The Race for the Top Four Finish

Gbear · 04-04-2015 7:59pm

Manchester Utd

After a couple of crucial games, the race is pretty much done and dusted.

From Liverpool's perspective, you don't want to be utterly reliant on getting at least 3 points from 2 fixtures like Utd and Arsenal. They simply left themselves too much to do.

A good effort to get back in the running but the team just isn't good enough to get top 4 this season and it's as simple as that.

Unearthly · 05-04-2015 1:22pm

Southampton

All a bit of an enjoyable anti climax in the end

Harry Palmr · 05-04-2015 3:21pm

Raf32 wrote: »

Nearly sewn up now. Tottenham dropping points tomorrow would finish it now.

and so it came to pass

Mr.Nice Guy · 05-04-2015 7:48pm

Southampton

I'm not sure why people think it's all but over? United's gap over Liverpool and Spurs is 8 points but their next three games are by far the toughest:

vs Man City (H)
vs Chelsea (A)
vs Everton (A)

Contrast that with Liverpool:

vs Newcastle (H)
vs Hull (A)
vs West Brom (A)

And Spurs:

vs Villa (H)
vs Newcastle (A)
vs Southampton (A)

Honestly it's not beyond the realms of possibility that United's lead will be cut to 5 points after the derby, and then 2 points after the game away to the soon-to-be champions. Then that Everton game would be a massive pressure game and Goodison Park is not an easy place to go to at the best of times.

LuckyLloyd · 05-04-2015 11:11pm

Southampton

It's over because Spurs and Liverpool will continue to drop points irrespective of what Utd and Arsenal do.

Oranage2 · 06-04-2015 6:24am

Southampton

It's over, and has been since united beat pool. The last two games were worrying for pool, didn't even look close and these teams and the top 4 rivals. I'd expect the same top 4 next season too.

Liverpool made a mistake by spending all the Suarez money, just like spurs spent the bale money. You don't just go out and buy crap, save the money and wait till the Right player is available. Not one signing could be classed as a success,

Lambert - bad
lovren - terrible
moreno - shocking (makes a mistake that leads to a goal every single game)
manqilo - not great but a loan
baloteli - probably the worst of all the signings
markovic - very poor this season but I'll reserve judgement
lallana - always injured, top half player not really a top 4 one though
Can - 10 million but plays like a 10 million pound player - though probably best signing of the lot

That's about 120 million, how Rodgers still has a job after okaying them signings is beyond me.

Kirby · 06-04-2015 8:06am

Tottenham Hotspur

I think Can and Lallana have proven both at Liverpool and at their previous clubs that they are good players so I think your assessment of them is harsh.

The rest? Spot on.

MagicIRL · 06-04-2015 10:04am

Southampton

Lallana is a good player, not a great player, Bill.

If you play him he'll score the odd goal or assist but he just doesn't seem to do enough in his vast majority of games. I don't think anyone is envious of any of Liverpool's signings, same with Spurs bar Eriksson.

I also think Coutinho is an average #10, but he's young.

LuckyLloyd · 06-04-2015 10:45am

Southampton

If Lallana had cost £12m he'd be a good acquisition. He didn't though, he cost a lot more than that unfortunately.

Will I Amnt · 06-04-2015 10:52am

I like Lallana, he's looked good at times for Liverpool but it's got to be hard for him to show his worth when he can't get any kind of decent run of games together.

Being English and one of the better performing English players the previous season, he was never going to go for much less than 20m.
You would have to pay similar for someone like Delph or Ings in the Summer, it's just the way it is.

Korat · 06-04-2015 11:01am

Discipline is killing Liverpool's chances.

Spurs are Spurs, flattering to decieve at every opportunity.

Hell knows what Utd will do next.

Chelsea
Arsenal
Man City
(up for grabs)

Danye · 06-04-2015 11:50am

Will I Amnt wrote: »

I like Lallana, he's looked good at times for Liverpool but it's got to be hard for him to show his worth when he can't get any kind of decent run of games together.

Being English and one of the better performing English players the previous season, he was never going to go for much less than 20m.
You would have to pay similar for someone like Delph or Ings in the Summer, it's just the way it is.

There's not a chance that Delph or Ings will fetch a fee of £20 million.

Will I Amnt · 06-04-2015 11:54am

Danye wrote: »

There's not a chance that Delph or Ings will fetch a fee of £20 million.

Depends on who is buying. Ings is out of contract soon though but I'm just using an example of the level of player.

Danye · 06-04-2015 12:02pm

Will I Amnt wrote: »

Depends on who is buying. Ings is out of contract soon though but I'm just using an example of the level of player.

I agree that English players are vastly overpriced but I think buying clubs won't be throwing crazy money at them in the future.

Iused2likebusts · 06-04-2015 12:03pm

Liverpool

Ings is out of contract in June the fee will be set by a tribunal. If he moves abroad it will be a free. I get the general point being made flavour of the month English players are overpriced.

niallo27 · 06-04-2015 12:13pm

Manchester Utd

Oranage2 wrote: »

It's over, and has been since united beat pool. The last two games were worrying for pool, didn't even look close and these teams and the top 4 rivals. I'd expect the same top 4 next season too.

