Top 4 chance now gone? Europa Thoughts?

[The9]

I reckon Redslo is right there. So top 4 chance not gone. I remember 1984 when we sneaked up on everyone right at the end. Whilst there's a chance.....

 

We know it hasn't gone completely, but 2 months ago we were 3rd and in a much more healthy position.

 

We also haven't won more than 4 matches in a row at any point yet during what is already a very successful season, so we'd have to hit unprecedented levels of results. Losing to the likes of Everton and West Brom away (and Swansea at home) has significantly increased the likelihood we'll have to beat Spurs home and Man City away to come top 4, whereas at the end of January it was just about beating the bottom half and levelling out results against the rest.

[The9]

Don't forget that next year the guys that joined us this year will have had a pre-season, so should hit the ground running. Hopefully we don't lose too many this year. Van ****, Classie, Martins indi in for Clyne, Schneiderlin, Alderweireld plus a fit J-Rod will see us no worse off. But if we lose more (JWP to Citeh for example) it may be asking too much to do it two years in a row.

 

Apart from wondering how much greater our pre-season generally is than all the teams those players already played for (Mane for one already had league matches under his belt when he joined), and how many of the loans will even be here (Djuricic, Elia, Alderweireld), our pre-season this pre-season might end in July due to Europa League qualifiers, which doesn't exactly suggest we'll be better off than in previous years.

 

As for Ward-Prowse to City, I'd take their arm off if they offered £10m.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

And before the last match we were 2 points nearer 2nd than we were 8th. Swings and roundabouts.

 

Yep but the number of games left this season decreases and the relative impact of any gap becomes far bigger.

[The9]

Here's some Europa League qualification fun from Wikipedia. Each stage shows the teams ADDED to the competition. There are a bunch of notes about Chelsea not playing in EL next season and similar with Belgian and Belarussian sides at the bottom. Worth remembering that even AFTER the Europa League Group stages you still get the 3rd place Champions League group losers parachuting into the competition.

 

First qualifying round (104 teams)

Romania (3rd) Hungary (CW) Finland VPS (4th) Malta (2nd)

Israel (3rd) Hungary (2nd) Iceland KR (CW) Malta (3rd)

Cyprus (2nd) Hungary (3rd) Iceland FH (2nd) Liechtenstein (CW)

Cyprus (3rd) Slovenia (CW) Iceland Víkingur Reykjavík (4th) Northern Ireland (CW)

Denmark (2nd) Slovenia (2nd) Latvia (CW) Northern Ireland (2nd)

Denmark (3rd) Slovenia (3rd) Latvia Skonto (2nd) Northern Ireland (3rd)

Croatia (2nd) Slovakia (CW) Latvia Jelgava (3rd) Wales (CW)

Croatia (3rd) Slovakia (2nd) Montenegro (CW) Wales (2nd)

Poland (2nd) Slovakia (3rd) Montenegro (2nd) Wales (P-W)

Poland (3rd) Moldova (CW) Montenegro (3rd) Armenia (CW)

Belarus Dinamo Minsk (2nd)[Note BLR] Moldova (2nd) Albania (CW) Armenia (2nd)

Belarus Shakhtyor Salihorsk (3rd)[Note BLR] Moldova (3rd) Albania (2nd) Armenia (3rd)

Scotland (2nd) Azerbaijan (CW) Albania (3rd) Estonia (CW)

Scotland (3rd) Azerbaijan (2nd) Lithuania (CW) Estonia Sillamäe Kalev (2nd)

Sweden (CW) Azerbaijan (3rd) Lithuania Kruoja Pakruojis (2nd) Estonia Flora Tallinn (3rd)

Sweden IFK Göteborg (2nd) Georgia (country) (CW) Lithuania Atlantas (3rd) Faroe Islands Víkingur Gøta (CW)

Sweden AIK (3rd) Georgia (country) (2nd) Republic of Macedonia (CW) Faroe Islands HB (2nd)

Bulgaria (CW) Georgia (country) (3rd) Republic of Macedonia (2nd) Faroe Islands NSÍ Runavík (4th)

Bulgaria (2nd) Kazakhstan Kairat (CW) Republic of Macedonia (3rd) San Marino (CW)

Bulgaria (3rd) Kazakhstan Aktobe (2nd) Republic of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic (CW) San Marino (2nd)

