The battle for 4th place

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karen7 said:
How do the arses have nothing to play for? they will likely go back above us tomorrow as they are home to palace and have another home game midweek
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We play them 2nd last match of the season. I'm of the opinion they'll be safely top 4 by then - you could argue they'll be wanting 3rd rather than 4th, but they aren't looking likely to win the title if that's what you're suggesting?
 
stablemcfc said:
We play them 2nd last match of the season. I'm of the opinion they'll be safely top 4 by then - you could argue they'll be wanting 3rd rather than 4th, but they aren't looking likely to win the title if that's what you're suggesting?
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There is a big difference between 3rd and 4th place,we both want 3rd so it will be all to play for still
 
We're hitting form at at a good time but we do have the harder fixtures. One game at a time but I'm quietly confident about making 4th. Beat Arsenal and we could even get 3rd.
 
stablemcfc said:
That's an opinion not a fact. Yes there's a pre-qualifying round but Arsenal are 4th every year, ever seen them fail to get into the CL from there? As for the fans, I couldn't care less if we come 3rd or 4th - neither is anything to shout about this season.

There will be next to nothing riding on that game unless both teams mess up badly enough to be having a 3 way race for 4th still - something I believe won't be the case.
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I can't be arsed to agrue what is fact or opinion as we'll never agree
 
A lot more confident after the results and performances this week. One game at a time but we're looking good again. God bless ginger Kev
 
stablemcfc said:
That's an opinion not a fact. Yes there's a pre-qualifying round but Arsenal are 4th every year, ever seen them fail to get into the CL from there? As for the fans, I couldn't care less if we come 3rd or 4th - neither is anything to shout about this season.

There will be next to nothing riding on that game unless both teams mess up badly enough to be having a 3 way race for 4th still - something I believe won't be the case.
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It's not an opinion it's an obvious fact. Finishing 3rd guarantees qualification, gives us higher prize money and means that we can plan our preseason as we want. You're talking bollocks.
 
80s Shorts said:
It's not an opinion it's an obvious fact. Finishing 3rd guarantees qualification, gives us higher prize money and means that we can plan our preseason as we want. You're talking bollocks.
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I agree with you. With the Euros this summer, players will be needing a break and injury management and recuperation, not having to come in and prepare for an unnecessary qualification round
 
80s Shorts said:
It's not an opinion it's an obvious fact. Finishing 3rd guarantees qualification, gives us higher prize money and means that we can plan our preseason as we want. You're talking bollocks.
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No, it's an opinion. Like I (and you) have mentioned there are no doubt (factual) benefits to finishing 3rd over 4th - however whether someone perceives those benefits as a "big difference" or "fairly insignificant" is their opinion. I assume you & whoever posted the original feel there's a big difference (your opinions) whereas I see it as fairly insignificant when put in perspective (my opinion) - you can disagree with my opinion sure, but that doesn't make yours an "obvious fact" sorry.

My opinion is that 1) the qualification should be a fairly straight forward event for either City/Arsenal (if we're hoping Pep takes us to CL success I'd think most agree we shouldn't fear this), 2) that the higher prize money is pretty insignificant in football terms (£1.23M I believe is the difference between 3rd or 4th), and 3) I can't claim to have much knowledge on how qualifying affects pre-season, but is it not after the start of the season? At least it was this year for United. If that's the case I don't see how it would have much impact.

But not here to argue that or start a debate about something I don't care about. My actual point was that come the 2nd last match of the season, given Arsenal's very favourable fixtures, that I'm expecting they'll be safely in 3rd-4th (should be safely 3rd) when we play them - giving them less to play for than teams fighting for a final European spot or the title or relegation.

Barcon said:
And Southampton and Stoke trying to get in the Europa.
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Stoke + Sot'on could both be 10+ points off 6th when they play us if results go badly for them (i.e. West Ham win their games in hand).

