Poll Top 4

[peterhague]

I felt like polling you. Assuming Chelsea and City are guaranteed, and we're the third best team (just assuming), who'll be the fourth?

I think Arsenal will still just do it. Welbeck's a good solid signing for them and while Utd have brought some brilliant players in I think on the whole has been too haphazard and that they'll simply have lost too much ground before things start to click for them. I think they'll finish 6th.

 

[cloggypop]

I would like it to be Arsenal over Man U by 1 point secured by a Welbeck goal at Old Trafford.

It won't be though as Man U will be about 7th. Arse still 4th.

 

[Fabio]

Arsenal

United will still leak goals and they're relying on Van persie and Rooney to start playing and Falcao to hit the ground running

Di Maria will do well, as will herrera, but people should still walk through that midfield

 

[DHSC]

yeap the arse will get fourth.

Wenger has too much nous to not get minimally fourth.

 

[Red Astaire]

I have thought long and hard. Mulled on it. Pondered all the variables. Chopped it up and turned it over in my mind and I have decided Arsenal are going to get the fourth spot.

 

[ChastenedMUFC]

I've gone for Arsenal at fourth but I think it will be close enough.

Yes our defensive could probably do with improvement.

But against most teams we will do enough to outscore them. Against the top teams we might find it tougher but the top 4 is reached by beating the rest rather than beating the best.

 

[Tinto]

Van Gaal said it would take 3 or 4 months before United are playing the way he wants. By that time 4th could well be out of reach unless Arsenal, Spurs and Everton collapses.

 

[Red Astaire]

I think Everton might be in with a shout as well.

 

[peterhague]

I'm not sure about Everton. Their defence seems to be creaking quite loudly now, and losing Barkley was something they couldn't really afford.

My pick as an outsider would be Spurs. They were poor against us but they've got a well balanced squad now, and a proper manager. Lamela and Eriksen can provide plenty of inspiration and Fazio by all accounts is a good signing for them.

 

[RolandG]

I would like it to be Arsenal over Man U by 1 point secured by a Welbeck goal at Old Trafford.

It won't be though as Man U will be about 7th. Arse still 4th.

I'd like the Gooners by goal difference scored by Welbeck.............

 

[cloggypop]

I'd like the Gooners by goal difference scored by Welbeck.............

Even better. It would be nice if it was his only goal of the season as well.

 

[Frogfish]

Interestingly the Manc fans now seem to be favouring us for 2nd / 3rd than pre-transfer deadline of 4th - 6th. I think our win at Spurs may have more than a little to do with that.

 

[Woland]

Before we played Spurs on Sunday I'd have had them as stronger than Arsenal. I dunno. Arsenal always seem to have a crap squad but always seem to get there in the end.

 

[Woland]

Can whoever voted Manure explain why please? I know they just spent loads but even so, that starting 11 looks gash.

 

[dmishra]

18 years since Arsenal last finished outside the top 4. Don't see why that will change this year. It's what they're good at.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Arsenal I think. They always manage to crawl to the finish line somehow. Stronger midfield and creativity, and the potential is there at the front for them to just get enough goals to stay in front. Depth at the back is a serious problem but at least the ones they have if everyone's healthy are decent.

The problem for Spurs is that their forward line is really weak once you take Adebayor out. I'm surprised they didn't manage to get that area sorted out this window. With them also in Europe, they could find themselves with a lot of work to do by the time the January window swings around. Ditto for Everton, except it's the reverse situation - their front line is strong, but age has caught up with some of the guys in their backline. Being in Europe with a thinner squad isn't going to do them favours.

The Mancs may have the best forward line but they also look like they have the weakest or at least slowest midfield of them all - though I'm assuming Di Maria doesn't play there (not sure how he is as a central midfielder). Backline also looks weak, and with a new system and new faces to integrate, it's going to take some time to sort their feet out.

I'm going with Arsenal for 4th, as from back to front, I think they have the better balance than the rest to get the job done. Before the last couple of weeks, I had Spurs coming in 5th ahead of the Mancs at 6th, but I'm a bit unsure now since Spurs' haven't addressed their front line depth issues while the Mancs have added more firepower.

 

[StevieM]

I'm not sure writing off Man Utd because they've got shit defenders, but ace forwards is such a good idea.

We managed to get 2nd from that sort of behaviour last year.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

I'm not sure writing off Man Utd because they've got shit defenders, but ace forwards is such a good idea.

We managed to get 2nd from that sort of behaviour last year.

We also had an ace midfield and an ace method of playing with speed, pressure and tenacity though. So far, their midfield looks really sloppy and they look really slow.

