The Title Race 2017/18 | Done and dusted.

[Kapardin]

So City have Aguero and Mendy out, Chelsea don't have Morata and Kante (maybe), we don't have Fellaini and Pogba.

I'd say City can easily cope with their losses, but both Chelsea and ourselves will struggle if the lay-offs are too long.

 

[Adisa]

So City have Aguero and Mendy out, Chelsea don't have Morata and Kante (maybe), we don't have Fellaini and Pogba.

I'd say City can easily cope with their losses, but both Chelsea and ourselves will struggle if the lay-offs are too long.

Agree with the sentiment.

 

[Dumbstar]

So City have Aguero and Mendy out, Chelsea don't have Morata and Kante (maybe), we don't have Fellaini and Pogba.

I'd say City can easily cope with their losses, but both Chelsea and ourselves will struggle if the lay-offs are too long.

Sometimes you just have to re read a post to digest it. "For the league challenge we don't have Fellaini..."

Moyes noise? Moyes Boys? Moyes toys?

 

[Manchester Dan]

I think that they do have overall, the strongest squad. Their attackers are terrific.
I think their problem is that they don't have a decent manager to be able to get the best out of the best squad in the league.
I think that Jose and Conte are both better. Poch/Spurs would also be better, but they don't have any home games (which will hold them back, this season).
For MCFC to win, I think they'd need to have the best squad by far, which I don't think they do this season. If they could get Alexis Sanchez or Messi, this would give them the best squad by far and probably give them the league.
If Pelligrini was still in charge, I think they'd win the league, but luckily, he isn't there anymore.

Are you Namco in disguise?

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

So City have Aguero and Mendy out, Chelsea don't have Morata and Kante (maybe), we don't have Fellaini and Pogba.

I'd say City can easily cope with their losses, but both Chelsea and ourselves will struggle if the lay-offs are too long.

Why? You still have Herrera and Carrick, more than enough.

 

[Treble]

Interesting and also surprising stats here. Only City have conceded less shots than Liverpool?

http://www.planetfootball.com/quick...s-shots-takenfaced-territory-chances-created/

16. Arsenal – 71
17. Man Utd – 62
18. Tottenham – 60
19. Liverpool – 59
20. Man City – 45

Same with chances crteated:

1. Liverpool – 107
2. Man City – 102
3. Tottenham – 95
4. Arsenal – 94
5. Man Utd – 91

 

[adexkola]

Interesting and also surprising stats here. Only City have conceded less shots than Liverpool?

http://www.planetfootball.com/quick...s-shots-takenfaced-territory-chances-created/

16. Arsenal – 71
17. Man Utd – 62
18. Tottenham – 60
19. Liverpool – 59
20. Man City – 45

Same with chances crteated:

1. Liverpool – 107
2. Man City – 102
3. Tottenham – 95
4. Arsenal – 94
5. Man Utd – 91

Goes some way towards refuting the "Klopp doesn't know how to defend" argument. IMO he's hitting a ceiling with Mignolet, Lovren and co.

 

[AgentP]

Interesting and also surprising stats here. Only City have conceded less shots than Liverpool?

http://www.planetfootball.com/quick...s-shots-takenfaced-territory-chances-created/

16. Arsenal – 71
17. Man Utd – 62
18. Tottenham – 60
19. Liverpool – 59
20. Man City – 45

Same with chances crteated:

1. Liverpool – 107
2. Man City – 102
3. Tottenham – 95
4. Arsenal – 94
5. Man Utd – 91

The stats mention the shots faced by each team. So this includes a number of weak shots from outside the box which are routine saves for the keeper. It doesn't really represent clear cut chances created by the opposition teams. Since we don't press from the top as much as these other teams do and generally sit back a bit, we are bound to face more long range shots than other teams. Not trying to defend United here as there is not much of a difference except for City, just saying that these figures are not a true representation of the defensive qualities of a team.

As for the chances created, I'm sure Liverpool have created more but we have been more clinical. Liverpool are lacking a top goal scorer like Lukaku. They have goals all over the pitch but they still need someone who can score 20+ in the league. Without that, they will have many more games where they keep creating chances but don't finish it off.

 

[Treble]

The stats mention the shots faced by each team. So this includes a number of weak shots from outside the box which are routine saves for the keeper. It doesn't really represent clear cut chances created by the opposition teams. Since we don't press from the top as much as these other teams do and generally sit back a bit, we are bound to face more long range shots than other teams. Not trying to defend United here as there is not much of a difference except for City, just saying that these figures are not a true representation of the defensive qualities of a team.

As for the chances created, I'm sure Liverpool have created more but we have been more clinical. Liverpool are lacking a top goal scorer like Lukaku. They have goals all over the pitch but they still need someone who can score 20+ in the league. Without that, they will have many more games where they keep creating chances but don't finish it off.

I agree that these stats have a limited value as they do not say anything about the quality of the shots and the chances. Still, they show that on ther day Liverpool can be quite dangerous. It won't be easy to beat them at their ground even though Mane's injury is a serious blow for them.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Goes some way towards refuting the "Klopp doesn't know how to defend" argument. IMO he's hitting a ceiling with Mignolet, Lovren and co.

