Will we qualify for the CL?

[paul_e]

Right now Forest and Bournemouth are in superb form, it's highly unlikely they'll both keep that up (and I'm not convinced Chelsea won't have a bump as well) so we need to be over our blip. I think that it's huge for us that we're still within touching distance of the top 4 despite having an awful run through late October and November.

[Somniloquism]

Chelsea are lucky that they have five teams so the Prem 1st team are pretty much only playing the 38 games so just one game a week mostly. But they are still relying on Palmer as he has contributed almost half their goal total (17 contributions to 37 scored). Any injury to him and they might slip. But I would be surprised if Forest and Bournemouth keep it up second half.

I'm hoping our lesser tempo at the start of the season means we have the staying power for the second half compared to last year. I'm also hoping Emery's magic works better in odd numbered years as well.

[eamonn]

Saw some comments from Chelsea fans saying that Maresca should drop/substitute Palmer when he's ineffective like at Everton at the weekend.

[PaulWinch again]

Saw some comments from Chelsea fans saying that Maresca should drop/substitute Palmer when he's ineffective like at Everton at the weekend.

Crazy, I genuinely think if he had an injury earlier this season for a couple of months they might well have 8-10 points less. That’s not to say there aren’t other good players there, but whenever I see them play he is the difference maker.

[rob_bridge]

Saw some comments from Chelsea fans saying that Maresca should drop/substitute Palmer when he's ineffective like at Everton at the weekend.

[ChicagoLion]

Saw some comments from Chelsea fans saying that Maresca should drop/substitute Palmer when he's ineffective like at Everton at the weekend.

I guess he could be overplayed, but without him they are quite ordinary.

[Somniloquism]

Saw some comments from Chelsea fans saying that Maresca should drop/substitute Palmer when he's ineffective like at Everton at the weekend.

I guess he could be overplayed, but without him they are quite ordinary.

Well the Everton result pretty much shows that if he was supposedly ineffectual. Although he also created one of Chelsea's better chances from open play that Jackson screwed up.

[Rigadon]

Saw some comments from Chelsea fans saying that Maresca should drop/substitute Palmer when he's ineffective like at Everton at the weekend.

Crazy, I genuinely think if he had an injury earlier this season for a couple of months they might well have 8-10 points less. That’s not to say there aren’t other good players there, but whenever I see them play he is the difference maker.

From what I’ve seen of them, he’s as crucial to them as Grealish used to be for us.  Take him out and I don’t think they're anything like as good. 

[Demitri_C]

If we look at this from a neutral point of view this is a very fascinating season for fight for champions  league. You have sides like forest and Bournemouth really giving it a go to get there. If we wernt villa fans we would say at least its competitive and seeing the likes of villa spurs and manure outside top 7.

[Richard]

More than capable of winning 4 of our next 5 so 12 points would put us back in the mix.

Brighton, Leicester, West Ham home before end of January.

Everton, Arsenal away.

[Demitri_C]

More than capable of winning 4 of our next 5 so 12 points would put us back in the mix.

Brighton, Leicester, West Ham home before end of January.

Everton, Arsenal away.

Arsenal without saka as well which makes a big difference

[Dante Lavelli]

Yeah, Barkley is a solid back up signing.  The problem would be if he was signed as a first choice (the kind of signing the old Villa would've made). 

What makes you say that?  I’ve always guessed a squad player was everyone’s expectations.

[Percy McCarthy]

I honestly think if we reinstate our leader Tyrone and restore him and Bailey to their former glories we are quite capable of putting a CL-qualifying run together. I mean, we’re all feeling pretty down after yesterday’s game and we’ve won four out of our last six games.

If we can re-group and qualify for the RO16 without a play-off, we can concentrate on the league until March. Sadly this will probably mean plenty of minutes for our second string in the cup, but even this can be seen as a positive if one thinks they need them to get up to speed. Maatsen, Ned, Barkley, Buendia, Philogene, Barry etc.

[Demitri_C]

Agree with the bailey point especially  percy.  If we had the bailey from last season here we would be alot higher in the league.

Not sure whats gone wrong  for him this season but he as looked really bad for most of the season

[Meanwood Villa]

We're firmly in the hunt and there'll be some ups and downs over the next few months. I'm not that worried about yesterday, I'll be a bit more concerned if we fail to win either of the next two.