CarefreeMuratcan

When I first started eyeing this fixture last month we were about 13 points ahead of this lot. It's turned into a 6 pointer.

It's an interesting debate. I think it's quite simple that if United win the EL and we finish outside of the CL positions, then they have had a better season than us, because they would have won a better trophy (than our hopeful Conference win) and have CL football to look forward to next season, in addition to the CL money. For example last season. United finished 8th, we finished 6th. United were facing no Europe at all and looking like having a worse season than us, winning the FA Cup gave them a trophy and EL qualification, which bumped us down into the Conference. It's like a student cramming last minute for their exam. If they end up with a better grade than their peer who had better time management with their studies, then they had a better outcome. Of course the habit of cramming last minute will have detrimental effects going forward, because the get out of jail free card can only be used once every 2 seasons at most (since if you are in the CL you can only qualify once again for it by finishing in the right positions or winning it, no more drop down to Europa bail out option). It's rare that boom and bust cycles happen when looking at PL league placings (especially for the Big 6) season to season, they are usually similar when looked at season to season. (Outliers being us in 2015-2016 sandwiched between 2 title wins, and us in 2022-2023 being sandwiched between a 3rd and 6th placed finish).

I'm now looking at winning the Conference as our easiest route into the Europa League.

Wolves missed a couple of gilt edged chances at 0-0 against Newcastle yesterday. So be sure, they will bury those same chances on Monday. Sadly. We had the chunky gap to make it easy for us and we have blown it. 6th must win game in a row.

Gotta be to Palace then + cash with Guehi coming the other way surely?

If we get into the CL, we should be able to finish 24th out of 36th. There are a lot of teams that yo-yo between CL and EL/Conference who we should be beating.

Of this winless run: * Everton - draw a fair result * Fulham - deserved to lose * Ipswich - deserved to lose * Palace - should have won * Bournemouth - should have won So unfortunately, while the wins aren't there yet, we have definitely played much much better last 2 games, we are now playing and attacking and creating like we were in the 5 match winning run, whereas in the Christmas period games we were not

GK: Recall Kepa CB: Recall Chalobah CM: Recall Ugochukwu Striker: Buy 2 of Osimhen, Delap, Gyokeres, Isak and Boniface. Also a wild suggestion is young Turkish striker Semih Kılıçsoy at Beşiktaş.

Our last game and next game mirror Newcastle's. Both at home against Bournemouth and Wolves. So it's perfect really to see who deserves to be in 4th or not.

Alright who we buying this month then to sort this mess out?

Those cracks need urgently sorting this month if we want CL football.

My previous comments about our demise were grossly exaggerated.

REECE I LOVE YOU PROPER CHELS!!!

Another decision doesn't go our way because the ref blows too early.