The race for the final two CL places is going to be a real scrap until the death. There's not all that much between any of the five sides in the mix at this point.
One big team is going to miss out, as three into two will not go!
Or perhaps two might miss out, and Southampton qualify, still a long way to go, it would be good if we could finish third (second is fading away from us the closer we get to the end of the season), then seeing the Saints get in ahead of Arsenal and Spurs would be good for the league, although it would be bad for our perceived chase of Clyne.
I don't buy into this Southampton thing. Difficult to fault their season so far but it's January. They won't be there in May. I just don't see it at all
Been really impressed with Southampton, they had a bit of a horror showing for a few games and I thought that would be their slide begun but they have turned it around and picked up a bunch of great results since against good teams.
Still see their small squad catching up with them eventually though.
I don't buy into this Southampton thing. Difficult to fault their season so far but it's January. They won't be there in May. I just don't see it at all
I've been saying most of the season that they're this year's overachievers and eventually they'll drift away. At Xmas that seemed to be happening, but their response has been to get stronger.
If I was putting money on it, and due to a little bias, I'd still rank the teams in order of likelihood to achieve a CL place as: 1. United. 2. Arsenal 3. Liverpool 4. Spurs 5 Soton. But, I think they're genuine contenders nonetheless.
I don't buy into this Southampton thing. Difficult to fault their season so far but it's January. They won't be there in May. I just don't see it at all
Why will they not be there or there abouts in May? They have had a bad patch like most teams below the top two, so fully deserve to be where they are, and deserve to be spoken of in the Champions League possible places.
They have got the same chance as ourselves, Arsenal or Spurs, with a far better chance than Liverpool to do so, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss them.
I've been saying most of the season that they're this year's overachievers and eventually they'll drift away. At Xmas that seemed to be happening, but their response has been to get stronger.
If I was putting money on it, and due to a little bias, I'd still rank the teams in order of likelihood to achieve a CL place as: 1. United. 2. Arsenal 3. Liverpool 4. Spurs 5 Soton. But, I think they're genuine contenders nonetheless.
Just out of interest, why do you think it is more likely that Liverpool will finish in the Champions League places than Southampton?
Nobody said they didn't deserve to be where they are. It's not such an outlandish thought to think they might drop off the pace between now and the end of the season.
It wasnt the greatest performance, but its a win which we needed after last week.
The 3-5-2 setup does not work, and a lot of the fans around me today were complaining about it.
Van Gaal needs to stop using it.
Pleased with Fellaini this season, he looks a lot better then what he did under Moyes last season.
Wilson's goal for the second, I was pleased for him.
Di Maria was poor today and Rooney had a bad game, De Gea was great as usual, I would have him as our player of the year.
Tis very tight in the battle for the top four.
Glad you got to see us win (eventually)!
I think it goes without saying that De Gea has got the Player of the Year trophy wrapped, the clubs version and the overall one, only really Cesc or Sanchez comes close, but neither have had as good a season as De Gea has had so far, he has been immense.
Nobody said they didn't deserve to be where they are. It's not such an outlandish thought to think they might drop off the pace between now and the end of the season.
No, I don't invent anything, and if you think like that, that is fine, it is not outlandish at all, I don't believe I said anything like that.
Just out of interest, why do you think it is more likely that Liverpool will finish in the Champions League places than Southampton?
Simple stuff, really. They have a stronger squad, they have the experience of doing it last year (and almost winning the title in the process), they've been without their best attacking player all season who is now coming back to fitness, their form since xmas has been excellent (granted so has Soton's)
Simple stuff, really. They have a stronger squad, they have the experience of doing it last year (and almost winning the title in the process), they've been without their best attacking player all season who is now coming back to fitness, their form since xmas has been excellent (granted so has Soton's)
I'll give you points 2-4, but point 1 is HIGHLY debatable. Liverpool's squad looks threadbare.
I'll give you points 2-4, but point 1 is HIGHLY debatable. Liverpool's squad looks threadbare.
I think they've got a range of options in most positions. Their main issue in the first half of the season is they've failed to get the best out of their players, although they seem to have turned a corner over the past month. The likes of Markovic, Balotelli, Lallana for example are clearly talented players who have struggled for form and fitness.
I do think they're struggling a bit for decent options at the back and obviously could do with a goalkeeper. Going forward, Sturridge, Origi, added to the likes of Sterling, Coutinho and Balotelli is a very good selection of attackers. Henderson, Lallana, Gerrard, Markovic, Lucas, Can, Allen, Ibe across the middle, not too bad. They're not watertight, but I think they have a bit more strength in depth than Soton.
Simple stuff, really. They have a stronger squad, they have the experience of doing it last year (and almost winning the title in the process), they've been without their best attacking player all season who is now coming back to fitness, their form since xmas has been excellent (granted so has Soton's)
Fair enough, although I think that Southampton have a better squad, and this has been borne out so far by how each have done, however you are free to think otherwise.
I think they've got a range of options in most positions. Their main issue in the first half of the season is they've failed to get the best out of their players, although they seem to have turned a corner over the past month. The likes of Markovic, Balotelli, Lallana for example are clearly talented players who have struggled for form and fitness.
