Topic: The Top Six Mini-League Thread... Sponsored by TENA

[Andy-oh-six]

Sixth, here we come!

[sms1986]

Sixth, here we come!

Based on what? It's not like our rivals have it any easier.

[Anfield Kopite]

4th here we come i reckon. Which will be a decent effort considering our thin squad. Then hopefully some ambitious investment at the back in the summer (pretty please).

[killer-heels]

Which i was pointng out in the summer would be the case after selling a lot of fringe players without replacing them. Aplarently saying our negative nett spend in the summer may cost us made me a bedwetter though.

In hindsight several of the deals dont look great now. I am not fussed with Sakho and certainly I can have sympathy with selling Benteke given we had Ings, Sturridge and Origi, but letting Markovic and Allen go now seems to have been a bad decision. Not calling back Markovic in January also now seems a even worse one.

[Anfield Kopite]

In hindsight several of the deals dont look great now. I am not fussed with Sakho and certainly I can have sympathy with selling Benteke given we had Ings, Sturridge and Origi, but letting Markovic and Allen go now seems to have been a bad decision. Not calling back Markovic in January also now seems a even worse one.

Which ever way you look at it a few injuries meant we would be filling the bench with players either not ready or not good enough. Thats why i expected to miss out on top 4 again and is why i am pleased we still have a shot at it while others are dissapointed. I honestly think we will get it too.

[paul211b]

So the Manchester derby tonight, who do we want to win?
I am tempted to say City but I think a draw would be alright then they both drop 2 points.
Or do we want UTD to win?  If they finish 4th and win the Europe do we get CL finishing 5th? 

We will not win all our remaining games so we need others to drop points too.  Decisions, Decisions..

[Grobbelrevell]

So the Manchester derby tonight, who do we want to win?

City. That puts it back in our hands.

Or do we want UTD to win?  If they finish 4th and win the Europe do we get CL finishing 5th? 

No, and no.

[Anfield Kopite]

City win is best with a draw being ok for me. Deffo do not want a United win.

[Anfield Kopite]

I think 12 pts from our last 4 games will get us top 4 comfortably. We cant get 11 pts. 10 pts i still feel will be enough. 9 points is starting to be dodgy and i feel 8 is the cut off point. Any less than 8 and i think we will miss out.

[sms1986]

So the Manchester derby tonight, who do we want to win?
I am tempted to say City but I think a draw would be alright then they both drop 2 points.
Or do we want UTD to win?  If they finish 4th and win the Europe do we get CL finishing 5th? 

We will not win all our remaining games so we need others to drop points too.  Decisions, Decisions..

We will win all of our remaining games is just as accurate a prediction as yours. Personally I think we will get the necessary points to finish in the top four.

[Iska]

Emphatic City win.  There's a bubble at OT that needs bursting.

[plura]

If City wins then it's all back in our hands to make it happen. Any other result and our faith is in their hands.

[JackWard33]

Just seen Pogba's out. If he's out for the next 2 or 3 games that does make a difference.
United have a big quality squad so they'll still put a decent side out but he's their most important player - all their attacking play goes through him. Can only be good news.

Hoping against hope for a 3-0 or something City win to re-fuck their goal difference as well as their points

[Anfield Kopite]

Just seen Pogba's out. If he's out for the next 2 or 3 games that does make a difference.
United have a big quality squad so they'll still put a decent side out but he's their most important player - all their attacking play goes through him. Can only be good news.

Hoping against hope for a 3-0 or something City win to re-fuck their goal difference as well as their points

erm.... He has been pretty rubbish all season.

