Dark Munster

The top 6 teams will definitely qualify for Europe. 7th can only qualify for Europe if Utd win the cup and finish in the top 6. That's all we need to know for Saints. For those interested in the fine details here's the breakdown. Assuming City finish in the top 6. If they don't win the CL then: If Liverpool win the EL and finish outside a EL spot they go into the CL as an extra European (CL) spot for the PL. Thus we get 5 CL + 3 EL. If Liverpool win the EL and finish in a EL spot but not in the top 4, then that spot is converted to CL. No extra EL spot to compensate, thus we get 5 CL + 2 EL. If Liverpool don't win the EL (or win it and also finish top 4) then we get the standard 4 CL + 3 EL. If City do win the CL nothing changes from above, unless they finish outside the top 4. If they finish outside top 4 but in a EL spot then that spot again gets changed to a CL spot. Then we get 5 CL + 2 EL. If Liverpool also win the EL and finish below 4th, then the 4th placed team is unlucky and they get one of the ELs instead of the CL, and it's still 5 CL + 2 EL. One thing I'm not sure about is if Liverpool and City win the EL and CL respectively, and both finish lower than 6th. Won't happen of course, but bear with me. Then they both qualify for CL, along with the top 3 in the league. If Palace (say) win the cup, they get one EL spot. That leaves just 2 more spots, for 4th and 5th. Which means 6th is S.O.L. Unless in this situation the PL gets 5 CL + 4 EL??

We don't need Liverpool to win the EL, because that won't affect the other EL places one way or the other. On the other hand, we do want Utd to win the cup if we finish 7th and below them, so that should make us feel dirty enough!

450/8 at close. Didn't see that coming! Looking ahead, for those in the know, is Alsop ready for Div. 1 cricket?

If Liverpool win the EL and finish outside a EL place then it's 5 CL + 3 EL. It's only if they win the EL and finish in an EL place that it's 5 CL + 2 EL. The rules state that an EL spot is lost only if they win the EL and finish in an EL spot (so in effect an EL spot is converted to a CL spot). In short, them winning the EL doesn't punish any team finishing in what would otherwise be a European spot (except the 4th placed team going from CL to EL if City also win the CL and finish outside the top 4).

Liverpool winning the EL can't hurt (or help) us, regardless where they finish. Similarly City in the CL. The top 6 are guaranteed european football, and 7th as well if Utd win the FA cup and finish in the top 6. There are various permutations depending if Liverpool and/or City win their european cup (4 CL + 3 EL, 5 CL + 3 EL, or 5 CL + 2 EL), but none of those concern us. Utd winning the cup is what we need if we finish 7th.

Spurs may have been the best team in the league for the last several weeks, but Leicester have been the best team over the course of the season. If their mauling of City at the Etihad had happened last week, and their win at WHL a week earlier, I doubt we would be hearing how lucky and crap they are.

Looks like the bastards will take it to the wire. If we can get a result at WHL (along with our defeat against Leicester earlier) that costs them the title, than all I can say is

The good news is that only 3 Yorkshire batsmen made any significant runs.

Could've been a legend if he hadn't spent so much time in the treatment room.

Ok, we give up. Who is it?

This. And also it is only they who stand between the north London bastards and the title. And for those who say they will struggle next year, I'm sure they will strengthen significantly. I doubt they'll have difficulty recruiting some quality players now that they are in the CL, and probably have a good chance retaining their best players for the same reason.

We're doomed.

It looks like we'll have to cheer Man Utd for the FA cup.

The powers that be probably thought the chances of them making the CL semi finals at about 5000/1.

Either way, it's good news for us that they are playing a CL semi-final either side of our match. They hopefully will have one eye on the second leg when they come down to SMS, unless of course Barcelona are 5-0 up after the first leg.

Presumably we only have 10 batsmen with Topley out?

I think it's been settled that 8th cannot qualify.

They only state that the EL spots go down from 3 to 2 if an EL winning team has already qualified for EL (and not CL) via their domestic league. This means that if Liverpool win the EL and don't finish in an EL qualifying position, then the PL still keeps 3 EL spots. That makes sense, otherwise a team would be robbed of Europe completely, and probably would kick up a fuss. Yes, a 4th placed team could lose a CL spot under certain circumstances, but they would still get an EL birth.

"It should also be stated," he added, "that an association with, for example, four places in the UEFA Champions League can increase their participation to five places should a club from their association win the UEFA Europa League in the previous season. "If that club has already qualified for the UEFA Champions League via their domestic league, then the association remains with four places in the UEFA Champions League. If that club has already qualified for the UEFA Europa League via their domestic league, it results in five clubs participating in the UEFA Champions League, and two – not three – participating in the UEFA Europa League." http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/executive-committee/news/newsid=2226990.html

Someone gave a link some time ago (I can't be arsed to find it) for the rule that in this instance the PL gets one extra CL spot (Liverpool), but loses a EL spot to another country. So 8th cannot qualify for EL.

Except the Skates of course, but that's moot.

They've taken us to the cleaners a number of times in the past (e.g. Fourpast, Bale, Paul Mitchell), admittedly that's sometimes Saint's fault too for being mugged. Throw in MP and Alderweireld, and so the last club I want to win the league is Tottenham ****ing Hotspur.

This. Again there seems to be confusion about being crap and being overrated.

Incredible fortune with injuries (9 of their starting 11 have played in all but 2 games so far, apparently), all 11 players having the season of their lives, the big clubs well below par, 10 penalties for and only 2 against, a shitload of 1 goal wins. My money is on someone there having a pact with the devil.