Will we win the Premier League

[Meanwood Villa]

We can dream while we're up there but right now the gap we're putting between us and the teams below is hopefully helping towards CL qualification.

[Brend'Watkins]

I hope for the sake of mankind I hope we consign this xG bollocks to history by continuing to undermine the numbers with victories while playing well below the respected level.

[Smithy]

We can dream while we're up there but right now the gap we're putting between us and the teams below is hopefully helping towards CL qualification.

This to me is the biggest benefit to the current run.  A title challenge is lovely while we can continue to dream about it, but realistically, our form isn't going to continue indefinitely with significant runs of consecutive wins - so from a club-building perspective, I want us to win a trophy, and qualify for the Champions League.  It looks like 5th will be good enough again, and we're currently 9 points clear of 6th - which is a great buffer to have.  Had we lost to Man Utd, that buffer would have been down to 4 points - that's how significant that result was for us.

I'll continue to enjoy our run for as long as possible, and revel in our unlikely title challenge, but I'll do it while keeping one eye on the gap to 6th...

[Percy McCarthy]

We simply do not have the depth to win the league - we are a couple injuries away from having to draft in relatively inexperienced players (see the bench this weekend), whereas Arsenal / City / Chelsea have that strength.

But top 4 would be an amazing achievement, and continue the climb/momentum under UE.   

I’m not sure you can state something with such certainty then use something that might not happen as evidence.

[TonyD]

We can loan/sign a couple more players in 8 days time. 

[Chip Butty 111]

A win at Chelsea would put us miles clear of them, and also put fuel on the fire of what is going on with Maresca and those above him. People talking about us being disruptors/agitators of the top four haven't been following the league much, as we have been amongst it for a while now. Liverpool losing Isak and Salah playing up/looking off it is also a bonus. For me Man City signing Cherki is a bit of a gamechanger for them, and I would expect them to go clear in the new year. The only way we could win the league is if we had another mad January window and bring in 2 real quality players, and be lucky with injuries. No reason we can't be top 3.

[eamonn]

Re revenue, match tickets for Forest seem to be from £71 (North Stand) and up... that's surely higher than the last two seasons for the same game? Has it gone up by a Category level or are match-day tickets this season just generally higher?

[cdbearsfan]

It was seventy odd for Bournemouth, too.

[dorsetvillian]

At the moment injuries are not a problem and within reason we can rotate with the Prem and Europa. When Unai makes subs they tend to make a positive impact despite looking weaker on paper. It looks like we won't be able to really strengthen in Jan compared to those around us so realistically our hope of maintaining a challenge is a fit and healthy squad with Unai rotating as cleverly as possible. It is odd how every pundit has praised Villa and Unai but then says we are not as good as City or Arsenal despite beating both of them. The latest narrative to explain our success, after long range goals is being a one man 'Morgan Rogers, team. Should we continue to challenge it would be a real miracle and we can all but dream...

[Crown Hill]

I’d prefer to be going to Arsenal with either a win or a draw under our belts and then park the bus at the Emirates.

With Chrissy Price breaking away with five minutes to go and slotting it in the corner.

Still the benchmark for absolutely mental celebrations in the away end for me.

And the Tony Daley one in Easter 93 similar!

[dorsetvillian]

A repeat of the Chrissy Price goal late on after frustrating Arsenal for 85 mins would be wonderful..

[olaftab]

I’d prefer a Tony Moon type goal.

[algy]

We simply do not have the depth to win the league - we are a couple injuries away from having to draft in relatively inexperienced players (see the bench this weekend), whereas Arsenal / City / Chelsea have that strength.

But top 4 would be an amazing achievement, and continue the climb/momentum under UE.   

Then why is Liverpool losing Salah & Isak such a big deal for them if they’ve such a strong squad?

Fuck it, no self pity here - we’ve got a bloody good squad. Yes, we’ll have problems if the ‘wrong’ players get injured, but so does literally every other team in the league.

No excuses. We are, as it stands, the 3rd best team in the country and it’s a very fine margin between us and 1st place. A single result going our way in the first 5 games would see us level with them for example - it’s far from unthinkable that we could’ve been top now if it hadn’t been for the disruptive summer.

Just beat these clowns and get on with winning the remaining 19 league games afterwards, whoever they’re against. That’s how you win the league, and we are in a position where it’s still a realistic ambition. If we don’t do it, we don’t do it, but we may as well enjoy the ride until we’re forced to get off.

[Garyth]

[...]
Aston Villa’s push for a Champions League spot looks more than achievable, and Emery’s side should be unapologetic in performing above expectations after 10 consecutive wins in all competitions.

It is simply that the underlying numbers suggest this might not be sustainable.

I really don't see what's so bollocks about this. Is it really so crazy to suggest that 10 games unbeaten is performing above our exected level? At the start of the season did any of us expect this s

[Garyth]

[...]
Aston Villa’s push for a Champions League spot looks more than achievable, and Emery’s side should be unapologetic in performing above expectations after 10 consecutive wins in all competitions.

It is simply that the underlying numbers suggest this might not be sustainable.

I really don't see what's so bollocks about this. Is it really so crazy to suggest that 10 games unbeaten is performing above our expected level? At the start of the season did any of us expect this squad to be where it is?

If the next 10 games see us win only 5 - a 'regression', as it were - it would still have us gunning for champions league. Something we'd all have snatched your hand off, if offered at the beginning of the season.