ChrisJbarnes

I think on balance 7th is probably where we deserved to finish and frankly represents success given the fact that for a large part of the season weve had Dubravka, Krafth, Longstaff, Miley, Anderson and Murphy starting with no decent options off the bench. 6th would have been a miracle. Tonali back next season and keeping Bruno, Isak and Gordon would do me, with a few improvements focusing on expanding the squad and getting rid of deadwood. 

Looking forward and optimistic about next season. The players are well coached and for the most part, achieving in excess of their individual ability. UECL (assuming we get it) will be memorable and good experience on the journey to becoming CL regulars to practice playing multiple times per week, and should be a breeze compared to the likes of PSG and Dortmund. Hopefully some kinder domestic cup draws and injuries and fatigue won't be the same problem. Plus genuinely feel that we can try and compete to win and trophy next season and hopefully at least quality for the Europa.

We are not yet in the position whereby we can demand a result at Old Trafford with an injury ravaged squad. 

What a frustrating game and result. A spirited performance and plenty of attacking intent but glaring chances missed and gifting 3 goals more or less to Man U.

I can't knock the attitude of the players and the coaching has been great but ultimately the limitations of our squad players (who have been our XI for pretty much the whole season) have been perfectly demonstrated. Longstaff, Anderson (young), Krafth, Dubravka, Murphy are not players that we really want near the starting XI if we are going to progress.

That and a poor performance from Trippier. 

I believe and hope we can beat Brentford which would be a good way to end the season on a high in 7th and respectable given all that's happened. Fail to win and we don't deserve any sort of Europe. 

My brother (Fulham ST holder) reckons good player technically and a good signing on a free. Annoyed to lose him. Thinks he has a bigger opinion of himself than he should 

Presumably the answer is no

But if Villa win the Conference league and qualify for the CL would that release an additional Europa league place? As conference league winners qualify for Europa League 

36 minutes ago, gbandit said:

It’s hard to look forward to games against Palace in terms of a footballing spectacle but hopefully we’ll win and that’s all that matters

Exactly that

If we can have a repeat of the Fulham (A) game with a scrappy solid defensive away performance and grinding out a 1-0 I'd take that all day long 

Will be in the away end for the first time in ages. Looking forward to it! 

I notice that for the man united games they play Arsenal just a few days before, and we have an extra days recovery than them going into that fixture. That could give us an edge and help us get a result. 

Avoid defeat in that fixture and match their results with our easier fixtures and we should finish 6th 

As it's in may, theres hope of more players being back and options from the bench 

I'm excited that we can do it. Even if we don't, the excitement of having something to play for is great 

Bookies have us at 2/1 for a top 6 finish. Chelsea at 9/2. WHAM at 16/1

Can anyone going to the game confirm whether these are e tickets or paper? I've got someone offering to sell me one and transfer by email 

I expect we will lose this but would take a spare ticket in the away end if anyone has a spare that they want to get rid of at short notice!

Arguably now the biggest game of the season left if we are still to be wanting to finish 6th or 7th. Needs to be 3 points. 

6 minutes ago, SteV said:

They’ll be paper mate. Sounds like a scam.

Thanks. Will be cautious then

Can anyone confirm whether these are e tickets or paper tickets? I've found a guy who wants to transfer me a ticket by email but I thought that they would be printed?

Any spares that come up at the last minute- I live about 30 mins away from Stamford Bridge and can meet you there at short notice this evening!

Our run in largely consists of mid-table teams with little to play for away and our top 5/7 rivals at home. Man U away is our hardest fixture and thats not what it used to be. With players back and Pope in March, we now have the chance to start racking up the points and looking upwards. 

We'll be out the FA cup shortly and not in Europe meaning the focus entirely on the league and fewer opportunities to pick up more injuries means we have a chance of motoring upwards

How does the European spots get affected by either Man city/ Arsenal winning the CL, Liverpool or Brighton winning the Europa, or Villa winning the conference?

Probably true but we can take any break we can get!

Wolves playing Brighton tonight and with 1 day less to recover from the midweek game than us. Extra time in Brighton v Wolves would be good for us tonight. Plus we are at home. Got to win this please!

Top 4 is not going to happen realistically. Top 6 probably unrealistic as well. Realistically we should now be aiming for 7th which would be some sort of Europe and "best of the rest". Chelsea look like they are the biggest threat to me.

Given what we've been up against and the amount of injuries that would be a good result and progress. 

As someone else posted in the match thread, with no proper strikers, first choice midfielders out and Dubvravka in goal, we are realistically a mid table team. Therefore to grind out unglamorous results is probably the best to hope for until a few more come back. A point today was disappointing but considering it was nearly a loss indicates team spirit still there. 

With all the injuries, please just manage a win of any sort, even if it's a hard slog and get the points over the line with no more injuries. Doesn't need to be pretty. 

West Ham and Brighton (H) are the big games and if we win them both or avoid defeat we should be most likely to finish 7th. Tottenham (H) and Chelsea (A) as well ones to win or at least avoid defeat. With some of the hardest fixtures already played and a few important players to come back, and no European football to slow us down in the league, we should in principle manage 7th without hitting the same heights as last season in our final 14 games. To finish 6th and above Man United as they look to be finding form is a tall order with the amount of players out, but not impossible. 

Brilliant result and Brighton getting battered made it even better. Wouldn't have ever guessed we'd be 7th tonight but a bit of luck is well overdue. And thoroughly deserved the result tonight. Isak injury is a massive blow again, let's hope it's not a serious one. Need to pick up a few wins in the next 3 games and Europa League is a serious prospect again next season. 

Brilliant result. Turned up to the pub in time for the third. After that was not pretty! But doesn't matter. Who would have thought we'd be 7th after tonight?

2 hours ago, brummie said:

 

No, it's the Black Country derby, properly and deeply unpleasant. Derbies in this part of the world are complex and hard to explain simply. Villa - Albion, for example, is the original derby and massively important to a big chunk of our support (that side of the city) and not really to the bit south of the city. That's a 19th century rivalry. 

 

Wolves - Albion is more 20th century, but it's no Villa - Coventry one-way nothingfest.

I went to Aston uni and went to a lot of Birmingham / Villa / WBA games whenever cheap tickets were on offer. 

Always felt there was a lot more trouble to be had at Birmingham and Villa if you were looking for it than any other grounds I've visited. Can't put my finger on why but football fans in the West Midlands seems to have a rougher edge. 

I used to live half way between Villa Park and St Andrews and it all felt like it was going to kick off on Derby day. I went to St Andrews when Bhm beat them 2-1 in the cup, Villa fans beat down the separation between the fans and it all kicked off, bhm fan next to me left his kids behind in the stand to get involved in the fight. Pitch invasions as well from memory and I got a few people offer me a fight on the way over there.

Saw a WBA/ Villa 2-2 as well where it all got a bit spicy! 

Seems to be genuine hatred between a lot of these fans. 

Most of our cheap tickets were in the Holte end at Villa, at a time when they were near the bottom of the league and the angry knuckleheads about made us feel on edge quite a bit as well!

Would be funny if WBA made this 2-2 and it went to a replay