2016/2017 Title race

BlueCelery said:
Top of the League after City already won it 3 games in. After we were a midtable team post Arsenal away. :angel:

Doubt it'll be the same after the next 2 games though.

Chelsea: Tottenham (H), Man City (A) - 2 points
Liverpool: Sunderland (H), Bournemouth (A) - 6 points
Manchester City: Burnley (A), Chelsea (H) - 4 points
Arsenal: Bournemouth (H), West Ham (A) - 6 points
Tottenham: Chelsea (A), Swansea (H) - 4 points
Manchester United: West Ham (H), Everton (A) - can't call it. Anything between 1 - 6 points (except 5 obviously, duh)

Think we'll beat Tottenham quite comfortably but City away will be a massive challenge.
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Predictions above, though obviously anything can happen. We could draw with Bournemouth away for example.
 
Dumbstar said:
Predictions above, though obviously anything can happen. We could draw with Bournemouth away for example.
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Think well beat Spurs. Rose is suspended and they play a hugely important match midweek. Plus, they never beat us at home.

Can't see us beating City at their place, though.
 
Orc said:
Think well beat Spurs. Rose is suspended and they play a hugely important match midweek. Plus, they never beat us at home.

Can't see us beating City at their place, though.
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I think a fresh, fit and well prepared Spurs would best you at the moment, but that Champions League game should see them quite drained. I don't think you'll have any answers for City away though, so I think you're right in your predictions.
 
Orc said:
Think well beat Spurs. Rose is suspended and they play a hugely important match midweek. Plus, they never beat us at home.

Can't see us beating City at their place, though.
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I agree with you about Spurs' European hangover(s). But they always manage to avoid defeat in the league. I think you and a few fellow fans are underestimating them even without Rose. We rip them a few new arseholes nearly every season but they managed to match us against the sexiest looking football we've had for a few years. Pochettino will not be so open this season.
 
BlueCelery said:
Top of the League after City already won it 3 games in. After we were a midtable team post Arsenal away. :angel:

Doubt it'll be the same after the next 2 games though.

Chelsea: Tottenham (H), Man City (A) - 3 points
Liverpool: Sunderland (H), Bournemouth (A) - 6 points
Manchester City: Burnley (A), Chelsea (H) - 6 points
Arsenal: Bournemouth (H), West Ham (A) - 4 points
Tottenham: Chelsea (A), Swansea (H) - 3 points
Manchester United: West Ham (H), Everton (A) - no idea

Think we'll beat Tottenham quite comfortably but City away will be a massive challenge.
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With the fixtures coming up (and your good run) guessing there's no chance of Zouma being reintroduced to the first team any time soon.
 
Jed I. Knight said:
I think a fresh, fit and well prepared Spurs would best you at the moment, but that Champions League game should see them quite drained. I don't think you'll have any answers for City away though, so I think you're right in your predictions.
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And why would you say that about Spurs, exactly? They can barely score goals recently (were absolutely gifted a couple yesterday) and we're playing at home. We've owned Spurs for years just like Arsenal.
 
Rooney in Paris said:
So... it's not a myth? In average, teams finish 2.6 places lower than they did without EL?
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Of course it is BS. Look at the teams with actual squad depth and deep pockets like Liverpool, Tottenham and City and it had no impact. Of course it impacts teams that have massively overachieved in the previous season by qualifying for a EL spot. What´s next? People will argue Leicester shouldn´t have won the league, cause it will negatively impact this season, cause they are not equipped to handle both competitions with their squad depth and quality? :wenger:
 
Rafateria said:
Actually you are missing the point - which it does in fact prove that for top teams, playing in the EL doesn't hinder them, though it doesn't help them kick on either. Look at the changes for only what we would call top teams (City, Liverpool, & Spurs) the net for them is Zero, so basically no affect at all. In fact bar Spurs' poor performance in 2007/8 it would have been a clear net gain. In fact looking at individual teams (again only City, Liverpool and Spurs) in five seasons the teams gained and only lost ground in three.
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Exactly. Should have read the whole thread first. You already adressed my point.
 
Orc said:
And why would you say that about Spurs, exactly? They can barely score goals recently (were absolutely gifted a couple yesterday) and we're playing at home. We've owned Spurs for years just like Arsenal.
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I don't think Conte's current tactics have a way of coping with opponents that employ a high intensity pressing game, high up the pitch (and do it very well, I should add, like Spurs did against City).

Nothing more than that, really, and not taking history into account at all. But, as I indicated, I don't believe they'll have the required intensity to play the way they need in order to trouble you on account of their midweek game.
 
