[Albion] Palace resurgence

[Zeus]

but it's also highly likely we finish mid table with nothing to show for our huge efforts and behind our arch rivals.

It’s definitely not “highly likely”. In fact it would take a big turn around in form for us to not be very close to a European place.

 

[Jim in the West]

Palace have been on a great run, and I am slightly worried about them catching us. However, since they beat us (TWELVE games ago) they have made up precisely ONE point on us [we were on 24 pts, they were on 16 pts after that defeat....we are now on 46 pts, they're on 39].

Opta gives us a 76% chance of finishing 8th or higher, whereas they give Palace only a 5% chance of finishing 8th or above.

 

[The Grockle]

It’s definitely not “highly likely”. In fact it would take a big turn around in form for us to not be very close to a European place.

I'm not willing it happen and we have put ourself in a strong position but I'd suggest it's more likely we'll finish 10th (mid table) than 6th.

I appreciate the bookies have us at 2-1 but our recent form skews those odds in my opinion.

 

[The Fits]

Fair play to them for keeping Eze and Guehi. They’re quite committed to keeping at least some of their better players which has worked for them. And they’ve actually replaced really well- both the French CB and Sarr look really solid signings and bargains. I just can’t see them breaking into Europe this season. They have a really tough run of fixtures. Still, this season has been pretty remarkable and I wouldn’t bet against both of us finishing surprisingly high.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Dreading the game at Selhurst with the form they are in

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Fair play to them for keeping Eze and Guehi. They’re quite committed to keeping at least some of their better players which has worked for them. And they’ve actually replaced really well- both the French CB and Sarr look really solid signings and bargains. I just can’t see them breaking into Europe this season. They have a really tough run of fixtures. Still, this season has been pretty remarkable and I wouldn’t bet against both of us finishing surprisingly high.

I think they'll keep Eze this summer, essentially because he's on a decent contract and he hasn't played well enough for a consistent period this season to make anybody want to splash out the money they'd expect for him (let us not forget this is the club who once thought Charlotte FC's Wilfried Zaha was worth £80m). Guehi will go because his contract is running down and he won't be short of options. Mateta will probably also leave given his age and the fact that this represents the one chance of his entire career to move to a decent club and maximise his income. Somebody like Man United will pick him up as a panic buy due to the fact that no actual good strikers want to join them.

 

[The Fits]

I think they'll keep Eze this summer, essentially because he's on a decent contract and he hasn't played well enough for a consistent period this season to make anybody want to splash out the money they'd expect for him (let us not forget this is the club who once thought Charlotte FC's Wilfried Zaha was worth £80m). Guehi will go because his contract is running down and he won't be short of options. Mateta will probably also leave given his age and the fact that this represents the one chance of his entire career to move to a decent club and maximise his income. Somebody like Man United will pick him up as a panic buy due to the fact that no actual good strikers want to join them.

And Eze has a problem in that he’s good, very good, but is he good enough? He plays THE position that the bigger clubs buy BIG in. Has he got enough to get anywhere near a starting place at a Liverpool etc? I’m not sure he has. So unless he does something nuts like joins a Tottenham or similar (maybe Newcastle?) I’m not sure the options are hugely attractive. And we know Palace will want the kind of money where the bigger teams probably have what they’d consider better options.

 

[barbus_max bhafc]

Who honestly gives a fuk about the scum??

 

[Eeyore]

I think the reality is that Europe is beyond both teams but it would be nice if we kept the dream alive till the death, finish above Palace and go deeper in the cup.

It definitely feels like a season of fine margins hence some of the bedwetting on here over the season when things haven't gone our way.
We are half a dozen or so wins away from having the best season in our history but it's also highly likely we finish mid table with nothing to show for our huge efforts and behind our arch rivals.

I sense a glass half full (or even quarter full) person here. Which is, of course, understandable. Us football fans are very superstitious.

 

[Hometownglory]

I think the reality is that Europe is beyond both teams but it would be nice if we kept the dream alive till the death, finish above Palace and go deeper in the cup.

It definitely feels like a season of fine margins hence some of the bedwetting on here over the season when things haven't gone our way.
We are half a dozen or so wins away from having the best season in our history but it's also highly likely we finish mid table with nothing to show for our huge efforts and behind our arch rivals.

We are 6th with with 10 games to go ffs! Europe is certainly not beyond us based on our current form and remaining fixtures.

 

[loz]

It may well be turning into something different in the next couple of years, or it may go back to normal with us in Europe and you looking over your shoulders at the relegation battle. All up for grabs and only time will tell

Apart from the first couple of seasons we haven’t really looked over our shoulders at relegation, it must always be remembered that Brighton have only finished above palace Twice in the last 10 years.

 

[Justice]

They are 7 points behind us.

Which sounds great.

But their next game is saints which is a guaranteed 3 points.

We have city and villa next. We really need to win one of those. Let's imagine we pick up one point from those two, which is a fairly likely outcome.

Going into the game at selhurst they would be 5 behind us with a game in hand. IF and this is a big IF they beat us they will be 2 points behind with a game in hand.

In short, looking forward to getting the next 3 league games out the way!! We are in great form but we are due a dip.

On a positive note our last run of games is mostly Vs teams on the beach.

Man City & Villa isn’t exactly daunting these days is it? We are capable of picking up all six points.

 

[dwayne]

Man City & Villa isn’t exactly daunting these days is it? We are capable of picking up all six points.

True with villa their away form is gash. Man city have only lost 3 at home this season, better home form than us and are very clear favourites with the bookies.

 

[deslynhamsmoustache1]

Dreading the game at Selhurst with the form they are in

Do you not think they are dreading the game at Selhurst with the form we're in ?

 

[pigmanovich]

Dreading the game at Selhurst with the form they are in

They’ll be dreading facing us by the same token. By the way, their home form is terrible this season

Edit: Beaten to it by @deslynhamsmoustache1

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Do you not think they are dreading the game at Selhurst with the form we're in ?

Yes absolutely. But I'm not them and our record there is shocking

 

[Simster]

My worry is not so much that they'll finish above us, as they probably won't.

It's more that we'll end up in a better European competition than them, while they get the tradesman's entrance to Europe (the Conference league) - then go and sodding win it, thereby beating us to a major trophy. That would be utterly sickening.

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

True with villa their away form is gash. Man city have only lost 3 at home this season, better home form than us and are very clear favourites with the bookies.

Those odds look very generous. Yes City have only lost 3 games at home, but we've only lost 4 away. Plus our current form is rock solid, and City's is very much unpredictable.

I have a feeling Mitoma will tear Rico Lewis to pieces and be backing an away win at 4/1.

 

[Justice]

I think the reality is that Europe is beyond both teams but it would be nice if we kept the dream alive till the death, finish above Palace and go deeper in the cup.

It definitely feels like a season of fine margins hence some of the bedwetting on here over the season when things haven't gone our way.
We are half a dozen or so wins away from having the best season in our history but it's also highly likely we finish mid table with nothing to show for our huge efforts and behind our arch rivals.

3 points of top four and being one of the leagues form teams I’m not sure why it would be beyond us to finish in the top 7.
We also have lost the least amount of league games behind only Liverpool & Arsenal.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Those odds look very generous. Yes City have only lost 3 games at home, but we've only lost 4 away. Plus our current form is rock solid, and City's is very much unpredictable.

I have a feeling Mitoma will tear Rico Lewis to pieces and be backing an away win at 4/1.

4's is a tempter right? I think they do start favourites, but by nowhere near that much.