Norway Rosenborg (2nd) Kazakhstan Ordabasy (4th) Republic of Ireland Cork City (2nd) Andorra (CW)

Norway Odd (3rd) Bosnia and Herzegovina (CW) Republic of Ireland Shamrock Rovers (4th) Andorra (2nd)

Norway Strømsgodset (4th) Bosnia and Herzegovina (2nd) Luxembourg (CW) Gibraltar (CW)

Serbia (CW) Bosnia and Herzegovina (3rd) Luxembourg (2nd) (FP)

Serbia (2nd) Finland SJK (2nd) Luxembourg (3rd) (FP)

Serbia (3rd) Finland Lahti (3rd) Malta (CW) (FP)

 

Second qualifying round - 52 remaining teams from above plus these 14:

Belgium (P-W) Austria (4th) Cyprus (CW) Belarus (CW)

Turkey (4th) Czech Republic (4th) Denmark (CW) Scotland (CW)

Greece (4th) Romania (2nd) Croatia (CW)

Switzerland (4th) Israel (2nd) Poland (CW)

 

Third qualifying round - 33 remaining teams from above plus these 25.

Spain (6th) France (LC) Belgium (3rd) Czech Republic (CW)

England Chelsea (LC)[Note ENG - would be Saints if we come 7th, or 6th if neither Arsenal nor Liverpool wins the FA Cup] Russia (3rd) Turkey (3rd) Czech Republic (3rd)

Germany (6th) Russia (4th) Greece (3rd) Romania (CW)

Italy (5th) Netherlands (3rd) Switzerland (CW) Israel (CW)

Portugal (4th) Netherlands (P-W) Switzerland (3rd)

Portugal (5th) Ukraine (3rd) Austria (CW)

France (4th) Ukraine (4th) Austria (3rd)

 

Play-off round - 29 remaining teams from above plus these 15 Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round losers.

(UCL Q3) (UCL Q3) (UCL Q3) (UCL Q3)

(UCL Q3) (UCL Q3) (UCL Q3) (UCL Q3)

(UCL Q3) (UCL Q3) (UCL Q3) (UCL Q3)

(UCL Q3) (UCL Q3) (UCL Q3)

 

Group stage - 22 remaining teams from above plus these 26 giving the 48 teams in the Europa League Group Stage

Spain (CW) Italy (4th) Turkey (CW) (UCL PO)

Spain (5th) Portugal (CW) Greece (CW) (UCL PO)

England (CW) France (CW) (UCL PO) (UCL PO)

England (5th) Russia (CW) (UCL PO) (UCL PO)

Germany (CW) Netherlands (CW) (UCL PO) (UCL PO)

Germany (5th) Ukraine (CW) (UCL PO)

Italy (CW) Belgium Club Brugge (CW)[Note BEL] (UCL PO)

 

Round of 32 - 24 teams from the Group stages plus 8 Champions League Group 3rd Place teams.

(UCL GS) (UCL GS) (UCL GS) (UCL GS)

(UCL GS) (UCL GS) (UCL GS) (UCL GS)

 

 

Notes

^ Belarus (BLR): Dinamo Minsk will enter the second qualifying round instead of the first qualifying round if they or BATE Borisov win the 2014–15 Belarusian Cup. Shakhtyor Salihorsk will enter the second qualifying round instead of the first qualifying round if they win the 2014–15 Belarusian Cup.

^ Belgium (BEL): Club Brugge have qualified for the 2015–16 European competitions by winning the 2014–15 Belgian Cup. They may still qualify for the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League if they finish in the top two of the 2014–15 Belgian Pro League or by winning the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League.

^ England (ENG): Chelsea have qualified for the 2015–16 European competitions by winning the 2014–15 Football League Cup. They may still qualify for the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League if they finish in the top four of the 2014–15 Premier League. They may also enter the Europa League group stage, depending on their league position and the identity of the winners of the 2014–15 FA Cup.

Edited 9 April, 2015 by The9

[The9]

Note the above shows the Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round losers joining the remaining teams which won through from the Europa League 3rd Qualifying round in the Play Off round. At all stages in EL, if you lose, you're out.

 

So whereas the Champions League PlayOff round (for 4th place in the Prem) includes the kind of sides named above, the Europa League PlayOff round will only have the losers from the CL 3rd Qualifying Round in it. I dare say they'll be seeded somehow too.

