The Race for 4th

[SirHarryHotspur]

I am going for a repeat of last season , all down to the last day , Leeds already relegated and a masterclass from Sonny gets us 3rd/4th place.

 

[the shelf]

with the money clubs have these days it's becoming a myth that top four is the be all and end all - a narrative banded about by Sky Sports to maintain interest.

Chelsea won't get top 4 and they won't have a problem buying players in the summer, as will be the case with many others. If you pay the cash you'd be surprised how many players are suddently happy to play Europa League.

Levy however will use us not getting top 4 as an excuse not to spend the money we need to.

 

[Albertbarich]

Best we can hope for now is get top four and City win the league which would mean for all the scums noise , their best season in years won't be any better than ours.

I'm confident too. It won't be pretty at all but we can grind results out with only one game a week.

 

[HodisGawd]

with the money clubs have these days it's becoming a myth that top four is the be all and end all - a narrative banded about by Sky Sports to maintain interest.

Chelsea won't get top 4 and they won't have a problem buying players in the summer, as will be the case with many others. If you pay the cash you'd be surprised how many players are suddently happy to play Europa League.

Levy however will use us not getting top 4 as an excuse not to spend the money we need to.

No. If Chelsea spend big again, it will be because they are continuing this gamble with their future which, if the players turn out to be duds, will store up potential FFP problems for themselves down the line. So far they have had a decent amount of leeway to work with, but that is running out. If they spend big again without getting the Champions League revenue that comes with finishing in the top 4, then they are doing so while ramping up that risk considerably.

What Chelsea are doing is gambling their future.

But football is not just about cash now, it's also about revenue.

We are following a different plan that (in my opinion, rightly) involves far less risk and we need top 4.

Saying we don't, is dumb.

 

[Styopa]

with the money clubs have these days it's becoming a myth that top four is the be all and end all - a narrative banded about by Sky Sports to maintain interest.

Chelsea won't get top 4 and they won't have a problem buying players in the summer, as will be the case with many others. If you pay the cash you'd be surprised how many players are suddently happy to play Europa League.

Levy however will use us not getting top 4 as an excuse not to spend the money we need to.

I agree partly with @HodisGawd above, but I think you are right that other clubs will still find a way to spend heavily, even if not in the Champions League. For example, I am sure Newcastle will spend big, regardless of whether they are in the Champions League. I am sure Liverpool will also have money to spend and be able to attract players even if they miss out. Arsenal haven't finished in the top four since 2015/16, but that has not stopped them from spending considerable amounts improving their squad.

 

[jurgen11]

Yup…. What if conte gets us 3rd

Statue on the concourse

 

[mil1lion]

I don't know why people overlook top 4. It's really simple for me, finish as high as possible. That's what it's about. CL is a bonus for finishing in top 4. I would much rather be in CL than Europa anyway. It's just a lot more exciting to me and I prefer Tuesday/Wednesday games to Thursday where every following game is Sunday. I also don't get excited for those Europa games. People talk about chances of winning but we have little chance winning the Premier League too, it doesn't mean I don't mind getting relegated from it.

It's a good thing 3rd is in sight for us now. We really need to make that our target. Its better to chase down a team than being chased. Also finishing 3rd in a season where we had CL (where you can't rotate as much as Europa) and finishing top 4 is progress from last season. It might not be a big jump but its still progressing further in a tougher European competition while maintaining the league form. That's also so important that we show progress and top 4 represents that. If we fail then it's no better than last season, missing top 4 but progressing a little further in Europe.

 

[CookieYiddo]

Did my predictions and tried to be as unbiased as possible have us 4th with 70 points. Scum also came 2nd which was wonderful

 

[Mate]

Did my predictions and tried to be as unbiased as possible have us 4th with 70 points. Scum also came 2nd which was wonderful

The City v Arsenal game will be pivotal, not just for points but also momentum. If City fail to win then I can't see them recovering.

