2016/2017 Title race

Adisa said:
City
United
Arsenal
Chelsea
If we get another pacy skillful attacker, then I can see us winning it.
As it is, city have too much firepower imo.
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It'll be between us and City. Hopefully guardiola is going to ruin the squat morale by buying all those players and benching so many of their club "legends". He really isn't messing about. I just think he is making a mistake by changing the squat so dratically in such a short time.

I think Arsenal is going to end outside of top 4 and this will be wengers last season. I am not convinced about the defense in Liverpool. It will cost them too many points. Gonna be optimistic and go with this.

1. United
2. City
3. Chelsea
4. Tottenham
5. Arsenal
6. Liverpool
 
Why do people have Liverpool so high up?, are you falling for the Rawkite "we have Klopp" shite?.
 
I think City will win it if they keep Aguero fit.

If, like last season, he only plays 20 games, I think they'll struggle.
 
It's still too early to make predictions IMO, as we're yet to see any of the top teams against each other yet. As the season goes on and the bigger matches occur, we'll have a much clearer view.
 
I think us and and City will form a sizable gap between 2nd and 3rd. Still too early but expect Chelsea to be back in contention for 3rd or 4th with either Liverpool or Spurs. Arsenal to lose out this season.
 
1) United
2) City
3) Chelsea
4) Arsenal
5) Liverpool
6) Tottenham


(Only put us above Tottenham because I want to feel optimistic. Lol)
 
Massive Spanner said:
I think you're missing the point of predictions.
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:lol: You do raise a good point there. I have, however, already made predictions in another thread about my top 4, champions and all that. I was more commenting on how hard it is to predict an outright winner this season. I perhaps should've worded my post better.
 
bosnian_red said:
He was a 20 year old, but he wasn't overrated then. Even then everyone knew he was up there with the very best players in the world. Was in the top 3 for the ballon d'or as well in 2007. Also Barca then just didn't have consistency but were still the most talented team in the world. People make it sound like Pep took over a bunch of chumps. We parked the bus and counter attacked barca with one of United's best ever sides and were still very lucky to get the win in the end in those semi's, and ended up winning the CL. Miles off the title of course because of no consistency and injury problems, but the main thing Pep seems to bring in everywhere is consistency in the teams performance.
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I think messi was a bit overrated at that time, he was at times sensational, his injury's and how he was seen has better than ronaldo at the time was unfair on ronaldo was doing. I would not say united were lucky, hell if ronaldo scored his penalty we could have picked Barcelona off at the time, so its a case of both sides had a bit of luck that Barca were still in the tie.
 
Need to see what transfers happen before the deadline.

Arsenal's season prospects probably changes a lot if they bother to sign a good striker and centre back.

Think the top four will definitely include City, United and Chelsea based off the first couple games. Might change quickly obviously but the squads look solid.

Liverpool/Spurs/Arsenal are a bit hard to tell.
 
Thepinhead said:
It'll be between us and City. Hopefully guardiola is going to ruin the squat morale by buying all those players and benching so many of their club "legends". He really isn't messing about. I just think he is making a mistake by changing the squat so dratically in such a short time.

I think Arsenal is going to end outside of top 4 and this will be wengers last season. I am not convinced about the defense in Liverpool. It will cost them too many points. Gonna be optimistic and go with this.

1. United
2. City
3. Chelsea
4. Tottenham
5. Arsenal
6. Liverpool
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If he keeps messing about with the squat, their asses are definitely in trouble.
 
A lot of people underestimated City. I believe they will be very strong with Pep, better than before. They will adapt quickly and score goals. Chelsea got two wins after all and I can see them picking up some form now.

I hope we continue our early positive start but the game against City is already so important.
 
Organic Potatoes said:
If he keeps messing about with the squat, their asses are definitely in trouble.
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Ye I am not entirely convinced about guardiola. Not doubt that he is a great coach although I do feel that he has had an "easy" career so far. All the teams he has coached have had World class players in them, and in City he has had a huge budget to buy almost an entire starting eleven. Would like to see how he does under a bad spell. Can he lift a teams morale and bonce back. I have a feeling he is going to be proberly testet in City.
 
Thepinhead said:
Ye I am not entirely convinced about guardiola. Not doubt that he is a great coach although I do feel that he has had an "easy" career so far. All the teams he has coached have had World class players in them, and in City he has had a huge budget to buy almost an entire starting eleven. Would like to see how he does under a bad spell. Can he lift a teams morale and bonce back. I have a feeling he is going to be proberly testet in City.
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It's the biggest test of his career for sure, but it's still a pretty easy job compared to many!

They just shelled 50m out on a defender who most people don't think can defend! Only we have outspent them this season, probably in the whole world.
 
Sandikan said:
It's the biggest test of his career for sure, but it's still a pretty easy job compared to many!

They just shelled 50m out on a defender who most people don't think can defend! Only we have outspent them this season, probably in the whole world.
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Pretty sure they've outspent even us.

Edit: They have, although only by a little over 7 million
 
Fingeredmouse said:
Pretty sure they've outspent even us.

Edit: They have, although only by a little over 7 million
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Checked one source, looks like you're right.

Even with Miki and Bailly quoted as 37&32m respectively!
I think Ibra just being declared as "free", despite probably costing 12-15m in wages helps a bit. Imagine the cost of a similar ability player
 
First blow to City.
Think both teams will hit 90+ points. With City winning it.
On positive we can take is that, I think Mourinho will go with his most attacking line up from now on with Zlatan, Martial and Rashford all playing.
 
