We shouldn’t be taking any game for granted because we’re not very good.
So far we're as good as the teams around us although Utd have the momentum.
We're not as good as the top 3, we're better than anyone below 6th. Chelsea are a car crash, only Utd to worry about really and I suspect they'll finish above us.
Looking like we'll be closer to top 4 than last year though so my mood is lifting somewhat.
We finished a miserable 12 points off fourth last season, so I think we’re getting the most out of this squad so far, as we’ve made up 8 points so far - especially with three players out for the season.
75 points needed for fourth last year, and 76 the year before, so that’s the marker.
With the emergence of City, Spurs and Liverpool as consistent teams, the landscape at the top of the league is completely different. Back in 2016, fourth place took 66 points. We finished 6th last year with 65 I think.
We finished with 63 points last year and we're currently 10 points shy of that with 11 games to play. Statistically at least, we're on for a much improved season.
Performance-wise there's a lot to be desired but you'd hope that will come in time. If we can nick 4th that would be a very decent return for Emery, I'm not convinced at all we will get the job done but it's good to be in the mix again after being out in the wilderness for all of the last season.
Maybe my hissy fit after BATE was an over-reaction. It's just felt all a bit...Wengery of late, but I said Emery gets a free pass this season unless it's a car crash and it looks like it won't be one, and if we miss out on top 4 then that's not unexpected and it's not a given now there are 5/6 teams more than capable of finishing there.