Will we qualify for the CL?

[dave.woodhall]

Manchester City,  Bournemouth,  Palace, Forest, Ipswich. Shit happens.

[Meanwood Villa]

Every team has the coulda, woulda, shoulda over a season. Although saying it doesn't mean I'm not turning over those near misses in my own head. Chelsea win at Fulham is another that pisses me off.

Nowt to be done about it now, on we go to win at the Temple of Doom and see where it gets us.

[andyh]

Desperately hoping for a Forest win on Sunday. We need them massively pumped up for their last home game of the season.

[Villan82]

The big 'what if' for me is 'what if Liverpool hadn't been on the beach when they played Chelsea.

[London Villan]

Or had been on the beach when we should have played them…

[PaulWinch again]

If we get 69 points I’m pretty relaxed - obviously desperate for us to get top 5, but if we do that and don’t we’ll have done a hell of a job. Yes there are games where we should have picked up more points, but there are probably some where we got more than we deserved. All teams have that - ultimately we’ve pushed right to the end, whilst having a deep Champions League and FA Cup run. It’s some effort.

[Villan82]

Am I right in thinking we are almost guaranteed a minimum of 6th now?

As in, if Chelsea do beat Forest then Forest can't catch us. But if Forest beat Chelsea (and they get a win today) we can both get top 5 ahead of Chelsea (provided we at least get a point at Old Trafford)?

[Meanwood Villa]

Am I right in thinking we are almost guaranteed a minimum of 6th now?

As in, if Chelsea do beat Forest then Forest can't catch us. But if Forest beat Chelsea (and they get a win today) we can both get top 5 ahead of Chelsea (provided we at least get a point at Old Trafford)?

Hadn't thought of this. Point guarantees 6th. Or Forest losing tomorrow. Citeh winning cup guarantees Europa.

[Villan82]

Am I right in thinking we are almost guaranteed a minimum of 6th now?

As in, if Chelsea do beat Forest then Forest can't catch us. But if Forest beat Chelsea (and they get a win today) we can both get top 5 ahead of Chelsea (provided we at least get a point at Old Trafford)?

Hadn't thought of this. Point guarantees 6th. Or Forest losing tomorrow. Citeh winning cup guarantees Europa.

I don't think I can recall an end of season with so many permutations.

It's just such a shame the financial gulf between the Europa League and the Champions League is so vast. I mean the team in 5th and the team in 6th may be separated by goal difference but one will win so much more financially.

[ozzjim]

They will, but I'm quite relaxed about it. I think we're going to break 70 next season and 2-3 of the sides with Europe will struggle. Newcastle back in CL, Man U won't cope with CL and prem well, Chelsea I think will be very up and down. Forest after Europe could struggle too. Europa might give us a good chance at rotation, rest and a real crack at top 3.

[Smithy]

Am I right in thinking we are almost guaranteed a minimum of 6th now?

As in, if Chelsea do beat Forest then Forest can't catch us. But if Forest beat Chelsea (and they get a win today) we can both get top 5 ahead of Chelsea (provided we at least get a point at Old Trafford)?

We can still finish 7th if we lose on the last day and Forest get a win and a draw in their last 2.  Draw on the last day and Forest would need two wins to go ahead of us, but our draw would put us above Chelsea and in 6th, unless we win against United (then we'd be 5th).

Technically, everyone from Arsenal down is still potentially catchable on the last day (Man City and Newcastle could lose their last 2), so we have a LOT of permutations that can get us into the top 5, but unfortunately, they ALL rely on us winning at Old Trafford and at least one BIG result against the odds for one of Everton, Southampton, Forest, Bournemouth and/or Fulham.

Assuming we win at Old Trafford, we need:

The loser of Arsenal v Newcastle on Sunday to ALSO lose against either Everton or Southamton (a draw on the final day would be enough for Arsenal, but Newcastle would need a win if they draw with Arsenal).  The winner of Arsenal v Newcastle on Sunday would be uncatchable.
Man City to lose to EITHER of Bournemouth or Fulham (Man City need 4 points from 6 to be uncatchable, so a draw against Bournemouth still keeps it in their own hands, a loss and it's in ours)
Chelsea to lose or draw to Forest

We only need one of those to go our way, and though on paper, the Champions League chasers will be hot favourites in every game, you never know?  Let's just make sure we win, and then hope one of the other teams can do us a favour!

"I'm a believer mate."

[LeeS]

That last minute goal at Citeh is now looking season defining

It wasn’t the Man City goal for me.

It was the poor game management at the end of the Bournemouth home game, when we had the thing won and instead of managing the game we just kept booting the ball up the pitch and giving away cheap free kicks and chances till they scored.

That was gutting. But it was also ages ago. Every single thing that has happened in every match played in the world since would be different if that moment had been different. So it’s a bit too remote to take the blame for me.

[Somniloquism]

The big 'what if' for me is 'what if Liverpool hadn't been on the beach when they played Chelsea.

Same here.

[LeeS]

The big 'what if' for me is 'what if Liverpool hadn't been on the beach when they played Chelsea.

Same here.

That’s more like it

[Somniloquism]

We are two points behind at the minute, so we could surpass it if we beat Man U.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with hitting 69 points and not getting Champions League because other teams have done better, it’s a respectable tally that would have got it in many seasons.

I just really regret a silly goal that we brought on ourselves knowing how valuable those two points would be now.

Weirdly only 50/50 the last 10 seasons. One time we would have been 7th, another time 3rd.