Will we qualify for the CL?

[Dave]

Of course, but no one is saying that form shouldn’t have dropped off are they?

 I’ve said this before, but I think with everyone fit “par” would be competing for the last Champions League spot. In reality, when everyone was fit we were over performing and that put us in the title race. Since the 3 midfield injuries occurred I think we’ve fallen off more than we should - the remaining squad is probably mid-table, but our form is bottom 3. Fortunately, because we were so good earlier the position remains salvageable and we could net out slightly above par and get a Champions League spot (via the league). But the contingency we built up is pretty much gone, so we need to stop being rubbish like we have been of late.

I also think that we're not as bad now as five defeats in our last nine suggest, but also we weren't as good as a dozen wins in a row suggested either.

There wasn't a big difference in the performance in losing 1-0 to Brentford and winning 1-0 against Wolves. All the way through that run - Leeds, Chelsea, Brighton, West Ham, Man Utd, it would have just take a bit of the run of the green to go against us and we could easily have lost any of them. Likewise, it would only have taken the ball to bounce slightly differently and we'd have won half a dozen others that we drew / lost.

I'd say that the one outstanding performance of the season was the 1-0 against Man City, the win against Arsenal was very good, and most of the others we've either had something go our way or something go against us. We've rarely been really bad and we've rarely been really good, even at the height of our good or bad runs.

[olaftab]

We are imploding like Forest did last season. I remember chap on radio, I think Goldstein it was, said when we were second and winning every game Villa will fall away and finish sixth. Sadly we are on the way to proving those who doubted us absolutely right.

Did he predict our midfield being destroyed or was he just being an arse?

The latter and that's why it more annoying that it is coming to be. 

[Steve67]

Just had a look at Chelsea’s remaining fixtures. They have a difficult run in. If top five is still a thing, we stand a chance.

[PaulWinch again]

Just had a look at Chelsea’s remaining fixtures. They have a difficult run in. If top five is still a thing, we stand a chance.

We do, if we start playing better and winning. If we continue to play like we have done we won’t do it. This slump has gone on long enough, time to snap out of it.

[DB]

Just had a look at Chelsea’s remaining fixtures. They have a difficult run in. If top five is still a thing, we stand a chance.

James out with a pulled hammy, quality player for them.

[Percy McCarthy]

Just had a look at Chelsea’s remaining fixtures. They have a difficult run in. If top five is still a thing, we stand a chance.

James out with a pulled hammy, quality player for them.

Came here to post that. Should have been a double with a points deduction, but you can’t have everything.

[LeeS]

I don’t look at the fixtures and get any comfort. There are no easy games in this division. Especially not at the moment. We might win 4 on the bounce and we might lose all 4 too. If we continue to play the way we are it’s more likely the latter.

[Drummond]

Yes, McGinn is back and Tielemans on the way.

[TheToffnar]

Just had a look at Chelsea’s remaining fixtures. They have a difficult run in. If top five is still a thing, we stand a chance.

James out with a pulled hammy, quality player for them.

Came here to post that. Should have been a double with a points deduction, but you can’t have everything.

Chalobah out for at least a few weeks also.

[Monty]

Just had a look at Chelsea’s remaining fixtures. They have a difficult run in. If top five is still a thing, we stand a chance.

James out with a pulled hammy, quality player for them.

Came here to post that. Should have been a double with a points deduction, but you can’t have everything.

True, it's not like we're in a proper, transparent country with commitment to upholding the rules and a willingness to punish everybody equally, as the rich and powerful aren't better than anybody in the eyes of the law. You know, famously clean and incorruptible countries who'll dock their big clubs points for transfer infractions. Like Italy.