[The9]

Yep but the number of games left this season decreases and the relative impact of any gap becomes far bigger.

 

It does, which is why it is fantastic that just one match ago we were much nearer 2nd than 8th.

[Dan Johnson]

Using the following

 

https://www.thesportspredictor.com/#/predictor

 

I had the league looking like this

 

1 Chelsea 38 47 92

2 Arsenal 38 36 80

3 Man City 38 38 78

4 Southampton 38 25 68

5 Man Utd 38 24 68

6 Liverpool 37 12 67

7 Tottenham 38 5 64

8 Swansea 38 -2 56

9 Everton 38 0 51

10 C Palace 38 -3 50

11 West Ham 38 -1 49

12 Stoke 38 -6 48

13 West Brom 38 -19 37

14 Aston Villa 38 -22 37

15 Newcastle 38 -23 35

16 Hull 37 -16 34

17 QPR 38 -23 33

18 Burnley 38 -25 33

19 Sunderland 38 -26 31

20 Leicester 38 -21 30

 

Those predictions including Utd losing away to Hull on the final day of the season (Hull having to win to stay up in my predictions)

 

saints results as follows

 

Hull W

Stoke D

Tottenham W

Sunderland D

Leicester W

Aston Villa W

City D

[syd_barrett_saint]

Using the following

 

https://www.thesportspredictor.com/#/predictor

 

I had the league looking like this

 

1 Chelsea 38 47 92

2 Arsenal 38 36 80

3 Man City 38 38 78

4 Southampton 38 25 68

5 Man Utd 38 24 68

6 Liverpool 37 12 67

7 Tottenham 38 5 64

8 Swansea 38 -2 56

9 Everton 38 0 51

10 C Palace 38 -3 50

11 West Ham 38 -1 49

12 Stoke 38 -6 48

13 West Brom 38 -19 37

14 Aston Villa 38 -22 37

15 Newcastle 38 -23 35

16 Hull 37 -16 34

17 QPR 38 -23 33

18 Burnley 38 -25 33

19 Sunderland 38 -26 31

20 Leicester 38 -21 30

 

Those predictions including Utd losing away to Hull on the final day of the season (Hull having to win to stay up in my predictions)

 

saints results as follows

 

Hull W

Stoke D

Tottenham W

Sunderland D

Leicester W

Aston Villa W

City D

 

Considering their respective form, I find it amazing that you think Utd will get only 6 more points from 7 games, whereas City will somehow turn things around and get another 17 points in the same period. 5 wins and 2 draws for City seems even less likely to me than Saints going undefeated for the rest of this season.

 

Either way, would LOVE to see your predictions come true!

[The9]

I think it's entirely unlikely that Man U will only get 6 more points, and also highly unlikely that any side will make next season's Champions League with only 68. Or 69. One less than 78, though, that's realistic.

 

68 should be a good bet for Europa League and hopefully Group stages though...

[simo]

Watching Athletic Bilbao V's Valencia and they were saying how Bilbao are concerned more with finishing 7th than getting in the cup final as just getting to the final no longer gets you into Europe but 7th should! So it's not just us in red and white stripes aiming for the same thing , they also mentioned Bilbao got their stripes from either us or Sunderland depending on what story you listen too haha

[Dan Johnson]

Considering their respective form, I find it amazing that you think Utd will get only 6 more points from 7 games, whereas City will somehow turn things around and get another 17 points in the same period. 5 wins and 2 draws for City seems even less likely to me than Saints going undefeated for the rest of this season.

 

Either way, would LOVE to see your predictions come true!

 

These are Utds fixtures

 

Man United vs Man City

 

Chelsea vs Man United

 

Everton Vs Man United

 

Man United vs West Brom

 

Crystal Palace vs Man United

 

Man United vs Arsenal

 

Hull City vs Man United

 

Those are Utds fixtures, I can see at least 4 games where a loss wouldnt be inconceivable. I think City have to win in the Derby for Pellegrinis job, tought trip to Everton not to mention an inform Palace & a Hull team that may have to win the last game of the season to stay in the division.

