Champions League Contention

[john e]

Not sure why people talking about trends or dodgy spells it seems obvious to me we aren’t the same team without Kamara and don’t have central midfielders in the squad,

So it is what it is.

We just have to hope we sneak over the line!

Yep, he’s turned out to be the biggest miss for me

I know it’s hypothetical and no way of proving it, but I’m absolutely sure if he was playing against Brentford on Saturday we wouldn’t have shipped three goals in nine minutes

[Brazilian Villain]

The points difference between England and Germany is smaller than I thought.
https://twitter.com/FootRankings/status/1777410330890752266

They put the odds of England getting the additional CL spot at 71%.

[PaulWinch again]

Yeah I suspect that’s true for that specific game. He has been a big loss, but I don’t think it’s the sole reason, from memory he was part of the Manure, Newcastle, and Chelsea bad phases.

[Dave]

The points difference between England and Germany is smaller than I thought.
https://twitter.com/FootRankings/status/1777410330890752266

They put the odds of England getting the additional CL spot at 71%.

It just needs fewer German sides left to gain points. If they're not there, then whichever teams are left from England will overtake them.

So Arsenal and Atletico should sort the whole thing out if everything goes as would be expected. But if Arsenal flake out or Dortmund pull off a shock, then just the German sides just being there start to make the whole thing a flip of a coin.

[Brazilian Villain]

So Arsenal and Atletico should sort the whole thing out if everything goes as would be expected. But Arsenal flake out or Dortmund pull off a big shock, then just the German sides just being there start to make the whole thing a flip of a coin.

Yeah, it would be nice if it meant top 5 was a guaranteed CL spot asap. Might take the tension out of the match threads of any games we fail to win.

[Demitri_C]

Not sure why people talking about trends or dodgy spells it seems obvious to me we aren’t the same team without Kamara and don’t have central midfielders in the squad,

So it is what it is.

We just have to hope we sneak over the line!

Yep, he’s turned out to be the biggest miss for me

I know it’s hypothetical and no way of proving it, but I’m absolutely sure if he was playing against Brentford on Saturday we wouldn’t have shipped three goals in nine minutes

We said same about when pau was missing, youri etc. We really dont have the squad depth we thought we did. But seriously can how can any club coupe with having 4 key players out for the season?

In my lifetime ive never seen anything like it for us

[curiousorange]

But seriously can how can any club coupe with having 4 key players out for the season?

Probably trade it in for a minibus.

[PeterWithesShin]

I dunno about anyone else but I can't wait for the next few games. A European QF, games to get into the CL. Yes please!

[Ads]

It just looks like a declining trend to me though? And to be honest that’s what it feels like.

Or maybe Spurs at home, West Ham away and Man City away was as tricky a fixture set as we've had since the start if December, with further injuries and suspensions to contend with?

There's not a single chance Emery or any member of the squad think like some of you, not one. So enjoy how terrifyingly unpredictable it is and how pressure feels at the sharp end. Stop letting it break your back. You can't control it, so just ride along with a bit of starch in your lip.

It doesn’t really matter does it? However they feel about things it’s the results that count and some of these struggles could easily be linked to pressure, who knows. I hope you’re right and it all comes good, but to do that we’re going to have to be better.

What we're trying to achieve is difficult. That's what makes it exciting and worthwhile. Have a bit of belief.

As a country, as a city, as a football club- the ease with which confidence drains at minor setbacks is very frustrating.

[PaulWinch again]

It just looks like a declining trend to me though? And to be honest that’s what it feels like.

Or maybe Spurs at home, West Ham away and Man City away was as tricky a fixture set as we've had since the start if December, with further injuries and suspensions to contend with?

There's not a single chance Emery or any member of the squad think like some of you, not one. So enjoy how terrifyingly unpredictable it is and how pressure feels at the sharp end. Stop letting it break your back. You can't control it, so just ride along with a bit of starch in your lip.

It doesn’t really matter does it? However they feel about things it’s the results that count and some of these struggles could easily be linked to pressure, who knows. I hope you’re right and it all comes good, but to do that we’re going to have to be better.

What we're trying to achieve is difficult. That's what makes it exciting and worthwhile. Have a bit of belief.

As a country, as a city, as a football club- the ease with which confidence drains at minor setbacks is very frustrating.

With the greatest respect mate, like probably all of us on here we’ve been supporting Villa for years/decades and we wouldn’t be here if we were quick to quit or didn’t believe in the club. This is a very good period, and there have been dark times in the recent past. I am very happy with where we are overall but I’m really keen we don’t miss the opportunity we’ve made for ourselves - which we are at risk of doing, hopefully the Brentford game is the “circuit breaker” for these lapses.

[Ads]

I see us on the cusp of doing something absolutely incredible. Making history. Something I'll be talking about for decades to come. I have a hard time getting into other peoples mindsets. Pressure is a privilege. Absolutely get the concerns, the churning it over. The who could cover for player X. I've not had a shower for weeks that has not involved multiple computations of results and points- its absolutely brilliant how all consuming this is. It's what I've waited for for 14 years.

[Smithy]

I still think spurs will do well to get more than 9 more points. We could still beat that.

They have 6 points gimmes, and I think they will surprise at least 1 from Arse Citeh Chels Newc Pool.

I’m probably guilty of looking too far for a positive here, but I’d rather play the bottom two before they are relegated. They’ll both likely be down by the time they play spurs, and how often does a recently relegated side have a sudden uptick in form? I don’t think it’s a guaranteed 6 points for them in their last two games (but I’d like to be at least 6 points clear of them by then, obviously)

[andyh]

I dunno about anyone else but I can't wait for the next few games. A European QF, games to get into the CL. Yes please!

I quite agree.
It’s why we love football and what we desperately want for our club.

That said, I went through every single emotion on Saturday against Brentford.
I’m not sure how the blood pressure is going to cope with the next few weeks.


Bring it on and let’s see.

[Lastfootstamper]

To those who feel we should go all out for CL qualification at the expense of winning an actual trophy for the first time in nearly three decades, and of any meaningful European kind in over four, do you think we'll win the CL next season, or is hearing that theme music at VP enough for you?

[Percy McCarthy]

To those who feel we should go all out for CL qualification at the expense of winning an actual trophy for the first time in nearly three decades, and of any meaningful European kind in over four, do you think we'll win the CL next season, or is hearing that theme music at VP enough for you?

I’d like to ask those same people, if they realise that winning that trophy is our best chance of ensuring CL football next season?

Seems to me that lots of people aren’t getting it.