My post was a little presumptuous in terms of results going certain ways - should have said we could face 4 out of 5 teams with little to play for rather than will definitely face.

East Level 2 said:
How long before the season is the qualification round. Or is it perhaps after the start of the season?
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This season it was after the start of the season (2 legs; one after 2nd PL match & other after 3rd PL match). I assume it's usually that way & will be that way next season.

Uncle Wally One Ball said:
I agree with you. With the Euros this summer, players will be needing a break and injury management and recuperation, not having to come in and prepare for an unnecessary qualification round
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Unless I'm mistaken with regards to when the qualification round is, why would we have to come in & prepare for it? Surely we should be 100% prepared by the start of the premier league, and given that the qualification matches will be after the start of the season we should be prepared by that point whether we're qualifying or not (i.e. if we come 3rd or 4th).
 
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ethan23 said:
Palace are due some good results so I can genuinely see them beating United and drawing with Arsenal. If we are still within 3 points of arsenal by the time we play them we should be getting 3rd place
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Palace players don't want to get injured for the cup semi. They'll be playing half arsed until then.
 
stablemcfc said:
No, it's an opinion. Like I (and you) have mentioned there are no doubt (factual) benefits to finishing 3rd over 4th - however whether someone perceives those benefits as a "big difference" or "fairly insignificant" is their opinion. I assume you & whoever posted the original feel there's a big difference (your opinions) whereas I see it as fairly insignificant when put in perspective (my opinion) - you can disagree with my opinion sure, but that doesn't make yours an "obvious fact" sorry.

My opinion is that 1) the qualification should be a fairly straight forward event for either City/Arsenal (if we're hoping Pep takes us to CL success I'd think most agree we shouldn't fear this), 2) that the higher prize money is pretty insignificant in football terms (£1.23M I believe is the difference between 3rd or 4th), and 3) I can't claim to have much knowledge on how qualifying affects pre-season, but is it not after the start of the season? At least it was this year for United. If that's the case I don't see how it would have much impact.

But not here to argue that or start a debate about something I don't care about. My actual point was that come the 2nd last match of the season, given Arsenal's very favourable fixtures, that I'm expecting they'll be safely in 3rd-4th (should be safely 3rd) when we play them - giving them less to play for than teams fighting for a final European spot or the title or relegation.


Stoke + Sot'on could both be 10+ points off 6th when they play us if results go badly for them (i.e. West Ham win their games in hand).

My post was a little presumptuous in terms of results going certain ways - should have said we could face 4 out of 5 teams with little to play for rather than will definitely face.


This season it was after the start of the season (2 legs; one after 2nd PL match & other after 3rd PL match). I assume it's usually that way & will be that way next season.


Unless I'm mistaken with regards to when the qualification round is, why would we have to come in & prepare for it? Surely we should be 100% prepared by the start of the premier league, and given that the qualification matches will be after the start of the season we should be prepared by that point whether we're qualifying or not (i.e. if we come 3rd or 4th).
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Your opinion is factually incorrect

1) I cant argue with as that is pure opinion but I would say having extra games at a time when players will be at different stages of pre-season due to the Euro's is not ideal and you dont know who we might draw but there are many examples of teams being caught cold and being knocked out

2) This is factually incorrect. The difference in orize money is very significant between 3rd and 4th. As in the CL the pool of money is split by % and dependent where you finish you get a bigger share of the European pool so if we are are 3rd we get 20% of the pool and if we are 4th we get 10% that could be a difference of £10million pound

You seem to think that results will all go to the same pattern ie all those below us lose all above us win I think City need to be concentrating on doing all they can to win their remaining games we are only 5 points from second but 4 from fifth if this season has taught us something surely it is that no one can predict results

A ll I would say is that simply in terms of financial needs becoming 3rd or even 2nd would be a huge financial boost
 
If City finish 4th and win this year's champions league would they still have to pre-qualify for next year's group stages?
 
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