PS Mr Lerner

[mr-villa]

6th place is still possible, that's if GH has'nt given up on it.

 

You do know dont you that 6th place will only bring a Europa League spot if the FA Cup final is contested by two teams in the top five of the Premier League.  If a team from outside the top five play the final against a team in the top five and lose they will still get a Europa League spot.  The "FA Cup" Europa League spot only goes back to the league if both winner and loser finish in the top 5 places.  Looking at who is left in the probability is that a non top 5 team will make the final this year probably against either Man Utd, Man City or Arsenal.  If thats the case dare I say it's probably best if its Blues, that way 6th in the league gets the Europa spot.

[cdbearsfan]

Fuck Europe. We won't try to win any of the matches any way.

[eastie]

It's not as if we would take Europe seriously anyway is it? The last 3 years we haven't and after last night I doubt GED would take the Europa seriously if we qualified anyway.

[mattjpa]

   Ok, so I can see both sides of the argument here and I didnt spend money going to city last night but I did spend 60quid going to see us beat blackburn at the weekend. I saw one of the best displays from our boys in a long time, controlled, passing, incisive football. Just like I argued would come when you were all calling for GH to be sacked three months back. In all honestly, do you believe that without cuellar, collins, makoun and bent we stood a really decent chance of getting a result last night? Honestly? I dont.
   We have notably collapsed in the last 10minutes several times this season and are 3days away from going to one of the fittest, physically strongest teams in the PL. Relegation is still a possibility but so is europe and with the run in we have, I think the latter is more likely if we are smart with how we handle the rest of the season.
   Yes its the cup, and yes, ive got all my ticket stubs in my top drawer in the hope that we got to wembley but circumstances went against us last night.
   I criticised MON heavily for not rotating as im sure did others, so im not going to be hypocritical enough to critise GH for rotating....several players were individually very good last night and deserved their chance. I just hope the decision is vinidicated and Ashley/Downing combine for an 85th min winner at the weekend.
   Ill be looking out for a few names on the post match thread....

[cdbearsfan]

If we win at the week-end will they let us back into the Cup then?

[Chris Smith]

How many people slating Young and Downing in recent months have complained about them being rested last night I wonder?

[Dave Cooper please]

   In all honestly, do you believe that without cuellar, collins, makoun and bent we stood a really decent chance of getting a result last night? Honestly? I dont.
 

Err - yes I do!
Gabby through the middle with proper wingers would be a decent replacement for Bent, Makoun isn't a regular yet, Collins and Cuellar aren't as good a centre-half pairing as Dunne and Clarke. (IMO of course)
On paper our only problematic area last night should have been at left-back with Warnock out of favour, Young away and Baker injured.
Hotlips made his own problems all over the pitch by 'resting' our best players and playing their replacements in bizarre positions.

[Cuz]

still angry about last night, waste of time why enter the comp if he decides to not play our best team, GH has lost me i'm afraid he is not the man for the club i love, can forgive once (Liverpool love in) but not last night, real lack of respect to us, i really hought we could beat City and Reading then who knows

[Dave Cooper please]

How many people slating Young and Downing in recent months have complained about them being rested last night I wonder?

Resting them is one thing, playing two centre-forwards on the wing to replace them is another.

[mr-villa]

We're currently on 33 points with 10 games left.  Win them ALL and we finish on 63, which is more or less top 6 vacinity.

Unfortunately, we're NOT going to win all our remaining games hence we won't be 6th.

John, look at your history mate.  In the preceeding ten seasons before this one the team occupying 6th spot at this stage of the season (having played 28 games) has had the following number of points:

09/10 - 48pts
08/09 - 45pts
07/08 - 48pts
06/07 - 43pts
05/06 - 43pts
04/05 - 42pts
03/04 - 42pts
02/03 - 45pts
01/02 - 47pts
00/01 - 45pts

Whilst you are correct in saying around 63pts has been the required level to finish sixth, this year with liverpool currently holding that position after 28 games with only 39 points and average form at best then 63 wont be needed this year.  I would guesstimate that 55 points will probably get 6th spot this term

[cdbearsfan]

How many people slating Young and Downing in recent months have complained about them being rested last night I wonder?

I haven't really slated either. However, I think even those that had would recognise that they both played excellently against Blackburn. It would therefore be madness, when they appeared to be in top form, to rest them for our biggest game of the season.

[TimTheVillain]

How many people slating Young and Downing in recent months have complained about them being rested last night I wonder?

Resting them is one thing, playing two centre-forwards on the wing to replace them is another.

With Emile in the middle to knock them in ( as if).

Lescott and Co. must have been shitting themselves.

Amazing treatment of the FA Cup by Clouseau.

[Chris Smith]

How many people slating Young and Downing in recent months have complained about them being rested last night I wonder?

Resting them is one thing, playing two centre-forwards on the wing to replace them is another.

Gabby has been playing there regularly, Saturday was the first one he hasn't started for a while, so I don't see that as part of this issue. So the problem seems to be giving a promising young player an opportunity.

[Cuz]

Yes Emile was shocking last night, Gabby down the middle everytime why can't he not see it, i truly believe that GH is mad

How many people slating Young and Downing in recent months have complained about them being rested last night I wonder?

Resting them is one thing, playing two centre-forwards on the wing to replace them is another.

With Emile in the middle to knock them in ( as if).

Lescott and Co. must have been shitting themselves.

Amazing treatment of the FA Cup by Clouseau.

[rutski]

How many people slating Young and Downing in recent months have complained about them being rested last night I wonder?

I haven't really slated either. However, I think even those that had would recognise that they both played excellently against Blackburn. It would therefore be madness, when they appeared to be in top form, to rest them for our biggest game of the season.

i bet mad irish villain thought it was our strongest team and doesnt know what the fuck you are all moaning about!!