JustFootballFan said:
Of course it is BS. Look at the teams with actual squad depth and deep pockets like Liverpool, Tottenham and City and it had no impact.
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I disagree. The Tottenham, Liverpool and City positions not changing is a bit misleading. Iirc, those teams played youngsters and out of favour players in the Europa during those years and had no intention of winning the competition.

A team with no continental football challenging for the title has a slight advantage over a team with continental football (taking it seriously) challenging for the title. The advantage is overstated but it definitely exists.
 
Orc said:
And why would you say that about Spurs, exactly? They can barely score goals recently (were absolutely gifted a couple yesterday) and we're playing at home. We've owned Spurs for years just like Arsenal.
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The league results in the last 2 seasons have been one win each, plus 2 draws. Against Arsenal in the last 2 seasons (and this one) the league results have been 1 win for Spurs and 4 draws.

Summary: Spurs have had the better of the combined league results against Chelski and Arsenal since Pochettino took over.
 
:lol:
GlastonSpur said:
The league results in the last 2 seasons have been one win each, plus 2 draws. Against Arsenal in the last 2 seasons (and this one) the league results have been 1 win for Spurs and 4 draws.

Summary: Spurs have had the better of the combined league results against Chelski and Arsenal since Pochettino took over.
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Got to love Spurs fans.. :lol:
 
Orc said:
Think well beat Spurs. Rose is suspended and they play a hugely important match midweek. Plus, they never beat us at home.
... .
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Ben Davies is a very decent replacement, plus we now have both Alli and Kane back ... and Alderweireld might be back.
 
My guess for the next 7 games until the half way point in the season... :

Chelsea: Tottenham H (win) City A (loss) West brom H (win) Sunderland A (win) Palace A (draw) Bournemouth H (win) Stoke H (win) - 16 points (44 total)
Liverpool: Sunderland H (win) Bournemouth A (win) West Ham H (draw) Middlesbrough A (loss) Everton A (draw) Stoke H (win) City H (win) - 14 points (41 total)
Man City: Burnley A (win) Chelsea H(win) Leicester A (draw) Watford H (win) Arsenal H (draw) Hull A (win) Liverpool A (loss) - 14 points (41 total)
Arsenal: Bournemouth H (win) West Ham A (loss) Stoke H (win) Everton A (loss) Man City A (draw) West Brom H (win) Palace H (win) - 13 points (38 total)
Tottenham: Chelsea A (loss) Swansea H(win) United A (loss) Hull H (win) Burnley H (win) Southampton A (draw) Watford A (win) - 13 points (37 total)
United: West ham H (win) Everton A (draw) Spurs H (win) Palace A (win) West Brom A (draw) Sunderland H (win) Middlesbrough H (win) - 17 points (36 total)
 
Conte's not stupid and he's not a one trick pony. If he thinks tottenham's style would give them trouble with their current style, he'll have them play differently. Conte has a single-minded obsession with winning, if he can't win his way, he'll change his way. He's no Bielsa
 
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GlastonSpur said:
The league results in the last 2 seasons have been one win each, plus 2 draws. Against Arsenal in the last 2 seasons (and this one) the league results have been 1 win for Spurs and 4 draws.

Summary: Spurs have had the better of the combined league results against Chelski and Arsenal since Pochettino took over.
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Pretty convenient to single out the last couple of seasons. I meant that historically, in the PL era we've somewhat owned your lot. I should've been clearer. I think I heard a stat recently that you've taken a grand total of about 7 or 8 from a possible 30 points in our last 10 PL matches. Makes for even grimmer reading the further back you go.

Anyways, as far as next weekend goes, I'm not saying I think we'll bulldoze you guys. Just that we should be winning that one at home.
 
Orc said:
Pretty convenient to single out the last couple of seasons. I meant that historically, in the PL era we've somewhat owned your lot. I should've been clearer. I think I heard a stat recently that you've taken a grand total of about 7 or 8 from a possible 30 points in our last 10 PL matches. Makes for even grimmer reading the further back you go.

Anyways, as far as next weekend goes, I'm not saying I think we'll bulldoze you guys. Just that we should be winning that one at home.
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If we're talking about the next match, which we are, then the last couple of seasons are by far the most relevant - both squad-wise and in terms of Pochettino being our manager.
 
giorno said:
Conte has a single-minded obsession with winning, if he can't win his way, he'll change his way. He's no Bielsa
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Not having a go at you, but this is exactly the opposite of what my Juve supporting friends say about his time at Juve.