I do think they're struggling a bit for decent options at the back and obviously could do with a goalkeeper. Going forward, Sturridge, Origi, added to the likes of Sterling, Coutinho and Balotelli is a very good selection of attackers. Henderson, Lallana, Gerrard, Markovic, Lucas, Can, Allen, Ibe across the middle, not too bad. They're not watertight, but I think they have a bit more strength in depth than Soton.
Have I missed something, I thought that Origi was still in France, plus he still has to prove himself in this country, so I wouldn't be including him in that list of options just yet.
You could equally do a list for Southampton's players, and they have better options than Liverpool at the back and up front I would say.
Fair enough, although I think that Southampton have a better squad, and this has been borne out so far by how each have done, however you are free to think otherwise.
So you think Southampton have a better squad than us?
So you think Southampton have a better squad than us?
Southampton have put together a very talented squad, a better one than last seasons one, and at the moment, they are where they are on merit, and their squad is proving to be just as good as ours, and the two point gap is showing that.
Comments
One big team is going to miss out, as three into two will not go!
Or perhaps two might miss out, and Southampton qualify, still a long way to go, it would be good if we could finish third (second is fading away from us the closer we get to the end of the season), then seeing the Saints get in ahead of Arsenal and Spurs would be good for the league, although it would be bad for our perceived chase of Clyne.
If Southampton finished above you, would that be "good for the league" too?
I'd certainly say so, yes.
It would yes, not good for us though.
Ok fair enough.
Why would it be good for the league though?
That is some stat, shows how far he has come on, brilliant goalkeeper, i assume Peter Schmeichel is top, wasn't one of his nicknames "Mr. Cleansheet"
It wasnt the greatest performance, but its a win which we needed after last week.
The 3-5-2 setup does not work, and a lot of the fans around me today were complaining about it.
Van Gaal needs to stop using it.
Pleased with Fellaini this season, he looks a lot better then what he did under Moyes last season.
Wilson's goal for the second, I was pleased for him.
Di Maria was poor today and Rooney had a bad game, De Gea was great as usual, I would have him as our player of the year.
Tis very tight in the battle for the top four.
Still see their small squad catching up with them eventually though.
I've been saying most of the season that they're this year's overachievers and eventually they'll drift away. At Xmas that seemed to be happening, but their response has been to get stronger.
If I was putting money on it, and due to a little bias, I'd still rank the teams in order of likelihood to achieve a CL place as: 1. United. 2. Arsenal 3. Liverpool 4. Spurs 5 Soton. But, I think they're genuine contenders nonetheless.
Why will they not be there or there abouts in May? They have had a bad patch like most teams below the top two, so fully deserve to be where they are, and deserve to be spoken of in the Champions League possible places.
They have got the same chance as ourselves, Arsenal or Spurs, with a far better chance than Liverpool to do so, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss them.
Just out of interest, why do you think it is more likely that Liverpool will finish in the Champions League places than Southampton?
Nobody said they didn't deserve to be where they are. It's not such an outlandish thought to think they might drop off the pace between now and the end of the season.
Glad you got to see us win (eventually)!
I think it goes without saying that De Gea has got the Player of the Year trophy wrapped, the clubs version and the overall one, only really Cesc or Sanchez comes close, but neither have had as good a season as De Gea has had so far, he has been immense.
No, I don't invent anything, and if you think like that, that is fine, it is not outlandish at all, I don't believe I said anything like that.
Simple stuff, really. They have a stronger squad, they have the experience of doing it last year (and almost winning the title in the process), they've been without their best attacking player all season who is now coming back to fitness, their form since xmas has been excellent (granted so has Soton's)
I'll give you points 2-4, but point 1 is HIGHLY debatable. Liverpool's squad looks threadbare.
I think they've got a range of options in most positions. Their main issue in the first half of the season is they've failed to get the best out of their players, although they seem to have turned a corner over the past month. The likes of Markovic, Balotelli, Lallana for example are clearly talented players who have struggled for form and fitness.
I do think they're struggling a bit for decent options at the back and obviously could do with a goalkeeper. Going forward, Sturridge, Origi, added to the likes of Sterling, Coutinho and Balotelli is a very good selection of attackers. Henderson, Lallana, Gerrard, Markovic, Lucas, Can, Allen, Ibe across the middle, not too bad. They're not watertight, but I think they have a bit more strength in depth than Soton.
Fair enough, although I think that Southampton have a better squad, and this has been borne out so far by how each have done, however you are free to think otherwise.
Have I missed something, I thought that Origi was still in France, plus he still has to prove himself in this country, so I wouldn't be including him in that list of options just yet.
You could equally do a list for Southampton's players, and they have better options than Liverpool at the back and up front I would say.
So you think Southampton have a better squad than us?
Haha. There'll be some special exemption from the rule for us, I bet.
Southampton have put together a very talented squad, a better one than last seasons one, and at the moment, they are where they are on merit, and their squad is proving to be just as good as ours, and the two point gap is showing that.
No, why would there be a "special exemption" for us?