Will we qualify for the CL?

[brontebilly]

I can't see Arsenal, ManC and Chelsea failing to be top 5 which leaves two spots for the chasing pack. We're well in that mix but I do think we need to stop giving away silly freekicks, and create more clear chances consistently.

I'm not that sure about Man City. Saw a bit of them v Newcastle. They are very easy to play against these days. Haaland doing a lot of heavy lifting there.

Good opportunity for us this season for sure. But the form of Watkins and Martinez needs to improve.

[PeterWithesShin]

They've lost 2 in the last 15 in all comps, away to us and Newcastle and neither of us are mugs. I can't realistically see them finishing 6th or lower.

[Rigadon]

Unless Haaland gets injured.  But even then it’d be a massive shock.  Surely Liverpool won’t be shit for much longer? 

[cdbearsfan]

Man City always have a wobble then absolutely twat everyone in the closing stages.

Last November they drew with Feyenoord, lost to Bournemouth and Brighton and were thrashed by Tottenham and Sporting. They still made the Champions League relatively comfortably.

They'll be top five this season.

[Dave]

Yeah, if someone is "not that sure" about Man City, I'd be curious which five other teams they are more sure about.

[eamonn]

We've scored the most goals outside the box this season. Unai clearly following Stevie G's tactics of "someone coming up with something special".

Now that Emi and Morgz have perfected the knuckleball free-kick method, if they can teach it to a left footer ie Lucas, we'll be well on our way.

[Drummond]

IMO we have the third best squad in the league. Not the third best 11 if people can grasp it.

I'd say fourth, behind Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea.

I think where we're massively ahead of the game is against those teams that are overperforming - if you look at Palace's squad, I think they've got about 15 players before you start looking at teenagers and elderly stop-gaps.

Assuming they're going to be in the Conference League until very late in the competition and they're seeing four players in teams expected to do well at AFCON, it's hard to see how they'll be putting a team out for the last third of the season.

Brighton and Bournemouth look similarly thin once you get past the core 12-15 or so players.

I think Liverpool were the same last season, they were just extremely lucky with inuries (or the lack of them).

[Baldy]

We've scored the most goals outside the box this season. Unai clearly following Stevie G's tactics of "someone coming up with something special".

Now that Emi and Morgz have perfected the knuckleball free-kick method, if they can teach it to a left footer ie Lucas, we'll be well on our way.

True, for every free kick around the box the oppo goalie wont have a clue where to stand.

[Dave]

We've scored the most goals outside the box this season. Unai clearly following Stevie G's tactics of "someone coming up with something special".

Now that Emi and Morgz have perfected the knuckleball free-kick method, if they can teach it to a left footer ie Lucas, we'll be well on our way.

True, for every free kick around the box the oppo goalie wont have a clue where to stand.

Now that we're about to have a reputation for "Villa score those knuckleball free-kicks", hopefully McPhee is spending the next week or two working out exactly what routine to play if the other team has set their free-kick defence up to expect that.

For example, wouldn't surprise me if Wolves stuck a player on the post if Rogers or Buendia steps up, like in the olden days.