The Top Five Race 2024-25 (poll added)

[The Fat el Hombre]

Still think we should do it. Still think we'll finish above forest

 

[Bluearmy]

I have us winning 8 and drawing 1

Can i have the number of your dealer please… ;)

 

[.db.]

Is it actually worth finishing in the top 5 this season? Financials aside, this team isn’t going to make an impact next season in the UCL. Therefore personally I would rather focus on trying to improve our league position next season and go for a domestic cup without European distractions.

Our entire squad could do with having a season off Europe. We are probably still 3-4 transfer windows from having a complete squad at the quality we as a club strive for. Concentrating on the league next season would probably the best thing for our current players.

However, you could add two more transfer windows to that above if we aren’t in the CL next season because we probably wouldn’t be able to sign the quality required without CL football, both through them not wanting to come to us and us not being able to afford it.

Soon, all of the following will be gone:
Aké Stones Lewis Akanji Grealish Gündoğan Kovačić DeBruyne BSilva McAtee Nunes Mubana Ortega Carson Brits Phillips Walker Perrone Kabore Wilson-Esbrand… that’s half of our entire squad (and more+) that will need replacing (although recent signings of Gvardiol Khusanov Reis Bah and having Simpson-Pusey has us covered at centre back for a decade).

So, despite the current players benefitting from no Europe next season (and like you say it’s unlikely we’d win the CL with the squad we’ve got), we could do with being in the CL to get the required standard of players.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

I think we might drop points at either Everton or United (or possibly both) but could quite conceivably win all the other games.

It's not a particularly difficult run-in but we need a convincing result on Saturday just to relax everyone

 

[.db.]

The race for the Top 5 is almost as much about how well the English teams do in Europe as it is City doing well in the PL.

Liverpool out of the CL. That will decrease the points gap to second place league for a 5th CL spot.

 

[BringBackSwales]

The race for the Top 5 is almost as much about how well the English teams do in Europe as it is City doing well in the PL.

Liverpool out of the CL. That will decrease the points gap to second place league for a 5th CL spot.

I think it’s the gap to third that’s most important

 

[.db.]

I think it’s the gap to third that’s most important

Is it two leagues for five? A bit of leway then, I thought it was just one.

 

[TheGhost]

There’s so many teams involved in the European places battle that inevitably there will be lots of games that they play each other and points will be dropped. Win just 6 of the last 10 and we’ll still probably qualify.

 

[BringBackSwales]

Is it two leagues for five? A bit of leway then, I thought it was just one.

Sorry what I was trying to say was there’s 2 extra CL positions, so we need England to be first or second, so it was the gap to third that was crucial. Does that make sense?

 

[Bluearmy]

There’s so many teams involved in the European places battle that inevitably there will be lots of games that they play each other and points will be dropped. Win just 6 of the last 10 and we’ll still probably qualify.

Ive been saying 65 points should do it, especially if 5th secures it. 6 wins or 5 wins and 3 draws gets us to that! Huge game at the weekend, just cant afford to lose that!!

 

[Bluearmy]

There’s so many teams involved in the European places battle that inevitably there will be lots of games that they play each other and points will be dropped. Win just 6 of the last 10 and we’ll still probably qualify.

Ive been saying 65 points should do it, especially if 5th secures it. 6 wins or 5 wins and 3 draws gets us to that! Huge game at the weekend, just cant afford to lose that

 

[supercity88]

The race for the Top 5 is almost as much about how well the English teams do in Europe as it is City doing well in the PL.

Liverpool out of the CL. That will decrease the points gap to second place league for a 5th CL spot.

Just picking up on this.

This is the top 10 as of March 12.

1. England, 23.035 - (5/7)
2. Spain, 20.892 - (5/7)
3. Italy, 19.375 - (4/8)
4. Germany, 17.546 - (3/8)
5. Portugal, 16.250 - (1/5)
6. France, 15.785 - (2/7)
7. Belgium, 15.250 - (1/5)
8. Netherlands, 15.250 - (3/6)
9. Greece, 12.187 - (2/4)
10. Norway, 10.812 - (2/4)

Only the top 4 are in contention now (England, Spain, Italy and Germany). This reflects the dippers being knocked out. Points don't depend on the level of competition so a win or draw is worth the same in any of the European competitions. England can't finish lower than 3rd.

Should know a lot more tonight, it may even be confirmed we get the 5th place if results go right.

 

[blueparrot]

Just picking up on this.

This is the top 10 as of March 12.

1. England, 23.035 - (5/7)
2. Spain, 20.892 - (5/7)
3. Italy, 19.375 - (4/8)
4. Germany, 17.546 - (3/8)
5. Portugal, 16.250 - (1/5)
6. France, 15.785 - (2/7)
7. Belgium, 15.250 - (1/5)
8. Netherlands, 15.250 - (3/6)
9. Greece, 12.187 - (2/4)
10. Norway, 10.812 - (2/4)

Only the top 4 are in contention now (England, Spain, Italy and Germany). This reflects the dippers being knocked out. Points don't depend on the level of competition so a win or draw is worth the same in any of the European competitions. England can't finish lower than 3rd.

Should know a lot more tonight, it may even be confirmed we get the 5th place if results go right.

Does that mean we are relying on rags and spurs not being raggsy and spursy ?

 

[supercity88]

Does that mean we are relying on rags and spurs not being raggsy and spursy ?

Not necessarily no.

Of the Italian sides left in Europe I think two are 1 goal up and one is 1 goal down.

Their results are getting divided by an extra team so aren't as valuable. Perversely the rags knocking out Spanish opposition would be helpful, but if Spurs and Chelsea get to the next round tonight we'll still have 4 teams in Europe so an advantage.

Could potentially know tonight, but realistically we'll know when the QFs are done.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Top 5 confirmed after tonight's results.

 

[Mcfc1.9.8.0]

Will it still be top 5 if spurs or united win the europa. Meaning there will be 6 teams in the champions league

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Will it still be top 5 if spurs or united win the europa. Meaning there will be 6 teams in the champions league

Yeah, could be a total of 7 technically, if villa won the CL as well and finish outside the top 5 etc

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Yeah, could be a total of 7 technically, if villa won the CL as well and finish outside the top 5 etc

What? I thought Liverpool had already won it as part of their Quad?

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Man City / Brighton
Arsenal / Chelsea
Bournemouth / Brentford

Need to win, all the rest around is have tricky games (Newcastles' game in hand will then be Liverpool, Villas will be Brighton i think)

 

[Alfie Budd]

Man City / Brighton
Arsenal / Chelsea
Bournemouth / Brentford

Need to win, all the rest around is have tricky games (Newcastles' game in hand will then be Liverpool, Villas will be Brighton i think)

Newcastle's game in hand following this weekend is at home to Palace. Villa don't have a game a hand - right now they've played a game more than everyone else as a consequence of their home game against Liverpool being played a few weeks ago instead of this weekend.