The Race for the Title, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or even 6th Thread.

[hellava_tough]

We've got a run of winnable games now to build up a real head of steam.

So who knows, perhaps the title is on this season?

 

[CowInAComa]

we should be aiming for the title

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Not changing the thread title just yet but it’s looking good for a more adventurous race that’s for sure.

 

[SUIYHA]

Just a couple of weeks ago I thought we'd struggle to even match last seasons finish. The horrific style of football we'd been playing since Mourinho took over, the lack of transfer activity, the debacle of the opening day performance and the unconvincing win against Plovdiv...it didn't look good.

After we signed Bale and Reguilon, I thought we'd have an outside chance of finishing in the top four but would finish well short of Liverpool, City and Chelsea.

Even immediately after our game today I still thought we'd be miles off Liverpool come the end of the season.

Has my mind changed? I'd still be surprised if we run them close, let alone win the title, but for the first time in a while we've seen Liverpool look vulnerable. We've seen a sign of weakness. Which means that everyone in the league has sAnd arguably - we have shown the least weakness in the league out of the big six so far this season.

For us to have a genuine shot at the title we'd need to bring in a top class CB for sure as I don't see Dier, Sanchez and an ageing Toby as a title winning defence. I'd prefer to have the Eriksen replacement we've been craving for years as well, but this new style with Kane dropping deeper and Ndombele showing us what he can do means at least we've found a way to create chances. Even if we get them both we'd still most likely fall short, but it's still exciting times which seemed impossible just a few weeks ago.

 

[Athenspur]

That Chelsea game changed everything didn't it? Thank you Carabao, whoever you may be.

 

[easley91]

The fact we came out of this week virtually unscathed injury wise, winning 3 out of 4 (we all know it should have been 4) and scoring goals aplenty in two, one of which was at Old Trafford (somewhere we all know our record is poor), is huge. This in my opinion was THE defining week for this team and Mourinho. Still in the two cups, beating Chelsea in the process. Keeping pace somewhat in the league. I have high hopes this season, I really do.

 

[swarvsta]

Odds have nothing to do with reality and everything about maximising profit for the bookmaker. If i put a £million on spurs winning the league tomorrow those odds would change dramatically.

They will think what odds are tempting enough for people to make a bet, how many will bet. If they win will their loses be offset by another team missing out...

This is totally and utterly incorrect.

Big bets can move markets in certain events but not on something like Premier League football. The odds are rock solid and barely fluctuate according to the bets placed. They are 99% based on a huge array of statistical information. You have to bear in mind that hundreds of millions are bet on these markets.

The only time big bets can move the odds on markets is if the bookmakers suspect people have inside information. This is pretty much impossible to make a difference on PL football season bets.

Not trying to preach here, but just wanted to pick up on this as I work very closely to the sports betting industry.

 

[Cochise]

We looked up for it today. The last couple of times we've played UTD they out fought us and got at us all over the pitch. Today was completely the opposite, even at 11 vs 11.

That fight shows that we have got the right spirit back, we are no longer the apathetic bunch that were phoning it in during Poch's last days. I do think that we are still in a place where we might still drop points that we shouldn't, such as Newcastle when we didn't convert all the chances we had, but I trust Jose to manage the games against the top teams.

The fact that they all seem capable of being bad at the back gives me hope for the season.

 

[journeyman]

Liverpool still far and away the favourites. But we should be aiming not to fall further behind them. And you never know.

 

[Phomesy]

Given the squad we've assembled and the investment we are better placed for a title run than any since since the 1960's.

COYS!

 

[Lilbaz]

This is totally and utterly incorrect.

Big bets can move markets in certain events but not on something like Premier League football. The odds are rock solid and barely fluctuate according to the bets placed. They are 99% based on a huge array of statistical information. You have to bear in mind that hundreds of millions are bet on these markets.

The only time big bets can move the odds on markets is if the bookmakers suspect people have inside information. This is pretty much impossible to make a difference on PL football season bets.

Not trying to preach here, but just wanted to pick up on this as I work very closely to the sports betting industry.

Sorry thought bookmakers prime motivation was to make money, not predict the future.

 

[roslau]

Kneejerked after the 6-1 thrashing. We are gonna be the champions.

 

[hellava_tough]

Given the squad we've assembled and the investment we are better placed for a title run than any since since the 1960's.

COYS!

And interestingly, this season is 50 years since we last won the league.

Not that I have an obsession with numbers, but there is a nice ring to it...50 years later!

 

[Macwally]

And interestingly, this season is 50 years since we last won the league.

Not that I have an obsession with numbers, but there is a nice ring to it...50 years later!

Sorry but I think it's 60 ?

 

[hellava_tough]

Sorry but I think it's 60 ?

Oh no, I've done the classic error of posting before finishing my first coffee of the day.

And I did the same last week too!!!

(hangs head in shame...but quickly slurps coffee)

 

[knowlespurs]

Our squad is so strong, team of players who didn't play today
Hart
Doherty
Toby
Tang
Davies
Winks
Glc
Bale
Dele
Moura
Cv

Doesnt even include Bergwijn

 

[joelstinton14]

I woke up this morning feeling we can win the league. Deluded maybe but it feels like things are happening. Just waking up with that feeling is great. With anyone but Jose at the helm I’d be more cautious but its him. He’s played this game for such a long time it almost like he owns it.

Still think top 4 will be very competitive and we will do well to finish in it but with Liverpool and City showing weaknesses already it’s certainly up for grabs for anyone. Would include Everton in that too. Villa could have one of those crazy seasons too.

Plus the year ends in one.

 

[Yantino]

Realistically, our aim is to finish top 4 and win a trophy. And i would be delighted with that.

However. This season is panning out to be one of the most open title races for some time. So many factors are contributing to some abnormal circumstances under which football is being played (no fans, VAR, handball rule etc).

So who knows what's possible this season.

 

[muppetman]

Haha how bipolar are we? This is why we love/hate football.

 

[shoggy33]

People need to cool their jets a bit with the title talk. Yeh we thrashed United, but they are absolutely awful at the moment and were down to 10 men for an hour. We do look so much better than we have done in at least 2 years though, amazing how a few new faces can completely rejuvenate the whole squad. I wonder whether this ridiculous run of fixtures has actually helped the squad gel, as it's given everyone a chance to play their part and allowed players like Ndombele and Aurier to show their real value. We should definitely mount a challenge for top 4 and the cup comps this year, and then with a few more improvements next summer we might be challenging for the title again.