Who will drop out of the top 4

BarcaLearning wrote:Liverpool to me has weakened and should be the one out.

Not the best choice of words there. Makes it sound like the other teams have some sort of divine right to the top 4 and we must bow down to them and drop out.

If Man Utd were to lose one CB (Jones for example) and one CM (lets say Herrera) for a long period of time then they've got Fletcher at CM and a young CB whose out of his depth starting every game. Irrespective of the great attackers they have, that could be enough to make them trash again.

Honestly too, what have Utd done other then bring in Di Maria and Falcao to make people think they're top four quality? Beating QPR at home is by no means a great acheivment, remember, those balls ups v Burnley and MK Dons were only a few weeks ago.

As has been said earlier, the only certainties for top four this season are Chelsea and City (who im quite certain will finish first and second), imo (assuming Balotelli finds his feet) it will come down to Arsenal and Utd for fourth place.

all of them

aston villa, swansea, southampton & tottenham to take the reign

(i hope so)

Saying United have only added Falcao and Di Maria to a side that was awful against Burnley is very naïve.

Anyone who knows their football will see that the key change has been the balance in midfield Blind, Mata, Herrera have brought. That's the key and the reason they could prosper this season. Because with those three and Carrick to come back if one gets injured, they have the players to link the defence and attack quickly and put the opposition on the back foot.

"You can't escape your fate." - somebody on some tv show

Arsenals fate = Top 4

Haven't people learnt this basic fact of life yet?

Lets not forget United also played a formation with too many defenders in those games. Their change in fortune could be due to the formation change just as much as the opposition being crap. But yeah I agree they are an injury to a CM/CB away from becoming mediocre again. If Van Gaal handles his rotations well there is no reason for the players to get injured. Apart from Smalling, Rafael and RVP there isn't a single injury prone player in there I believe.

Liverpool chose quantity over quality which will come back to bite them imo

Top two is between City and Chelsea but the other two is between 3 teams United, Arsenal and Liverpool. Honestly I think Arsenal will limp to fourth this season too so it's between Liverpool and United for the third spot, and honestly it's too early to tell right now. Let's see how United deal with Leicester first which is their first big test of the season with all their new players

I think Liverpool will do ok. They were exceptional last year and you don't lose that DNA overnight.

However, Balotelli is a concern. His goal stats are poor when you take away pens and his assist stats are awful. He's also not a team player.

Yes, Rodgers portrays himself as someone who gets the most out of lost causes but for me this is another big problem Liverpool have - Rodgers ego.

They SHOULD have won the league last year. Instead of taking a very easy point at home to Chelsea he went out gung ho. A fantastic winning streak to put themselves in contention but at the key moment Rodgers messed it up and let his arrogance get ahead of him.

Last week he was at it again. Sturridge and Sterling are crucial to how Liverpool play. He couldn't do anything about the Sturridge injury but resting Sterling was criminal and they lost 3 points for that as well.

Finally the large amount of signings they've made don't strike me as value for money. They spent nearly 150 million and didn't bring in one player that makes you think that's going to improve them.

Like I say, I think they'll do well but they're going to have their work cut out to make top 4 again and it will require another big effort.

It will depend on the success/failure of the January transfer window. Until then the usual suspects will be somewhat within the close vicinity separated by not many, albeit Chelsea may be who would have run away with the title by then.
All the others I repeat all the others City included will be battling for the next best spot at that time. So if someone add a good player in the winter window its going to have a huge bearing come the business end or even before that.

So Will be only able to give a clear cut answer on February 1 I believe. But now if you insist I will vaguely put it as
1.Chelsea
2.Man C
3.Liver
4.Man U Ars tied on points with the former edging on GD.

So the Gunners yea.

Carrickature wrote:I think Liverpool will do ok. They were exceptional last year and you don't lose that DNA overnight.

However, Balotelli is a concern. His goal stats are poor when you take away pens and his assist stats are awful. He's also not a team player.

Yes, Rodgers portrays himself as someone who gets the most out of lost causes but for me this is another big problem Liverpool have - Rodgers ego.

They SHOULD have won the league last year. Instead of taking a very easy point at home to Chelsea he went out gung ho. A fantastic winning streak to put themselves in contention but at the key moment Rodgers messed it up and let his arrogance get ahead of him.

Last week he was at it again. Sturridge and Sterling are crucial to how Liverpool play. He couldn't do anything about the Sturridge injury but resting Sterling was criminal and they lost 3 points for that as well.

Finally the large amount of signings they've made don't strike me as value for money. They spent nearly 150 million and didn't bring in one player that makes you think that's going to improve them.

Like I say, I think they'll do well but they're going to have their work cut out to make top 4 again and it will require another big effort.

