UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[RamboandBruno]

We’ve blown it.  Like we always do.

Just a ridiculous comment. What exactly have we blown. Given where we were when Emery took over, we have no right to even be in the mix for Europe. If you said in October we’ll finish 8th, each and every one of us would have more than accepted that. We may finish 7 still, but even if we do finish 8th, its been champions league form for the last 6 months, I’m not sure what else we can expect from a bloke who has been in charge for 6 months.

[nigel]

We’ve blown it.  Like we always do.

I think it’s amazing that we managed to give ourselves a fighting chance, given the start we had.

[nigel]

I must say, I was impressed with Emery in his full interview with the BBC after the game (MotD only show some of it but the full thing is on the match report on the website).

He was pretty pragmatic - happy with how we controlled possession against Wolves, disappointing not to force an equaliser etc. But he quickly moved on, unprompted, to talk about the Spurs game and how basically it was a do or die for  Europe. He's usually been circumspect talking about Europe but it felt he knows this is last chance saloon and that he's going to work hard all week to have a Newcastle-type performance prepared.

Even a win probably isn't going to be enough though.

In fairness you’re probably right, but Unai and this group have given us supporters hope and pride.
Very similar to when Dean Smith came in

[Smirker]

I must say, I was impressed with Emery in his full interview with the BBC after the game (MotD only show some of it but the full thing is on the match report on the website).

He was pretty pragmatic - happy with how we controlled possession against Wolves, disappointing not to force an equaliser etc. But he quickly moved on, unprompted, to talk about the Spurs game and how basically it was a do or die for  Europe. He's usually been circumspect talking about Europe but it felt he knows this is last chance saloon and that he's going to work hard all week to have a Newcastle-type performance prepared.

That makes me feel warm and fuzzy 

It's good to see you smile and not smirk.

I'll be smirking all week if we see a performance like Newcastle 😏

[algy]

What’s happened is nothing to do with what the players said. This is professional football at the highest level. Every PL team has scouts and analysts who pour over every detail trying to get an edge. They will have identified areas to stop us and some will do it better than others. We’ve lost two away games and not scored in them after an incredible run of results. It’s a combination of adjusted opponents tactics and the exhaustion of the training, attention to detail and fighting our way from 4th bottom to top 6 contenders in a few months. Mentally and physically that’s exhausting.

Yeah, agree with all of this. We've done incredibly well on that run, I think Man Utd was mostly down to exhaustion, then for Wolves it's been a combination of a hangover from the streak ending, them being properly up for it, and Lopetegui just being a really good manager.

Whatever happens, Emery has worked miracles and I've no doubt that had he been in place for a whole season, we'd be looking at Champions League football. It'd be great to have European football next season, and I do think if we beat Spurs then there's a reasonable chance that we'll get that - not nailed on, of course, but I wouldn't bet against us. But make no mistake, we will have it - it feels more a case of when rather than if.

[Exeter 77]

I haven't really been paying attention to other clubs' fixtures so was surprised that Brighton still have to play Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle as well as us in their last six games.

[john e]

We’ve blown it.  Like we always do.

Just a ridiculous comment. What exactly have we blown. Given where we were when Emery took over, we have no right to even be in the mix for Europe. If you said in October we’ll finish 8th, each and every one of us would have more than accepted that. We may finish 7 still, but even if we do finish 8th, its been champions league form for the last 6 months, I’m not sure what else we can expect from a bloke who has been in charge for 6 months.

Yeah, we’ve done incredibly well since Emery came in
But it still feels like we’ve blown it

[RamboandBruno]

We’ve blown it.  Like we always do.

Just a ridiculous comment. What exactly have we blown. Given where we were when Emery took over, we have no right to even be in the mix for Europe. If you said in October we’ll finish 8th, each and every one of us would have more than accepted that. We may finish 7 still, but even if we do finish 8th, its been champions league form for the last 6 months, I’m not sure what else we can expect from a bloke who has been in charge for 6 months.

Yeah, we’ve done incredibly well since Emery came in
But it still feels like we’ve blown it

Not the way I see it, but there you go each to their own.  To have not blown it, we would of had to go 12 games unbeaten, after a pretty good run before the Leicester, Man City, Arsenal games. Who has these type of runs other than teams in the top 4, which we are clearly not…yet.

[Ian.]

It’s not over yet though is it? It’s still possible.

[Toronto Villa]

Blown it is a strong statement overall but it will still have been a lost opportunity and disappointment if we don’t qualify given how hard we worked to get to this point.

[FatSam]

We had to go on our best run in the top flight for 25 years to put ourselves in with a chance of Europe. Being disappointed that we didn’t extend that run into perhaps our best ever run is misguided.

[Toronto Villa]

But it would be a natural feeling to be disappointed considering the position we got ourselves into. It doesn’t dismiss or minimize the achievement to get there in the first place.

[Lastfootstamper]

It’s not over yet though is it? It’s still possible.

I think we beat spurs and it's still very much game on.

[Ian.]

It’s not over yet though is it? It’s still possible.

I think we beat spurs and it's still very much game on.

Let’s hope we find our form again and end as strong as possible. I’d be gutted if we miss out, however I wouldn’t say we blew it, very harsh.

 It’s hard to be critical to anyone in this side, manager or owners. It was an incredible run which put us there, so credit to the players and especially the manager and our owners seem to be steering us to a new exciting era with good times ahead.

[paul_e]

Blowing it is what Spurs have done, going from safely in the top 4 to needing an upturn in form to hold on to 7th.