How close are we to challenging City & Liverpool ?

[Clark28]

We are hugely dependent on keeping our 4 attackers fit. If even 2 get injured you are starting Lucas and Gil is our only obvious attacking sub. I guess you could include Perisic as well. But the fact none of our midfield 4 could really be considered to have the slightest attacking impact from the bench. We also have no obvious academy attacking option on the fringe, maybe Devine. But basically as long as all fit I’m happy with match day squad. Couple of attacking injuries and we will look very light.

we very nearly act like a big club but as usual just fall short. However scatter gun Chelsea and United business they act like big clubs. If we haven’t now with Conte Stadium a supposed war chest then we never ever will under ENIC.

Taking two attackers out of any team's best 4 is going to hurt them.

 

[shoggy33]

I don't think we are anyway near good enough to challenge for the title. The squad we have and system we play should keep us in the mix for the top 4, but we haven't been ruthless enough in the transfer market and we have too many limitations for a title challenge. Our style of play relies on players that we just don't have enough of meaning we constantly gift the opposition chances, and will drop too many points over the season. We also don't seem to have a plan B, Conte seems very stubborn in sticking to his gameplan even when it's clearly not working. I think top 4 would be a very good achievement this year given how much those around us have strengthened.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Yes I thought the same, Kane in particular is a generational player, replacing his goals will be almost impossible. We may get a little closer to Liverpool possibly this season, Man City though …. Not even close with Haaland, who looks absolutely frighteningly good.

Our best shot is to get the absolute best players in while we are still in the good years of Kane window and get him to sign a new deal.

Conte system tends to rely on specialists for certain positions, for which we are addressing, but nowhere near enough in terms of quality. My worry is if we bring in players who are aligned to Conte's strategy and then he fucks off, with a new manager coming in with a completley different philopshy he'll inherit square pegs for his round holes.

 

[shelfboy68]

I don't think we are anyway near good enough to challenge for the title. The squad we have and system we play should keep us in the mix for the top 4, but we haven't been ruthless enough in the transfer market and we have too many limitations for a title challenge. Our style of play relies on players that we just don't have enough of meaning we constantly gift the opposition chances, and will drop too many points over the season. We also don't seem to have a plan B, Conte seems very stubborn in sticking to his gameplan even when it's clearly not working. I think top 4 would be a very good achievement this year given how much those around us have strengthened.

There are a lot of decent teams in this league and even fourth could be a struggle so top six is excellent.
The way we play is very system based leaving little room for individual talent which sometimes you need to win tight games.
We have been fortunate so far that nobody has punished us for playing in second gear since the Southampton game.
Better teams will expose some of the sloppy ponderous play from the players if they don't have their act together.

 

[mil1lion]

We are hugely dependent on keeping our 4 attackers fit. If even 2 get injured you are starting Lucas and Gil is our only obvious attacking sub. I guess you could include Perisic as well. But the fact none of our midfield 4 could really be considered to have the slightest attacking impact from the bench. We also have no obvious academy attacking option on the fringe, maybe Devine. But basically as long as all fit I’m happy with match day squad. Couple of attacking injuries and we will look very light.

we very nearly act like a big club but as usual just fall short. However scatter gun Chelsea and United business they act like big clubs. If we haven’t now with Conte Stadium a supposed war chest then we never ever will under ENIC.

This time last season Moura was a starter though and now we're talking about 2 injuries before he starts. He's very capable as a squad player.

 

[HildoSpur]

We are closer to Liverpool but City are far ahead of everyone.

 

[MightySpurs]

Starting to questioning the decision to let Eriksen go to utd. when he had come back here in a heartbeat.

if it was just for a year- to fill the gap. Free and probably had made money on him if we wanted to sell again.

 

[sundanceyid10]

Conte system tends to rely on specialists for certain positions, for which we are addressing, but nowhere near enough in terms of quality. My worry is if we bring in players who are aligned to Conte's strategy and then he fucks off, with a new manager coming in with a completley different philopshy he'll inherit square pegs for his round holes.

I think as a club we are all in with Conte at this point.

 

[bubble07]

23/24 squad to compete

Henderson
Romero Stones Bastoni
Hakimi Bissouma Bentancur Udogie
Kuluseski Kane Son

Forster Sanchez Dier Lenglet Spence Skipp Hojberg Perisic Sessegnon Zaniolo Richarlison Zaha

 

[Real_madyidd]

23/24 squad to compete

Henderson
Romero Stones Bastoni
Hakimi Bissouma Bentancur Udogie
Kuluseski Kane Son

Forster Sanchez Dier Lenglet Spence Skipp Hojberg Perisic Sessegnon Zaniolo Richarlison Zaha

Would be a very good squad. Although I must admit I thought the first player was Jordan Henderson and that you had gone mad.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Taking two attackers out of any team's best 4 is going to hurt them.

I agree on the whole but not so much for Liverpool and City which is the main purpose of this thread.
Liverpool have -
Salah, Jota, Diaz, Firmino, Nunez and Carvalho.
City have -
Haaland, Alvarez, Mahrez, Silva, Foden, Grealish.

With the exception of maybe Haaland at City considering how well he’s done so far I think you could pretty much take any two out of ether of those teams and still have a very strong attack. Until we have a selection up front as strong as that we are just not going to be able to compete on their level.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

6 games in and we are level with City, and 5 points clear of Liverpool.

 

[THFC_SWE]

Their name is not Manchester City. Its The Erling Haaland Team.

 

[rossdapep]

Liverpool really do look vulnerable. I'm sure they'll improve in time but if we are to have a target, it would be 2nd spot

 

[JCRD]

I do think Liverpool have regressed so think its a combination of us elevating our level and theyre regression that makes it a bit more equal with them now. Man City is a weird one - because theyre such a good team but dont think theyre any better than last season - Haaland doesnt make them better but if anything, a bit more predictable perhaps.

Arsenal are a worry - I think people are just thinking oh its Arsenal they did such as such last seasona nd the same bottling will happen - I mean thats just burying your head in the sand. I hope those people are right and they do revert back to type but theyre made of sterner stuff. Tomorrow will be an interestign match to see where they are. My poitn is its not just Man City and Liverpool but the other teams.

 

[spurs mental]

23/24 squad to compete

Henderson
Romero Stones Bastoni
Hakimi Bissouma Bentancur Udogie
Kuluseski Kane Son

Forster Sanchez Dier Lenglet Spence Skipp Hojberg Perisic Sessegnon Zaniolo Richarlison Zaha

Dean Henderson is not as good people think.