[The9]

Watching Athletic Bilbao V's Valencia and they were saying how Bilbao are concerned more with finishing 7th than getting in the cup final as just getting to the final no longer gets you into Europe but 7th should! So it's not just us in red and white stripes aiming for the same thing , they also mentioned Bilbao got their stripes from either us or Sunderland depending on what story you listen too haha

 

Yeah, for some reason there's a theory that a boat from Sunderland to Bilbao was as likely as one from Southampton to have carried the bloke charged with bringing back shirts for Athletic Club (and their Madrid subsidiary, who became Atletico). He couldn't get Blackburn's colours that they'd already been playing in, so he got a load of mattress-like shirts.

 

FWIW, it says "Southampton" pretty clearly on this official Athletic pdf, even if the rest is in Spanish: http://www.athletic-club.net/pdfsrevista/234.pdf

 

"Did you know that on 9 January

1910 Athletic Club premiered

against Racing de Irun with the

Athletic kit directly

brought from England , more

specifically from Southampton ,

from the colors of the local team ? the

result was 2-0 ."

Edited 9 April, 2015 by The9

[The9]

Also here: http://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/2010-01-06/colores-siglo-20100106.html which translates as

 

"Although not try to remember a great victory, the anniversary can not go unnoticed. The next Saturday, January 9, one hundred years since the first match that Athletic played with the red and white shirt, the traditional colors of the club. It was in Irun, at the newly opened field Amute against Sporting, one of the two teams that were then in the border city. The change of clothing was a surprise, but the fact is that not generated more controversy and was accepted with a naturalness that view the issue from the perspective of a century, catches the eye. In fact, the premiere of the new equipment had not even reflected in the newspapers of the time, you just spent a few lines to that inconsequential friendly match.

The reason why the Athletic released new shirt not found in any of the books written so far about the history of the club. What happened has been known recently, from investigations of journalist and 'mattress' researcher Bernardo Salazar and conversations that some of the descendants of the head of -the change footballer Juan Elorduy- held with Asier Arrate, historian and Athletic responsible for the museum.

Everything was due to chance. Juan Elorduy was a young Bilbao, Mining Engineering student, who played for Athletic Madrid, then a 'branch' Athletic. Rico heir Elorduy was to spend the Christmas holidays 1909 to London. Before leaving, the board of Bilbao club made a request: the purchase of 25 T-shirts Blackburn Rovers, whose dress had adopted the Athletic. The players who had donated at the time by John Moser, began to be worn so many sweats and washed, and had to renew your wardrobe. Why buy them in England? Because the British were the best. They were lined chenille not desteñían. Come on, that there was no comparison.

The colors of Bilbao

Insurance John Elorduy was determined to fulfill the task, but the fact is that time is was very fast in the London capital, when wanted to buy the blue and white shirts in the store there were no sufficient. Forced to leave for Southampton to catch the boat that would bring back to Bilbao, the young Bilbao had to improvise. In the port city bought 50 shirts local team, dressed in red and white. At the end of the day, might think Elorduy, it was the colors of Bilbao.

It is not known what the reaction of the board of Athletic when he saw the shipment of shirts. It is not known if the club's board, chaired by Alberto Zarraoa, discussed much or little on whether to play with other colors. What is known is that a few days after the return of Elorduy, Athletic wore new clothes in Irun and I stayed with her forever. Atletico take another year to use another batch of red and white shirts brought by the Bilbao student.

Amute game did not have much history. Irun Sporting won 2-0 to Athletic played poorly. They were not the work that afternoon the players. Or maybe they felt strange with her new dress. You go figure. The fact is that the 'team' Bilbao, consisting of Ahasuerus, Amann, Arzuaga, Eguren, Belauste, Villaamil, Hurtado, Hairspray, Zuazo, Iceta and Arteche, disappointed. Only Seve Zuazo, who was then a promising young striker who tried to earn a starting job, was able to give some bite to play a team that had a big goal in sight for two months. Specifically Cup , which would organize the Spanish Union of Clubs, since that year, by disagreements between some equipment and the new federation, two parallel tournaments would dispute."

[The9]

Here's another one, this time about Atletico Madrid: http://blogs.20minutos.es/yaestaellistoquetodolosabe/tag/juan-elorduy/

 

Through the contact section, José Manuel Alvarez sent me an email in which I question why Atletico Madrid Atletico wears and why they are called 'mattress' .

 

Behind the reason why dresses and white the Atletico Madrid (new champion of the League from 2013 to 2014) there is a curious anecdote at the end of the first decade of the twentieth century and which would determine the future of the equipment you use for kit Madrid and the Athletic de Bilbao .

