rubberman

1 hour ago, Pinebro said:

No it isn't because its' different to get in a middle of the season into a toxic dressing room and create a feel good vibe than being in charge a whole season.

Using this season as a measuring stick to predict next season is too simplistic.

A lot of factors needs to be taken into account. Other teams that are likely to improve. How our recruitment will go. What players we will keep.

xG post Emery has us around 9th-10th. In other words we have aquired more points than we should based on numbers. We've ridden a wave and had a lot of 50/50 games go in our favor. I believe over a whole season it would balance itself out.

That being said. With a strong transfer window things could change but our squad per now is not strong enough for a top 6 finish next season imo.

We obviously have no idea how our, or others, recruitment will go, but I think it is safe to assume we will certainly be going for it and recruiting strongly - and hopefully successfully. As things stand at the moment, going on the evidence from Emery's time in charge, we will be competitive for a place in the top 6. We are very likely to improve as much, if not more, than our competition over the course of a full season of Emery input, with his recruitment and pre-season.

Yes - there is likely to be a lot of change before the season starts, but for me: Citeh will obviously be the favourites. Then Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle are likely to be up there but I can see continued inconsistencies from all of them and this is where we need to be challenging. Brighton I doubt will be the same force again (possibly losing players and maybe De Zerbi). Spurs and Chelsea will still be a mess.

For all the praise Brighton are getting, we have been as good if not slightly better than them since Emery came in. Their away form is pretty good, but our home form has been excellent. 

Should be a really good game - I expect a few goals - I don't think they'll sit back which will play to our strengths. Big, big game, but we can do this.

14 minutes ago, Rich192 said:

He probably goes Spurs if it’s a straight option between the two. Knows Porro from Sporting, and Bentancur from Uruguay. Plus they’re in London, and generally a much more attractive prospect to those who don’t know what we’re cooking. 

They don't have a manager though so won't be signing off any deals before that I doubt. Gives a bit of time to sell the Emery train to him.

I think the permutations may be getting to some in here today!

3 hours ago, PaulC said:

Yes Everton could be facing a points deduction at the start of next season as well 

In that case I'm happy for them to stop up! I'd love to see them down with Leeds, but pretty sure they'll be one of the favorites for the drop next season as they've no money. Just can't see any fight in Leicester.

1 hour ago, lexicon said:

 

I'm not sure about it because I don't think CB is near a priority - we've got 3 good ones and plenty of backup in case the shit hits the fan (Chambers, Dendoncker, Kamara etc.) 

The money really needs to be spent in attack. 

Just because we are linked with/sign a CB first, it doesn't mean money won't be spent on attack. Emery has said many times that attackers are a priority. It will happen, but not necessarily first. Signings don't happen in order of priority need and as the club said post Alemany, we have money to spend.

Just amazing to have him here. Fan base 100% united behind the manager. Players rising to the challenge. Media starting to register what's happening here. 

I can't wait for next season to see what he can do with a few extra players and a full prep season. So exciting. 

What a team performance. Was a hard watch at the end mind. 

Huge game next week. Hope the injuries aren't too serious. 

Given the trajectory we and spurs have been on, playoff for Europe would be great. (this year). 

I'm not sure I'm happy about spurs being the early game. I guess if they lose I'll be pleased but it puts more pressure on the Liverpool match, but if they win it'll be hard to enjoy our game whatever (unless 7-2 again) . Would be better if they were all the same time like on the last day. 

1 minute ago, KMitch said:

Same...  Now that Southampton don't have anything left to play for, they might actually turn up to play.  

Yep. That would be sweeeet. 

Also - if we hope to get to CL qualification next year, having a year's 'practice' in Europe in a junior competition can only be beneficial.  I imagine we have a transfer plan for Europe/not Europe that would get a few more bodies in during the summer if the former.

But equally, if we don't make it it's not going to be the end of the world and probably makes the league and domestic cups an easier focus. 

Pretty weird, but I'm sure we'll move on. At least we can raid Barca for players now.

3 hours ago, CVByrne said:

Totally agree. Firstly with the ultra press our next step I imagine under Emery we will tire our midfield out a lot in games. So we need to have at least 4 players who can play in CM to at least as high a standard as we have this season. So we say we've 3 now who can Luiz, Kamara, McGinn. We need one more, as our bench will be used every game for the midfield. 

