Will we qualify for the CL?

[Demitri_C]

We need to do what both Forest and Newcastle have done and win five on the bounce to get back in the pack. Doesn't feel likely right now, but not impossible.

Bournemouth are a good side, but we need to be taking them if we have serious aspirations. Man City could resume their collapse/get a points deduction. Need one, probably two, of Forest, Newcastle and Chelsea to have an extended wobble.

First time this season I'm thinking it won't happen this year tbh, even with five. Unless we win the thing obvs.

We wont qualify if we dont strengthen  thats for sure.  But thankfully looks like we will.

I do agree with you we need a run but we have 3 away games (inc the CL one)  we could drift off even further before our next home game

[paul_e]

After that we're up to 35 points from 21 where we need to be aiming for around 70 so we do need a bit of an improvement but we're really not far from where we need to be, either in terms of results/points or in terms of performances. With Malen in and JJ, Mings and Kamara all getting towards full fitness I think there's plenty to be positive about right now, even if it feels disappointing that we didn't get a couple more and really dominate tonight.

[django]

It would be lovely if we could get a couple of comfortable wins but we’re still in the mix for the champions league despite not being at our best. It will involve overhauling two of Chelsea, Forest, Newcastle and Man City though which seems a tough ask.

[Smithy]

It would be lovely if we could get a couple of comfortable wins but we’re still in the mix for the champions league despite not being at our best. It will involve overhauling two of Chelsea, Forest, Newcastle and Man City though which seems a tough ask.

You say "overhauling" like we've got a huge amount of catching up to do.  But there is only 3 points covering Newcastle, Chelsea, Man City and us.  With Forest only 3 points further up despite their ridiculously good run.

At some point, we're going to have a good run and string a decent handful of results together, I'm fairly certain of that.  Until that happens, if we can stay within a single result's points of the Champions League places I'll be happy.

Considering how stuttering our performances have sometimes been this season, it's remarkable really that we're still right in the fight for a Champions League place.

[django]

Yeah to get the points to catch them could just be a couple of games but where it’s difficult is they are currently in better form than us.

It’s still a long way to go though. It’s perfectly possible we could have a stretch of games where we out perform them. It’s not long ago
Newcastle we’re patchy and Isak wasn’t in the deadly form he’s now in.

[Demitri_C]

2 points off the mighty  chelsea.

We are certainly keeping these sides on their toes. We need a forest implosion. If that happens we have a gfrat chance. As i think arsenal liverpool city (unless they get a points deduction) and Newcastle  are pretty much bankers for top 4

[Dante Lavelli]

I don’t think we’d be far away if we won the home games in the six-pointers versus Forest, Chelsea and Newcastle.

[Dave]

I don’t think we’d be far away if we won the home games in the six-pointers versus Forest, Chelsea and Newcastle.

Bournemouth and Forest are the two real pissers for me.

[pauliewalnuts]

We clearly see ourselves as having had a spell of playing really poorly, but even given that, in all competitions, the last 10 games, we're W7 D1 L2, which is pretty impressive.

Good sides manage to still pick up points whilst playing badly. Remember how Ferguson's Man United would do that for long periods of time.

If we can pick up a couple more improvements this window, and start to put together more form, we're well set.

[TaxDodger]

I think we’ll be good for Europe, but top 5 is looking very tough. Call me Mr Pessimistic but we’re probably going to be 9 points behind Forest, 6 behind Newcastle and 5 behind Chelsea after the weekend.

[pauliewalnuts]

We'll be in the CL next season as defending champions.

[AV82EC]

I’m becoming more positive as we’ve trundled through the last couple of months, we’re not playing brilliantly but we’re doing well enough for 5th imv. We’re in the mix that’s all you can ask and doing that with Champions League as well is certainly better than some other clubs we could mention last season.

[Chap]

We'll be in the CL next season as defending champions.

my thoughts as well. Just got a feeling😁

[ChicagoLion]

I think we’ll be good for Europe, but top 5 is looking very tough. Call me Mr Pessimistic but we’re probably going to be 9 points behind Forest, 6 behind Newcastle and 5 behind Chelsea after the weekend.

Agree, we have to go on a long run of winning games, and I just don’t see it. Here is our next 6.
Arse A
Wham H
Wolves A
Ipswich H
Chelsea H
Palace A
+ 2 CL games and 1 FA cup we have a game every 4 days so it’s imperative that we avoid the play off round which would add another 2 games.
We just do not have the strength in depth to cope with that.

[Demitri_C]

Yep i agree. If we beat monaco then we should be good for qualifying automatically if we avoid defeat vs Celtic