Not really. The way Liverpool press and win the ball high up the pitch mean the opposition rarely get a chance to camp outside their box, which is where speculative shots can be racked up. Their defending from the front has never been an issue. It's very good. Where they look defensively frail is when the opposition manage to get past that high press and have a go at their back four. So they're not conceding many chances but they are conceding good chances. Which explains their goals against column (12 teams have conceded fewer goals than them!) and is an indictment of the (lack of) quality of their defending in and around their own box.

 

[Adisa]

Interesting and also surprising stats here. Only City have conceded less shots than Liverpool?

http://www.planetfootball.com/quick...s-shots-takenfaced-territory-chances-created/

16. Arsenal – 71
17. Man Utd – 62
18. Tottenham – 60
19. Liverpool – 59
20. Man City – 45

Same with chances crteated:

1. Liverpool – 107
2. Man City – 102
3. Tottenham – 95
4. Arsenal – 94
5. Man Utd – 91

Goes some way towards refuting the "Klopp doesn't know how to defend" argument. IMO he's hitting a ceiling with Mignolet, Lovren and co.

That stat can be misleading.
Watching both teams, one would realise that when they concede a chance, it's usually clear-cut.

 

[adexkola]

Not really. The way Liverpool press and win the ball high up the pitch mean the opposition rarely get a chance to camp outside their box, which is where speculative shots can be racked up. Their defending from the front has never been an issue. It's very good. Where they look defensively frail is when the opposition manage to get past that high press and have a go at their back four. So they're not conceding many chances but they are conceding good chances. Which explains their goals against column (12 teams have conceded fewer goals than them!) and is an indictment of the (lack of) quality of their defending in and around their own box.

That doesn't account for set pieces or individual errors from the defenders. Unless you're saying that teams are conceding more shots on goals but the shots aren't that great?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

That doesn't account for set pieces or individual errors from the defenders. Unless you're saying that teams are conceding more shots on goals but the shots aren't that great?

Exactly what I'm saying. A lot of teams (United included) get fairly compact when they lose possession, happy to allow the opposition have the ball 20 to 30 yards out from the goal. This means they're likely to concede a steady amount of speculative long-range efforts. Liverpool are unusual in how high up the pitch they try and win the ball back, so the majority of the possession the opposition do have is deep in their own half. So Liverpool won't have many shots fired at their goal from range. They are vulnerable, however, to being picked off by simple through-balls from deep (e.g. Newcastle's goal) as well as the usual shitty defending from set-pieces we've come to associate from them, under Klopp.

 

[adexkola]

Exactly what I'm saying. A lot of teams (United included) get fairly compact when they lose possession, happy to allow the opposition have the ball 20 to 30 yards out from the goal. This means they're likely to concede a steady amount of speculative long-range efforts. Liverpool are unusual in how high up the pitch they try and win the ball back, so the majority of the possession the opposition do have is deep in their own half. So Liverpool won't have many shots fired at their goal from range. They are vulnerable, however, to being picked off by simple through-balls from deep (e.g. Newcastle's goal) as well as the usual shitty defending from set-pieces we've come to associate from them, under Klopp.

I'd buy it fully if they were the only team who played with a higher press than usual. City play the same way but have conceded only 2 goals.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I'd buy it fully if they were the only team who played with a higher press than usual. City play the same way but have conceded only 2 goals.

That’s where possession comes into it. Liverpool have averaged 57% while City have averaged 68%!

The narrative last season was all about City’s ropey defence so you could argue that they have similar vulnerabilities to the scousers only nobody is getting enough of the ball to expose them. Which is something us United fans need to cling to, or else it’s hard to be very hopeful about finishing ahead of the blue cnuts.

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

Interesting and also surprising stats here. Only City have conceded less shots than Liverpool?

http://www.planetfootball.com/quick...s-shots-takenfaced-territory-chances-created/

16. Arsenal – 71
17. Man Utd – 62
18. Tottenham – 60
19. Liverpool – 59
20. Man City – 45

Same with chances crteated:

1. Liverpool – 107
2. Man City – 102
3. Tottenham – 95
4. Arsenal – 94
5. Man Utd – 91

So Arsenal have been luck rather than solid at the back.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

So City have Aguero and Mendy out, Chelsea don't have Morata and Kante (maybe), we don't have Fellaini and Pogba.

I'd say City can easily cope with their losses, but both Chelsea and ourselves will struggle if the lay-offs are too long.

I think those injuries are worst for Chelsea and we should be able to cope best with them. City only have Jesus up front really so I think Aguero is a big blow for them.

Mendy as well is a massive blow although I say given the fixtures they might not hurt City as much as us since they got a nice run of games and should be able to score the goals they need even with massive rotation. Chelsea as well although without Morata I can see them struggle a bit more.

 

[K2K]

City looking really good.

Laid down the gauntlet last game and we failed to step up.

