USA: 11:30 AM ET USA Network CAN: DAZN After a dramatic 2-2 draw at Anfield (Boo-field if you are TAA, right? Right? Right.) we welcome Oilcastle down to the Grove in a match that takes on a little bit more importance. With no cups to play for, we need to finish as high as we can, 1. for the money a 2nd place finish brings when we have a big spending transfer window coming up, 2. to avoid dropping out of the direct qualification spots for the Champions League and 3. because I can't stand a summer of other fans dragging us especially if we end up in 4th with no trophies meanwhile one of those pleb clubs in 16th or 17th is guaranteed a trophy and CL football next season. So we welcome the Georgies aka the Toon, a team who have been a massive pain in the ass in recent years. I would love if we could send off this season with a good old fashioned beat down, but they are stubborn and find themselves in good form. We won't know who is fit and available til later in the week, but in good news Kai Havertz was back in training at the open training session at the Emirates. Will Rice return or is he on rICE for the rest of the season? Will Havertz come on and score a 7 minute hat trick to complete a 10 goal rout? Will Mikels hair still be perfect? All this and more this weekend.
#1 what is the actual difference between in money between 2nd and say 4th places. I thought it was “only” 100’s of K rather than M’s. #2 what position guarantees auto qualification to group stage? I thought it got more liberal in recent years. #3 I agree and I think this one (pride) is as big a motivator as anything
2 more games. 1 win guarantees top 4. 1 win + 1 draw guarantees 2nd place. Would be really nice to beat Newcastle and take a little pressure off of the last match.
1. The estimates for each positions prize money are about £3.1m per position, so if we drop from 2nd to 4th we would be missing out on about £6.2m which isn't a lot but that does cover wages or a loan fee if we can't find the backup keeper we want. Exact figure comes out post season. Last season City got £62.3m, we got £59.1m, Pool got £56m and AV got £52.9m (£6.2m difference last season between 2nd and 4th). Hilariously last season 16th got £15.6m and 17th got £12.5m. Good lucky getting good players with that sort of cash Ange and Ruben. 2. Deep diving this, seems there isn't a "qualifying phase" for the teams from top leagues with coefficients. This year the top 5 + winner of Yanited/Spuds go straight into the Champions League "league" phase. I thought the extra 5th position at least would join in the play off round where teams like Bodo/Glimt, Celtic and Basel will be. 3. ******** Oilcastle. Smash them. Smash them good.
Plus there should be a BIG motivator of pride this Sunday as it’s our last home game, lap of appreciation, etc AND not to mention, we need @And_ROOS to go 2 for 2 in straightforward fashion as the last threadmeister for the run in!
I'd like to beat Newcastle. They owned us this season. We figure out how to beat these quality low block sides (Newcastle, Forest, Villa, etc) we win the league I think.
Am I still not supposed to care if we get 2nd? As for Zubimendi, we have the talent to unlock the Newcastles We've beaten them before in the Arteta era. One way to unlock any side is our corners but we dont' seem to score from them anymore. Looking it at the person taking the kick used to kick it as the players were moving so it threw the defense off because as they are watching the players, our players are watching the flight of the ball and get to the ball first. Now we are kicking the ball after the players have already moved to their new position and are stable so the defense can now watch the ball Newcastle moves into low block once they have the lead and the other team presses They'll have as much as 6 or 7 players in the 18 yard box, the box is congested. So, they can leave Isak out to counter once they get control of the ball. Before the first goal they are midblock and soak up pressure but going a goal up against top sides, they low block. Eddie Howe gets to spend as he likes they are a top 3 team without question. They'll be a kinder, gentler version of Mourinho's Chelsea. One way to beat them is to have at least 4 players in the box. Liverpool will do that, they'll get 4 players in there, get close enough for a 5 yard pass and that player who receives ball can shoot if he has an opening, and if its on target at that range chances are good for a rebound, he can also possibly get a penalty or he can pass but he's close. They try not have the ball leave the box.
Actually a win vs Newcastle essentially guarantees second, unless City make up a goal differential of at least 11 goals over their final two games.
We gotta beat Newcastle just cause that's what we're supposed to do. I actually think City misses out on CL completely, not that I care.
Welcome back, Kai Should we read anything into Calafiori being listed like he is a forward rather than next to Tierney and Zinchenko as left backs?
BOTH Rice and Trossard start, now that’s a pleasant surprise. Hope they’re truly fit. But Timber not in the squad means White has to start And on the other side NUFC are without Trippier, Joelinton and… Isak. That helps a bit.
6' GREAT save by Raya and then a 2nd one shortly afterwards. Phew. Edit: Actually it wasn't that great a save, AND it was resulting from an AWFUL pass out by Raya to gift them the chance. Ugh.
So what's the point of our match starting at 4:30pm local time, when the 3pm games are still underway? Why aren't we in the usual 5:30pm slot? Meanwhile, defensively we seem to be wanting to gift Newcastle easy chances. WTF.