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It’s never a three-horse race and never was. It was a three-horse race if you included the champions who are having their worst season in recent time. But now it’s a two-horse race between the North London kings and Mersyside warriors. Anything other than that is just a media narrative. After that, who follows them in the top 4? yes we can feature that conversation.
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CM… I agree… it all goes in cycles, a “top” team lasts mybe 3/4 years before it needs a rebuild, and the non-Prem leagues, due to the big-dogs getting greedy with the TV money, have the same 2/3 clubs taking it in turns, with all the rest never really getting a chance… then you have the Prem, with a lot of clubs with 40/50k stadiums, a far more even distribution of TV (and the introduction of those scummy “new-money” clubs), have 6/7/8 clubs to cycle through that 3/4 year period, hence the much larger gap in titles.
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YB, you’re not fooling anyone, Chelsea are definitely in the title mix more so than arsenal. They have the advantage of being able to fully rotate the entire 11 for European matches which could be important towards the latter stages of the season.
I know it’s the football fans way to appear grounded or even negative towards their own teams chances but you’re in the race if you like it or not.
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I agree with threes….. if you can “afford” to buy a quality second 11 to bench warm, like City for the last decade and now Chelsea, you stand a massive advantage in the second half of the season.
When I look at the monies worth of bought talent sat on both teams benches the last couple of weeks and hear a narrative that Pep is crippled by injuries… its smoke and mirrors to the advantage they have held over their competitors for a decade surely….I don’t hear Shaun Dyche complaining?
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Ferguson had seasons like Pep during his period at United. The 2001-2002 season comes to mind(although theory is, him announcing his retirement being the reason why they had a wobble that season).
City won their 1st 3 league games without Rodri(Chelsea away being 1 of them). But there is something wrong at City. Something seems off. This City season reminds me of the 2001-2002 United season, but for United the reason was more obvious. Pep just looks like he has lost his hunger and demotivated and that had rubbed on to the players.
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Threeps,
We are not fooling anyone, mate; that is simply an honest opinion. Yesterday’s game highlighted why we cannot be considered as title challengers yet. People can point to our second eleven or so, but you need the team to gel, also not forgetting that Maresca is only at Chelsea for 5 months, and he inherited a team in crisis. If we look back at the posts of the posters who are now posting on ‘Chelsea is in the title race‘ what they posted about Chelsea in early August, you will hardly find anyone who fancied Chelsea to be in the top 8, let alone in the title race. Even pundits like J.Carragher, G. Neville, A. Shearer, and I. Wright had to change their predictions of Chelsea.
Maresca has surprised many people, including myself. The way he handled our crisis in early August is impressive and deserves credit. He has created two teams out of a club that was in total mess. Remember when we sacked Pochottino, which many quartets myself included didn’t agree with but now look to be the right decision. Everyone tipped Chelsea to struggle to finish in the top 10. Based on the circumstances raised above, I don’t see how Chelsea could sustain a title charge. Despite our numbers, we have limited quality; take Palmer, Caicedo, and Colwill out of that team, and we will struggle to finish in the top 6.
Compared to our alledged rivals for the title, who have a settled squad that has won this league before and who knows how to handle the pressure, getting a manager is 25% of the task. Liverpool have a settled squad who are winners; players like VVD, Salah, Allison, TTA, and Robertson will be an invaluable asset for Liverpool, despite them hiring a new manager last summer, and that is why you see their team growing. Arsenal has a manager and a team that has been together for the last 4 years; aside from their quality, their manager/coach is settled. I really can’t see how Chelsea can beat that to win this title. The objective is to stay together for a period, instill Maresca’s style of play, especially playing from the back, fight for the top 4, sharpen the skills of these young players, and then mount a title challenge.
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YB, not going to argue with a fan about his own team, you know better than me. In my opinion Chelsea are very much in the fight and are the ones whose results I look for first.
Yesterday wasn’t perfect but the weekend before was with Liverpool and Arsenal both dropping points at home.
Still a long long way to go with many ups and downs for all 3 teams but its nice not having City looking ominous.