[JackWard33]

erm.... He has been pretty rubbish all season.

he hasn't. at all. I understand the narrative but it doesn't bare scrutiny. Just because he hasn't played like the most expensive player in the world doesn't mean he hasn't been good.
They basically have their 2 most important / best attacking players out. As I said they're better able to withstand that than anyone but it definitely helps

[arnaldo]

he hasn't. at all. I understand the narrative but it doesn't bare scrutiny. Just because he hasn't played like the most expensive player in the world doesn't mean he hasn't been good.
They basically have their 2 most important / best attacking players out. As I said they're better able to withstand that than anyone but it definitely helps

He has been bang average. I can't think of any game he has dominated or came off as being man of the match

[Anfield Kopite]

he hasn't. at all. I understand the narrative but it doesn't bare scrutiny. Just because he hasn't played like the most expensive player in the world doesn't mean he hasn't been good.
They basically have their 2 most important / best attacking players out. As I said they're better able to withstand that than anyone but it definitely helps

I disagree. Ive watcbed every game they have played. He has 2 or 3 potshots from distance that are either off target or straight at the keeper. Im waiting for one to go in and someone like Tyler to scream "thats why they paid the money". He plays one or two decent passes and the likes of Robbie Savage cream themselves. If they had bought him for Ł5m he would have been dropped months ago for these performances.

[JackWard33]

He has been bang average. I can't think of any game he has dominated or came off as being man of the match

Okay. He hasn't been close to average. But fine - I know better than trying to prove a Man United player bought for a lot of money has been anything other than a shambles on here.
It's good news for us him and Ibrahimovic are out for them, it makes it less likely they get the points they need... but others may see it differently

[Crosby Nick]

City win woukd be great. A draw would be decent as no matter how short for we'd stay third for now and it's two points dropped for United. Wouldn't put it back in our hands but would mean they'd probably need to pull an away win out of the bag at Spurs or Arsenal.

A United win can fuck right off.

[ugm9mjh]

Okay. He hasn't been close to average. But fine - I know better than trying to prove a Man United player bought for a lot of money has been anything other than a shambles on here.
It's good news for us him and Ibrahimovic are out for them, it makes it less likely they get the points they need... but others may see it differently

I completely agree with you. Despite not being spectacular he has been very good. He makes that team tick, always free for a pass, wins a lot of ball, links play between the lines and spreads the play very well.

He hasn't played as well as his transfer fee would suggest but that doesn't negate his contributions. Say what you want about statistics but whoscored.com have him as the 3rd highest rated premier player this season (I'm not saying this is absolute proof, but its no coincidence and you have to be doing things pretty well!)

[The North Bank]

A city win, and a 3 horse race for the 4th. With Liverpool being favourites.
I'll take that.
Everything falling right for Man Utd though, even Pogba is now out, so much luck they get.

[Grobbelrevell]

A city win, and a 3 horse race for the 4th. With Liverpool being favourites.
I'll take that.
Everything falling right for Man Utd though, even Pogba is now out, so much luck they get.

Or...

City win tonight.
Spurs win on Sunday.
United and you lot draw next Sunday.

That'd do me nicely 

[Bergersrightwingviews]

Want a heavy defeat for Man U. Rattle their confidence, Mourinho throws some players under the bus in the presser and they sulk. They then get pumped by Spurs and we are suddenly in pole position again. All that is predicating on us not fucking up again of course.

[lionel_messias]

Want a heavy defeat for Man U. Rattle their confidence, Mourinho throws some players under the bus in the presser and they sulk. They then get pumped by Spurs and we are suddenly in pole position again. All that is predicating on us not fucking up again of course.

I like the cut of your jib, lad.

Make it so.

[drmick]

Given we could win all our games, hit 78 points and still not make top 4 I'm not sure that's entirely true.

Don't think we are getting 78 points though, and that was perhaps his point.

[Suareznumber7]

I disagree. Ive watcbed every game they have played.

Why would you do that to yourself?  Are you a self masochist?

[sms1986]

Why would you do that to yourself?  Are you a self masochist?

Never seen some of the Premier League match threads? Some here watch every United game and pore over every little detail and decision, it's very strange.

[Suareznumber7]

Never seen some of the Premier League match threads? Some here watch every United game and pore over every little detail and decision, it's very strange.

Unless they need help falling asleep I can't see why anyone would watch a Utd game. 

