Proximity.

[Kev0909]

I'll update later or tomorrow Kev - lots on ATM.

I'd love to get ahead of the Mancs so that a draw at Old Trafford would be "enough" but I think we only have seven (?) fixtures within which to do that.

I think utd will get top 5 question is at who's cost, us villa or chelsea.

They've got no other games, and have more options than us on the bench at the moment and more depth.

[reddownunder]

United might even finish third. I think we might sneak in the top 5 at Chelsea's expense

[Insidious]

United might even finish third. I think we might sneak in the top 5 at Chelsea's expense

I remain (very cautiously) optimistic that we will sneak Champion's League qualification too and potentially at Chelsea's expense given their fixtures, though there's definitely something to Kev's idea of Villa dropping off - the very last couple of fixtures for them aren't easy.

Just hope the Mancs have a drop-off. Every season that they miss out while ourselves and someone else (let's say Villa for now) continue to build is another hurdle in their path to rebuilding towards winning one of either the League or the Champion's League - which I hope they get nowhere close to for as long as humanly possible as it helps us extend certain club records.

I'd love to see us at 22 or 23 League titles before they get their 21st and I'd love to see us on 7 or 8 European Cups before they get their 4th and so on.

[Ravo19]

Its not about others dropping off,its can we pick up.
And there's been little sign of it.

[Nineteenx]

I’m hoping Sunday was an anomaly and we’d over prepared with Wirtz part of it and when he didn’t play what we’d practiced all week went out the window

We’ve started defending well at least and Big Bear is still incredible at earning us points

We need consistency of selection and tactics so the forwards can start making more consistent good runs to be released

I think the issue since the disastrous attempt at the old Dutch way with Wirtz as a designated playmaker is it knocked all our automation in pressing and counter pressing and positioning and on field Renato ships out us

We were showing very e migrating signs of getting it back together with 3 up and Wirtz joining from deeper, I really didn’t expect Saturdays performance

Still we won now let’s have a performance and win

Summerville and Bowen are their real danger men we need to be strong on our right and left and inside left

[Insidious]

After 26 games played -

B]Distance from 1st[/B] - 15 points (2 points better off)

Distance from 4th and 5th - 3 points behind Man United, 2 behind Chelsea - 2 points closer to both

Distance ahead of 6th - still 6th, but closing the gap has increased our hope somewhat

After 27 games played -

Distance from 1st - 13 points (2 points better off)

Distance from 4th and 5th - 3 points behind Man United, level with Chelsea

Distance ahead of 6th - still 6th, but level with Chelsea now

Quick note ahead of 28th game - Villa lost to Wolves, which means the door is open to get within 3 points of third spot and really give us more hope of Champion's League qualification, if we are able to handle business against West Ham.

[Insidious]

Arsenal have played an extra (29th) game, but still -

After 28 games played -

Distance from 1st - 16 points (we were 13 off, but Arsenal have played an extra game)

Distance from 4th and 5th - 3 points behind Man United (in 3rd!!!) and also 3 points behind Villa in 4th - we ourselves are now 5th

Distance ahead of 6th - 3 points ahead of Chelsea now

Villa's loss has put us closer to them and Chelsea's loss has helped us get a little cushion if (IF!) 5th spot is going to be enough.

Villa play Chelsea in their next League game, so an enormous opportunity to create a bigger cushion, or to get closer to Villa - or indeed both if there's a draw. In terms of our remaining "don't you DARE drop points" matches, the next League fixture for us is pretty massive.

Brilliant to be just 3 points off 3rd spot now, especially as we still have Man United left to play this season - hopefully we can reel them in.

[Insidious]

Arsenal have played an extra (30th) game, but still -

After 29 games played -

Distance from 1st - 19 points (we were 16 off, with Arsenal having played an extra game, so 3 points worse off)

Distance from 4th and 5th - 3 points behind Villa in 4th and level with Chelsea in 5th - just 3 points separate 3rd from 6th.

Distance ahead of 6th - we are 6th, level with 5th-place Chelsea

This was a week that will be remembered for a dire performance against Wolves and an evening of many Reds finding themselves convinced that we will miss out on next season's Champion's League, which remains a very real possibility.

Crucially, if you are going to drop points, you need some luck elsewhere - Chelsea's comprehensive victory over Villa means that Man United, Aston Villa and ourselves aren't actually all that far apart from each other in terms of goal difference, with Villa's the worst at +5 just now, +9 for us and +11 for Man United - amounts that could swing quickly over the course of a fixture or two.

Man United and Villa play each other next, heaping the pressure on our upcoming fixture against Tottenham.

Villa look the worst (in terms of form) of the sides going for Champion's League football, having managed just 5-from-15 points in their last five fixtures, while we managed 4 more with 9-from-15.

It would be a great time to be a neutral (is there such a thing in this League?) as this Champion's League qualification race looks set to go to the wire, with potentially very large ramifications for the side that misses out.

Gutting as the Wolves result was, seeing us within 3 points of 3rd (thanks Newcastle!) is a breath of fresh air in what was a very smokey week.

Not long until Galatasaray, which could be a good Barometer to see if we don't even remotely deserve to feature in Europe's top Tournament, or if we still have plenty of life in us if we could just make a few key tweaks.

A fascinating month of football awaits.

[Nineteenx]

We could be third

[Steveo]

We definitely play like a 'third' at times. Or is that a number two?