 

As many of you know, Atletico Madrid was founded in 1903 by a group of Basque students who wanted to set up a branch of his beloved team (Athletic de Bilbao) in the capital of Spain and the first name that was given to This new team was to 'Athletic Club Branch Madrid' .

 

In 1909 Bilbao players team (as well as its Madrid branch) wore a shirt that consisted of two stripes, a white and blue other (the same design as used English team Blackburn Rovers ). At Christmas that year, performing during a trip to England, the player Juan Elorduy instructed the president of Athletic Bilbao him to buy fifty new shirts (those in the UK were a lot better quality than those they had).

 

But the good thing about Juan Elorduy misled and left for the last day execute the order, finding that there was insufficient Blackburn Rovers blue and white shirts to buy, so in a last attempt to find them and to return home with them decided to try in Southampton , a town south of England where I had to embark back to Spain.

 

But there either found the equipment of Blackburn Rovers, but a large number of shirts Southampton Football Club , as many as had been commissioned. The problem was that they were not white/blues but red/whites. At the risk of not liked them bought fifty units and brought them, handing over Athletic Bilbao 25 of them and the other half left them stored in his grandparents' house as the T-Madrid branch were still in good use and did not know if would like.

 

The locals took to willingly change gear (mainly for the best quality tissue) and the January 9, 1910 premiered the new shirts.

 

It was not until a year later that coincided players of the two teams in Bilbao (the Athletic and its branch in Madrid) in which it emerged the issue of new shirts, wondered the locals by the new Kit of the Basques. That's when Juan Elorduy recalled that 25 more units available and made available to the 'Athletic Club Branch Madrid'.

 

On 22 January 1911 the Madrid team debuted their new red and white shirts .

 

Although in 1921, the locals stopped being a branch of the Bilbao team, they continued to use ( until today) Atletico colors both been characterized.

 

The fact that over time were known by the nickname of 'mattress' is because once the mattresses were usually dressed in a white cloth with red stripes. They were rivals Atletico Madrid who in the mid-twentieth century began to popularize the term mattress.

Edited 9 April, 2015 by The9

[CB Fry]

If that Atletico president was a bit more forward thinking back then he would have purchased plain red shirts instead. Maybe stopped off at Bristol or Swindon.

 

Atletico would be huge with them Orientals now if he had done.

[The9]

These are Utds fixtures

 

Man United vs Man City

 

Chelsea vs Man United

 

Everton Vs Man United

 

Man United vs West Brom

 

Crystal Palace vs Man United

 

Man United vs Arsenal

 

Hull City vs Man United

 

Those are Utds fixtures, I can see at least 4 games where a loss wouldnt be inconceivable. I think City have to win in the Derby for Pellegrinis job, tought trip to Everton not to mention an inform Palace & a Hull team that may have to win the last game of the season to stay in the division.

 

I can see one game they will almost certainly win, three they probably will (Everton, Palace and Hull away), and 2 they are as likely to as not (City and Arsenal). Plus Chelsea away. 6 points from that lot is a lot less likely than them getting the ONE point (or even just two goals) more that would put them above us in the prediction above.

[The9]

If that Atletico president was a bit more forward thinking back then he would have purchased plain red shirts instead. Maybe stopped off at Bristol or Swindon.

 

Atletico would be huge with them Orientals now if he had done.

 

You can't blame the Atletico bloke, he just took what Athletic gave him to wear and liked it. Rather like some of our fans from 2012-14.

[Dr Who?]

Hull W

Stoke D

Tottenham L

Sunderland D

Leicester D

Aston Villa W

City L

[Dark Munster]

Don't forget that next year the guys that joined us this year will have had a pre-season, so should hit the ground running. Hopefully we don't lose too many this year. Van ****, Classie, Martins indi in for Clyne, Schneiderlin, Alderweireld plus a fit J-Rod will see us no worse off. But if we lose more (JWP to Citeh for example) it may be asking too much to do it two years in a row.

I'm confused, is that Van C*nt or Van F*ck?

[The9]

I'm confused, is that Van C*nt or Van F*ck?

 

I'm guessing Dijk autocorrected.

