UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[Risso]

I like the idea of a healthy Kamara, Coutinho and Carlos for the last 7-9 games of the season. Won’t be many clubs that can hope for players of that calibre to join the ranks for the final push.

Especially with Mitrovic and Toney hopefully both getting lengthy bans.

[Brazilian Villain]

From here, only getting 50 would be a disappointment. Would be only just above a point a game.

Agreed, with 11 games I don't think it's unreasonable to target 5 wins and 2 draws which take us to 55. Our run-in looks fairly tough atm though. 

[darren woolley]

It would be brilliant if we could just sneak a place in Europe.

[Toronto Villa]

I like the idea of a healthy Kamara, Coutinho and Carlos for the last 7-9 games of the season. Won’t be many clubs that can hope for players of that calibre to join the ranks for the final push.

Especially with Mitrovic and Toney hopefully both getting lengthy bans.

That will help for sure. Brighton look solid though and even with a cup semi they will remain solid to the end. Along with our other games, we will absolutely need to beat them at Villa Park to stand any chance of getting past them.

[Smirker]

It would be brilliant if we could just sneak a place in Europe.

It is gonna happen.

Look at the table since Unai came in.

We're 3rd.



We've averaged just under 2 pts per game. If we carry on with that form until the end of the season that's 24 pts and takes us to 62 pts. That is enough to finish 7th in every one of the last 8 seasons.

We've got a good chance lads.

[Dave P]

Will another place in the league for Europe open up if Brighton win the FA Cup and finish 7?

[Lastfootstamper]

Will another place in the league for Europe open up if Brighton win the FA Cup and finish 7?

No. I think any hopes of eighth place being good enough for Europe rely on manyoo suddenly being shit enough to just slide out of the top four yet simultaneously retaining enough form to win the Europa League. And if Sheffield United win The Cup, seventh is likely to not be good enough.

I think.

[LeeB]

At our current rate of points per game, we'd finish on 58. Looking at the past few years that would equate to:

6th
11th
8th
7th
7th
8th
9th
8th
8th
8th

Enough for Europe on 3 ocassions, assuming a Champions League quakifier picks up the FA Cup.

Hmm, I wonder which unlucky team team were the outlier in that list finishing outside the top ten with that tally?

And basically were now that team with Grealish under Emery, and were that team without Grealish under Gerrard.

[chrisw1]

I always felt Fulham and Brentford would fall away.  To be fair to them they've continued to do well, but I think Fulham have now run their race.

But our run in is really tricky and I think we're punching above our weight too at the moment.  We're also on a knife edge in terms of squad depth and an injury to Watkins ends our season.  Although I was hopeful of a push up to 8th, I think Chelsea will pull away and of the rest only Brentford are a realistic target.  We'll be battling with them for 9th.

[Risso]

The next round of fixtures will be fairly pivotal. We're away at Chelsea and Brighton are at home to Brentford. A win for us, and a draw between the others would see us clear in 10th (potentially 9th if Fulham don't beat Bournemouth). We'd then be two points behind both Brighton and Brentford and right in the mix, with Brentford still to play. Lose, and I think we'd be looking at 10th or 11th at best for the rest of the season.

[paul_e]

It would be brilliant if we could just sneak a place in Europe.

It is gonna happen.

Look at the table since Unai came in.

We're 3rd.



We've averaged just under 2 pts per game. If we carry on with that form until the end of the season that's 24 pts and takes us to 62 pts. That is enough to finish 7th in every one of the last 8 seasons.

We've got a good chance lads.

I assume that table is from transfermarkt (it looks like it) which is based on rounds not dates so the number of games played is a bit off. For example it doesn't include the rearranged fixtures from round 7 (the weekend after the queen died) that have been played, they include a draw for Man Utd and wins for Brentford and Liverpool which moves Man U level with us and Brentford and Liverpool ahead.

I doesn't really make much difference to your overall point but it does stop us having played more games than almost everyone on there.

Oh and I agree with Risso, the next round of games will play a big part in how things play out, if we can get a win it'll be a huge result for us.

[IFWaters]

I've said this in previous seasons and it hasn't turned out to be the case but what the hell let's go for it again. This villa squad are the great white shark of the premier league. Spent a lot of time in the murky depths before powering upwards with great force to seize the prize from the unsuspecting fat tourists above. There will be little warning before a 5 game winning run at the end of the season sweeps all before us like prawns wriggling around trying to swim for their lives. All home games the team should now run out to Jaws soundtrack.

[Toronto Villa]

Just realized our last game of the season is home vs Brighton. If we do our job up to that game that could be the Europa League decider. What a game that would be. Packed Villa Park in May.

[Brazilian Villain]

I've said this in previous seasons and it hasn't turned out to be the case but what the hell let's go for it again. This villa squad are the great white shark of the premier league. Spent a lot of time in the murky depths before powering upwards with great force to seize the prize from the unsuspecting fat tourists above. There will be little warning before a 5 game winning run at the end of the season sweeps all before us like prawns wriggling around trying to swim for their lives. All home games the team should now run out to Jaws soundtrack.

If it didn't work when we had Bruce....

[eamonn]

Just realized our last game of the season is home vs Brighton. If we do our job up to that game that could be the Europa League decider. What a game that would be. Packed Villa Park in May.

Hopefully Brighton will be in the Cup final and aren't as motivated.