The top 4

[Leewilson]

Pains me to say but it looks like Southampton are going to slip away. Ashame.

 

[Jamie_SFC]

Yeah we're done now. We can't score goals.

I'm looking forward to another exodus in the Summer.

 

[allouso]

9 points from Spurs, Southampton and City puts us right back in it. Burnley & Swansea next before playing United and Arsenal.

We're pretty close to third too, couldn't have imagined it a couple of months ago.

 

[JimJams]

Yeah we're done now. We can't score goals.

I'm looking forward to another exodus in the Summer.

Think of it this way, if you lose enough players this summer, by this time next year you'll be conceding that the title may now be just out of reach.

Onwards and upwards.

 

[Skinner]

I don't think it'll be an exodus. Although, the loss of Schneiderlin will be more of a loss than any they've have so far combined. He's a key reason that has allowed Southampton to get on the front foot as much as they have since promotion.

 

[HarvSFC]

Clyne and Rodriguez won't be extending their contracts past 2016, so they'll probably be off too and Alderweireld won't be staying permanently.

 

[Skinner]

Why would Clyne leave? He's a very loyal player, stayed with us 2 more years than he should have.

 

[SALTIRE]

9 points from Spurs, Southampton and City puts us right back in it. Burnley & Swansea next before playing United and Arsenal.

We're pretty close to third too, couldn't have imagined it a couple of months ago.

26 points out of the last 30 and undefeated league-wise since Man Utd away on 14th December; some going that.

 

[HarvSFC]

Why would Clyne leave? He's a very loyal player, stayed with us 2 more years than he should have.

Man Utd and Chelsea are being linked and once that happens there isn't a lot that we can do about it. I thought it was well known that Clyne rejected our contract offer. Not to forget that he also ran down his contract at Palace.

 

[Skinner]

Man Utd and Chelsea are being linked and once that happens there isn't a lot that we can do about it. I thought it was well known that Clyne rejected our contract offer. Not to forget that he also ran down his contract at Palace.

Clyne will go where there's a guarantee for first team football, he has a history for it. He turned down Wolves in 2010, rejected United for your mob aswell.

He didn't sign a new contract with us because we were going nowhere and he was way too good for the division we were fighting to stay in. I didn't know he rejected an offer from Saints, he's always come across very happy there and it's not as if you aren't progressing.

 

[Jamie_SFC]

Wanyama is bound to attract interest as well. He's been class this season.

 

[smat]

We're only four points behind Man City. Not that we'll get near them in our form, but still, had no idea they'd struggled this much.

Liverpool have a gimme in midweek (home to Burnley) while we're at QPR. Southampton have a potentially tough one against Palace, with United at Newcastle. Not sure who will drop points from that lot, but it could potentially be a very bad week for someone.

 

[Pagnell]

You certainly did, and I'm no less confident. People are saying that Southampton will fall away now, but the same was said after they lost to Man City, to Man United and to Arsenal. They missed a huge trick by not strengthening enough in the January window, but I still think they'll have enough to at least challenge for the top four spots.

Another loss for Southampton this weekend whilst the other main contenders won. They're already 4 points behind 4th. I know there is plenty of time to go but they're struggling more than any of the other contenders with just 4 points from their last 15. Could end up worse than I thought if they don't stop this slide.

#safebet

 

[mistermagic]

Well it was fun posting in a "top 4" thread in the Premier League about my team up until now, but there's no chance of us getting a place now.

Don't feel too bad, the Europa League is much better if you go to games. Bit less cash though.

 

[HarvSFC]

Don't feel too bad, the Europa League is much better if you go to games. Bit less cash though.

I'm only able to go to games in the holidays when I'm back home.

 

[Jamie_SFC]

We won't get Europa either.

#8th.

 

[mistermagic]

#6th

 

[Forthright]

Top 2 are already settled. Arsenal appear likely to take a top 4 spot. Southampton have run out of steam. Spurs have perhaps a good chance to break into the top 4 and as do Liverpool.

The above will finish in the top 6.

 

[Christian Slater]

Not sure City are the bankers a lot of people are claiming for that second place.

 

[smat]

Not sure City are the bankers a lot of people are claiming for that second place.

It would be funny if they got embroiled in the CL places fight but I doubt it'll happen. Their fixtures are very non-threatening. Besides, no-one behind them is on good enough form to take advantage (except Liverpool, who won't make up the 7 points on them).

 

[merseyboyred]

Man Utd's next 8 (7 league) are rather difficult. FA Cup game could have a huge impact.

 

[thespus]

I'd rather be thrashed 5-0 in the return leg at Monaco than lose that FA Cup QF. It's a chance to really sink a dagger into Manchester United's season — and, of course, our chance at silverware this season.

Edit - As for top 4, I think ourselves and Liverpool should be the favourites at this point. I'd love for us to push on for 2nd, but avoiding a CL playoff next year itself would be a nice change.

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

With the run of games United have coming up in March, I concur that Arsenal and Liverpool are favourites for those champions league spots.
Although saying that, United haven't done too badly against the top sides this season.

 

[Pagnell]

Massive late win for Southampton last night to put them back into 5th, or at least until tonight as I would expect Liverpool to beat Burnley at home. The south coast team still has a serious issue finding the net though, with just 2 goals in their last 6 games. And Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is up next.

 

[Steady]

The south coast team still has a serious issue finding the net though, with just 2 goals in their last 6 games. And Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is up next.

I love to think that you talk like this in real life.

I'm still vaguely confident that Southampton will finish within 5 points of the top four. Vaguely confident, I say.

 

[Pagnell]

And now getting personal. Nice.

 

[Steady]

If I were to get personal I'd call you a Kelly Jones lookalike.

 

[mistermagic]

Liverpool are now the most in-form team of the league 26 points from 30. None of the other top sides have achieved that. Not even Bayern (25). In lesser leagues, PSV Eindhoven and Benfica have achieved more (27).

Anyway, great to see that the race for the top 4 is on. Wednesday was a bit the one where the top sides were expected to win their games. The weekend after next will be interesting with Chelsea v Southampton and Man Utd v Tottenham but first Tottenham leapfrog Southampton if they win at QPR on Saturday.

 

[Mustard]

We're only 2 points off with 24 in the last 10 too. I really don't think Man City are safe in second yet because both Liverpool and ourselves have made up 10 and 8 points respectively in the last 10 games. Not sure what their fixture list is like but it's going to make for an interesting last stretch.

 

[Pagnell]

Our 3 most difficult remaining fixtures are Arsenal, United and Chelsea, with the first two in consecutive matches. If we can get at least 6 points from those three games I'd say we'll finish top 4 at United's expense, especially if we beat them at Anfield in a few weeks time. United have a truly shite set of fixtures coming up, with 4 teams from the top 7 in their next 6 matches, including City and Chelsea consecutively. Like I said in the Newcastle-ManU matchday thread, I don't believe they will still be in the top 4 when they kick off against Everton the end of next month.