matches and we will be in touching distance with Liverpool
Arsenal are going to qualify for CL next season. No point hoping that they'll drop out. It's the same story every year and Arsenal are easily the best flat track bullies in the league.
If we have to qualify for CL, its either via Europa League route or by hoping City drop out which is looking likely if we manage to string together a good run of results. Also, it would be interesting to see how Pool cope without Mane this month and whether they can manage to keep this level of intensity throughout the season
If we have to qualify for CL, its either via Europa League route or by hoping City drop out which is looking likely if we manage to string together a good run of results. Also, it would be interesting to see how Pool cope without Mane this month and whether they can manage to keep this level of intensity throughout the season
We're in a far better situation now, than we were a month ago. But it's still a daunting task, we need to keep showing title winning form.
I'm really finding it too close to call at the moment. So many factors that could hinder/help any of the Top 6. For United, FAC, EL & LC, Spurs the FAC & EL, Arsenal FAC & CL, City FAC & CL, Liverpool FAC & LC, Chelsea FAC. This isn't even considering absentees due to injury or disciplinary action or the influence of new players bought in the January window. AFCON affects Liverpool more than most with the lose of Mane, Arsenal lose Elneny, United lose Bailly but Chelsea and City (only YaYa if he's going) really got away with it when Nigeria failed to qualify - WTF Nigeria you idiots ! - and Spurs are unaffected.
The schedule could be a major influence too - I do like Liverpool's a lot but haven't studied the others in too much depth.
Fascinating season.
Chelsea and Liverpool will be the top 2 as they are by far the best teams in the league. So, it is between Arsenal, City, Spurs and us for the remaining two spots. Arsenal have the easiest fixtures. They will probably win them all. I can see both City and Spurs dropping around 5 points. But even we have tough games and I think we will drop atleast 3 points. So, by the end of January, we will move to 5th but will be level on points with the 4th placed team.
We absolutely need to win the Liverpool game. The other games I'm fairly confident of
Ahh misunderstood your 5-0 comment, my bad.
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I actually think that Spurs will drop a lot of points in those fixtures. Arsenal should be fine though, but if we win all those matches, I think that we will be ahead of Spurs and City, or at the very least within a very small distance.
You and Liverpool have two League Cup games this month. It can influence your run of fixtures.
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The fact that City host Spurs in a couple of weeks ensures that.
I'd take a draw there now if you offered it. Just as I punched the air when we drew at Anfield. Wouldn't be too gutted if we beat you though obviously.
I don't know why people think arsenal won't make to 4. It's a given. It's like saying spurs will finish above arsenal, which will never happen.
Top 6 mini table
After the first half of the year, Liverpool are the only side unbeaten against top six sides.
After the first half of the year, Liverpool are the only side unbeaten against top six sides.
And three of those 5 were away.
If we are still in the top 3 come the end of Jan I will be very happy indeed
Looks like only City drop points in this round, providing Arsenal beat Crystal Palace in the late KO which is a given IMO. The top 6 are doing great overall, but we still managed to gain a couple of points on Liverpool, three on Tottenham, and six on each City and Arsenal in our five wins in a row run. Need to make it six in a row against West Ham tomorrow, while Spurs hopefully drop points against Chelsea on Wednesday.
Goal difference might come back to bite us in the arse though yet again, we won't catch those teams above us if we don't manage to put away our hatful of chances every fecking game soon. Yesterday should've been about 4/5-0 really.
Goal difference might come back to bite us in the arse though yet again, we won't catch those teams above us if we don't manage to put away our hatful of chances every fecking game soon. Yesterday should've been about 4/5-0 really.
True, so getting the fourth out of the way in the first month of the year is handy. We're away to both Arsenal and Spurs in the last three games of the season.
Here's table with home and away results in:
I think that's a huge advantage for us since we should really know if we can make top 4 by the time those games roll around.True, so getting the fourth out of the way in the first month of the year is handy. We're away to both Arsenal and Spurs in the last three games of the season.
Here's table with home and away results in:
The EL semi finals are the Thursday before you play Spurs and Arsenal away in early May. That could be an exciting time for you with 4 huge games in a row.
Didn't realise that. Make or brake time then.
You need to take GD into account. United needs to gain 4 points on 4th-placed City to overcome them in the table.
Good thing is, by that time we would have known our best route into the CL.
