[Albion] Is the top 4 really out of reach?

[Simster]

Obviously strength in depth is the big question mark, but it's worth remembering that Leicester didn't have a squad featuring £50m players on the bench when they won the league.

No disrespect meant but they were relying on Leo Ulloa as their back up striker. I liked Ulloa of course, but is he a massive upgrade on, say, Denis Undav?

 

[Giraffe]

On current form it is there for the taking. I'd say only Arsenal, Man City and Man Utd are not catchable. I am hopeful Newcastle may start to wane and focus on their cup final

 

[Justice]

I just shudder at threads like this as they’re ones that other fans may see or be bounced when we’re 14th etc

Indeed our striker could be Danny Welbeck for the next four games who didn’t do anything in the last two.

 

[Diallo]

This is Brighton and Hove Albion. Of course we’re finishing top 4! This rise from the ashes story still isn’t over!

 

[Simster]

I just shudder at threads like this as they’re ones that other fans may see or be bounced when we’re 14th etc

But we are in the European places NOW. If we can't discuss it here and now, where and when can we?

 

[MJsGhost]

FiveThirtyEight predict 7th, but only 3 points off 4th and a better than 1 in 5 chance of making the top 4.

Just 3 more points to find from somewhere...

My word.

EDIT: I was looking at the SPI column, not points. The points prediction is 6 points off 4th place, so we need to find TWO extra wins (22% change of CL still stands, as does the prediction of 7th!). I'll add the table, sorted by points further below...

 

[bhafc99]

Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs are nailed on for top 4 I think. So it needs Newcastle to start sliding big time, and then for us to stay ahead of Chelsea, Spurs etc. I just don’t think it’s feasible, tbh, and want top six to be the aim - and achievement.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Out of reach without a couple more signings. Not enough squad depth for a very busy spring

 

[jcdenton08]

But we are in the European places NOW. If we can't discuss it here and now, where and when can we?

I hear you, but top 7 would be an astounding achievement. I just can’t see a world where we finish ahead of Chelsea, Arsenal, City, Liverpool, Newcastle and Man Utd. Chelsea have about half their team to come back from injury and are about to spend another £108m on a player today, after spending £90m on a winger a few weeks ago…

 

[Triggaaar]

Is the top 4 really out of reach?​

Yes.

Let's keep our feet on the ground and hope to be pleasantly surprised. Liverpool and Chelsea are likely to have better second halves of the season, and even if we play well I'm expecting us to miss out on any European place. If we get the final European place, I'll be crying with happiness.

 

[Triggaaar]

But we are in the European places NOW. If we can't discuss it here and now, where and when can we?

In the pub, where it won't later be bounced

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

I just shudder at threads like this as they’re ones that other fans may see or be bounced when we’re 14th etc

This is true. However the question simply asked if it was possible. I don't think any of our fans is stupid enough to think we are very likely or a certainty, more that we are on the brink of something that for our club would be phenomenal.

Fans always predict finishing spots, if we were 12th we would be debating if 8th or a possible European place were likely or casting our minds back to Hughton and early Potter, we were 16th and the question was could we go down.

Who cares if other fans 'use this', we are a fantastic club in a fantastic position we have never enjoyed before, and we should make the most of it, it is a great feeling!

 

[Titanic]

Anything above 8th is a massive achievement. 4th seems very unlikely.

 

[Simster]

In the pub, where it won't later be bounced

But nobody has said anything they regret on here? I started it and only asked if it was possible.

I couldn't care less if a Palace gimp bounced it. I'm not that drippy. Meanwhile, they're more likely to go down than reach the levels we're at.

 

[PHCgull]

yes, out of reach.

it would be AMAZING to fend off one of liverpool and chelsea and cling onto 7th...

 

[Diallo]

31 points gained from our first 19 games this season.

41 points needed from the next 19 games to equal last seasons 4th place points total.

Definitely possible, especially without our manager jumping ship this time.

 

[Dibdab]

Of course it's doable although a long shot. Win the games in hand and beat the team likely to be in the 4th spot and we are only a couple of points behind. Away at St James Park could be a HUGE game for us!

 

[Bozza]

I'd snatch your hand off for seventh right now, so I'm #TeamOutOfReach

That's given me an idea for tomorrow's poll though...

 

[Bozza]

FiveThirtyEight say we have a 22% chance - https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/premier-league/

You can back us to finish in the top four at 9.4 on the Betfair exchange, an implied probability of about 11% - https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/football/market/1.199545792

 

[Icy Gull]

This is Brighton and Hove Albion. Of course we’re finishing top 4! This rise from the ashes story still isn’t over!

As a fan for more years than I care to calculate my take is:

This is Brighton and Hove Albion. Of course we won’t, starting with a defeat against Bournemouth