Why not ? And no they don't have to have a 'blip' at all. At least not more so than any of their close rivals. It's a tough and long league, every team can be expected to lose an occasional match but that will happen to all. Key will be the games between the Top 6, and United are currently bottom of that league (Chelsea top). I expect United to improve in that mini-league but every one of those games will be tough and no team is going to win them all.
2016/2017 Title race
- Thread starter Adisa
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Always thought you would miss Mane more. Hes gonna miss the United game right?
Might be remembering it wrong, but I thought your lot pretty much went to pieces when he got subbed off against Bournemouth (was a good source of attack is the best defence).
Hard to say though based on just one game.
Chelsea will be top and Liverpool will be 2nd or 3rd. Most likely 2nd, I've accepted it. Neither have anything other then the league to worry about and that will help them keep the consistency they've been showing. City will probably get 3rd, as they'll just outscore most teams even though their defence is shite. That leaves 4th spot. We are without a doubt in my mind a better side then both spurs and arsenal so I hope we can make it, but we'll see. Pretty confident we'll go far in all the cups and that could hold us back in the league compared to arsenal who will get knocked out of the CL right away.
Think Chelsea is nailed on for the league. Their defense is rock solid. Pool still can't keep clean sheets so eventually they'll have off days which nothing in attack comes off and get punished at the back.
City is not all that. Unless they strengthen their defense during Jan it's not unfathomable that their penchant to drop silly points continues.
2nd-4th will be a dogfight between Pool, City, Arse, Spuds and us. We would do well ourselves to strengthen our striker department. Zlatan is on a hot streak but once it stops we will most likely find it hard to score.
City is not all that. Unless they strengthen their defense during Jan it's not unfathomable that their penchant to drop silly points continues.
2nd-4th will be a dogfight between Pool, City, Arse, Spuds and us. We would do well ourselves to strengthen our striker department. Zlatan is on a hot streak but once it stops we will most likely find it hard to score.
Honestly, there have been many times when a certain team is "nailed on" for the league, only to lose it later.
It is still only December. There is still half a season left to play.
The PL is a very competitive league and we have seen many times now that a single defeat can often send top teams into a downward spiral, and a "blip" by any team could easily result in 10-15 dropped points within a very short period of time.
There is absolutely no guarantee that the league will be a two-horse race between Chelsea and Liverpool. Especially when both those teams still have to come to Old Trafford.
It is still only December. There is still half a season left to play.
The PL is a very competitive league and we have seen many times now that a single defeat can often send top teams into a downward spiral, and a "blip" by any team could easily result in 10-15 dropped points within a very short period of time.
There is absolutely no guarantee that the league will be a two-horse race between Chelsea and Liverpool. Especially when both those teams still have to come to Old Trafford.
It may not be 100% nailed on for Chelsea but if it's not them it'll be city or pool. Chelseas lead of 6-7 points over them may be clawed back, however unlikely.
There's no chance United will overtake city, pool, arsenal, spurs as well as Chelsea collapsing so don't get your hopes up.
There's no chance United will overtake city, pool, arsenal, spurs as well as Chelsea collapsing so don't get your hopes up.
We're 25-1 with skybet. Take your optimism down there maybe!! They'll be glad to see you.
Well, all I can say is that Leicester were 5000-1 and they did it. So it is not impossible and certainly not "delusional" for us to be hopeful that we can do it. Even if we don't win it outright I see no reason why we can't at least mount a challenge and take it to the final few weeks of the season.
Next season I think we will win it.
Realistically you left the recovery too late this season with a highly competitive group ahead of you. I think you'll make top 4, but I'd be shocked if you were in contention for the title come May.
We are talking about Conte, someone with a great winning mentality. Difficult to see him lose the league.
Jose has an even greater winning mentality. He also has experience winning the league. And I think our biggest trump card is that Jose knows Chelsea very well, both at the team and individual level. After all, he coached their team to the title and Conte inherited largely what Jose built. Jose is going to be aware of any mental fragility issues that their players have. The same can't be said in reverse. Conte knows very little about UTD and also has no experience of a PL title run in. He won league titles in a league that was basically a one horse race.
You're gas. I love the optimism. The pessimist/realist in me would point out that Conte whipped Jose 4-0, despite not "knowing" his team. We won't challenge this year. Take 4th right now and build for next year. Happy new year all. I'm going home on the piss now.
That was a freak game because Chelsea scored in the first minute even before we could settle in. Also, Luiz should have been sent off around the 30-35 minute mark but he referee missed it. I feel there is no reason why we couldn't have gotten a point, had we rightfully been playing against 10 men for 60 minutes. As it was, yes we lost badly. But Jose has not lost a single game since then.
To be fair to Conte the first title he won with Juve in 2012, was their first since '03. I know the decline of the milan sides has helped Juventus establish their dominance, but Conte surely instilled a winning mentality and turned them into serial title winners. It's not the french league either, there's some good sides.
