Who will drop out of the top 4

In my video blog this week I discuss who will miss out on the Champions League this season. Already it's packing up quite tightly with only 2 points separating United, Liverpool, Arsenal, City and Spurs.

For me United are guaranteed top 4 with Chelsea and City. With the players they've bought in and LVG starting to find some fluidity the points will start to come. Plus they have no European distractions.

That leaves Liverpool or Arsenal missing out.

Many people will say Arsenal but that's happening for the last few years and they've always managed fourth. Does that mean Liverpool will miss out? Personally I think they've been found out a bit and much will depend on how Balotelli fits in and if Sturridge and Sterling can stay fit. If any of those three factors fail then Liverpool should be the ones to miss out.

Personally, I feel United are too top heavy to break in the top 4. Yeah, they have some marquee attackers. but a combination of Evans, Smalling, Blackett(?) and Jones at the back hardly raises a boner among neutrals

It's tough to call quite early on in the season, but if i'd take a wild guess, it'd be Pool. I agree that much depends on SBS, but i think Pool's bench shouldn't be undervalued. Markovic, while i haven't seen him, will look to prove his worth. Coutinho and Lallana can be enough to to pull them through. Much also depends on how Brendan wants to replace Suarez's individual quality.

Arsenal will have to step up their game, while United will look to avoid last season's shortcomings. City and Chelsea are guaranteed the top 2. So it's going to be a dog-fight between 3 teams for 2 spots.

(btw your vids )

I definitely think it will be a close run thing.

All five of them have too much quality to fall away as badly as United did under Moyes last year. But ultimately I think it will be between Arsenal and Liverpool. If Liverpool can get some momentum like last year and keep the key players up top fit then they could do it. I think Gerrard is on the wane too though so it depends who can come in and do his job effectively when he's not playing.

I don't think we're guaranteed top 4. The circumstances we're in (no midweek European commitments, a competent manager, some top class signings) should give us a boost over our top 4 rivals, but it is by no means guaranteed, imo.

Arsenal at this rate

Chelsea and City are locks for the top 4.  Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal will fight it out for the last 2 spots.  In terms of talent, Man U is by far the most talented of the 3... has several difference makers.  Arsenal has more difference makers than Liverpool with Ozil, Sanchez, Ramsey and Cazorla.  Liverpool will rely on teamwork since they are the least talented of the 5.

I think it might be Arsenal's year. I really thought they'd have a strong team this season but they look really out of sorts. It's too early to tell really because even at the winter transfer window things can change drastically with the introduction of a player or two.

If I had to guess I'd say Arsenal though.

If and when Arsenal drop out they will only have Wenger and their transfer policy to blame.

Turning down Fabregas will haunt Wenger for the rest of his days and whilst Welbeck will do ok at Arsenal why they haven't gone out and bought that Benzema type that they've needed since Henry left is baffling.

Arsenal never drop out. They will play chit until 30th matchday and then win the last 8 games of the season to just about make 4h. They are the rich man's version of that one team that becomes the best team in the world at the end of every season and avoids relegation just about. Martinez' old team. Fss, forgot the name.

tbh, don't count Everton out

Fußball wrote:Arsenal never drop out. They will play chit until 30th matchday and then win the last 8 games of the season to just about make 4h. They are the rich man's version of that one team that becomes the best team in the world at the end of every season and avoids relegation just about. Martinez' old team. Fss, forgot the name.

Some day they will drop out.

Sadly yea. We really rode our luck in the last 5 years, pipping teams just by a point or so at times.

I am hopeful we can sort our shit together and go on a rampage but atm we have like 1 win in last 8 or something.

Wigan was the name.

Mark, I'm pretty sure Man Utd will not drop out of top 4, since they aren't in it to begin with

Fußball wrote:Wigan was the name.

Yes and eventually their luck ran out.

Anyways as for OT I don't think anybody will drop out of the top 4. Especially not us. People once again underestimate us

Sturridge and Allen should be back after this West Ham match, thank the football gods, so we'll be back on track. And hopefully Emre and Flanno not too long after the next international break.

These injuries exposed us way too quick for my liking. So If United are sitting here and keep saying that they'll improve when everyone is fit well same goes for Liverpool and Arsenal.

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

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?

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.