Will we qualify for the CL?

[Sexual Ealing]

Cos Rotterdam is anywhere... which reminds me, Nick Banks, nephew of Gordon, drummer in Pulp - was once asked by an excitable Dutch journalist -
"So were you really born in Rotterdam? That's amazing!".
"No luv - it were Rotherham".

Well I didn't know that.

Me neither. Quite a good fact, I reckon. I am going to wow the attendees next time I'm invited to a dinner party.

Next time I'm planning a miserable butterless feast with refrigerated eggs I'll drop you a line. But I already know the fact, so keep it to yourself. It won't be a conversational occasion anyway. It'll start at 7, you'll be home by half-past.

[cdbearsfan]

Sounds perfect.

[eamonn]

Thought you might go with:

They were dancing with children round their necks
Talking business, books and records, art and sex
All things being considered, you'd call it a success
You wore your black dress

[UK Redsox]

Predictions from some bloke I've never heard of on ESPN

I'd settle for this

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/44290844/premier-league-projections-predictions-title-top-four-relegation-luis-miguel-echegaray

Clinched Champions League for 2025-26
Liverpool (champions), Arsenal (second place), Manchester City (third), Nottingham Forest (fourth), Newcastle United (fifth; also won the Carabao Cup)

Clinched Europa League for 2025-26
Aston Villa (sixth, also won the FA Cup), Chelsea (after winning the Europa Conference), Brighton (clinched extra spot through league position)

Clinched Europa Conference League for 2025-26
Bournemouth (clinched spot through league position, earned place from Newcastle United, who qualified for Champions League via fifth-place finish)

Relegated to English Championship for 2025-26:
Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Southampton

[Drummond]

I'm looking forward to qualifying for the Europa League.


And then the Champions League via our finish in the Premier League at Old Trafford the week after.

[Brazilian Villain]

Predictions from some bloke I've never heard of on ESPN

He's a Peruvian Villa fan who works for ESPN. He's also a big fan of Bad Bunny.

[eye digress]

Following 22-23 (Conference qualification) and 23-24 (Chumps’ qualification, Europa semi), we are entering the business end of the season with more irons in the fire (Chumps’ qualification, FA Cup, Chumps’ quarters) than ever.

Squad health is improving, and we’ve added some genuine star quality.

So although the league form has been poor, we do get to find out this year whether we are able to “grow” into champions.

Noticed Jonathan Wilson in the Graun asking a similar question.

So, while not directly linked to today's PNE game, this is where our shot at greatness starts. Are we up for it?

[ChicagoLion]

Following 22-23 (Conference qualification) and 23-24 (Chumps’ qualification, Europa semi), we are entering the business end of the season with more irons in the fire (Chumps’ qualification, FA Cup, Chumps’ quarters) than ever.

Squad health is improving, and we’ve added some genuine star quality.

So although the league form has been poor, we do get to find out this year whether we are able to “grow” into champions.

Noticed Jonathan Wilson in the Graun asking a similar question.

So, while not directly linked to today's PNE game, this is where our shot at greatness starts. Are we up for it?

I think momentum is everything at this point.
Now is the time to go on a run.

[eamonn]

Baby we were born to run.

[Footy-Vill]

I don’t think can make 3rd. Forest are 9pts ahead and are currently winning 1-0 at home to man utd they only have to play us away and chelsea home as any team in top half.

The last game of season is Chelsea maybe they aren’t going to get dragged into it for the champions league battle and have qualified by then.

I would write them off as a rival now if they win tonight and 3rd place.  though i suppose if we win against them then do get closer to them …

[Smirker]

Predictions from some bloke I've never heard of on ESPN

I'd settle for this

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/44290844/premier-league-projections-predictions-title-top-four-relegation-luis-miguel-echegaray

Clinched Champions League for 2025-26
Liverpool (champions), Arsenal (second place), Manchester City (third), Nottingham Forest (fourth), Newcastle United (fifth; also won the Carabao Cup)

Clinched Europa League for 2025-26
Aston Villa (sixth, also won the FA Cup), Chelsea (after winning the Europa Conference), Brighton (clinched extra spot through league position)

Clinched Europa Conference League for 2025-26
Bournemouth (clinched spot through league position, earned place from Newcastle United, who qualified for Champions League via fifth-place finish)

Relegated to English Championship for 2025-26:
Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Southampton

Luis is a massive Villa fan. He's from Peru, lived in England at school (London) and moved to New York.

He goes to our games and is proper Villa.

[Drummond]

I don’t think can make 3rd. Forest are 9pts ahead and are currently winning 1-0 at home to man utd they only have to play us away and chelsea home as any team in top half.

The last game of season is Chelsea maybe they aren’t going to get dragged into it for the champions league battle and have qualified by then.

I would write them off as a rival now if they win tonight and 3rd place.  though i suppose if we win against them then do get closer to them …

Replying to, and arguing with, yourself again.

[PaulWinch again]

I still think it’s a big ask. We’d probably need to win 7 games given the number of teams involved.

[Pat Mustard]

I think it will go right down to the wire, but we are right in the mix for at least 5th place.  There is a scenario where it could be in our own hands by the end of today (admittedly it requires C115y to drop points at home to Leicester), but either way we just need to keep winning - tonight is absolutely crucial.

[Footy-Vill]

Not only a must win today v Brighton but the other teams around us need to also fail with points

Games of relevance this midweek
above
4th Chelsea v Spurs
5th Man City v Leicester
6th Newcastle v Brentford
below
10th Bournemouth v Ipswich

all our rivals play at home
so it has to be MUST win and 3pts today by all accounts.
Emery will have made this very clear.
if we don’t win and 4th, 5th and 6th win as well as Brighton beating us and Bournemouth winning will go ahead it would be a disasters.