Champions League Contention

[OCD]

I think that would mean the 3 home games and Sheffield United away. Fulham away I can see being difficult but if we fail to win one of those others, then we would need to win that one too.

[Percy McCarthy]

If we can win 9 and draw a couple of our last 17 games then that's 72 points which would have got us 3rd or 4th for the last 5 seasons.

Take 10 points from the next 5 and I think it's on.

Newcastle (h)
Sheff Utd (a)
Man Utd (h)
Fulham (a)
Forest (h)

In my own mind we really have a point to prove with all those fixtures apart from Fulham. The corresponding fixtures last season were some of the most disappointing results we had.

I'm not sure if Emery lingers on past results, I suspect he just focuses on winning regardless. I'm hoping the players have a little more Motivation to put that right.

We beat Man Utd, Forest and Newcastle, and didn’t play Sheff Utd, but they were disappointing results?

Conversely, we lost to Fulham in a terrible display that got Gerrard (at last!) but that’s the one you think we haven’t got a point to prove!

Have you wandered over from SHA?

Apologies I meant last year not last season. Probably corresponding isint the right term, reverse fixtures was what I was looking for.

Ah gotcha. Yeah should have worked it out myself now I look again. Wasn’t thinking about how bad those results were this season.

[Footy-Vill]

I believe this might be the golden period of clean sheets and a return to defensive solidarity for 2024 and the push for thr strong showing to the second half of the season
It's been encouraging so far this year with 3 games and with no goals conceded.(Granted two FA cup)
To be in title contention, we must improve the goal conceded ratio.
Clubs don't win the league if concede more than one goal per game.
I think this has been an area that has been looked at to improve and Emery has said us of not to be surrendering goals and villa are not.

This season, two fantastic wins came by 1-0, both against Manchester City and Arsenal. They were different displays but took a lot out of the players as much as it gave them belief.

The winter break came just right time because it was evident to me that the players were both mentally and physically fatigued from Emery's demands, which, although important so as to maintaining a top level and being among the top four contenders, meant that the players were in desperate need of rest and relaxation.

I believe the February matchups are fairly favourable, and we could be looking at further progressive performances that will put us in a strong position come March.
Certainly, there is ongoing excitement, and now the players have been refreshed and get back to implement Emery's instructions, with renewed energy . We can all expect Emery will expect of them and the ask to be continuing to be demanding to challenge as a contender.
 
Following Villa is so much fun, and it's a thrill to see how good we are at football, and I'm hopeful that the second half of the season will offer us with more joyful memories and moments in the League, the FA Cup and European Conference.

[Toronto Villa]

We can kiss this goodbye

[Footy-Vill]

The defending isn't up to required standard and ist deflating  tonight from what I thought was a period back to defensive stability.

[ChicagoLion]

Close the thread.

[Footy-Vill]

Close the thread.

Not at all . Do nothing of the such I amended thread heading dropping mention of the 'T'. 
Things are  particularly raw of course after disappointment Vs Newcastle however we are no way out of the top 4 and 5 contention and a win would have see us two points behind Liverpool for 1st place

It's each to ones own choosing if want to discuss. Plenty of twists and turns to come.
All playing at home tomorrow Man City , Spurs ,Liverpool but I suspect they won't all win.

And it's Arsenal v Liverpool on Sunday  when it's  Sheffield United Villa the day before.

1 Liverpool P21 48pts
2 Arsenal Pl 22 46 pts
3 Man City Pl 20 43 pts
4 Villa Pl 22 43 pts
5 Spurs Pl 21  40pts

[ChicagoLion]

We have been no where near the form of the previous period for weeks now.
Maybe down to injuries, but a CL team does not come away from Old Trafford at 2 nil up against one of the weakest Manure teams for a decade with nil points.
Unable to beat the bottom of the league team at home and then that performance against a mid table team with even more absentees than us.
It has been a miraculous turnaround since the Gerard period but we have stalled and it’s difficult to see where we go from here.
Our best X1 on form is a match for anyone, but sadly that is not enough.

[PaulWinch again]

Reality is with have some key absences and a number of key players off form. We need to find our way back and scrap a couple of results and build some confidence back up.

[ChicagoLion]

Reality is with have some key absences and a number of key players off form. We need to find our way back and scrap a couple of results and build some confidence back up.

But the reality is that every team has injuries.

[VillaTim]

If we lose to Man Utd at home I can see them finishing above us . We need to get our act together fast

[PaulWinch again]

Reality is with have some key absences and a number of key players off form. We need to find our way back and scrap a couple of results and build some confidence back up.

But the reality is that every team has injuries.

Yep they do, but all the teams around us have squads that can cope better with them.

[Risso]

Is that 1 win in 5 now? Must be our poorest run since Emery arrived.

[PaulWinch again]

Yep it’s a ropey run, and aside from sloppy goals we also have completely lost our attacking zip. I really hope this game is the wake up call and we start to turn it round from here - we really bloody need Pau and Digne back.

[coreyfeldman]

I think it's a fairly inevitable levelling off. Our form and performances were not sustainable and the injuries have finally caught up with us. If we had fully fit mings/Buendia/pau/digne/jj/moreno playing or available who knows where we could be.
Let's see how we cope with this downturn in form but we need to stick with the team and remember that if we'd have said at the start of the season we'd be 4/5 at this stage and this close to the top then we'd be delighted.
Really hoping that bailey can stay fit and that Rogers offers something as zaniolo and diaby look like Sunday league players on current form.

Torres coming back is bigger than any signing now