Champions League Contention

[PeterWithesShin]

Inspiring from Ange

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c51n5nz05pro

[Toronto Villa]

It would be great to get it done this weekend. Because we need 1000% focus next Thursday on turning around the game in Greece.

[KRS]

It’s pretty much out of our hands to get it done this weekend…if we beat Brighton then Liverpool still need to do the business against Spurs. Even if both Villa and Spurs draw then that equates to 3pts off the “magic number” of 6, so would just need 1x Villa win or 1x Spurs defeat out of the remaining games to push the CL spot over the line.

[Villafirst]

I think Liverpool will beat Spurs on Sunday - they will have a point to prove at Anfield after a poor run of results. Villa desperately need Martinez and Tielemans back - hopefully they overcome fitness issues, and certainly Pau Torres needs to start. Also, Zaniolo should be ready.

[Lsvilla]

Inspiring from Ange

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c51n5nz05pro

Straight from the Stevie Me handbook - comments like "it's on me" and "hard work mate".

[Demitri_C]

That two week break really hasnt helped spurs. Hopefully the scousers still want to put a performance in after how they got screwed at spurs earlier this season

[rob_bridge]

It would be great to get it done this weekend. Because we need 1000% focus next Thursday on turning around the game in Greece.

I think we win v Brighton it is as good as over. Spurs had a good run at start of season but since then not put 4 performances together

[ChicagoLion]

It’s pretty much out of our hands to get it done this weekend…if we beat Brighton then Liverpool still need to do the business against Spurs. Even if both Villa and Spurs draw then that equates to 3pts off the “magic number” of 6, so would just need 1x Villa win or 1x Spurs defeat out of the remaining games to push the CL spot over the line.

If we beat Brighton, then Spurs need to win their last 4 games or win 3 and draw 1 whilst turning over an 8 goal deficit. That is assuming we don’t pick up any points against Pool or Palace.
They have won 3 from their last 7 and just lost 3 on the bounce.
Not happening.

[colin69]

I think we will get 4th spot now, and what a season that will be if it happens.

[IFWaters]

If through whatever combo of results we can get 4th by close of play Sunday and get Emi back I think we will get through in Athens.

[Nii Lamptey]

We're a bit of a bogey side for Brighton, but after the run they're on, you know what happens next!

Realistically, if we go on form, Champions League qualification should be secured before we tuck ourselves into bed on Sunday evening. I'm more interested in next Thursday tbh....

I think pulling off a result out in Greece depends on ONE thing - Having Tielemans fit. Our midfield without either him or Kamara just does not work. No surprise our best midfield performances in recent times were against Arsenal and Bournemouth (*this one without Dougie too).

[ChicagoLion]

If through whatever combo of results we can get 4th by close of play Sunday and get Emi back I think we will get through in Athens.

And score first and early.

[Footy-Vill]

We do need a Brighton pre discussion thread would someone be so kind to start that.

[Dave]

It really is starting to look like an absolutely terrible end to the season for Spurs. They’ve collapsed entirely in recent weeks, and it’s going wrong all over the pitch. Having gone 39 games without failing to score in a Premier League game, they have now been effortlessly shut out in three of their last four away games by Fulham, Newcastle and Chelsea. These are not teams with conspicuously good defences. All have shipped 50-something goals this season. All have, somehow, conceded more goals than Spurs.

And yet all have been able to shut Spurs down with indecent ease in quick succession. It’s now just a single goal and a single point on the road for Postecoglou’s side in four game since so spectacularly dismantling Aston Villa in March.

Back then, it really did look like advantage Spurs in the race for fourth. The Sky commentators were even tonight still pretending that Spurs had Champions League ambitions and would need a win to boost said ambitions here. Adorable, really. No Spurs fan is still looking up at Villa after their recent efforts; they are all looking down at Newcastle, Manchester United and now also Chelsea with a rising and familiar feeling of nausea.

None of the three teams below them should be giving it up just yet, not on this and other recent evidence.

If you wanted an example of Spurs’ current confusion and uncertainty, you didn’t have to look far. They could be seen all over the pitch, from the ramshackle attempts at defending set-pieces to the desperate lack of imagination in the final third against Chelsea’s own rejigged and makeshift defence.

But the clearest one of all was the sight of a team that has worn white shorts all season deciding to chuck on some blue ones to play against a team in blue. Such a profoundly nonserious football club that even wearing their traditional colours becomes an act of unfathomable idiocy.

[Footy-Vill]

The majority of the season and Emery's tenure has seen the club be a top four performer. Villa have show some of the best team and player performances at Villa Park in Premier League history.
The levels have at times been among the finest in the last 150 years, both at home and away.

What Emery and Villa are doing is joy and I'm so thrilled, and there may be times when things have been difficult and performance struggles, but the bigger picture is that on the cusp of officially saying Champions League football is coming to Villa Park!!