Will we qualify for the CL?

[Dave]

Definitely not in the top four.

If the second half of the season is any better than the first half, then we'll finish fifth.

If it isn't, we won't.

[Beard82]

Can’t see it - Byern aside - we don’t look capable of beating the clubs in the top 8. 

We weakened our squad in the summer, and have a few key players out of form, combined with a gifting goals every game.  That’s not a recipe for 4th.

Duran has covered a lot of sins for the club.  I think we’ll improve but we a shadow of the team we were last season. 

[ozzjim]

Not a chance. We need to finish 5th, 6th or 9th this season. We don't need conference league next season.

[Villan82]

In Emery's first 18 months-two years the mentality was so strong. We saw out so many games with a one goal winning margin. Villa Park was an absolute fortress this time 12 months ago. Not so much now.

I am a bit shocked at how fragile we have looked since the Bournemouth game. If we don't sort that it's looking like we will struggle for the top 7 never mind top 4.

We have had some very disappointing results against teams we should be beating.

[Rudy65]

8th

[Bobby Boy]

8th

Yeah, I'd say that sounds about right.

[Dante Lavelli]

I suppose on the positive side, we were running on empty at the end of last season whereas we should have more depth this time. Just need to get more players back to form. 

I still think we will fall short but Europa League would still be a good season. The conference league looks so weak it it could be a hinderance.

[MillerBall]

I  don't think the squad is remotely strong enough to win a top 4th or 5th place in the Premiership this season. Emery has worked wonders with the players he has but they have now " hit the wall."
This is a special season with us having Champions League football but the extra games are taking their toll and our slower paced; try and conserve energy football until currently working.
All is not lost and we make get Eùropa League football next season (not at Champions League ticket prices please), but we need to make the most of this seasons Champions League whilst we are in it.

[SaddVillan]

The Prem this season seems like a Pass the Parcel.

Everybody keeps winning and losing, going up a few places and then down again (or vice versa) and when the music pauses everybody has swapped places.

It's really difficult to say who will end up where when the music finally stops on May 25th next year.

Just hope we're in one of the winning positions.

As long as we are, then all will be forgiven?

[Beard82]

I suppose on the positive side, we were running on empty at the end of last season whereas we should have more depth this time. Just need to get more players back to form. 

I still think we will fall short but Europa League would still be a good season. The conference league looks so weak it it could be a hinderance.

But we don’t have more depth?  We look knackered now - and this time last season we were flying

[SaddVillan]

I think this season has shown how much we need to improve our ability to manage games   - run the clock down and "rest in possession" as Unai says.

One thing we're definitely struggling with is is the passive refereeing in the Prem compared to the almost non-contact approach in the ECL. It would be interesting to see how many times we get "fouled" in the Prem after an ECL game  - are the players forgetting to recalibrate the physicality that's allowed domestically and suffering as a result?

If yesterday's game had been to the same standard as Wednesday's; we'd definitely have had a penalty and their winner would have been disallowed for the foul on Cash.

[cdbearsfan]

Not a chance. We need to finish 5th, 6th or 9th this season. We don't need conference league next season.

Why? We did alright last time we were in it. It's probably our most realistic chance of winning a trophy before I die.

[Olneythelonely]

We have a very small chance if England gets the extra place. I think we’ll finish about 8th though.

[Jon Crofts]

I'd rather we chased a competition we can actually win, League Cup, FA Cup or one of the Europa's, we've absolutely zero chance of winning the UCL, it's just pure vanity.

[cdbearsfan]

Nonsense. Any Premier League side that qualifies has a chance.