Long way to go, City will have a stumble like everyone will. Question is can we put a run long enough together to overtake them when they do?
 
Still early. I don't think Jose will ever beat Pep head to head. It's always about consistency throughout the season. Might be Chelsea who takes it without the distractions of Europe.
 
We were just given irrefutable confirmation that we are not as good as we had hoped. Top 4 is still the goal but after todays performance it is hard to imagine we will have the consistency required to win it all. Still missing top players in a few key positions.
 
City have started off a lot better than I expected. Thought it would take time to implement Guardiolas style of football but it seems to have clicked already

It's a relief we managed to beat Hull as being 5 points off this early would have been worrying against a guardiola team

I'm hoping them being in the CL will cause them to drop some points in the league
 
Bookies have made City 2.00 favourites, with United 5.50 and Chelsea 6.00 following today. One look into last year after 5 games is enough to show that anybody handing the title out already is premature.

What I am most impressed with is that Guardiola has managed to get his ideas into the team so quickly, but points will definitely be dropped. In the league, we've not actually reached the 75th minute of a game yet with more than a one goal lead. We're really struggling to finish games off which will be costly eventually.
 
It's definitely a modern phenomenon to scrutinise a possible 'Title race' in early September. About 4 months away from any kind of serious eyeing up of the prize. Yes, talk about who you think can go far but this week-to-week scrutiny is a joke.
 
Monchengladbach (H)
Bornemouth (H)
Swansea (A)
Celtic (A)
Spurs (A)
Everton (H)
Barcelona (A)
Southampton (H)
West Brom (A)
Barcelona (H)
Middlesborough (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Monchengladbach (A)
Burnley (A)

They have a decent fixture list til December, hope they don't end up building a big lead
 
Not a commonly shared belief but I think Arsenal will be pushing city for the title, felt it pre season and still think it. I think that March/April period is where they'll cave in as always but between now and then I see them being neck and neck with city.
They're very good defensively and have finally plugged the cb weak link, versatile in midfield and a solid attack and they know how to win games. They also do this crucial thing where they play players in their best position.
 
I've pointed out before that Mourinho has never chased down a league title before. Every title he's won he's lead the league for basically the whole season.

It's early days right now, but it'll be something I have in mind later in the season if we're not leading the charge.
 
Leroy The Red said:
Not a commonly shared belief but I think Arsenal will be pushing city for the title, felt it pre season and still think it. I think that March/April period is where they'll cave in as always but between now and then I see them being neck and neck with city.
They're very good defensively and have finally plugged the cb weak link, versatile in midfield and a solid attack and they know how to win games. They also do this crucial thing where they play players in their best position.
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Hope that's a joke. I'm hearing this every single time at the start of the season and every single season Arsenal finish 4th.
 
Dumat12 said:
Hope that's a joke. I'm hearing this every single time at the start of the season and every single season Arsenal finish 4th.
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They came 2nd last year and 3rd the season before. United have finished 4th and 5th yet 90% of the cafe think we'll win the league.
They have stability and a know how, every year people predict them to finish outside the top 4 and it never happens. Not saying they'll win it but they'll put it one of their usual semi title challenges. They're the best equipped to stop city..... Till March/April when they inevitably collapse.
 
City are a level above us I'm afraid. Had the feeling yesterday that if we'd equalized, they'd have upped a gear again and won anyway.

I think Chelsea will be their top challengers actually. We have Way to go as we have some world class players, but also some mentally weak players who are not at the top level, due to our recent mismanagement.
 
Dominos said:
I've pointed out before that Mourinho has never chased down a league title before. Every title he's won he's lead the league for basically the whole season.

It's early days right now, but it'll be something I have in mind later in the season if we're not leading the charge.
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Interesting. Seems to be a manager who thrives on being in the driving seat.
 
Von Mistelroum said:
City are a level above us I'm afraid. Had the feeling yesterday that if we'd equalized, they'd have upped a gear again and won anyway.

I think Chelsea will be their top challengers actually. We have Way to go as we have some world class players, but also some mentally weak players who are not at the top level, due to our recent mismanagement.
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I've backed City all along but I can't agree with that. I thought no we were extremely poor in the first half and if we had equalised, I don't think City could simply switch gears. I've watched the second half and I think they were struggling.
I do agree that they are the best side but I think us and Chelsea will run them close.
 
Von Mistelroum said:
City are a level above us I'm afraid. Had the feeling yesterday that if we'd equalized, they'd have upped a gear again and won anyway.

I think Chelsea will be their top challengers actually. We have Way to go as we have some world class players, but also some mentally weak players who are not at the top level, due to our recent mismanagement.
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We also need a manager who can get that extra out of his players, something we've lacked ever since Fergie retired. I don't think City are that much better than us, but Pep have made things work quicker.
 
I definitely think it will be between City and Chelsea (hopefully my thinking this might result in things going the opposite way:)).
Guardiola is Guardiola and Conte is extremely clever, so wouldn't surprise me to see either one comet on top.
We need to be careful and win all 'winnable' matches to stay in touch and make sure we still finish top four. I don't relish us having to sack another manager AGAIN.
 
Jazz said:
I definitely think it will be between City and Chelsea (hopefully my thinking this might result in things going the opposite way:)).
Guardiola is Guardiola and Conte is extremely clever, so wouldn't surprise me to see either one comet on top.
We need to be careful and win all 'winnable' matches to stay in touch and make sure we still finish top four. I don't relish us having to sack another manager AGAIN.
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Why not United but you mention Chelsea? They're not a better team than us.
 
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