Realistic expectations for the second half of the season

[11Drogba 2,000]

I did not like the team selection and substitutions today but there were also positives and I believe with Hiddink the number of positives will increase in time. I have no doubt that we'll be in top ten at the end of the season. To qualify for Europa league we need one or two signings.

[Ossie the King 634]

Tbh have no expectations, we just have to keep chipping away to get points now. You will see the players raise their game in the cup competitions, especially the CL, so anything is possible.

Yes, I still hear the clarion call 'play the kids!' Seriously this aint gonna happen whether we're 10 points clear or hovering above the drop zone.

Rebuild in the Summer, but for now its a new manager, new chapter, clean slates for the players

We go again, the past is the past.

That's pretty much where I am mate. We grind from game to game, we hope for the best but we're not building towards anything. I don't think the club has a clue where they go from here.

We go through the season looking to win each game, but we're going to watch a lot of poor football I think. If we survive we're in the same position as if we'd kept José come the summer.

Have no expectations and you might not be disappointed.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

I'd love to see us go on a bit of a run. Europe is gone next season unless we win the FA Cup. I'm still hopeful of a top 10 finish.

What I'd love, is a run of matches to build on for next season.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

We're going to finish mid table this season - we simply can't make up so much ground when all the teams above us are at the strength they are.

We can get Europe if we win the CL or the FA Cup. Not at all impossible.

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

My personal view - I don't think there is any reason to think we can't qualify for Europe. I do not think we'll be playing Champions League football again next year, simply because we won't finish in the top four and I highly doubt we'll win the competition outright this season. But with us needing around 40-45 points in the league to qualify for the Europa League places, or with us qualifying directly if we win the FA Cup, there is cause of optimism that we can, at least, be plying our trade in some form of continental competition in 2016/17.

Wish there was still Intertoto Cup, haha !

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

I guess, but I mean when you're owned by a billionaire you do have the safety of not necessarily needing Europe's money. Yeah, winning the EL does now get you into the CL, but there's no reason we can't do that by the conventional way of getting 4th. I still think it's an overplayed state of mind to think you can't attract big names if you spend one season out of it. It's more true if you can't get back in. But United spent a season out and are back in. Albeit they've got their own problems now, but whether they dump Van Gaal now or in a few weeks, they'll still end up in the top 4.

For all the EL is in terms of a European competition, the TV payouts are piss poor anyway. Long travels accompanied with a Football Association that doesn't seem to be willing to help with that simply means added fatigue. You just have to look at the stats of when teams enter the EL in correlation with their decline in the league table.

1. Yes, the Europe League prize money is nothing comparing with CL but it is still some money in budget plus there could be some obligations with sponsorhip contracts to get bonus money when playing in Europe. I remember there was big case that when Chelsea won't qualify for 2012/13 Champions League season they not only lose prize money but some sponsorship too.

2. Less matchdays at Stamford Bridge. Realistically at least 5 less games, that's a lot of money.

3. I don't necessary agree that there is correlation between playing in Europe League and league form. If you're good you're good. Borussia Dortmund is prime example of this season. Besides since there will be Premier League matches next season on Friday, there's even more chance that you're playing games every 3 days regardless if it is Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in Europe. Last time we played in EL there wasn't much of a problem in reaching league objective and we had piss poor squad then with limited options.

4. Coefficent. We will drop to the second pot/third pot without any European competition next season as 2016/17 season will replace our winning 2011/12 season.

5. Prestige. Chelsea outside of Europe. Really ?

[LAM09 7,043]

So much depends on what business we do in Jan. FA Cup and scrapping into the top 4 is probably the best we can hope for. See 6-7 being more realistic.

Winning the CL seems so far off, but we did win it when we were hopeless in the league and had an interim coach.

[Henrique 9,133]

Europa League via PL is only for the 5th placed side. The other teams come from League Cup and FA Cup.

Europa League is a cool tournament, and might be a way to achieve 2017/18 UCL. With the team in a rebuilding process, I see no reason to see a top 4 finish as an easy thing to do. It might be easier to win the Europa League than finishing in the top 4, specially during a rebuilding process.

[Henrique 9,133]

Here's the thing guys,

Do we even want Europa? Lets rewind a little bit to when United crashed out the CL last time and ended up crashing out of the Europa too. They put all their concentration on the league and finishing back in the top 4 that they did so with relative ease.

Liverpool, in their title chasing year with Suarez, were knocked out the Europa League pretty early. Had it not been for us, ironically, they probably would have gone on to win the title that year.

So as bad as it sounds, if we don't finish top 4, I'd rather we finished 9th (just to be safe, because these days even 8th somehow gets you into the EL )

Chelsea won EL in 2013 also got a top 4 finish. I don't believe United finishing top 4 and Liverpool almost winning the league are related with early EL exits. Actually only 5th placed PL team play Europa League. So, only 6th or 7th can play Europa League, as long as both teams that win FA Cup and League Cup are top 5 sides.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Chelsea won EL in 2013 also got a top 4 finish. I don't believe United finishing top 4 and Liverpool almost winning the league are related with early EL exits. Actually only 5th placed PL team play Europa League. So, only 6th or 7th can play Europa League, as long as both teams that win FA Cup and League Cup are top 5 sides.

Yeah, but also you find team are now gaining entry through the 'fair play league' as well, which is why in rare cases even 8th will get you in the EL.

I do accept that a big enough team with depth (as we're supposed to be) can manage both EL & League obligations. But it wouldn't be the worst case if didn't make the EL, would it?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Yeah, but also you find team are now gaining entry through the 'fair play league' as well, which is why in rare cases even 8th will get you in the EL.

I do accept that a big enough team with depth (as we're supposed to be) can manage both EL & League obligations. But it wouldn't be the worst case if didn't make the EL, would it?

There are pros and cons for Europa League football.

For me, the only major negative is Thursday night football. If it was played on a Tuesday or Wednesday, it wouldn't be much of an issue. Maybe there would be more travelling, but it would be a perfect channel for us to blood some of the youngsters at a fairly high level.

But, if we were to miss out on UCL/UEL football for next year, it would give our title challenge a bit of a lift. No need to worry about travelling to Ukraine before a Saturday mid-day kick-off at the Etihad. We'd have longer to prepare for games and I do think our league ambitions would be more easily fulfilled.

[Ossie the King 634]

There are pros and cons for Europa League football.

For me, the only major negative is Thursday night football. If it was played on a Tuesday or Wednesday, it wouldn't be much of an issue. Maybe there would be more travelling, but it would be a perfect channel for us to blood some of the youngsters at a fairly high level.

But, if we were to miss out on UCL/UEL football for next year, it would give our title challenge a bit of a lift. No need to worry about travelling to Ukraine before a Saturday mid-day kick-off at the Etihad. We'd have longer to prepare for games and I do think our league ambitions would be more easily fulfilled.

I do admire your optimism but it's way too early to be talking title challenges next season. I think realistically we're looking at survival this year and rebuilding for a couple of seasons. If City and United get the managers we expect, then we aren't likely to be contenders.