The Premier League 2024/25

[BadDog]

It is in our interest that those teams in 6th and 7th drop points. At the end of the day, it makes little difference if we finish 3rd or 5th (with the exception of prize money)

Exactly.

[Shawoddyred]

2-1 Man City at the death. Would've preferred the draw but if any team had to win it's definitely better for us that it was Man City.

Why on earth do you want a team chasing us getting points?

Best result was City win.

Before that result, and if they had drawn, City were also chasing us. I'd have preferred keeping both City and Villa behind us, but I can also see the benefit of keeping Villa 3 (potentially 6) points behind and a much worse goal difference.

Citys run in is easy as anything, what matters is the teams in 6/7th drop points. That's the best outcome now until the end of the season, 3rd or 5th I care not.

Maybe, maybe not. Villa and City have similar run ins from now onwards. If Villa had lost to Newcastle, I'd have definitely agreed with you but as is it, I would have preferred to keep both teams behind us. 

Not a biggie, I'm happy tonight because we won last night and have kept destiny in our own hands!

[BadDog]

2-1 Man City at the death. Would've preferred the draw but if any team had to win it's definitely better for us that it was Man City.

Why on earth do you want a team chasing us getting points?

Best result was City win.

Before that result, and if they had drawn, City were also chasing us. I'd have preferred keeping both City and Villa behind us, but I can also see the benefit of keeping Villa 3 (potentially 6) points behind and a much worse goal difference.

Citys run in is easy as anything, what matters is the teams in 6/7th drop points. That's the best outcome now until the end of the season, 3rd or 5th I care not.

Maybe, maybe not. Villa and City have similar run ins from now onwards. If Villa had lost to Newcastle, I'd have definitely agreed with you but as is it, I would have preferred to keep both teams behind us. 

Not a biggie, I'm happy tonight because we won last night and have kept destiny in our own hands!

But we win now our game in hand we are 6 points clear of villa with better goal diff and 12 points left to play for with West Ham and Leicester in our fixtures.

But yes main thing tonight was Villa didn't win.

[wassy04]

Only bad thing is the positive vibes it gives City going into Sunday's game.

They really don't look a particularly great side right now though. Definitely there for the taking.

[Username]

2-1 Man City at the death. Would've preferred the draw but if any team had to win it's definitely better for us that it was Man City.

Why on earth do you want a team chasing us getting points?

Best result was City win.

Because it means two teams around us dropping points. It would also have meant that we stay above both teams with a game in hand. 

Sorry, didn't realise I had to ask for approval to want a particular result. I'll be sure to check next time.

It just makes no sense, you need my approval for f**k all lad.

We could end up joint fifth with someone on the final day. Villa have the worst goal difference in the top seven. 

So applying some common sense can support the view that Villa getting a result instead might not have been a bad result.

[DR Forest]

If we take 10 points from the last 5 games- including a win over Chelsea- we are guaranteed Champions League football even if Villa win all their games and Chelsea win their other 4 games.

Chelsea won’t win all their other games (Everton Liverpool and Newcastle will all be tough) so we might not even need to beat them on the last day and 9 points might be enough to keep us above Villa on goal difference.

So in a nutshell, beat Brentford Leicester and Wham and we are very likely to finish in the top 5.

[Paplane]

Brentford is a difficult game midweek after a cup semi final. We shouldn't take these games for granted. Winnable, but we're going to have to dig a result out again probably.

[Tricky]

If we take 10 points from the last 5 games- including a win over Chelsea- we are guaranteed Champions League football even if Villa win all their games and Chelsea win their other 4 games.

Chelsea won’t win all their other games (Everton Liverpool and Newcastle will all be tough) so we might not even need to beat them on the last day and 9 points might be enough to keep us above Villa on goal difference.

So in a nutshell, beat Brentford Leicester and Wham and we are very likely to finish in the top 5.

A few weeks ago, I wouldve agreed that Liverpool would be a tough test for them, but by the time they play each other, barring an absolute melt down by the Scousers, Liverpool will be Champions and the pressure is off them to perform?

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Brentford is a difficult game midweek after a cup semi final. We shouldn't take these games for granted. Winnable, but we're going to have to dig a result out again probably.

Agreed. Far more concerned about this than whether some other teams may or may not be motivated to play our challengers. Just need to concentrate on what we do, very difficult to focus again after a semi final.
The crowd need to pick themselves up gain for next Thursday too whatever the result, can’t have a “we had a big day out at Wembley and we’ve now got hangovers so we’ll just sit here in silence” attitude.

[Username]

Good point about the crowd.

Our away support at Spurs was quieter than normal and I do think it’s down to nerves / the reality of what’s at stake.

[Sausage Roll]

Just spent an amusing few minutes looking back at the predictions some 'experts' made before the start of the season.

[wassy04]

Just spent an amusing few minutes looking back at the predictions some 'experts' made before the start of the season.

In fairness, I don't think there was anyone on here predicting a battle for the champions league spots.

I distinctly remember beating someone around December time and openly laughing when they put the as it stands table up and we were 2nd.

Jumping from 17th to even top 7 must be one of the biggest jumps in recent times (although Utd/Spurs have done it the other way!).

I did read one interesting way to describe it on the Athletic which I liked. Which was simply that the previous season, due to a combination of the points deduction and all the stuff that came with it, some costly ref decisions and injuries (/AFCON) that we were actually a better team than it looked last year. So it's not as great a leap in that context, which I think makes more sense to me.