 

[Styopa]

I don't know why people overlook top 4. It's really simple for me, finish as high as possible. That's what it's about. CL is a bonus for finishing in top 4. I would much rather be in CL than Europa anyway. It's just a lot more exciting to me and I prefer Tuesday/Wednesday games to Thursday where every following game is Sunday. I also don't get excited for those Europa games. People talk about chances of winning but we have little chance winning the Premier League too, it doesn't mean I don't mind getting relegated from it.

It's a good thing 3rd is in sight for us now. We really need to make that our target. Its better to chase down a team than being chased. Also finishing 3rd in a season where we had CL (where you can't rotate as much as Europa) and finishing top 4 is progress from last season. It might not be a big jump but its still progressing further in a tougher European competition while maintaining the league form. That's also so important that we show progress and top 4 represents that. If we fail then it's no better than last season, missing top 4 but progressing a little further in Europe.

I think this is true; it's better to finish as high in the league as possible. I, too, prefer the Tue/Wed > Sat cycle instead of the Thur > Sun cycle.

But I also understand why people get a bit fed up with the race for the top four. The same thing happened with Arsenal fans during the later Wenger years. Although they won a few cups during that period, they regularly finished in the top four but seemed stuck in a rut.

 

[hughy]

The City v Arsenal game will be pivotal, not just for points but also momentum. If City fail to win then I can't see them recovering.

Desperately hoping they get knocked out of the CL so they see the PL as a reason to salvage a disappointing season. I'm getting the feeling the PL is very much an afterthought for them this year.

 

[garyhopkins]

Last week I was joking with my Italian AC Milan friend that we're not great playing twice a week and especially if the weather is not good. I see a downpour and my hopes drop. He felt Conte only wins with the best players. I told him that we'd win the top 4 trophy again as we play once a week and the weather is improving. Oh, he laughed but I told him last season I threw some money down, around this time, on us coming top 4 and I'm confident if we keep Conte that it'll play out similarly again. Anyway, after the game I put a little down at 3.3 (23/10); his unbridled disdain probably stopped me going all in. But we're currently down to 2.6 (8/5) and looking at Liverpool's upcoming run I'm thinking it may be the last chance to pile on...

 

[worcestersauce]

Southampton gonna b very difficult game. There on a new manager bounce. But a win would be massive and is maybe needed if top is 4 to be realistic.

'swhy I said If.

 

[sundanceyid10]

with the money clubs have these days it's becoming a myth that top four is the be all and end all - a narrative banded about by Sky Sports to maintain interest.

Chelsea won't get top 4 and they won't have a problem buying players in the summer, as will be the case with many others. If you pay the cash you'd be surprised how many players are suddently happy to play Europa League.

Levy however will use us not getting top 4 as an excuse not to spend the money we need to.

I would rather actually win something than 4th, not that we ever will under Levy.

 

[easley91]

Did I dream it, or was there news of it eventually becoming the top 5 going into the Champions League? In theory that puts less pressure on the league and allows the manager to focus a bit more on the domestic cups.

 

[spurs mental]

Did I dream it, or was there news of it eventually becoming the top 5 going into the Champions League? In theory that puts less pressure on the league and allows the manager to focus a bit more on the domestic cups.

Yes, it will become top 5, not sure on when though.

 

[mil1lion]

Top 5 now moneybags Newcastle have come into the mix. It will still be as tough as ever to get into the CL. Most likely a big 7 challenging with Spurs hanging around as if we were invited.

 

[michaelj70]

Said at time it felt like our 7 -2 v Bayern, everything just seemed to go in for them. Was a bit of freak result.

As yesterday as shown. Hopefully Real knock any little bit of hope they have before city, Chelsea and Arsenal next. We have some opportunity to cement 4th over next 5 games.

Just hoping Mags don't go on a run of form

 

[Cavehillspur]

Desperately hoping they get knocked out of the CL so they see the PL as a reason to salvage a disappointing season. I'm getting the feeling the PL is very much an afterthought for them this year.

It definitely is, there was an article on BBC the other day which had Pep saying their season will be judged on their champions league performance, a little part of me died inside when I read that. Jammy gooner twats.

 

[Hawkey77]

Yes, it will become top 5, not sure on when though.

When the new sponsorship/broadcast cycle begins 2024-25 season.