Will we qualify for the CL?

[Tony Daleys Shorts]

Hopefully with the midfield balance now looking how we’d all like it we’ll see an up turn in performances.

Be fantastic if we can do last season in reverse, and go on a great run second half of the season. Should that happen 4th is not just possible but probable.

[Demitri_C]

Hopefully with the midfield balance now looking how we’d all like it we’ll see an up turn in performances.

Be fantastic if we can do last season in reverse, and go on a great run second half of the season. Should that happen 4th is not just possible but probable.

If that happened we will comfortably be finishing in top four

[VillaTim]

Could do with Forest falling away , their next 3 games look very winnable

[Rigadon]

If we could consistently reach the heights of yesterday performance, I'd back us to have a good go at winning the bloody thing.

[ChicagoLion]

Is everyone who convinced themselves after Forest that we're definitely finishing somewhere between 7th and 10th still sure that top five is impossible?

After yesterday? No. We were that good. Do I think we will definitely achieve it? No.
But that was the first time I have seen us play like the Winter of 2023 vintage.
One thought I had as the game continued, was who can we bring on without weakening the team?

Watkins, Bailey, Mings, Ramsey, Maatsen.

And in the right circumstances Barkley, Carlos and Buendia.

Watkins not as good as Duran, Ramsey not for 2 seasons now, Carlos is at best unconvincing, last seasons Bailey yes this seasons no. Buendia nope. Mings to see out a game yes , Barkley no where near that Midfield.
Maatsen can do a job but there is a reason why he isn’t starting.
So my point is that it’s difficult to see how we don’t weaken the team from the bench.

[garyellis]

Top three we probably will not be able to catch
Forest and Bournemouth we will finish above so it is what’s below us that will be key
Our match day squad yesterday can do it but it will depend how the rest can step up plus a couple of well thought out reinforcements next month.

[AV82EC]

Yes

[PaulWinch again]

If we could consistently reach the heights of yesterday performance, I'd back us to have a good go at winning the bloody thing.

Indeed, that has to be the watermark (accepting there will be tactical tweaks here and there)

[Olneythelonely]

Is everyone who convinced themselves after Forest that we're definitely finishing somewhere between 7th and 10th still sure that top five is impossible?

After yesterday? No. We were that good. Do I think we will definitely achieve it? No.
But that was the first time I have seen us play like the Winter of 2023 vintage.
One thought I had as the game continued, was who can we bring on without weakening the team?

Watkins, Bailey, Mings, Ramsey, Maatsen.

And in the right circumstances Barkley, Carlos and Buendia.

Watkins not as good as Duran, Ramsey not for 2 seasons now, Carlos is at best unconvincing, last seasons Bailey yes this seasons no. Buendia nope. Mings to see out a game yes , Barkley no where near that Midfield.
Maatsen can do a job but there is a reason why he isn’t starting.
So my point is that it’s difficult to see how we don’t weaken the team from the bench.

Now name any team in the world that wouldn’t be weakened by playing their less good players.

[Demitri_C]

Is everyone who convinced themselves after Forest that we're definitely finishing somewhere between 7th and 10th still sure that top five is impossible?

After yesterday? No. We were that good. Do I think we will definitely achieve it? No.
But that was the first time I have seen us play like the Winter of 2023 vintage.
One thought I had as the game continued, was who can we bring on without weakening the team?

Watkins, Bailey, Mings, Ramsey, Maatsen.

And in the right circumstances Barkley, Carlos and Buendia.

Watkins not as good as Duran, Ramsey not for 2 seasons now, Carlos is at best unconvincing, last seasons Bailey yes this seasons no. Buendia nope. Mings to see out a game yes , Barkley no where near that Midfield.
Maatsen can do a job but there is a reason why he isn’t starting.
So my point is that it’s difficult to see how we don’t weaken the team from the bench.

Now name any team in the world that wouldn’t be weakened by playing their less good players.

Easy liverpool. They can play non 1st teamers or as you say "less good players" and still batter most teams in the league

[Olneythelonely]

You don’t think bringing Nunez on for Diaz weakens them? Or playing Gomez instead of Konaté?

[Dave]

Or Chiesa for Salah

[Demitri_C]

You don’t think bringing Nunez on for Diaz weakens them? Or playing Gomez instead of Konaté?

Gomez has played alot recently  since  konates injury and they have still won their games. Nunez maybe not but what about jota? Id say he does.

[Somniloquism]

Or Chiesa for Salah

Yep, I would argue you only take Salah out of that side and Liverpool are massively weakened. He is responsible for 2/3rds of their goals this season and those are the ones credited. Some like saves or blocked shots that someone else finishes doesn't get the assist attributed.

[Olneythelonely]

You’d say he does what? Weakens them? Yeah, me too. Not massively, because he’s really good, but he obviously does, otherwise he’d start the games instead. Presumably.

The question wasn’t whether our subs can win games, it was whether they’re weaker than our starting XI. Of course. But that’s true at every club.