No you're not wrong. Having Mane means all teams play 10 yards further back thus isolating their striker(s). No Mane and suddenly we're under pressure which we're not good at. 90 minutes against Burnley and 20 minutes against Bournemouth couldn't be starker evidence.
I suspect Jose knows this. That's also why we need to sign Dembele, Pulisic, Azmoun or Traore as soon as the window opens.
Chelsea wont keep their form, but sadly the other teams arent going to capitulate on it either.
If we have saf team lurking on 2nd or 3rd i might believe in upset. But not this year
If we have saf team lurking on 2nd or 3rd i might believe in upset. But not this year
I don't see why people think theres more chance of Liverpool running out of steam than us (City), less games to play, younger team, more pace and both play high press though City have compromised that a bit lately.
I really think they'll beat us today and all but guarantee themselves top 4. Unfortunately Chelsea don't look like slowing down.
I really think they'll beat us today and all but guarantee themselves top 4. Unfortunately Chelsea don't look like slowing down.
Yep, but that's only for United vs. Chelsea. Chelsea can afford to lose sometimes.
Ah here... Redcafe... Pep's titles, having best players in the world and than best team in a one horse race, Contes titles one horse race. Jose's titles hard earned by the greatestest manager the world has ever seen. C'mon, knows the prem run in better is a poor excuse. He just hammered you guys 4-0 and scoring early is not a fluke or fake score, its one team asserting their dominance early and than hammering you. Granted Jose has a couple of remarkable feats at Porto 20 years ago. United have improved ALOT since the Chelsea whooping but to belittle Conte is just silly. Knows nothing about the premier league but won 13 games in a row, thumped United, came from behind to beat City well, already has the meanest looking defence the premier league has seen in years which is led by David Luiz and turned Costa and Hazard back into world beaters.
The reason many fancy Chelsea is not just the outstanding run theyre on. But they're just pinching wins, and thats all that matters overall.
Plus these same players, or the majority of, walked the league 2-3 yrs ago too, and i fully believe if Jose hadn't pissed a lot of them off, theyd have won it season he got sacked (had they played for him, and not fallen out)
Plus these same players, or the majority of, walked the league 2-3 yrs ago too, and i fully believe if Jose hadn't pissed a lot of them off, theyd have won it season he got sacked (had they played for him, and not fallen out)
Chelsea will really have to put in an effort to lose this at this point. 49 points in 19 games. 40 points in the next 19 and they'll be champions
Depends on the result between Liverpool & City. We're f**ked if we only have a 6 point advantage after a 13 game winning streak.
A 6 point lead is a nice thing to have at any point. Especially when we also have the best GD in the league.
Chelsea were in 8th place, 8 points behind leaders (Man City) before the winning streak began. Going from -8 to at least +6 in 13 games is fantastic.
No you're not. We'll get 40 points in the next 19, you're good enough for that. That means liverpool would need 49 points in the next 20. And they'll be without mane until february. League is yours to lose
No, you just need 40 points in 19 games to become champions. Don't worry
For all the grief our defence gets, that was a brilliant display from them today. Completely shut out Man City.
Chelsea with Spurs away next. Hopefully they finally drop some fecking points.
Chelsea with Spurs away next. Hopefully they finally drop some fecking points.
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Only by 4 goals. And IF we were to close that 6 pts then it's likely that 4 goals difference in the GD will have gone too (e.g. beat you 2-0 at Anfield, I wish, and there you go).
To be 6 points behind a team who have won 13 in a row is good going. Delighted with the first 19 games. Also played less home games than anybody in the league.
As for the terrible defence. 1 goal conceded in 4 isn't too bad.
As for the terrible defence. 1 goal conceded in 4 isn't too bad.
Quincy Promes is the most likely arrival. Speedy, skillful winger - a Sturridge/Mane hybrid.
Not really, because as others have mentioned you had to make up the gap as you were at one point 8 points behind the leaders.
It's the same for us now, we need to keep winning and though we haven't climbed up the table yet, we are closing the gap on top 4 and laying the foundations to get there.
Imagine we are still ahead by 6 points of that Pool team who has never played better in their 21 years of premier league.
I think this is also your best first half of a season is it not? In fact I think its the best by any team to date. If you replicate it in the second half of the season, you will have amassed a prem record of 98 points.
Liverpool are still only 4 points above City and hopefully 3 above us. If i were you, i would still look over your shoulder.
Is that not what curtails ambition - preoccupied with things going wrong? To win a league you aim high, 4th will look after itself.
The Spurs /Chelsea clash on the 4th of january is massive.
If chelsea lose, anything could khappen this year.
If Chelsea win, I feel it will be a major psychological blow to the chasing pack.
It would be very Spursy of Spurs to Spurs it up when Chelsea play Spurs.
Chelsea have Tottenham and Liverpool away and Arsenal at home in their next 5 league games. If they come out of those matches without losing too many points, I think they'll have the momentum to go on and win the league.