We would have lost the league on GD if we had not beaten Chelsea. It took us a 14 game unbeaten streak to reach a position where we were considered legit title contenders ahead of Chelsea and City, It was too soon for us. Rodgers is a bit naive in big games but he'll learn he's only 40?

And on the 150m spending, Full backs have been excellent buys. Lambert, Lallana, Markovic is good depth in attack. We have scored goals after bringing in subs this season something which we couldn't last year.

But I do agree Balo isnt made for Liverpool's style of play. Hoping he turns that corner.

Can't see City and Chelsea dropping out, they'll be competing for the title. Can't see Arsenal dropping out either. Top 4 specialists. Hence, if anyone drops out at all, it will be Liverpool. But I don't really accept the premise that someone has to drop out at all.

Interesting watching Liverpool now. Discussed it in my vlog this week and it came to pass.

You know Rodgers has been found out when Big Sam gets the better of you.

Don't call me James wrote:

BarcaLearning wrote:Liverpool to me has weakened and should be the one out.

Not the best choice of words there. Makes it sound like the other teams have some sort of divine right to the top 4 and we must bow down to them and drop out.

I dont have any other meaning other than Liverpool for me dont look as good as the other 4 that I reckon will make the top 4 this season - Chelsea, MAn C, Man U, Arsenal.

Another loss ready last night and they look flat. It happened with that season after they came second and its looking likely to happen again.

Just read the other comments, and it seems a lot of fans havent learnt the Liverpool problem, which is they are bottlers in way, they may play great football at times, but to be a league champion u need the consistency and ability to grind out results when its not your day. I dont think they are dynamic enough for that, even last season where they really were a 1 style team. Compare that with Man C who had other options and just loaded with WC players. I dont that can be said with Liverpool.

fatman123 wrote:Honestly too, what have Utd done other then bring in Di Maria and Falcao to make people think they're top four quality? Beating QPR at home is by no means a great acheivment, remember, those balls ups v Burnley and MK Dons were only a few weeks ago.

Mexes sounds good right now for United

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You've got a massive heard Carricature mate. A bit like Steve Bruce.


Chelsea and City will be on their own up top, the chase for other 2 spots will be a scrap...but no one is taking advantage of our bad form and injuries and it's great Teams are too nice, don't want to leapfrog us

Hey less of the body facism

The battle for 4th will be a battle but United could slip away again if they're not careful. They're giving away points to regularly and I fully expect Liverpool to click in to form and string some results together over the next few weeks.

well it is going to be very tight in the end between Liverpool, ManUtd and Arsenal for that 3rd and 4th spot. Irrespective of what Arsenal did against Astonvilla,I dont think they will have a guarated top 4 spot. I expect all three of them to fight for it till the end of the season.

Liverpool.

The biggest obstacle to us, Utd & Pool finishing in the top 4 will be  defense. Our starting back four is clearly the best of the three though we have an obvious lack in depth, I think Utd have more of a personal issue too, Liverpool's defensive issues on the other hand look managerial. Defense has never been Wenger's strong point but it's never been bad enough to see us drop out the top 4 despite some truly shocking decisions(playing without a proper DM since forever, Silvestre etc) Van Gaal's a defensive coach, he has shown at the highest level he knows how to organize a defence, Rodgers? Not so much.

Arsenal & Man u have money to burn & will probably add more quality to the defence's in January, UTD buying starters & Arse bolstering the squad. Liverpool's turnover is relatively low for a top 4 club, and they have already spent their precious 'net spend'. I'm not sure that FSG are willing to keep digging in their pockets & funding splurge's.

Both Arsenal & Liverpool seem to have the added issue of scoring goals, but with Walcott coming back, Sanchez still to find his place & Wellbeck being better suited to us than Balotelli is for them I think that will be a bigger issue for them.

My predication;

1.Chavs
2.Citeh
3.Yanited
4.Arse

I think United, Liverpool and Arsenal are already playing for third and fourth.

It's hard to predict but I think Arsenal will always do enough to finish top 4 because Wenger knows the route like the back of his hand. That leaves United and Liverpool.

Liverpool are still a good side and will click at some point. That's why United need to click soon as well.

But after the weekend I don't think that will be United's last collapse. So if I was a betting man I think it will come down to who gets the most points from the two Liverpool v Manchester United games.

But still we wont collapse like that ever again at least this season. Sure we will drop points, will lose winnable matches, and that more so in the next 6 or 7 games or may be even after that I dont know, but a collapse as unbelievable and shocking as Sunday, it wont happen again thats for sure. Way too many factors contributed to it in fact and for it to happen again well.. odds are pretty low.

I don't know? One of two things will happen.

1. They'll respond to the failure like they used to under Sir Alex and go on a massive run of good results.

2. The players will lose confidence and continue to struggle.