The battle for 4th place

[Malty]

Leicester not winning yesterday means they need to beat the RAG's if they want to win the league IMO.

Good for us in securing our top 4 position, as if West Ham lost yesterday Leicester might not of tried so hard against the RAG's.

Something has to give in that game. Either the RAG's (the management, the fans etc) finally have to accept no CL football next season or Leicester waves bye bye to their aspirations as I can see Tottenham winning most of their games now. That's my bold prediction anyway =)

 

[stablemcfc]

The Play-off Round for the CL are 16/17 August and 23/24 August. The PL Season starts on 13 August.

City will not have to face the strongest teams likely to be in the Play-offs. Porto, Shankhar, Ajax or PSV, and CSKA have too high a coefficient.

There is the possibility of a tricky tie against Roma, Monaco, Fenerbache or Hertha.

Alternatively it could be AEK, Young Boys, Gent, or Sparta.

There is a lot of incentive to go for third or second place!

My point was they are suggesting the qualifying play-off rounds will affect our preseason as we will be required to come back early, or that we won't be prepared by then so could lose - like you said though the matches would actually take place after the season started, hence we should already be prepared by then & it shouldn't ruin our preseason.

If we can get 3rd obviously it's a boost, and now that Arsenal are making a late surge for 4th it's looking like 3rd spot is opening up; with the fixtures they had/have they should have secured 3rd comfortably but they're already putting it in our hands.

 

[Centurions]

The thread title should be changed to 'The Battle for 2nd Place'.

You heard it hear first ;)

 

[domalino]

Table when KDB got injured :

Table when KDB returned :

What a difference.

We lost 12 points on Leicester

10 points on Spurs.

4 points on Arsenal.


As long as KDB stays fit, I think we'll find ourselves in 2nd come the end of the season. With him in the team, in addition to Mangala's form, Nasri being fit and Aguero's form - we could quite conceivably win the next 5 games. I don't see Spurs doing the same.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Table when KDB got injured :

Table when KDB returned :

What a difference.

We lost 12 points on Leicester

10 points on Spurs.

4 points on Arsenal.


As long as KDB stays fit, I think we'll find ourselves in 2nd come the end of the season. With him in the team, in addition to Mangala's form, Nasri being fit and Aguero's form - we could quite conceivably win the next 5 games. I don't see Spurs doing the same.

To be fair, you aren't likely to gain many points on a team that goes 7-1-1 over that time. If we finish 3rd, I'm fine with that (plus the LC trophy and the semis of the CL) given how dire things looked after the derby.

 

[domalino]

To be fair, you aren't likely to gain many points on a team that goes 7-1-1 over that time. If we finish 3rd, I'm fine with that (plus the LC trophy and the semis of the CL) given how dire things looked after the derby.

Not Gaining points when Leicester are in great form is one thing. Losing 12 points to them in 9 games is another.

 

[kaz7]

Several more injuries now,that will make it all the harder

 

[FantasyIreland]

Several more injuries now,that will make it all the harder

And a couple returning,for balance:-)

 

[kaz7]

And a couple returning,for balance:-)

Sagna and clichy also nasri are bigger losses than vinny and sterling coming back,lets hope they are short term this time

 

[BlueNirvana]

Defo need to push for 2nd so in year to come when Leicester's title win is wiped from the records for cheating we gain
another title :)