used to be 40 points had you safe, when did that change to 30?
When the even playing field became a very uneven playing field.
used to be 40 points had you safe, when did that change to 30?
As above, the teams coming up now can only dream of getting into the 30s in terms of points, the EPL is getting more uneven every year, FFP is making it even bigger now.
Agreed. As a supporter of a non 'big 6' club, ETH's unfathomable ability to get results, despite playing dire football and draining the confidence out of players, is a blessing. It should ensure that Stat Man Dave (Brailsford) keeps him on for next season. Although I wouldnt worry if they move for Southgate. In fact as an England fan....:)
As an Evertonian today is a good day! Enjoying my day of winding up the Liverpool fans in the office….only happens once a decade so they’re obliging me!
I got a phone call at 5pm last night asking if I wanted a ticket for the game….i hate Derby’s so turned it down….what a mistake that was!! I do have a ticket for Saturdays game so you can guarantee normal service will resume and Everton will get beat!
Looked like a tricky away fixture for City. Making light work of it though.
Citeh kicking into gear again and just doing what they do at this point in the season
They're a machine
I’d say they’ve had a bit of help from the ref. Dubious free kick for Foden’s goal and Brighton denied a clear pen. But I’m clutching at straws - they’re cruising and can go up a gear if needed.
Do they look better without Haaland?
The old Liverpool (80's) team used to do what city do each season - look just above mediocre for 90% season and then just click into a 5th gear come March.
Judging by last nights substitutions, Pep isn't going to aiming make up the goal difference on the gooners, I think city could have scored a few more last night, but he brought important players off instead to keep them fresher for the run in.
Cant believe that after tomorrow's game, there will be 3 games difference between Villa and Spurs. Ridiculous at this stage of the season.
I've got tickets for the Villa v Chelsea game. Buzzing for it, can't beat a big game under the lights at VP.
A special place.
Villa will be fine. Spurs have Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, City (and Burnley and Sheff Utd) to play yet!
I'd just extend the trophy lease for another year at this point to Citeh.
I reckon Spurs will do us over at the weekend. Still think we are finishing 3rd.
Do they look better without Haaland?
Haaland has been missing chances he took for fun last season. Don't know if he's just a bit knackered, or teams have worked him out a bit.
I think most of the problem has been slightly fewer goalscorer options all round this season. If you don't have Gundogan or Mahrez hovering around, it's slightly easier to set up to defend against a single spearhead player. De Bruyne missing a large chunk of the season again made them both less creative and more reliant on Haaland. It has allowed Foden to develop, though.
Arsenal should be kicking themselves. They are, in my eyes, the team of the season, this is one they should have converted. Still time for City to drop a couple of points though.
You’re a glass half empty kinda guy eh? Arsenal have been great - so solid defensively, which always gives you a chance.
You’re a glass half empty kinda guy eh?
Can you tell? I think glass half empty is being kind. I didn't see us getting this far into the season before collapsing. I just think Spurs and Utd will up their game against us, Spurs moreso. I thought Citehs only chance of dropping points may have been last night.
So Leeds feel apart last night meaning Leicester are back to the Premier League before they'd even played this weekend and Ipswich now need 5 points out of a possible 9. I would have said that was easy but the way all the teams at the top of the Championship have been playing lately who knows. We also have two playoff chasers and a team in a relegation battle as our remaining fixtures.
Also wonder what points Leicester will start next year on...
Leeds looked woeful last night. Another year in the snake pit.
Credit to QPR though, they secure their safety so had something to play for. Not going to pretend I wasn't happy to see the result 😀
I was feeling quite good about the NLD, as Colin says, the Derby is special and form rarely a good indication. However Woolwich's thrashing is Chelsea has me with growing concern.
If we don't win the NLD then I don't see Spurs getting much against Chelsea, Liverpool or City. So we won't affect 1st or threaten 4th. If we do get a win on Saturday then maybe we could carry that forward and do both.
As has been a common feature this season, we are now without key players with injuries to both fullbacks. That, the thrashing we got last time out, and the big gap since last game are adding to my concerns
BTW for those thinking eh? How comes 3, games less played than villa? ts city's fault. They were in the cup semi when we should have played and their cl games clogs their schedule so it had virtually no where else it could fit. The other in hand game is Chelsea who were in the league Cup final when we should have met. Why that has taken so long to reschedule I have no idea..... its as if someone is trying to make it harder for us. Then of course we get to play nld on Sunday.... there's TV interference there but yes, it feels wrong to have villa play today and go 3 games ahead.
So Leeds feel apart last night meaning Leicester are back to the Premier League before they’d even played this weekend and Ipswich now need 5 points out of a possible 9. I would have said that was easy but the way all the teams at the top of the Championship have been playing lately who knows. We also have two playoff chasers and a team in a relegation battle as our remaining fixtures.
Also wonder what points Leicester will start next year on…
I'm just surprised they've left it till this late in the season to collapse! I'd have taken the playoffs at the beginning of the season TBH but its disappointing given the position they were in.
Didn’t Leeds do this every season for 15 years?
