[Albion] Apparently 8th place "still gets Europe", if...

[Yoda]

Is this the best "if" and "buts" thread ever on NSC ?

 

[BrightonCottager]

I was perusing the final Portuguese Primeira League table (Sporting won, by the way) and I had to look up where the club in the Europa Conference League spot are based.

DC Santa Clara play in the Azores.

If that isn't incentive enough for the players for the clubs vying for 8th to stay 'off the beach' in order to potentially play almost on the beach, then I don't know what is.

 

[Happy Exile]

I can think of few more depressing and futile ways to spend a morning than thinking about the minority of matches this season where we dropped a bollock, and catastrophizing about them.

Why not instead think about how you f***ed up previous relationships.
Let down your mates.
Embarrassed your family.
Blew a job interview.
Got sick.
Got old.
And eventually died.

I read a thing recently about subjectivity in decision-making that said something along the lines of those who see a good outcome only coming from the elimination of a negative rather than from maximising a positive tend to have less fulfilling experiences and less joy in life than those who maximise the positive. I'm trying to see football in that way now. Something perhaps about the focus being on creating opportunity in what's possible rather than reacting to events that are momentary, and recognising that being realistic means not allowing the bad stuff to disproportionately taint the good stuff...being overly negative is as bad, if not worse, than being overly-positive.

"If we hadn't played like we were wearing two left-footed clown shoes in the last 5 minutes against Wolves and Leicester we'd be top 6" being reframed as "we played great for 85 minutes and learned from that not to switch off thinking the games are done, and the season has been pretty decent since which bodes well for next".

I thought it was interesting anyway. (But obviously when we lose the next two games, Palace finish above us and Van Hecke joins Liverpool in the summer I reserve the right to be miserable about it ruining our next season before it's even begun.)

 

[peterward]

It's happening!

#HoldTheNerve

 

[GoingUp]

So does 8th get Europe? I'm confused on the permutations. What outcomes can/cant give 8th placed team Europe?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I read a thing recently about subjectivity in decision-making that said something along the lines of those who see a good outcome only coming from the elimination of a negative rather than from maximising a positive tend to have less fulfilling experiences and less joy in life than those who maximise the positive. I'm trying to see football in that way now. Something perhaps about the focus being on creating opportunity in what's possible rather than reacting to events that are momentary, and recognising that being realistic means not allowing the bad stuff to disproportionately taint the good stuff...being overly negative is as bad, if not worse, than being overly-positive.

"If we hadn't played like we were wearing two left-footed clown shoes in the last 5 minutes against Wolves and Leicester we'd be top 6" being reframed as "we played great for 85 minutes and learned from that not to switch off thinking the games are done, and the season has been pretty decent since which bodes well for next".

I thought it was interesting anyway. (But obviously when we lose the next two games, Palace finish above us and Van Hecke joins Liverpool in the summer I reserve the right to be miserable about it ruining our next season before it's even begun.)

and.....exhale

 

[SweatyMexican]

Another duck in a row. About 5 more to go.

 

[saafend_seagull]

Odds will be slightly less given there’s a chance Brentford won’t even win.

6.85/1 if Brentford win for us to end up in conference.

4.9/1 if Brentford don’t win.

Was 60/1 after palace won the FA CUP.

 

[Berty23]

it only just dawned on me that forest would only need to draw with Chelsea to be above them if Brighton’s buonnotte had not scored for Leics!

 

[A1X]

Whether we get into Europe or not, finishing 8th is, I believe, a fantastic achievement given the upheaval last summer

Whatever happens over the next 10 days or so to see what happens, we shouldn’t lose sight of that

 

[darkwolf666]

Whether we get into Europe or not, finishing 8th is, I believe, a fantastic achievement given the upheaval last summer

Whatever happens over the next 10 days or so to see what happens, we shouldn’t lose sight of that

Well said. All the ifs and buts should be ignored. We should look back to the start of the season, and where we hoped to be now!

Clearly Hingis could have been different, if we had held on to results, but to be honest it works both ways…

 

[peterward]

So does 8th get Europe? I'm confused on the permutations. What outcomes can/cant give 8th placed team Europe?

No, unfortunately. We must finish 8th to have any chance.

And then we also need Chelsea to both finish 7th in PL and win the conference league final a week Wednesday.

For us to finish 8th, a point at Spurs will be enough if Muff don't win at City tomorrow night.

Regardless of anything, if we win at Spurs we're 8th.

For Chelsea to finish 7th, Forest must win at home on Saturday against Chelsea, and for Man City to get minimum of 1 point from next 2 games, and Villa to get at least a point at Old Trafford. Good thing is all those clubs are chasing champions league, so they will desperate to win.

All of that happens. We then need Chelsea to win conference final.

Its a long shot. But so far, since Palace won the final, all results are going our way.

 

[BadFish]

 

[Justice]

So does 8th get Europe? I'm confused on the permutations. What outcomes can/cant give 8th placed team Europe?

Isn’t it obvious

 

[Peppermint Tea]

That utter **** Cucurella will pop up with a 93rd minute equaliser on Sunday to f*** it all up.

 

[Eeyore]

View attachment 202220

Most of those are redundant now (and not totally accurate). It's basically

Albion draw with Tottenham (or beat them if Bournemouth win tomorrow- in which case Manchester City must secure a point Sunday)

Aston Villa get at least a point at Manchester United

Whatever happens, Nottingham Forest must beat Chelsea

Chelsea must beat Real Betty

And.. that'll do it

All very possible, but all of them in one are needed.

 

[AZ Gull]

it only just dawned on me that forest would only need to draw with Chelsea to be above them if Brighton’s buonnotte had not scored for Leics!

I watched the highlights of that game without knowing the score. I was bloody livid when Buonanotte slotted that away!