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

[fishhhandaricecake]

If United had have had the start we've had he would have been saying that United grinding a 1-0 win is a sign that United can be champions again.

His opinion is purely based on it being Tottenham. He even said it when he said that never winning it before was a big enough reason for it to not be possible.

Leicester won the PL despite never winning it or even coming close before.
City won it in 2012 despite never being involved in a race like that and were expected to crumble under United's pressure.
Chelsea had never won it or even come close before Jose arrived.
Liverpool only won the PL for the first time last year and were almost 30 years past last winning it.

It only takes one signing or management change to spark success.

The hole in Neville's silly argument is that we have one of the most successful coaches ever in control which gives us more 'know-how' than Lampard's Chelsea, Arteta's Arsenal and Ole's United. Pep's City 'know-how' but are floundering and seem to be lacking that desire, whilst Klopp's Liverpool are favourites they have some issues and don't look as strong. So to completely write us off is silly on his part.

If he'd have said that we can win it but need to be better defensively or stop blowing opportunities to go top before he believes that then I'd have been right with him. But instead he seemed to be trying to refuse to believe that he may be wrong with his initial assessment of Levy working with Jose.

So spot on.

Some of what they said was fine but then Carragher says about wanting Jose to win the title if not Liverpool to show you can win a different way, that was a complete dig at the style of football Jose is being portrayed to play but has he not bloody watched any of our matches this season? We are top fucking scorers the spitting idiot.

Early days but if we continue to get tighter at the back and string a number of wins together in this very open crazy season we'd have as good a chance as anyone with the squad and manager we have. Why can't we believe, now is the time?

 

[Shadydan]

He was out with a knee injury and then pulled a hamstring. Bit of a stretch (excuse the pun) to say they're related.

Didn't say they were, Pep actually admitted he wasn't ready yet still had to play him because they had no strikers - he is notorious for that by the way.

 

[taidgh]

Didn't say they were, Pep actually admitted he wasn't ready yet still had to play him because they had no strikers - he is notorious for that by the way.

"We were incredibly patient and didn't force the doctors. People told me he was ready but we knew he was not for Arsenal, we knew he was not in the best condition but without strikers that we had, it was important that he played 60 minutes but we tried to rest him when the muscle started to be tired.​

That is one interpretation. The other is that he was told Aguero was okay and so wanted to give him minutes. Players have to actually play once they recover from an injury. It seems creative to connect the hamstring strain to Pep rushing him back from a knee injury.

 

[Lighty64]

And we haven’t seen it with Lo Celso yet either. He was the guy who made us tick last year and is always wanting to get on the ball. Mourinho was quoted as saying he wanted to get both Lo Celso and Ndombele on together but couldn’t sacrifice the more physical sissoko yesterday. I think we might see the 3 of them together against Brighton.

not being funny but Brighton are playing a lot better than a team that is 16th in the League. they deserved to beat Man U, Palace, and Brighton, and even the 3-1 defeat against Chelsea on the opening fixture was a little harsh. I'm more worried about them next Sunday than I am v City when our difficult run starts.

 

[Shadydan]

not being funny but Brighton are playing a lot better than a team that is 16th in the League. they deserved to beat Man U, Palace, and Brighton, and even the 3-1 defeat against Chelsea on the opening fixture was a little harsh. I'm more worried about them next Sunday than I am v City when our difficult run starts.

Calm down, they're not Bayern Munich...I watched them against West Brom, West Brom dominated the 2nd half and they're without their organiser Lewis Dunk, they looked really vulnerable at the back.

They're a team who are neat and tidy but more often all foreplay, no penetration.

 

[Lighty64]

Calm down, they're not Bayern Munich...I watched them against West Brom, West Brom dominated the 2nd half and they're without their organiser Lewis Dunk, they looked really vulnerable at the back.

They're a team who are neat and tidy but more often all foreplay, no penetration.

I know they are not BM, but they are a better team than 16th in the PL. the good thing is they don't seem to sit deep and play pretty open football but that is similar to what Spam are. if our defence was rock solid I'd not be worried but it's not. they are a lot faster than Burnley so either Rodon is going to have a good start, or Sanchez will be playing in place of Toby

 

[rez9000]

$100/-

Love it, I put $10 on us to win the double to win $1,500 after we beat Chelsea in the Carabao.

So, should the.... y'know.... thing we're not going to say so we don't jinx it happens... then the Milky Bars are on you guys, right?

 

[rez9000]

So spot on.

Some of what they said was fine but then Carragher says about wanting Jose to win the title if not Liverpool to show you can win a different way, that was a complete dig at the style of football Jose is being portrayed to play but has he not bloody watched any of our matches this season? We are top fucking scorers the spitting idiot.

Early days but if we continue to get tighter at the back and string a number of wins together in this very open crazy season we'd have as good a chance as anyone with the squad and manager we have. Why can't we believe, now is the time?

Agree with that last bit. I'm as cirtical of Jamie Carragher as the next man, but I didn't take what he said to be critical of Jose's style. Although, I will admit, I wasn't listening all that closely when he said it.

Either way, we have the tools, time and talent to do it. Now all that's needed is the belief and a smidgen of luck.