[YerBaldyHead]

He's my, pretty outlandish, take: If Lallana is back for Watford and plays the last 4 games in CM we get Top 4, if he's either not back or he comes in and plays RW like he did in January, we don't.

All this depends on United of course. Logic tells me there's no way they're getting 12 points from City away, Arsenal away, Spurs away and Southampton away, but you never know with those jammy bastards.

[pezzzer]

City winning big tonite is our best result. Il happily give up on 3rd spot to keep in the champions league spaces.
Spurs beating arsenal on Sunday will put the cherry on the cake but I've learnt over the years never to rely on spurs

[redk84]

ok I dunno why but I seem to think City can drop more points than us too....and 3rd is not completely lost? or is my mind completely lost? 

Manchester United (h)
 
Middlesbrough (a) Crystal Palace (h) Leicester City (h) West Bromwich Albion (h) Watford (a)

They've drawn a few at home and some of those teams will need points.....pulis is a c*nt and Watford will wanna win their last home game

Longshot but never know. I'd be happy with a draw tonight.....

[clinical]

We need a city win. This means Utd will win as the club is cursed.

[Anfield Kopite]

Why would you do that to yourself?  Are you a self masochist?

No im not a masochist. Since the old tramp retired it has been entertaining each season watching them start thinking they are going to win the league and then not even challenge..

[newterp]

I know it's been stated already - but apart from winning our 4 games (easier said than done of course) - Manu/Arse are dropping points by default since they play each other - we just don't know what the nature of those dropped points will be.

From my perspective - a draw would be ideal - as it causes both to lose 2.

[JackWard33]

We need a city win. This means Utd will win as the club is cursed.

Almost certainly correct.

[Number 7]

Glad someone else sees it the way I do. Utterly shameful feeling as a Liverpool supporter having to hope city beat Utd so we can somehow cling to a top four place after doing so well up to halfway point in the league.

Spin it any way you want but hoping other results go your way isn't management.

Considering where we have been for most of the season, essentially in the top 4, it's disappointing that we're now relying on other teams to do us favours.

There have been some harsh lessons learnt this season. We relied too heavily on Mané and paid the consequences in January for not planning properly without him and are paying the consequences now. There is just nobody like him in the squad or anyone that offers what he does. In my view, Henderson has been a massive loss. Was the best central midfielder in the league for quite a while until he ran into injury problems. Earlier, losing Coutinho for 2 months. Then losing Lallana at such a crucial stage, plus all the other injury prone players (Matip, Lovren, Sturridge, etc). We have just not been able to maintain any consistency because key players are always out and the squad was not strong enough to overcome that.

I still believe we can get top 4, if we win all our games. Hopefully we pull it off and actually learn from the lessons this season.

[newterp]

Considering where we have been for most of the season, essentially in the top 4, it's disappointing that we're now relying on other teams to do us favours.

There have been some harsh lessons learnt this season. We relied too heavily on Mané and paid the consequences in January for not planning properly without him and are paying the consequences now. There is just nobody like him in the squad or anyone that offers what he does. In my view, Henderson has been a massive loss. Was the best central midfielder in the league for quite a while until he ran into injury problems. Earlier, losing Coutinho for 2 months. Then losing Lallana at such a crucial stage, plus all the other injury prone players (Matip, Lovren, Sturridge, etc). We have just not been able to maintain any consistency because key players are always out and the squad was not strong enough to overcome that.

I still believe we can get top 4, if we win all our games. Hopefully we pull it off and actually learn from the lessons this season.

We ended up losing Coutinho for effectively 3.5 months - as he was awful when he came back for the next 6 weeks

[MNAA]

Why would you do that to yourself?  Are you a self masochist?

Or a more pertinent question ... are you a closet Utd fan?

[Pistolero]

plenty of injuries, couple of red cards, fighting on the touchline and a City win will do me

[Chakan]

plenty of injuries, couple of red cards, fighting on the touchline and a City win will do me

Just go full hog and a couple of docked points for both teams.