Ah right. A few reasons:
1. Some key players should be back from injury. Stones, Akanji, Ake, Bobb. Can the current terrible injury record continue for ever?
2. Pep has the time and motivation to make some effective adjustments. He’s hurting badly atm.
3. Pride. In the doldrums now but our guys have a track record of pulling out the stops. And they certainly won’t want to miss out on CL football next year.
4. Possible boost of a good incoming transfer or two, although that’s not a given.
5. Over the whole season we should surely be able to better Forest, Brentford, Bournemouth, Spurs, etc. They are our rivals for the rest of this year, not the dippers, Arsenal or Chelsea.
Nothing guaranteed of course but I’m confident of top 4 (but nothing more).