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Race for Champions League - 2023/2024


Don_Simon

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It's crazy that some bookies have us at 4/1 to get Top 4 (a 20% chance) and 7/5 for a Top 6 (42% chance) which surely means we're probably like 28-30% chance for a top 5 and the extra place CL. I still think we'll come 7th or 8th, something like that. 7th would be Europa League and 8th ECL if the Cups are won by the top 7.

I really hope we can get Europe again next season and a Trophy with European Qualification and any Top 10 finish in League would be huge

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2 hours ago, Villa87 said:

Liverpool, City, Arsenal, Brighton, Newcastle, Spurs and Man Utd. We need to finish ahead of two of these for 5th. Big ask. 

If we looked at it this way last season we wouldn’t have qualified. I remember looking at a Spurs loss or draw and some friends who support Villa started questioning my mind, Spurs were far ahead possibly 13 or 15. I also looked at Utd and Newcastle. I said you don’t know who might fall apart, so as we look at who are in sight by then (Chelsea, Liverpool, Brighton, Fulham and Brentford) we still need to look higher. I’m not saying looking at a conclusion but looking at results in our side. We don’t have to catch Arsenal for example but every loss for them (against non top teams especially) could be in our favor. It could atleast keep you in touch. Other teams will fall but we have to get going.

Last season people used to say we’re winning yet not moving from 11th, I wasn’t keen in moving more than closing gap with those who’s over 11th. That’s once we got near didn’t take us two weeks to leapfrog. In the end we needed to takeover Spurs rather than the other two. 
 

If we got above 70 points we’ll most likely qualify to CL so just looking at names and saying we have to be above any of those won’t help.

We just have to keep getting points and see where it takes us to.

Doing that and qualifying cups (Europe and domestic) would give us a great platform before January window. 
 

Yes we had a stepback against Legia, but we would have make for it if we won against Everton. Huge win at Chelsea as well. 
We still have a chance at Europe so Everton is a more important game right now. 
 

My target is to be in the UECL and the league cup after December and hopefully with lesser quality teams left (with easier draws), while being around top 6 by then. We can then evaluate our needs and see how to deal with fatigue and who to add. 
 

I think if we can win the League Cup this season while still being around in all competitions we will have a very good season. The pressure will release and we will hopefully have more confidence and more chance of winning things especially as minimum European qualification is confirmed by then.

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3 hours ago, Villa87 said:

Liverpool, City, Arsenal, Brighton, Newcastle, Spurs and Man Utd. We need to finish ahead of two of these for 5th. Big ask. 

Brighton will probably be doable for one as I can't see rdz still being there at the end of the season.

Edited by Nigel
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Number of games it took us in previous PL seasons to reach 12 points:

This season - 6

2022/23 - 12

2021/22 - 12

2020/21 - 4

2019/20 - 13

2015/16 - 22

2014/15 - 12

2013/14 - 12

2012/13 - 14

2011/12 - 10

2010/11 - 10

2009/10 - 5

2008/09 - 6

2007/08 - 8

2006/07 - 6

2005/06 - 13

2004/05 - 10

2003/04 - 14

2002/03 - 12

2001/02 - 6

2000/01 - 7

 

In other words, we're way ahead of our average in terms of starts this side of the millennium, and in only 2 seasons did we have more points at this stage. We're definitely on course for a serious top 4 charge as things stand.

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2 minutes ago, Mantis said:

Number of games it took us in previous PL seasons to reach 12 points:

This season - 6

2022/23 - 12

2021/22 - 12

2020/21 - 4

2019/20 - 13

2015/16 - 22

2014/15 - 12

2013/14 - 12

2012/13 - 14

2011/12 - 10

2010/11 - 10

2009/10 - 5

2008/09 - 6

2007/08 - 8

2006/07 - 6

2005/06 - 13

2004/05 - 10

2003/04 - 14

2002/03 - 12

2001/02 - 6

2000/01 - 7

 

In other words, we're way ahead of our average in terms of starts this side of the millennium, and in only 2 seasons did we have more points at this stage. We're definitely on course for a serious top 4 charge as things stand.

Think I'm most surprised that it took 14 games in 03/04, considering it was a 6th place finish!

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6 minutes ago, Mantis said:

Number of games it took us in previous PL seasons to reach 12 points:

This season - 6

2022/23 - 12

2021/22 - 12

2020/21 - 4

2019/20 - 13

2015/16 - 22

2014/15 - 12

2013/14 - 12

2012/13 - 14

2011/12 - 10

2010/11 - 10

2009/10 - 5

2008/09 - 6

2007/08 - 8

2006/07 - 6

2005/06 - 13

2004/05 - 10

2003/04 - 14

2002/03 - 12

2001/02 - 6

2000/01 - 7

 

In other words, we're way ahead of our average in terms of starts this side of the millennium, and in only 2 seasons did we have more points at this stage. We're definitely on course for a serious top 4 charge as things stand.

Plus we already have played Liverpool, Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia B.  Good run of winnable games coming up now.  Be happy enough with draw v Brighton(i think their setup will suit us though)

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3 hours ago, Sulberto21 said:

The target should be the FA Cup it’s been too f ing long. 

I've actually gone a bit greedier and hoping for a double of ECL and also FA Cup/or Haribo Cup.. along with a top 4 finish.

The early pace setters are where they are already in the league but we're in a nice position ourselves and a big result against Chelsea keeps us nicely on track.  😃

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3 minutes ago, HeyAnty said:

Plus we already have played Liverpool, Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia B.  Good run of winnable games coming up now.  Be happy enough with draw v Brighton(i think their setup will suit us though)

Yes that's a fair point. The only season where we had more points at this stage, in 2009/10, our first 6 games were Wigan, Liverpool, Portsmouth, SHA, Fulham and Blackburn.

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3 hours ago, Sulberto21 said:

The target should be the FA Cup it’s been too f ing long. 

Totally agree with this.

The league used to be a better gamble because with the right players, an elite manager could (almost) guarantee beating enough teams to get enough points for top 4/5, but the reality now is there are 7 clubs not including ourselves with a very very strong chance of making top 4, it's a more competitive list than ever.

We effectively would need the same amount of luck/rub of the green as you typically need in a knockout competition to go all the way, but in the league it involves a lot more games. 

So I really agree we should focus on cups and just try to stay within the top 7/8 in the league, and if we manage to finish top 6 then that'll be a massive bonus.

I don't think we have the squad yet (possibly due to injuries and one or two signings who may not fully settle this season) to realistically go for both.

Edited by est1874
Typo
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