[Albion] Top 4 finish

[chaileyjem]

Lots to love with the away wins , goals galore and Chelsea of course but RDZ will need to sort out the home record to stay in the top 10 let alone top 4. . Currently 4 points out of 15. Now that includes Spurs/Arsenal but if we lose on Saturday - no disgrace given Liverpool must rebound eventually -it’s a disappointing 4 from 18.

 

[chaileyjem]

- Fulham & Brentford: If both of them are up there, there is no reason we can't be. I am biased, but I would say player for player, we have a better squad then these 2 teams.

I agree but part of the reason they’re up there is the 3 points from home wins v Brighton. We’re inconsistent too…

 

[fleet]

If things went better than I can wish for we could finish above Fulham, Liverpool and maybe even Spurs (but I doubt it!) - 5th would be shocking and I don’t think it will happen. However top 4 is as near to no chance as I can imagine.

 

[Zeberdi]

Currently 20-1.

Worth a punt.? 8pts adrift, game in hand and all to play for.

Live the dream.

Not unless you think 14% are good odds

But certainly better odds than us getting relegated (or signing Messi before he’s 70) that’s for sure!

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Given Smug is already bemoaning his small squad and the fact we have a game in hand on them. M Utd can always collapse. Add in those with CL ahead why not?

Yes, but you realise WHY he is bemoaning his ‘small squad’? So that it becomes less ‘small’, to the tune of another 2 or 3 £40m signings this month.

 

[Luke93]

If I remember it right, it has happened ZERO times since 2000 that a team 8 pts or more behind a CL spot at this point of the season actually finished in a CL position. Currently, Brighton are 8 points behind Manchester United.

Biggest gap recovered after 18 games is 7 points, which Man United achieved funnily enough.

I’ve compared with 18 as Newcastle (3rd) have played 18. Brighton 8 points behind with a game in hand!

 

[oldboyroy]

Top 4? Highly unlikely. 5th/6th certainly possible. Roberto De Zerbi will think anything is possible and demand/push his players to think the same.

 

[nwgull]

Absolutely this. 20/1? odds should be more like 200/1, possibly even greater than that.

Will you take a bet at 200-1? I'll put a fiver on at those odds you're offering!

 

[Live by the sea]

It’s very unlikely we will finish top 4 , however any improvement on last seasons 9th is a great achievement.

Our budget is around 15th .

 

[Eric the meek]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I still suffer from imposter syndrome. Should we - really - be where we are?
Then reality bites. The table doesn't lie. Not after 17 games.

That's the facts done with. Now for the glimpse into the future.

Looking back on history is like driving while looking through the rear view mirror. That's what the table does. It's useful up to a point. But it doesn't tell you how you're doing in the thin slice of time that is right now, let alone in the future.

Ever since we joined the PL, we've been on an upward trajectory. The days of looking over our shoulders at the shadow of relegation, are gone.
Sure there have been blips. The improvement has not been constant nor uniform. But the direction of travel is north. That's the backdrop over the long term.

So, at any point in time, over a few games, we are likely to be improving. Long term, our league position is likely to be higher than our previous one.

A final question. Are we improving at a faster rate than before? Recent results suggest that we are.

 

[Official Old Man]

Top 4 and CL, no chance.
European football? Now that's a different question.
5th get in to the Europa League, but we need to be better than two big teams. Come the end of the season and the pressure can we handle it?
Winners of the FA Cup go into the Europa League, still got to beat City to win that.
But presuming two of the top 6 also win either of our cup competitions that opens up more positions.
Top 4 Arsenal, City, Newcastle & Man Utd. Liverpool & Spurs 5 & 6. Brighton 7 and a spot in Europe.

 

[warmleyseagull]

I am surprised people think it is that ridiculous. Look who is above and around us:

- Arsenal & City: Yeah, I don't think we will be catching them.
- Newcastle: Looking great, but as they proved against Wednesday, don't have too much depth. Could easily go on a run of struggling to score I think. Do look decent though.
- Man United: In form, but as someone said, could implode. Maybe that factor has gone now Ronaldo has left.
- Spurs & Liverpool: Both seem to be incredibly inconsistent. Both easily go on runs where they just can't win games. Liverpool a shadow of their former selves, and Spurs relying on Kane.
- Fulham & Brentford: If both of them are up there, there is no reason we can't be. I am biased, but I would say player for player, we have a better squad then these 2 teams.
- Chelsea: Doesn't look like it is getting any better under Potter. May just be one of those seasons for them.

I am not saying it is going to happen, and I really don't think it will, but we are capable of beating any team. Hit some rich form, beat the teams above us, and we are well in the mix. It's also so tight up there, it isn't like there is a top 4 like yester year and then the other 16.

Or am I just being to optimistic?

You're just being too optimistic. Under RDZ, W4 D2 L5, by no means shabby and comfortably top half but long way off top 4. OK, so two of the defeats against the title contenders, but then 3 of the victories against shite teams. Think a period of calm reflection needed .

 

[warmleyseagull]

Top 4 and CL, no chance.
European football? Now that's a different question.
5th get in to the Europa League, but we need to be better than two big teams. Come the end of the season and the pressure can we handle it?
Winners of the FA Cup go into the Europa League, still got to beat City to win that.
But presuming two of the top 6 also win either of our cup competitions that opens up more positions.
Top 4 Arsenal, City, Newcastle & Man Utd. Liverpool & Spurs 5 & 6. Brighton 7 and a spot in Europe.

Bu then Boreham Wood win FA Cup so spot lost.

 

[boik]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I still suffer from imposter syndrome. Should we - really - be where we are?
Then reality bites. The table doesn't lie. Not after 17 games.

That's the facts done with. Now for the glimpse into the future.

Looking back on history is like driving while looking through the rear view mirror. That's what the table does. It's useful up to a point. But it doesn't tell you how you're doing in the thin slice of time that is right now, let alone in the future.

Ever since we joined the PL, we've been on an upward trajectory. The days of looking over our shoulders at the shadow of relegation, are gone.
Sure there have been blips. The improvement has not been constant nor uniform. But the direction of travel is north. That's the backdrop over the long term.

So, at any point in time, over a few games, we are likely to be improving. Long term, our league position is likely to be higher than our previous one.

A final question. Are we improving at a faster rate than before? Recent results suggest that we are.

If we want to get into Europe, sure the direction of travel needs to be south?

 

[saafend_seagull]

Deluded.

However 5 more goals in our games than anyone else since he took over.

 

[Baldseagull]

You're just being too optimistic. Under RDZ, W4 D2 L5, by no means shabby and comfortably top half but long way off top 4. OK, so two of the defeats against the title contenders, but then 3 of the victories against shite teams. Think a period of calm reflection needed .

It's not like he has managed in England before, had all his coaches on board with him, knew any of the players and didn't need to move his family to a new country. Given that he is now on top of all that, and the players know more of what he wants from them, I think we should see better from here on out.

If we hold the squad together this window, we have a decent chance. Could look very much closer in 3 games time with the fixtures that are coming up this month.

 

[Springal]

Deluded.

However 5 more goals in our games than anyone else since he took over.

But we beat Middlesbrough too !!!!!

 

[Poyningsgull]

Now 16-1

 

[Poyningsgull]

Now just 9-1 with oddschecker.

 

[Poyningsgull]

More chance of getting relegated. Genuinely.

O ye of little faith.