Liverpool made a mistake by spending all the Suarez money, just like spurs spent the bale money. You don't just go out and buy crap, save the money and wait till the Right player is available. Not one signing could be classed as a success,

Lambert - bad
lovren - terrible
moreno - shocking (makes a mistake that leads to a goal every single game)
manqilo - not great but a loan
baloteli - probably the worst of all the signings
markovic - very poor this season but I'll reserve judgement
lallana - always injured, top half player not really a top 4 one though
Can - 10 million but plays like a 10 million pound player - though probably best signing of the lot

That's about 120 million, how Rodgers still has a job after okaying them signings is beyond me.

You could make that argument for nearly any team in top 5 or 6.

RobertKK · 06-04-2015 12:15pm

Southampton

The problems for the team below the current top four are many.

1. The obvious 8 point gap,
2. They have an inferior goal difference.
3. Arsenal and United have the best current form of the top 4.
4. Man City looking like the weakest team in the top 4 right now on current form, but their squad has better players than the teams outside the top 4.
5. Spurs will not make top 4.
6. Chelsea unlikely to lose against Liverpool, while one could make an argument for United to beat both City and Chelsea.
7. United have the best defensive record of the top 6 going back over 20 games.
8. Arsenal in great form, particularly at home and they just need 13 points from 7 games.

I think guaranteed top 4 are Chelsea, United, Arsenal and the weak link is City. That is just going on form. Liverpool and Spurs then dropping points and suspect form, would point to the top 4 being the current teams and a race to finish 2nd.
The battle for 2nd place is the most interesting battle right now.

RobertKK · 06-04-2015 12:19pm

Southampton

So who will finish 2nd in the league?

Will Chelsea just fall apart and get overtaken?
Will be it be Arsenal, United or Man City?

I am going for a big battle between Arsenal and United for 2nd place, and United to get there as they revenge their FA defeat to Arsenal in the second last game.
Man City to come 4th.

Harry Palmr · 06-04-2015 12:22pm

Arsenal - City are going to stumble and bumble their way to 4th place. They will then sack their manager and buy up every young and promising English player in the summer that they can afford.

CSF · 06-04-2015 12:22pm

Southampton

I'll still go with City. Best players and all that.

RasTa · 06-04-2015 12:22pm

Can we have a thread for who will finish 3rd?

Panthro · 06-04-2015 12:23pm

I'd like to see arsenal get it

Rayne Wooney · 06-04-2015 12:27pm

Southampton

Top 4 will remain the same unless one of City, Arsenal or United collapse completely. Liverpool will lose at least one of their run in and then need one of the other 3 to lose 4 from 7 which is unlikely to say the least

You have to think Rodgers is destined to fail at this stage looking on to next season if he doesn't get top 4, the squad needs at least 3 top quality players and there is little chance of getting even one, it doesn't matter how tactically astute you are if you can't get the players you won't get anywhere.

Iused2likebusts · 06-04-2015 12:29pm

Liverpool

niallo27 wrote: »

You could make that argument for nearly any team in top 5 or 6.

Fabregas costa and sanchez are the 3 signings of the top 6 that have had a big impact. The likes of blind debuchy and Rojo have been good signings. Herrera looks a very good player but 3 weeks ago oranange would've been writing him off. Di maria it hasn't worked out for yet but I don't think anyone could have foreseen that. None of city's signings have improved them. Filipe Luis has barely got a kick at Chelsea. Shaw lovren and chambers have struggled with the step up so far.

Oranage2 · 06-04-2015 12:31pm

Southampton

niallo27 wrote: »

You could make that argument for nearly any team in top 5 or 6.

arsenals signings this season have all been excellent for the most part, same for Chelsea.

Uniteds have all been very good though overspent on players like di Maria, herrara and Shaw

city's have been average and I don't know or care who spurs bought.

TheCitizen · 06-04-2015 12:35pm

Southampton

Arsenal. Arsenal have some awful whingers in their support. Every season they bitch about Wenger. When he eventually leaves they could easily drop out of the top 4 for a couple of seasons.

KaiserGunner · 06-04-2015 12:42pm

Southampton

TheCitizen wrote: »

Arsenal. Arsenal have some awful whingers in their support. Every season they bitch about Wenger. When he eventually leaves they could easily drop out of the top 4 for a couple of seasons.

Every team has whingers in their support, just look at the Liverpool and Man Utd threads over the last year and you will see them whinge too.

niallo27 · 06-04-2015 12:42pm

Manchester Utd

Oranage2 wrote: »

arsenals signings this season have all been excellent for the most part, same for Chelsea.

Uniteds have all been very good though overspent on players like di Maria, herrara and Shaw

city's have been average and I don't know or care who spurs bought.

Danny Wellbeck

Why do you forgive utd for overspending but Rodgers should get sacked for doing the same.

ronjo · 06-04-2015 12:45pm

Southampton

niallo27 wrote: »

Danny Wellbeck

Why do you forgive utd for overspending but Rodgers should get sacked for doing the same.

Probably and maybe unfairly Van Gaal can afford to overspend.

niallo27 · 06-04-2015 12:51pm

Manchester Utd

ronjo wrote: »

Probably and maybe unfairly Van Gaal can afford to overspend.

Totally agree. Liverpools squad was so thin though Rodgers had to invest and take a few chances.

The Race for the Top Four Finish

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