You may have watched them more, and I myself only really watched them the last few years in the big games, but just putting it out there.
 
Orc said:
And why would you say that about Spurs, exactly? They can barely score goals recently (were absolutely gifted a couple yesterday) and we're playing at home. We've owned Spurs for years just like Arsenal.
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Because Harry Kane loves a London derby, doesn't he?

Tbf, Chelsea look good atm,
 
GlastonSpur said:
Ben Davies is a very decent replacement, plus we now have both Alli and Kane back ... and Alderweireld might be back.
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Davies is injured and unlikely to be fit.

If Toby is back I think we might go with a back 3 again of Toby, Dier and Wimmer and Verts at LWB. If not it will be Dier with Toby/ Wimmer with Verts at LB.
 
MounchesterUtd said:
Not having a go at you, but this is exactly the opposite of what my Juve supporting friends say about his time at Juve.

You may have watched them more, and I myself only really watched them the last few years in the big games, but just putting it out there.
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Then they are clueless. Conte literally changed his ideas less than two months ago with this very chelsea side. And i'm talking about basic playing style and tactics, not even on a game-to-game basis. He's never been shy about switching game plans depending on the opposition.
 
Chelsea are looking very, very strong now I think and will continue to improve. I fancy them and City to be the top 2 by the end of the season.

If Spurs can get a draw vs Chelsea at the weekend i'd be happy.
 
giorno said:
Then they are clueless. Conte literally changed his ideas less than two months ago with this very chelsea side. And i'm talking about basic playing style and tactics, not even on a game-to-game basis. He's never been shy about switching game plans depending on the opposition.
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Conte could have evolved by now, as I remember his Juve getting spanked around in Europe, then the next year Allegri takes them to the CL Finals.

But yeah, I wouldn't mind taking your word for it.
 
Spurs at Stamford Bridge is the one league game where i would quite happily bet my entire belongings on them not winning. Their record there is worse than shit... it is actually pitiful. So bad
 
giorno said:
Then they are clueless. Conte literally changed his ideas less than two months ago with this very chelsea side. And i'm talking about basic playing style and tactics, not even on a game-to-game basis. He's never been shy about switching game plans depending on the opposition.
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I am trying to remember the name of the Italian football reporter who said Conte is the worlds best manager, or will be, and will prove it at Chelsea.
 
giorno said:
Then they are clueless. Conte literally changed his ideas less than two months ago with this very chelsea side. And i'm talking about basic playing style and tactics, not even on a game-to-game basis. He's never been shy about switching game plans depending on the opposition.
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I agree with this, it's a sign of a good manager. Changing his formation, tactics to fit the players he has. They're a proper team now so fair play to him.
 
MounchesterUtd said:
Conte could have evolved by now, as I remember his Juve getting spanked around in Europe, then the next year Allegri takes them to the CL Finals.

But yeah, I wouldn't mind taking your word for it.
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Yeah they got spanked by treble-winning bayern munich, not exactly scrubs. He did make mistakes, when they went out in the group phase a year later in istanbul it was partially his fault. On the other hand, it's not really his fault his team took 30 shots a game while conceding 3 against copenaghen and galatasaray and couldn't win those games...

As i said, on a game to game basis, he can adapt. He is stubborn, but he already got trounced by liverpool and arsenal in two big games. That's likely to make him more cautious about spurs. If he thinks a high pressing line would work into spurs hands, he'll have chelsea sit deep and play on the counter
 
Well now I lost hope for United to win the league, I find myself hoping Chelsea beat Dippers and City to the league, with us sniffing at Arsenal and Tottenham for 4th :(
 
Fixtures until January

Chelsea:
Man City (A)
West Brom (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Sunderland (A)
Bournemouth (H)
Stoke (H)

Liverpool:
Bournemouth (A)
West Ham (H)
Middlesbrough (A)
Everton (A)
Stoke (H)
Man City (H)

Manchester City:
Chelsea (H)
Leicester (A)
Watford (H)
Arsenal (H)
Hull (A)
Liverpool (A)

Arsenal:
West Ham (A)
Stoke (H)
Everton (A)
Man City (A)
West Brom (H)
Crystal Palace (H)


That City fixture list is brutal. Fecking hell.
 
Really looking forward to City vs Chelsea. Fascinating. Can't wait to see how they line up and the tactics each manager employs.
 
Rafateria said:
Really looking forward to City vs Chelsea. Fascinating. Can't wait to see how they line up and the tactics each manager employs.
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Seconded, it's going to be a really interesting game (hopefully).
 
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