And of course, we had an ace manager who smiled a lot and made everyone brighter; they have a manager who has more chins than front teeth. That must be a bit creepy.

 

[Mystic]

I'm not sure writing off Man Utd because they've got shit defenders, but ace forwards is such a good idea.

We managed to get 2nd from that sort of behaviour last year.

I agree to a degree, however don't agree with the comparisons to us. Our squad had a decent balance and has momentum from the six months before, poor individual errors cost us, United's issues look more systematic. United are going to struggle to impose themselves on games, Blind, Di Maria and Herrera is a midfield which will get easily over run, and will struggle to control the games, especially with the poor defence. If the midfield can't control the game, there will be a lack of decent service to the strikers, and even the best strikers in the world can't work from nothing.

 

[Halmeister]

I have no idea what the top 4 will be, except for the fact that Chelsea and City will be up there. Arsenal will probably be up there because they always are, and we should be, too. But I just think Utd just cannot miss out again, and they have too many good players for that to happen. I really think they'll sneak top 4. Then there are the outsiders - Everton and Spurs who could have a say. Basically, I don't have a clue.

 

[Frogfish]

18 years since Arsenal last finished outside the top 4. Don't see why that will change this year. It's what they're good at.

How many years since United finished outside the Top 4 last season ? There is no way they are finishing above City/Chelsea so they are in the dogfight for 3rd/4th.

 

[Frogfish]

Can whoever voted Manure explain why please? I know they just spent loads but even so, that starting 11 looks gash.

Any team that includes Di Maria / Falcao / RvP and Rooney is going to score goals. Their midfield has been absolute shite so far and their defence not far behind that but, although not top quality, Rojo and Shaw will strengthen that defence and probably push Jones out to RB instead of Rafael (sick note), Blind/Herrera/Di Maria is a much better midfield than anything with Cleverly/Fletcher/Valencia in it. That's a team that will beat most in the PL. I also see them ditching the 3-5-2 and going 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 midfield diamond.

United will likely go for Strootman in January when he's fit again and he will take that midfield up another notch. When I then look at Arsenal it's not just a player vs player comparison, team vs team, it's manager vs manager and whether or not in January they'll spend if there is any risk to their Top 4 ambitions - Wenger has so much history there, having gifted United two PL titles because of his unwillingness to strengthen in January.

Add that to the fact that they have only the PL & FAC to play for and Arsenal are now in the group stages of the CL and I can't see Arsenal, who have been really unimpressive so far anyway, finishing ahead of them.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

I have no idea what the top 4 will be, except for the fact that Chelsea and City will be up there. Arsenal will probably be up there because they always are, and we should be, too. But I just think Utd just cannot miss out again, and they have too many good players for that to happen. I really think they'll sneak top 4. Then there are the outsiders - Everton and Spurs who could have a say. Basically, I don't have a clue.

That line immediately brought me back to when West Ham got relegated in 2002/2003. Not that I think Van Gaal and United will flop so badly. It just reminded me of that because I remember reading quite a few comments along those lines back then, and thought so myself too.

 

[ILD]

It's Chelsea and City and then two from us, Arsenal and United. I think we'll be one so that leaves one spot left between Arsenal and United. I hope it's Arsenal. Everton and Spurs will be 6th and 7th.

 

[mom]

Manu for me

 

[keniget]

I wish I was as confident as all of you about us making the top 4.

A bit like Oncey's post in the Sterling thread, I find it difficult to simply believe that things are just going to work out for us.

 

[TSD]

United will likely go for Strootman in January when he's fit again and he will take that midfield up another notch. When I then look at Arsenal it's not just a player vs player comparison, team vs team, it's manager vs manager and whether or not in January they'll spend if there is any risk to their Top 4 ambitions - Wenger has so much history there, having gifted United two PL titles because of his unwillingness to strengthen in January.

Would love to see us go for Strootman or Schneiderlin in Jan, will strengthen us immensely while preventing our immediate rivals from doing so.

 

[Oliver Twist]

But against most teams we will do enough to outscore them.

I just don't see it that way. You've basically turned into Real Madrid with your two top heavy galictico purchases. It will take some gelling and I can't see you guys being much of threat this side of Christmas, if at all this season.

Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, i don't know. Time will tell.

Arsenal the fourth team.

 

[Oliver Twist]

I wish I was as confident as all of you about us making the top 4.

A bit like Oncey's post in the Sterling thread, I find it difficult to simply believe that things are just going to work out for us.

I think we'll get there - the top four. I really do.

 

[Squiggles]

The safe money's on Arsenal.