[syd_barrett_saint]

These are Utds fixtures

 

Man United vs Man City

 

Chelsea vs Man United

 

Everton Vs Man United

 

Man United vs West Brom

 

Crystal Palace vs Man United

 

Man United vs Arsenal

 

Hull City vs Man United

 

Those are Utds fixtures, I can see at least 4 games where a loss wouldnt be inconceivable. I think City have to win in the Derby for Pellegrinis job, tought trip to Everton not to mention an inform Palace & a Hull team that may have to win the last game of the season to stay in the division.

 

Definitely tough fixtures, but they have also had some hard fixtures and are still on form. It would be a massive collapse in form for them to suddenly drop to less than a point per game. Would love to see it though!

[TheCholulaKid]

If City lose tomorrow.....it could come down to us v them last day of the season. Would need Liverpool to lose (probably at Chelsea away). Highly unlikely I'll admit but not beyond the realms of possibility.

[Window Cleaner]

If City lose tomorrow.....it could come down to us v them last day of the season. Would need Liverpool to lose (probably at Chelsea away). Highly unlikely I'll admit but not beyond the realms of possibility.

 

City would still need to lose again when we win even if we could beat them in the last game. In fact should they lose tomorrow then our poor results against Swansea and Burnley(A) will be even more annoying, not to mention Everton and West Brom..

[simo]

7 points from 2nd

[TheCholulaKid]

City would still need to lose again when we win even if we could beat them in the last game. In fact should they lose tomorrow then our poor results against Swansea and Burnley(A) will be even more annoying, not to mention Everton and West Brom..

 

Like I said - highly unlikely. A win at Stoke next week will keep it interesting though. Based on fixtures remaining we've probably got a better chance of catching United. All fun....

[altoniansaints]

Would love to be sitting 5th on the last day of the season within 3 points of utd and/or city but 3 points ahead of 6th, wishful thinking I know but how good it would be to be free of pressure and be able to go at city knowing 5th was safe and maybe a win could move us to 4th or 3rd! That would be my aim now, anything more would be a bonus!

[Nolan]

With City to play 4 of the top 9 in their 6 games before the game against us, there must be some hope to be within 3 points of them

[S-Clarke]

Who knows what could happen....it makes for a very interesting end of the season, that's for sure. I don't think we'll do it, I think City will edge away and the top 4 will be as it is. I just want us to be above Liverpool and Spurs, that would be amazing!!

[Saint Charlie]

Are we good enough? Since January its been scrappy so big ask for us to win virtually all the games left.

 

We are where we deserve to be IMO. The teams in the top four just have the individual class that separates them.

 

Wouldn't suprise me to see City win tomorrow anyway.

[Crab Lungs]

It's been speculated we'd need United to lose another 3 games to have any chance of catching them, which I agree. It's also been said that it's very unlikely they wont...

 

...well, looking at this fixture list, I wouldn't say it's beyond the realms of possibility.

 

Man Utd v Man City

Chelsea v Man Utd

Everton v Man Utd

Man Utd v West Brom

Crystal Palace v Man Utd

Man Utd v Arsenal

Hull v Man Utd

 

Problem is, we've got some bloody catching up to do in the meantime if they do.

[bilbot79]

Apart from wondering how much greater our pre-season generally is than all the teams those players already played for (Mane for one already had league matches under his belt when he joined), and how many of the loans will even be here (Djuricic, Elia, Alderweireld), our pre-season this pre-season might end in July due to Europa League qualifiers, which doesn't exactly suggest we'll be better off than in previous years.

 

As for Ward-Prowse to City, I'd take their arm off if they offered £10m.

 

I wouldn't. I think he'll start banging in goals now

[Miltonaggro]

Who knows what could happen....it makes for a very interesting end of the season, that's for sure. I don't think we'll do it, I think City will edge away and the top 4 will be as it is. I just want us to be above Liverpool and Spurs, that would be amazing!!

 

Me too, and if you look at our goal difference it's fully deserved over the course of this season.

[The9]

I wouldn't. I think he'll start banging in goals now

 

I had a fiver on JWP for first scorer today, as it happens. My only first scorer bet of the season, my only ever bet on Ward-Prowse too - thanks to Koeman and Fonte for getting the ball off Mane...

[Coxford_lou]

I had a fiver on JWP for first scorer today, as it happens. My only first scorer bet of the season, my only ever bet on Ward-Prowse too - thanks to Koeman and Fonte for getting the ball off Mane...

