09 Apr 2025 09:14:18
It was almost certain anyway but now it's confirmed that the English coefficient in Europe competitions gives the premiership a minimum of FIVE Champions League places for next season.
09 Apr 2025 10:01:12
At the end of the day Tom, it won't really concern us especially after LeicesterMaresca's tram selection against Brentford and boring tactics.
09 Apr 2025 10:32:52
We shall see.
09 Apr 2025 13:23:58
Looking at all the fixtures for us, Villa, Newcastle, Forest, Arsenal and City, we will probably finish below all of them meaning we finish 7th.
09 Apr 2025 13:42:38
Blimey Bill, you need to find some reasons to be cheerful mate.
09 Apr 2025 14:04:34
Bill, just my take in the fixtures you mention and a lot will depend on events outside our control.
Villa and Arsenal could both be more interested in another competition. Man City will surely get a points deduction, our last game is against Forest and they could well be on the beach by then. Liverpool could be crowned champions pre our game against them and they could be on the bus!
09 Apr 2025 15:05:20
Tom
There are reasons to be cheerful and there are reasons to be realistic.
Even if City are docked points, it won't be this season due to appeals, they will push this all the way.
Villa used the loan market well in January, unlike us and although they are playing well in the prem, they won't beat PSG.
Liverpool and Forest will want to turn us over, their fans hate us and I'm sure Forest will want to continue the good form they are in.
This is why 7th is our best bet and I hope that even though I have said the RCL is a tin pot trophy, I hope we win it so at least we get into the Europa league the following season.
09 Apr 2025 15:36:54
I may well be wrong but if City are docked points I think they are applied this season and any appeal will also be before the new season or European qualification.
I can’t see us getting beaten now that Jackson is back.
09 Apr 2025 15:59:23
Tom
I really hope you are right, nothing would please me more and it would give us a great foundation for the CWC and for next season.
09 Apr 2025 16:30:37
Bill, I’m only joking about us not getting beaten, I thought it might cheer you up!
If it helps I can’t see us winning another game. We will finish ninth and EM will be sacked along with SD’s. Our owners will sell the club to some bloke called Musk who will then put a 200% tariff on all season tickets. His second act will be to sack all the paid staff but later remember he didn’t mean the players. Blimey that sounds like Sir Jim!
Maybe there are some that would be with that outcome? I hope not.
09 Apr 2025 19:18:23
Not helpful Tom lol.
10 Apr 2025 07:55:12
Tom, getting fifth spot will be difficult but I am not going to make any predictions being someone who placed four each way bets on the Grand National and didn’t get a place. As for sacking the SDs good idea. As for Maresca, he is not a top coach and is not capable of bringing us up to a higher level. If people are happy with the status quo, he is the right person for the job. Perhaps, it’s not the SDs fault they may have been instructed to bring in a mediocre coach and players last summer.
10 Apr 2025 09:25:20
Jimbo, I will assume your comment about the SD’s being “instructed” to bring in mediocre players as you trying to make a point. We have no real idea what the SD’s have been told to do and it may well be that the owners consider them as having complied with there job descriptions.
I have been critical of EM’a tactical lack of flexibility and on occasion stubbornness to change his system. Managers of other teams generally find solutions to combat any system and it’s another test for any manager not to be predictable. I would suggest that one of the reasons the scousers are going through a very mini slump is because managers have worked out the Slot system.
I will judge EM at the end of the season. It’s his first season as a premiership manager but that for me will not be an excuse when I make my assessment.
My only two premiership position football bets this season were in the handicap. I backed Forest and Palace. They have already paid out on Forest.
10 Apr 2025 14:24:45
Tom
If clubs have just worked out Slot's tactics, that's good because teams in the championship and prem work out LeicesterMaresca's tactics by December.
10 Apr 2025 15:17:05
Bill, that was my point and why I have been critical of him from match to match but that doesn’t mean he can’t learn to adapt from game to game. If he carries on with these repetitive tactics, he will get sacked sooner rather than later. Obviously i don’t want to happen.
His biggest muck up in my opinion came when we were 1-0 up against Fulham and getting destroyed down our right side. He should have reacted and changed things asap but didn’t and the rest was history.
Listen, I don’t follow the scousers but that’s what it looks like to me and they also look like they are running in treacle. Out of all our home games left that of be the one I am most confident of winning.
10 Apr 2025 17:15:08
Tom
I just hope they don't put their youngsters out against us, look what happened in the cup final last season.
10 Apr 2025 18:34:36
They may well have won the league by then!