The championship is absolutely bonkers every year. The teams predicted to go up at the start of the season, never do. Someone always seems to sprint ahead, only for the wheels to fall off at the business end, where someone else puts a run together and crashes the play offs
Unfortunately they're not out of it yet. The way we've been playing lately 5 points is going to be touch and go. We need to get a win at Hull today and I'll start feeling a happier about it but the season has caught up with us too
But as Morecash has said previously, just to entertaining promotion is way beyond what I'd have accepted at the beginning of the season
@caher hope you enjoy this.
All the big time stuff is great but this is for a club that has had points deductions, players and staff going unpaid, threats of going out of business at any time but instead developing a huge team and fan spirit that raised us to the lofty heights of 17th (seventeenth!!) in League One, and many of the players and staff joining the afterparty at the legendary sticky floored Purple Turtle until the early hours.
https://twitter.com/ReadingFC/status/1784507954743452013
Fingers crossed for new owners and the same spirit carrying into 24-25
I have definitely converted to the opinion that VAR needs to go. Even when it is right (technically) it is killing the game. Far too many goals are being chalked off based on marginal decisions. You just can’t celebrate a goal until VAR has examined it in minute detail. Ruins the game.
yeah it needs to go, it's a complete mess, takes too long to changing interpretation mid season and trying to measure toe nails from 200 yards using a *480p broadcast.
deliberate misinterpretation misrepresentation 😉
@theotherjonv The Purple Turtle, that brings back fondish memories.
Spurs are going to get mauled here.
Spurs are absolutely all over the shop at the back. To concede the exact same set piece twice?
playimg this high line against Arsenal is mental. They look like they could put another 3 past them in the second half
Who do Arsenal think they are? Us? 😂
Thank goodness for VAR
Bloody hell, Arsenal, that sort of second half is no good for the blood pressure
That Arsenal game at end, had me thinking that City could do their open bus tour next week.
City made heavy weather of that and were fortunate that Wood left his shooting boots at home.
To be fair to Forest they didn’t look like relegation fodder there at all. Created loads of chances and gave Citeh a proper game
I do hope Ange ceases the stubborn 'High-line until we die' attitude. Unless you are as squad blessed as city they'd there are times where you must adapt... surely.
There will be Thursday nights on Azerbaijan for us ro practice it next season.
Wonder what the powers behind the scenes are thinking about ETH at Utd this morning following their plucky draw against the mighty Burnley.
I mean it's one thing to have one of those days, but to have less possession than a team that is 2nd bottom & the bottom 3 are a long way back this season when you are a team of Utd's stature must be embarrassing.
Not sure I have recovered after that NLD. I thoughts Spurs were unlucky, they had chances. Granted we pretty much gave them their two goals, but on another day the result goes against us. Again, me being pessimistic, I don't think we will win this now. Citeh aren't dropping points. Thankfully Bournemouth and Everton have nothing to play for, so I hope we can at least win 2 out of the remaining 3. Utd though, who knows.
I mean it’s one thing to have one of those days, but to have less possession than a team that is 2nd bottom & the bottom 3 are a long way back this season when you are a team of Utd’s stature must be embarrassing.
Have you not watched us this season? It’s beyond dire! Our position and points tally actually flatters us. We’ve picked up points while playing absolutely atrociously.
Its difficult to see what Ten Hag is actually trying to do, but we’ve gone backwards from last season and more worryingly, there’s not a single member of the squad who look they even care
Have you not watched us this season? It’s beyond dire! Our position and points tally actually flatters us. We’ve picked up points while playing absolutely atrociously.
Its difficult to see what Ten Hag is actually trying to do, but we’ve gone backwards from last season and more worryingly, there’s not a single member of the squad who look they even care
Yup if Arsenal, Liverpool or City, hell even Spurs, Villa or Newcastle had the same levels of luck they would've won the league by now...
We’ve got 5 games left this season including, somewhat unbelievably, an FA Cup final.
The general consensus among United fans is that on present ‘form’ we’ll probably lose them all, no doubt involving a couple of absolute spankings!
We’ve got Palace, Arsenal, Newcastle, Brighton then Citeh and the players look like they gave up even their usual pitiful efforts a long time ago.
Does anyone know what the record is for goals conceded in an FA Cup final? Whatever it is, I can see that going this year
God only knows what Dave Brailsford makes of this shambles
Think positive thoughts Binners, stop with the negative waves 😁
As said many times though, i just haven't a clue what is going on at ManU, with most teams you kind of understand why they get the outcome and numbers they do, the way they set up, the players they have, the movement of their players and so on, ManU are just a mystery as much now as they were a year ago, why do they allow so many shots at their goal, why do they struggle in possession, why do they have gaps in the middle, etc, etc, it's a proper head scratcher with the players that they have available, even at the weekend, you'd have thought 'Burnley must have had a lucky penalty to get a point', but it wasn't, they had more possession, several shots on goal and Onana was MoTM for ManU!
Well looks like the whole Utd squad is up for sale...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce96wzkgzpgo
Well Brightons season has gone to the dogs 🤷♂️
We really can’t expect to improve if we continue to be a talent feeder for the more wealthy teams.
Frustrating.