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Defo a 3 horse race, and Chelsea more so than Arsenal. But I wouldn’t ignore teams like Villa and Newcastle, either.
Mikey F -Nice to set a new poster, welcome mate.
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Great to see Nottingham Forest , Bournemouth, Fulham, and Brentford do so well, too.
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Personally, I do feel when the season reaches February, weed will be separated from grass, and experience will come into play. Apart from Arsenal, City, and Liverpool, none of the other teams that are mentioned in the title have that experience in playing with the pressure. Squad size sometimes does matter, yes, but that is not the deciding factor. Just look at previous title winners; aside from City, none had squad depth. Whoever keeps their best players fit and on the pitch will have the advantage; that is so far Liverpool, in my opinion. Definitely, I would take a top-4 position right now and use that to motivate the younger players; we have to start a title charge next time. But this season? I will be surprised if we are anywhere near the title in the title race come March. Our keeper is the worst in the top 7, and our defence can’t defend; we have to outscore teams to win every match. Imagine we had only 3 clean sheets in the whole season. Someone has to look me in the eye and tell me if Sanchez can be in the title race with Allison and Raya.
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Stressful 8/9 hours as expected, but got through today. Happy Christmas One and All 🙂
I think as a group on here, we’re a lot wiser and not easily drawn into what’s presented in front (certainly not on our own team). Don’t want to jinx it or you say something and it bites you back.
We’re Good Supporters between us, experienced and knowledgeable.
I honestly do not discount the Quality of other teams. Tough matches and loads for Liverpool; Forest Away, Chelsea Away, Brentford.
2/3 Players I would like signed to Beef us, but that’s not going to happen by a flick of a switch, so what we’re effectively depending on is squad depth, rotation and management of physical condition of each player hoping they are not injured. That’s territorial with every club.
Strict rules, FFP, etc. Wouldn’t change a great deal with what we have in this League 🙂
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Thanks Mav… I will attempt to match the generous reasoning I see often in evidence and not be too ascetic when I hold a different “truth.”
In honesty I was triggered/compelled by young-blue’s narrative discussing by Maresca having to inherit a Chelsea “crisis..”My version of crisis is needing midfielders to play in central defence because even your 4th & 5th choice CB’s are injured… not self inflicted greed of spending £1.3 billion in 3 windows ontop of an insanely expensively assembled squad you already have and churn through 7 managers in 5 years…
That said, like Amorim I see a talented manager in Maresca and really nice fellas too..
If you can’t find your way with that squad at Chelsea, I’m afraid you’re not capable at top level management in my truth…. I see Maresca as that capable dude
Merry Christmas all..
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Wow, Man City drop points again! May Storm Darragh did Liverpool a favour. You wouldn’t want to be facing Everton as clearly, they are tough to beat.
I’m wondering whether Pep’s starting to be found out or is already found out. Apparently, he wants to sign 3 players in January.
I don’t know if this is one season off which a team is perfectly entitled to have or whether this is the beginning of the end of their Dominance at the Top.
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Nil-No ifs and buts, Pep and the current City team are done!
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They should never had bought Haaland… he is undoubtedly an excellent finisher, but that is all he brings to the table, and he has totally unbalanced the team, most of whom have seemingly “hit-the-wall” all at the same time… sure, Rodhri is a big miss, but they’re going to need more than him and 3 players in Jan to turn this around…and will Pep hang around long enough for a proper re-build?
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Anyway, 20 mins in, Forest probably have seen more of the ball, Spuds created better of the chances so far, 0-0 fair enough so far…
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Forest goalie looks like an SS officer from WWII mind you…
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too easy…. fooks sake…
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This is going to be a long 2nd 45… nothing on the bench, and since they got the lead, Forest are just sitting back and hitting on the counter..
And as much as I hate to say it, Sonny’s legs have gone, might as will play Werner… about as useful.
This will finish 2 or 3-0 Forest!
I see the Cherries manager seems to be the bookies favourite to replace Angie…
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