If we sign Pau Torres I think we'll adapt to a 3 CB and a FB type system and allow Moreno or Cash to be an attacking full back on left or right depending on how we set up and okay 3 of our CBs. I just can't see us having 4 top CBs with only 2 getting regular game time. Though on paper a Pau Torres and Diego Carlos CB partnership is pretty damn awesome. 

I wonder if Mings can play LB/LCB in an evolution of the system. He started out there for Ipswitch. We could have 4 CBs (with Mings/Konsa able to play as CM/FB in a situational back 3) then 2 FBs and Young for additional cover.

I've no idea where we're going in relation to the defence. I'm pretty sure we'll make an addition though

I think this is right (if the rumours about Torres in particular are accurate...BIG if).  As per the recent high line chat, part of the reason our defence has been so stingy recently is how well drilled and used to each other Mings and Konsa are. Rotating players in and out of this eg Carlos and Torres makes it far more risky as the partnerships won't have such a good understanding. CB is the one area of the pitch that you don't want regular rotation for - decent back-ups in case of injury, sure - but otherwise better to be consistent. 

Do we think the motd pundits have much input into the highlights/analysis or just talk through whatever the producer/editors have put together for them. On a full Saturday they obviously won't have watched all the games and no more than highlights of some so I assume they get given the offside stat and told the clips will be about villa's high line and wing it from there. 

8 minutes ago, CVByrne said:

Ok we've a ~6% chance of finishing in the top six as we're 16/1 to do so with the bookies = 1 / (16+1) = 5.88% implied probability

Yeah - 538 also gives us 5% chance of 6th, but.... 24% of 7th. (it's happening gif) 

3 hours ago, The Fun Factory said:

After watching the championship playoffs I would think all 3 relegated sides should be odds on to come straight back up. The gap between the Premier League and EFL is huge.

Well 2 out of 3 promoted this season have done fine, and I reckon Forest will stop up as well. Always takes a while to come to terms with the Championship as we found.

If Everton drop, which is sadly looking less likely now, they will be in such financial shite they could be in real trouble. For the others depends on how asset-stripped they get. Leicester would lose quite a few stars and not sure what depth they have. It's not easy to bounce back up.

4 hours ago, AVTuco said:

It was all in our hands. Lose to wolves and now it's not. That was a sad game.

It kinda, sorta is still in our hands. As long as we match Spurs' results and we can better their score by 3 goals, we finish above them. I grant that that is not the easiest thing to achieve - another 7-2 over Liverpool would definitely help.

28 minutes ago, RicRic said:

And now the more I think about it im not sure this alemany guy is the man for us because hes just interested in big name players similar to how chelsea have operated this season bought a bunch of names which failed miserably , i wanted for us to get the guy from I think it was sevilla .. cordon ? Antonio cordon I think the name was correct me if im wrong… seems more stable, careful and precise in the profile of player he would look at. 
 

i certainly do not want us wasting money which i think we need to be very careful with.

I dunno. Maybe let the guy at least start his job before writing him off? 

Hoo boy. I am so excited by the level of player we are currently negging as not good enough for us. I have full faith in the management to bring in the right players but this is going to be some window. 

Next level stuff - shopping in the top level window now. 

1 hour ago, duke313 said:

Someone was actually paid to write that? They are using transfermarkt valuations. 

Probably churned out by chatgpt.

Bench looking much more positive. Excellent. 

1 hour ago, fightoffyour said:

Haha about what? Entitled pricks.

Would not take a draw if offered. 3 points minimum.

I would very much take a point now! In the vibe of 'this run can't last much longer' now.

15 minutes ago, brummybloke said:

Man ure are 5 points above us with 3 games in hand. The draw at Brentford put a stop on any slight CL dreams we had.

We need man ure to beat spurs and man ure to get a couple players go off injured, ideally gk and cb as that's where they have least cover, just niggles that keep them out for Sunday. Oh and rat face to also still be out for Sunday.

If we win our 5 and Brighton lose 2 games, no one can catch us in 5th, Liverpool and Brighton finish a point behind if both win all their games but lose to us.

Yep - definitely need Spurs finished off. We're not getting a CL place so Utd and Newcastle winning is fine - particularly against Spurs and Brighton.

I don't see Spurs getting much more than 5 more points. We beat them and 7th is pretty much nailed - at least completely in our hands as long as we match what their results. 

Have to say that a while back I thought 8th was our absolute top limit. Incredible that that is now looking like the worst case (barring an almightly collapse).