Champions League Contention

[PaulWinch again]

We won't catch the top three. We have to keep in touch with spurs now and beat them when they come to villa park which is far from guaranteed.

Yeah I mean this is about correcting our form to ensure we finish 4th/5th. The form we’re on at the moment will have us finishing 7th/8th.

Yeah, I agree, sadly, I think we've fucked it unless something changes significantly and very quickly.

Regardless of how good performances are, we've fucked it, we're turning in way too many shit results.

Yep, time for good performances with nothing to show for it is gone. It has to be the catalyst for good performances and results. We’ve been a mid table (possibly lower) side for two months odd in terms of our performances/returns. It’s nice we created a bit tonight, but ultimately it’s for nothing and I’ve seen plenty of performances in the past being heralded as an indicator of what’s to come. Then they’ve been followed up with fuck all.

Unai has been brilliant for the club, but this is a real test now. If we fall away I think we’ll have defined what we are. We’ve created an incredible opportunity, we’re at real risk of chucking it away. They have to step up and arrest this slide now.

[Ads]

We haven't had a good performance since last Saturday, which came with a good result. Since then, for me, we haven't had a good performance since Arsenal (given their quality). Brentford was attritional and that's fine, sometimes it is like that. Burnley was Verdun levels of attrition. Sheffield United at home, Newcastle, Chelsea were really poor. Chelsea away and Everton away were hard working but devoid of quality. Middlesbrough was much the same.

I must have missed the other times this season where a good performance hasn't delivered a result. More levels of effort, chance creation as seen today is exactly what's needed to ensure we get back to winning on a regular basis.

[ChicagoLion]

I mean, it still is in our hands. We're effectively 6 points ahead of 6th. Taking my tongue out of my cheek from earlier, I cannot for the life of me fathom how Man United can be so consistently shite everytime I see them, against absolutely anybody, be it Wigan in the Cup, us, whoever the fuck...and be top 6. They have no discernable style other than lump it high and wide to chase; properly basic counter attack. They don't even protect their own goal well, we should have had a hat full. I regularly see others pepper them. And yet. There they are. Very odd.

They have some very good players and it clicks enough times to create results.
It did tonight.

[Ads]

I dont see that as an explanation anymore persuasive than my joking referral to Satanic magic. In fact that seems more compelling.

[ChicagoLion]

I dont see that as an explanation anymore persuasive than my joking referral to Satanic magic. In fact that seems more compelling.

I do not think they were as bad as some are making out, they are a counter attacking team with pace up front which they failed to exploit except when it mattered.

[ez]

We're still five points ahead of man utd. Staying ahead of them should still be achievable, in theory. Getting ahead of spurs and staying there is the issue.

[PaulWinch again]

We're still five points ahead of man utd. Staying ahead of them should still be achievable, in theory. Getting ahead of spurs and staying there is the issue.

They’re both an issue really - winning games is what solves that issue.

[Ads]

I dont see that as an explanation anymore persuasive than my joking referral to Satanic magic. In fact that seems more compelling.

I do not think they were as bad as some are making out, they are a counter attacking team with pace up front which they failed to exploit except when it mattered.

I thought they were dross. Its seems McGuire got MotM and given they didn't protect their goal, it would be as perverse as giving it to Ollie for missing multiple sitters. Not much about Man United makes logical sense. They're always on the box, so it's not just today. Plus you have the persistent whinging of Neville to read about. I cannot believe any other team playing that way, would be as high as they are.

[LeonW]

I dont see that as an explanation anymore persuasive than my joking referral to Satanic magic. In fact that seems more compelling.

I do not think they were as bad as some are making out, they are a counter attacking team with pace up front which they failed to exploit except when it mattered.

I thought they were dross. Its seems McGuire got MotM and given they didn't protect their goal, it would be as perverse as giving it to Ollie for missing multiple sitters. Not much about Man United makes logical sense. They're always on the box, so it's not just today. Plus you have the persistent whinging of Neville to read about. I cannot believe any other team playing that way, would be as high as they are.

Bizarre decision. The XG in the game was Villa 2.68 and them 1.99. Must have been Southgate making that decision.

[Rory]

I dont see that as an explanation anymore persuasive than my joking referral to Satanic magic. In fact that seems more compelling.

With the added advantage that you quoted Paulie Walnuts at the seance.

Generally (so the following isn't a response to anything you've said, Ads) if we go on to finish any lower than fifth, it'll be a balls-up, and everybody should be scrutinised, including Unai.

I'm not going along with the 'if we don't make CL this season, we're done' narrative, because that's what I hated about the Lerner era. We should not be basing our whole approach on some kind of smash-and-grab.

Unlike 2005-10, there are already more competitive clubs than there are CL places, and if we want to be part of that then it takes a longer-term vision, and a firmer commitment than hoping we have one great season then stay there by default.

I don't think our owners are that naive.

If we're serious about becoming challengers, we pull ourselves together and do our best to win the Conference League and finish as high as we can in the league, then regroup and see what moves we can make in the summer.

How strongly we finish will dictate those moves.

If the entirety of our plans were predicated on us getting CL next season then, frankly, it was built on sand the whole time.

[Drummond]

I got criticised for saying today was pivotal.

It was. I have no idea how anyone could say otherwise.

Really? They are still 5 points behind us. There's a point between us and Spuds.

We have Digne returning, Ramsey coming into form, Moreno getting better, Torres almost ready and Konsa to return too.

We played really well yesterday and we absolutely hammered Sheffield United last weekend.

[OCD]

That was a cup final for Man United. Lose and CL is no longer on the table. Win and they're in the mix with momentum. Even with them up for it as much they were, we were by far the better team and on another day, we take our chances and win convincingly. They're still not a good side. There will be other games that aren't cup finals, when they're not up for it as much and they'll get exposed.

[chrisw1]

I kind of agree Drummond.  The game was huge, but at least we lost playing well.  I still think they'll catch us, but the performance has given me hope we can go on a bit of a run.  If it had been a repeat of a Chelsea / Newcastle performance we'd be in real trouble.

Kamara injury is another kick in the nuts though.

[Drummond]

I mean, it still is in our hands. We're effectively 6 points ahead of 6th. Taking my tongue out of my cheek from earlier, I cannot for the life of me fathom how Man United can be so consistently shite everytime I see them, against absolutely anybody, be it Wigan in the Cup, us, whoever the fuck...and be top 6. They have no discernable style other than lump it high and wide to chase; properly basic counter attack. They don't even protect their own goal well, we should have had a hat full. I regularly see others pepper them. And yet. There they are. Very odd.

That was their first away win at a Top 8 side in 2 years or something. They beat the teams below them regularly, because they have some players that are really good and can turn matches on their own.

We have had a sticky patch no doubt, but it's on the back of beating the likes of ManC and Arse.

We will hit form again soon.

[Demitri_C]

I got criticised for saying today was pivotal.

It was. I have no idea how anyone could say otherwise.

Really? They are still 5 points behind us. There's a point between us and Spuds.

We have Digne returning, Ramsey coming into form, Moreno getting better, Torres almost ready and Konsa to return too.

We played really well yesterday and we absolutely hammered Sheffield United last weekend.

11 points would have killed their hopes now its down to 5 which is absolutely nothing.

It was a disastrous result for us im afraid 😨