Aston Villa News 24/7We’re almost there then, the final day of the season with all 10 games played simultaneously – kick off is at 4pm on Sunday.
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It goes without saying that most eyes will be on Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford, especially with the bottom three relegated teams already confirmed, it’s the top of the table where all the interest is.
Utd and Chelsea fight for 1st place of course. Arsenal have been dragged into battle with Tottenham for 3rd spot. Fortunately for Arsenal, they host a Fulham side who will more than likely be focused on Wednesday’s Europa League final in Hamburg on Wednesday.
With a path leading directly into the group stage of the Champions League on offer, 3rd place is a prize worth chasing. Not only does the play off place awarded to 4th mean a risk of not actually reaching the competition, but it potentially provides an unwelcome distraction right as the new season starts – the two-legged play-off matches are scheduled for 17th/18th and 24th/25th August.
It’s a similar story with 5th, 6th & 7th places and the Europa League. 7th place will mean joining the competition in the 3rd qualification round and with legs scheduled for 29th July and 5th August that will clearly have an impact on pre-season planning.
The teams that finish 5th and 6th will join the Europa League in the 4th and final qualification round which will take place on 19th & 26th August.
Man City can finish 5th or 6th. Villa can finish in 5th, 6th or 7th and Liverpool could wind up in either 6th or 7th place. Personally, I want 5th, of course I do, but I’ll take finishing above Liverpool.
Below the top 7, there’s literally nothing but pride at stake. Everton will obviously be extremely disappointed to miss out on a European place and will take no comfort from the fact that they cannot be passed for 8th.
Birmingham City are practically guaranteed a top 10 finish and it has to be said, that’s quite an achievement. Credit where it’s due. With Wolves staying up and West Brom rejoining us, it promises to be an interesting season in the midlands next year.
By 6pm on Sunday it will all be over and there will be no more questions left to answer. If I was willing to stick my neck on the block and make a prediction, I’d say that the top 7 will not change. For once each of the 7 teams have their destiny in their own hands and all could and should win their fixtures.
In the end, then, it will come down to who throws it away if there are to be any changes to the order of the top 7. As I’m fond of pointing out, predictions in this game are entirely pointless, so I won’t be putting my neck on that block. Can you see any of the 7 slipping up though?
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6 Comments to “Final Day Fixtures And Possibilities For Next Season”
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Everything in me hopes man city will slip up… Maybe west ham will finally relax into playing some good football and aim to repay their home crowd on the last day. Plus, they might always do what we did – once the chance of champions league competition is gone, they kinda stop playing early.
Then again, we’re probably even more likely to that, especially if MON isn’t going to take the Europa league seriously :-/
the way this season has gone, anything can happen really. if we win and city lose, 67 points would be good value for 5th. i don’t think that would flatter us at all.
we’ll just have to see, but all we can do is win our game and then it will place us where it places us.
Though the game has no real importance other than final league position, i will be there and cheering my head off.
I have enjoyed reading your posts this season Dan and long may it continue, you have done yourself and the Villa proud and long may it continue, well done mate!
whoop, whoop, go clarets….lol
cheers buddy.
thanks for the support Sam, it’s much appreciated. hope you enjoy the game, it would be great to finish the season with a win, and here’s to another great season next year!
It would be nice to finish the season with a victory, but whatever happens on the final day won’t make much difference to what has been another season of progression. I would love to see us nick fifth but it is only cosmetic at this stage and if we do finish ahead of Liverpool it will be a nice feeling.
I am really impressed by what O’Neill and Lerner have done since coming to the club and a third season on the trot qualifying for Europe speaks for itself. They have laid very solid foundations and I hope both are around to reap what they have sown. This sort of stability will stand to the club.
The posts have been great Dan and long may they continue, its a pleasure as a Villa fan to read these well thought and balanced articles especially when there are other so called Villa Fans out there posting poison for ratings.
U.T.V.
thanks for the kind words tubbydunne and you’re right, it’s been a while since we strung 3 seasons of european qualification together. hopefully we can do a bit more in the competition next season, that would be my only disappointment with this season.
other than that, it’s been a very exciting season, an improvement on the last one with bags more promise shown for the seasons to come!!