 

[AshRK]

City looking really good.

Laid down the gauntlet last game and we failed to step up.

City were always going to be favourites, pep spent huge money on top players. It would be a huge surprise if city don't win. Jose should have gone all out in transfer market. If anything it was very unlike jose. He should have spent another £100 million a got another attacker.

 

[Buchan]

City looking very slick. Then again, they did early on last season, too. Loads of football still to be played. I'm quite content with United's start to the season across the board.

 

[NYAS]

We need to make sure we continue to put away the non-top 6 teams both home and away. And make up for the Stoke draw with a couple of wins against the top 6 at home. I'm looking at Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool at home. We should be aggressively aiming to win those.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

This City side looks way too strong, not sure who they are going to drop points against.

 

[el3mel]

City will lead the table easily the next 2 months imo. If we keep close to them coming Christmas will be in good position.

I have no doubt their form will not remain the same through the whole season and at one point they'll start to look tired. We need to be close to them when this happen.

 

[Inter Yer Nan]

I'm confident we'll be ahead of them after the game in December. They are great going forward but it's early days.

 

[Canagel]

We need to stay close to City so that when they drop points we are there to capitalize.

 

[BocaJuniors]

City can score 1000-0 if they want, they will still only get 3 points. As long as we do our job we have a chance.

 

[Kapardin]

Still a good point gained at Anfield. Not a total loss if Chelsea and Liverpool (maybe Arsenal) don't gain ground on us.

City are yet to play Liverpool at Anfield and we are yet to play Stoke at home. No problems.

 

[K2K]

Still a good point gained at Anfield. Not a total loss if Chelsea and Liverpool (maybe Arsenal) don't gain ground on us.

City are yet to play Liverpool at Anfield and we are yet to play Stoke at home. No problems.

We are probably not winning at Stamford Bridge though.

 

[Kapardin]

We are probably not winning at Stamford Bridge though.

If we get 3 points against Spurs, a point will do against Chelsea. City are not going unbeaten this season, they are favorites, but not the invincibles.

 

[K2K]

If we get 3 points against Spurs, a point will do against Chelsea. City are not going unbeaten this season, they are favorites, but not the invincibles.

Thing is that we might then have best City both home and away. Can't see us doing that.

 

[charlenefan]

The first big day in the title race, we drop two points away to Liverpool and City score 7 at home to Stoke

And looking further afield Chelsea loose away to Palace

 

[el3mel]

We are probably not winning at Stamford Bridge though.

I think it's very good for us that we're finishing both Anfield and Bridge games this early. If we snatched a draw from Bridge it'll be excellent result.

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

Chelsea surely out now?

 

[Kraftwerker]

Everyone always too quick to anoint City as champs nearly every

I reckon they’ll wobble over the Christmas/winter period as they nearly always do. They’ve never won the league convincingly, usually relying on their main rival chucking it away.

Just need to be in a position to take advantage.

 

[McGrathsipan]

City will win it by a mile.

It's the race for 2nd place.

 

[charlenefan]

Everyone always too quick to anoint City as champs nearly every

I reckon they’ll wobble over the Christmas/winter period as they nearly always do. They’ve never won the league convincingly, usually relying on their main rival chucking it away.

Just need to be in a position to take advantage.

I'm fed up of people saying this, get your head out of the sand this year it's different. Previous years people were crowning them after 5 games or before the second international break they're carrying their good form a lot further into the season this year

 

[GlastonSpur]

We need to make sure we continue to put away the non-top 6 teams both home and away. And make up for the Stoke draw with a couple of wins against the top 6 at home. I'm looking at Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool at home. We should be aggressively aiming to win those.

I hope that's the way you play against Spurs: it'll suit us just fine ... it's the games against packed defences and teams that sit back we struggle with.

 

[el3mel]

I'm fed up of people saying this, get your head out of the sand this year it's different. Previous years people were crowning them after 5 games or before the second international break they're carrying their good form a lot further into the season this year

Further ? We're 8 games into the season.

It's almost impossible they'll keep the same intensity during the whole course of the season, impossible.

 

[Member 90887]

I'm fed up of people saying this, get your head out of the sand this year it's different. Previous years people were crowning them after 5 games or before the second international break they're carrying their good form a lot further into the season this year

A lot further as in 1 game more ? they won 6/8 last year at this time, they drew one and lost one (against spurs), so they had 19 points from 8 games while this year they have 22 points. 3 points difference. how is that a lot further into this season ?

 

[OneUnited24]

I'm fed up of people saying this, get your head out of the sand this year it's different. Previous years people were crowning them after 5 games or before the second international break they're carrying their good form a lot further into the season this year

I think it still has merits. Pep still employs a high press game, something people started to notice last season was how hard it is to keep up over a long season. You're right, this year is different. They've brought a lot of players who will replace the aging players who couldnt sustain that press but lets see how the table looks at the midway point.

Great win for them today and i believe they will be champions this season (out of all the top sides i feel they have the most settled) but theres still a long way to go