Ok lets say 9 for arguments sake, and lets say United win their next 4. That would put us 4 points off yous, and yet you come in here and thank us for beating Spurs, which by the does totally dismiss any threat you consider from United. Oh I do hope that comes back and bites you in the arse.
Summit, as you quoted me on an old post here's me returning the favour.
I thanked you on Dec 11th for beating Spurs and keeping them off our tail to which you took offence. Seems like my gratitude was correctly placed seeing as they're now one place behind us (and you aren't).
That would be the case only if we do not have good chances to make the top 4. Which I doubt. We first should reach the later stages of the EL before worrying about the schedule though.
The head to heads are absolutely massive for everyone. Liverpool is must won for us.
What can I say lar, you are gonna win the league. This year is your year lar. Is right lar.Summit, as you quoted me on an old post here's me returning the favour.
I thanked you on Dec 11th for beating Spurs and keeping them off our tail to which you took offence. Seems like my gratitude was correctly placed seeing as they're now one place behind us (and you aren't).
I'd say United's january fixtures a bit easier than Liverpool's:
http://www.skysports.com/liverpool-fixtures
http://www.skysports.com/manchester-united-fixtures
http://www.skysports.com/liverpool-fixtures
http://www.skysports.com/manchester-united-fixtures
None of that top 5 drops points unless they play each other. Which is evidenced by the face we've won 5 in a row and not moved from 6th
I hope a couple stutter in the second half of the season, otherwise 4th will be close to impossible
I hope a couple stutter in the second half of the season, otherwise 4th will be close to impossible
It will change as the season goes on and I know we dropped plenty of points outside the top teams earlier on.
United should see City as their target ... I think they are the most vulnerable out the current top 5.
All of the top 6 will drop points at one point or another.
Frustrating seeing our rivals hardly dropping any points despite us playing so well. Just have to keep going and hope one of them slips up at some point.
I am trying to be as realistic as I could and came up with following predicted table. If someone can fix it for me as I don't have the privilege to add images in football forum yet. Spent 10 minutes in drawing that table and then converting it into image
It is very likely that rivals will finish with points tally of high 70s and we could still miss out on Top 4. It could very well be the case that EL is our best realistic route to Champions League Football next year.
It is very likely that rivals will finish with points tally of high 70s and we could still miss out on Top 4. It could very well be the case that EL is our best realistic route to Champions League Football next year.
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I find that very pessimistic, to be fair. Would be very disappointed if we get just three points in five matches against teams that are higher than us in the table.I am trying to be as realistic as I could and came up with following predicted table. If someone can fix it for me as I don't have the privilege to add images in football forum yet. Spent 10 minutes in drawing that table and then converting it into image
https://flic.kr/p/QJXAad
It is very likely that rivals will finish with points tally of high 70s and we could still miss out on Top 4. It could very well be the case that EL is our best realistic route to Champions League Football next year.
I doubt we'll fail to win every single game against the top 5 in all honesty.I am trying to be as realistic as I could and came up with following predicted table. If someone can fix it for me as I don't have the privilege to add images in football forum yet. Spent 10 minutes in drawing that table and then converting it into image
https://flic.kr/p/QJXAad
It is very likely that rivals will finish with points tally of high 70s and we could still miss out on Top 4. It could very well be the case that EL is our best realistic route to Champions League Football next year.
I am trying to be as realistic as I could and came up with following predicted table. If someone can fix it for me as I don't have the privilege to add images in football forum yet. Spent 10 minutes in drawing that table and then converting it into image
It is very likely that rivals will finish with points tally of high 70s and we could still miss out on Top 4. It could very well be the case that EL is our best realistic route to Champions League Football next year.
There you go. For us to finish in the top four we will need to do better against the top four sides than in the first half of the season. Some think playing away to Arsenal and Spurs in last few games of the season is a positive but I disagree. Not easy to win away and we might be in a position where we need those wins.
Think your predictions are pretty pessimistic regarding Top 5
I understand but I don't see us winning at Arsenal and Spurs, I could have gone for a victory against Liverpool and a Draw against West Ham which is more likely. West Ham (Away) fixture is the one that has hurt us too often but I was bold there and went for a Win. I somehow find it very unlikely to be winning big games especially when playing in EL on Thursdays (Both Arsenal and Spurs games are coming after EL Semi I guess).
I hope the squad remains fit, my biggest worry is Ibrahimovic getting unfit or suspended for big games, especially physical away games.
I hope the squad remains fit, my biggest worry is Ibrahimovic getting unfit or suspended for big games, especially physical away games.