Champions League Contention

[ChicagoLion]

Squad doesn't look tired. We are out of form. Diamonds form under pressure- who wants to play pressure free?

1 out of 3 ain't bad.

Worse than Meatloaf.

[Demitri_C]

Gonna lower my expectations that way i wont be as disappointed.

If they get top four/five after all these injuries it will be a miracle when you see the squads our rivals have and the limited options we have

[Ads]

I'm not expecting a miracle, just expecting us to finish top 5.

[chrisw1]

Twitter post (from Love of Paul McGrath podcast) gives some perspective.  I still think they'll catch us as I'm a Villa fan, but this helps calm the nerves a bit.

After we beat Arsenal 9th Dec United were 8 points behind.

Currently United 5 points behind.

Now if we have been on a crap run since Arsenal and United have only gained 3 points on us and they have been on a hot run then let’s see how the next 14 games go. Over simplistic I know but still factual.

[AV82EC]

I’m with Ads here, top 5 is still possible but we need an uptick in form and to prioritise. It may be we have to keep our approach of “doing enough” in the ECL to stumble through but that will be harder as the opposition gets stronger. The R16 matches are either side of the Spurs game so we know what takes priority so we’ve got to hope for a kind ECL draw so we can play slightly weaker teams. If we get through, the ECL Qtr Final is either side of the Arsenal away game and in general April looks a busy month.

[chrisw1]

I'd guess with the recent injuries we'll rotate as much as we can for Europe.  Disappointing, but it's the modern game.

[Sexual Ealing]

I’m with Ads here, top 5 is still possible but we need an uptick in form and to prioritise. It may be we have to keep our approach of “doing enough” in the ECL to stumble through but that will be harder as the opposition gets stronger. The R16 matches are either side of the Spurs game so we know what takes priority so we’ve got to hope for a kind ECL draw so we can play slightly weaker teams. If we get through, the ECL Qtr Final is either side of the Arsenal away game and in general April looks a busy month.

breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
And we have to play Legia Warsaw
A-fucking-gain.

[AV82EC]

Let’s hope it isn’t the cruellest month.<winky thing>

[garyellis]

Well it could never be clearer what our role is.
We get 110% behind the lads for the remaining matches regardless
Let’s hope Tim and Morgan make the most of any opportunities and we steer clear of any more serious injuries. UTV

[Demitri_C]

I'm not expecting a miracle, just expecting us to finish top 5.

Id say with all things considered winth poor form and injuries that would be a very very good season. I think it will be 6th now though unfortunately as i dont think we have the squad depth

[MplsVilla]

Psychological experiments (Daniel Kahnemann - "Thinking Fast and Slow")have shown that we are unduly influenced by the high, low and most recent event in any experience. It seems bookmakers are psychologists as I think none of them had us higher than 4th even after we beat Man City and Arsenal back to back and now none of them have us lower than 5th after losing to Utd and losing Kamara. They still have us 4 1/2 points ahead of Man Utd so I'm really, really hoping they are right.

[Drummond]

Twitter post (from Love of Paul McGrath podcast) gives some perspective.  I still think they'll catch us as I'm a Villa fan, but this helps calm the nerves a bit.

After we beat Arsenal 9th Dec United were 8 points behind.

Currently United 5 points behind.

Now if we have been on a crap run since Arsenal and United have only gained 3 points on us and they have been on a hot run then let’s see how the next 14 games go. Over simplistic I know but still factual.

They are on a hot streak, and they surely can't sustain it? We outplayed them on Sunday, and I'm feeling more positive about our form over the past couple of games.

It could be tight, and let's hope our injury curse starts to lift soon and we get a relatively clean bill of health to the end of the season.

[achilles]

Realistically I think if we now finish in the top 6 it would have been a good season!

[dorsetvillian]

Sixth is my most positive prediction. Still a great season if we can pull this off.

[Rigadon]

I think 6th would be a disappointment regardless of the shit luck with injuries.  Would playing in the 2nd tier European competition be any better than the 3rd? Maybe, if you really manage your expectations.

It’s quite possible that’s what will happen now we’ve added Kamara to the long term crocked list.  But I’m not going to pretend that it will be anything other than disappointing.