 

[Shadydan]

I know they are not BM, but they are a better team than 16th in the PL. the good thing is they don't seem to sit deep and play pretty open football but that is similar to what Spam are. if our defence was rock solid I'd not be worried but it's not. they are a lot faster than Burnley so either Rodon is going to have a good start, or Sanchez will be playing in place of Toby

I don't really seem them as a threat, they're quite pretty to watch but they tend to leave a lot of space in behind, plus like I said they're missing their leader out there and looked pretty poor in the 2nd half against West Brom. We played them last season in the midst of our shitness and still beat them 2-1, you really think Kane and Son are gonna struggle to create chances against these lot?

I just don't see how you are worried by them than City lol

 

[BringBack_leGin]

not being funny but Brighton are playing a lot better than a team that is 16th in the League. they deserved to beat Man U, Palace, and Brighton, and even the 3-1 defeat against Chelsea on the opening fixture was a little harsh. I'm more worried about them next Sunday than I am v City when our difficult run starts.

I feel like @InOffMeLeftShin meant more that Brighton are a less physical side than Burnley, rather than there some type of cannon fodder against which we can experiment.

 

[Lighty64]

I don't really seem them as a threat, they're quite pretty to watch but they tend to leave a lot of space in behind, plus like I said they're missing their leader out there and looked pretty poor in the 2nd half against West Brom. We played them last season in the midst of our shitness and still beat them 2-1, you really think Kane and Son are gonna struggle to create chances against these lot?

I just don't see how you are worried by them than City lol

City looked knackered on their injuries, and just don't look the same without D Silva.

I hope I'm wrong about Brighton, but I'll not underestimate them either. Burnley had played 4, lost 3 and drew one and looked pretty shit, but we struggled last night to create. Yes their lynchpin in defence will be missing, but I expect White to return to the back 4 against us, and I rate the lad

 

[Shadydan]

City looked knackered on their injuries, and just don't look the same without D Silva.

I hope I'm wrong about Brighton, but I'll not underestimate them either. Burnley had played 4, lost 3 and drew one and looked pretty shit, but we struggled last night to create. Yes their lynchpin in defence will be missing, but I expect White to return to the back 4 against us, and I rate the lad

Fair enough, White played their last match by the way.

Fully expect a Lamptey vs Regulion showdown, he seems to be their best player and he's pretty rapid but so is Sergio.

 

[shoggy33]

Who would you like Dier to be?

Melinda Messenger?

Everyone is conceding tonnes. We’ve actually only been bettered defensively by Villa and Arsenal. We just screwed the pooch v West Ham.

I've just never rated Dier that highly. As I said, he's improved but still isn't good enough to be the best CB in a title winning side in my opinion. Yeh everyone is conceding, but our defensive issues extend well beyond this season, and despite being famous for managing defensively solid teams Jose hasn't been able to fix things on that front yet. Hopefully last night was a turning point, but I personally think we are a still top class CB away from being title challengers.

 

[Mr Pink]

Going to watch City tonight to see if they're still under par.

I look at that team and it doesn't scare me like it would of two seasons ago.

Honestly think we've a better squad than them now.

 

[Beni]

Posted this in another thread, seems more fitting for this thread to understand the form on how we have been since post-lockdown.

Premier league table since post lockdown, from last seasons game and start of this season. (Excluding promoted Teams)

1. Man City - 32pts - GD +30
2. Liverpool - 30pts - GD +8
3. Tottenham - 29pts - GD +15
4. Man Utd - 28pts - GD +13

5. Southampton - 28pts - GD +9
6. Chelsea - 27pts - GD +7
7. Wolves - 26pts - GD +2
8. Arsenal - 25pts - GD +5
9. Everton - 25pts - GD +2
10. Aston V - 22pts - GD +3
11. Leicester - 21pts - GD +1
12. West Ham - 20pts - GD +6
13. Newcastle - 17pts - GD -6
14. Brighton - 17pts - GD -9
15. Burnley - 16pts - GD -7
16. Crystal Palace - 14pts - GD -14
17. Sheffield Utd - 12pts - GD -11

 

[Mark_147]

I know they are not BM, but they are a better team than 16th in the PL. the good thing is they don't seem to sit deep and play pretty open football but that is similar to what Spam are. if our defence was rock solid I'd not be worried but it's not. they are a lot faster than Burnley so either Rodon is going to have a good start, or Sanchez will be playing in place of Toby

Man if we gonna worry about playing Brighton at home then we might as well forget about top 4 right now. We have 3 defenders with pace that did not play yesterday.

 

[Monkey boy]

Not sure where else to put this but Digne Red Card reduced to a one match ban instead of 3 games.

he literally rode KWP ankle like a skateboard for 5 seconds.

 

[Shadydan]

Not sure where else to put this but Digne Red Card reduced to a one match ban instead of 3 games.

he literally rode KWP ankle like a skateboard for 5 seconds.

It was obviously an accident

 

[Lighty64]

Man if we gonna worry about playing Brighton at home then we might as well forget about top 4 right now. We have 3 defenders with pace that did not play yesterday.

unfortunately one of them is Sanchez and he seems to suffer the most through rotation

 

[Bulletspur]

I wouldn't write off Fulham just yet. If whatshisname thingybob can find a bit of form, they might...........yeah, they're shite

They are not shite. Their points tally and position does not reflect how they have been playing. I would say they have been unlucky than being called shite

He was out with a knee injury and then pulled a hamstring. Bit of a stretch (excuse the pun) to say they're related.

But there is a correlation. When a player comes back from a long turn injury like the knees or groin, the body over compensate for this and its a hamstring strain that usually results.