Has anyone noticed who's been sneaking up on the Blue****e?

[IJM]

... to take their precious UEFA Cup place away from them?

Villa are three points behind with a superior goal difference and they play them this weekend.

Far be it for me to enjoy someone else's misfortune, but in this case, if the blue****e lose this weekend I think I might just laugh my cock off.

[dww]

I think Villa will get the UEFA spot and deserve it. They play more attacking football than Everton and have managed their squad really well over the season to be finishing strongly and have played an developed a number of good young players. Everton have looked woeful of late (even in beating Derby they struggled).

[Dhav]

I think the truth is all the teams outside the top 4, down to about Spurs/NEwcastle are all much of a muchness. THey're all pretty average and about the same level; there's little to split them. Look at how they've performed in Europe - as soon as they play a decent team in the UEFA Cup they're out. Whoever gets it will only get so far in Europe anyway.

[The_weatherman]

I think the truth is all the teams outside the top 4, down to about Spurs/NEwcastle are all much of a muchness. THey're all pretty average and about the same level; there's little to split them. Look at how they've performed in Europe - as soon as they play a decent team in the UEFA Cup they're out. Whoever gets it will only get so far in Europe anyway.

There is the top 2, then us and Arsenal and then the Evertons, Villas etc. and then Boro, Fulham, Bolton and the rest. I think Chelsea and United are a class above Liverpool and Arsenal, in terms of spending power and squad strength.