 

JWP is going to be amazing next season...

[S-Clarke]

JWP is going to be amazing next season...

 

I felt he had a real impact on the game when he came on, which was great to see.

[Coxford_lou]

I felt he had a real impact on the game when he came on, which was great to see.

 

You can see him grow in every game. He can do so much, just needs to join the dots together. A break in the summer, new energy for the next season will do that...

[The9]

You can see him grow in every game. He can do so much, just needs to join the dots together. A break in the summer, new energy for the next season will do that...

 

He's not going to the U21s Championships?

[Coxford_lou]

He's not going to the U21s Championships?

 

Well, at least it's a different environment. Plus a little bit of a break.

[Pilchards]

Nice article on BBC.

 

 

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32296467

[Dr Who?]

That's it, this article mean that I want to see Villa beat Liverpool but lose to Arsenal in the final.

 

What would you prefer, arsenal and Liverpool to win over the weekend, or wait for the final to see if Arsenal can beat Villa and Liverpool miss out on the Gerard final showpiece.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32358581

[Redslo]

That's it, this article mean that I want to see Villa beat Liverpool but lose to Arsenal in the final.

 

What would you prefer, arsenal and Liverpool to win over the weekend, or wait for the final to see if Arsenal can beat Villa and Liverpool miss out on the Gerard final showpiece.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32358581

 

I want the seventh place Europa position locked up as soon as possible. It would be nice to know we were on our way to Europe before the season ends.

[Dr Who?]

I want the seventh place Europa position locked up as soon as possible. It would be nice to know we were on our way to Europe before the season ends.

 

Yes and with a bit of pressure off after this weekend, we might be able to even have a shot at 4th, with nothing to lose.

[Convict Colony]

JWP is going to be amazing next season...

 

 

Lets not get carried away he scored a penalty.

[Dr Who?]

If we get into Europe next season (which is likely) we will not finish as high next season. I do not think the majority will be happy with this. Also another problem with this at the end of next season, will be our players would have had a sniff of European football, which they are more likely to want out, than they do now.

 

Don't get me wrong, I want Saints in Europe, but I am preparing myself for a mid table finish next season. You just have to have a look at Everton and their league form since going out of Europe...... Seems to have had an opposite impact on Spurs!

[Whitey Grandad]

If we get into Europe next season (which is likely) we will not finish as high next season. I do not think the majority will be happy with this. Also another problem with this at the end of next season, will be our players would have had a sniff of European football, which they are more likely to want out, than they do now.

 

Don't get me wrong, I want Saints in Europe, but I am preparing myself for a mid table finish next season. You just have to have a look at Everton and their league form since going out of Europe...... Seems to have had an opposite impact on Spurs!

 

On the other hand... If we win the Europa Cup...

 

Let's be more positive!

[John Boy Saint]

If we get into Europe next season (which is likely) we will not finish as high next season. I do not think the majority will be happy with this. Also another problem with this at the end of next season, will be our players would have had a sniff of European football, which they are more likely to want out, than they do now.

 

Don't get me wrong, I want Saints in Europe, but I am preparing myself for a mid table finish next season. You just have to have a look at Everton and their league form since going out of Europe...... Seems to have had an opposite impact on Spurs!

What has not been factored in is the fact that the teams who have made Europe recently have had managers (possibly ignoring AVB) who have no experience of juggling playing in a domestic league and in Europe at the same time, whereas Ronald has both as a player and manager.

[Batman]

What has not been factored in is the fact that the teams who have made Europe recently have had managers (possibly ignoring AVB) who have no experience of juggling playing in a domestic league and in Europe at the same time, whereas Ronald has both as a player and manager.

 

it is not that, but the premier league, it is far more taxing than the other leagues in europe. spurs have been pretty decent in europe and the league, but then look at the size of their squad

[Convict Colony]

If we get into Europe next season (which is likely) we will not finish as high next season. I do not think the majority will be happy with this. Also another problem with this at the end of next season, will be our players would have had a sniff of European football, which they are more likely to want out, than they do now.

 

Don't get me wrong, I want Saints in Europe, but I am preparing myself for a mid table finish next season. You just have to have a look at Everton and their league form since going out of Europe...... Seems to have had an opposite impact on Spurs!

 

First world problems

[trousers]

Arsenal take the lead. One step closer to Europe...

[Wiggles31]

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