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

[eddiev14]

I think a title challenge is a massive stretch for us.

Defensively we look frail, and have done for some time. The central defenders are the weakest bunch we’ve had for several years. I concede, it might be that Rodon and Tanganga somehow come in and are incredible but that’s a lot of pressure for two kids and I can’t see José backing them.

I would have snapped your hand off for 4th place at the start of the season and I feel we are definitely in with a good shout of that, so I’m happy with our progress.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Since the disappointment of the loss to Everton where we were clearly underbaked we have smashed Soton and Utd and conceded late equalisers in the other two home games which 9 times out of 10 we would have won.

The Dier pen and that ridiculous strike from Lanzini were very unlucky, as much as we all want to mark it down as Spursy that isn't going to happen every week. Yes we need to improve defensively and be more ruthless when ahead but hopefully that will come over the season.

I'm very confident we'll be competitive this season. Kane and Son are playing some of their best stuff and we have Bale to come. The rejuvenated Ndombele and the arrival of Hojbjerg have improved our midfield this season and Reguilon gives us much better attacking balance. We finally have a first team backup striker also.

Obviously it's easy to get downhearted after that gutting collapse today but there is a long long way to go and I believe in our squad, for me it's top 3 quality. We just need Jose to sort out the defensive and mentality problems.

 

[Shadydan]

I think a title challenge is a massive stretch for us.

Defensively we look frail, and have done for some time. The central defenders are the weakest bunch we’ve had for several years. I concede, it might be that Rodon and Tanganga somehow come in and are incredible but that’s a lot of pressure for two kids and I can’t see José backing them.

I would have snapped your hand off for 4th place at the start of the season and I feel we are definitely in with a good shout of that, so I’m happy with our progress.

Everyone is in the same boat this season, the only outstanding teams are Everton and Villa and they aren't expected to sustain their challenge throughout the season. It seems like every team has massive flaws in their game which is why I think there's gonna be a lot of dropped points, you certainly cannot rule a title challenge out just because all the other teams likely to drop points as well as us.

 

[JCRD]

Any team who can sort out their defence will be in a great position to win this title.

At the moment that team is Villa...

The league title is there for the taking by any team who shows a semblance of a good defence.

Villa are showing that. Everton too.

 

[eddiev14]

Everyone is in the same boat this season, the only outstanding teams are Everton and Villa and they aren't expected to sustain their challenge throughout the season. It seems like every team has massive flaws in their game which is why I think there's gonna be a lot of dropped points, you certainly cannot rule a title challenge out just because all the other teams likely to drop points as well as us.

I admire your attitude.

Let’s see how we are looking in March.

 

[Shadydan]

I admire your attitude.

Let’s see how we are looking in March.

I'm just calling it how it is, there's no consistency at the moment from anyone, freak high scoring results, it's such a weird season for many reasons so it's too early to call anything on all honesty.

 

[worcestersauce]

Title challenge is still possible because everyone has looked shit at times this season (bar Everton and villa so far, but they're only a couple of injuries away from disaster)

However those 4 dropped points at home in games we should have won comfortably will no doubt be what has us fall short IMO. Title winning teams win games they don't deserve to, not drop points at home in games they should win.

I can see us going into later stages of the season right up there as I think it'll be a tight season between 5 teams, but really rueing those dropped 4 points.

Possible but no longer probable.

 

[Timberwolf]

The worst thing is we've dropped 4 points that we really, really shouldn't have dropped.

We did exactly the same early in the Leicester season - a last minute goal against Burnley and another needless draw against Swansea IIRC. You just can't afford to do that if you want to win titles. It's those moments that make the difference.

Tbh, anyone talking about titles needs to calm the fuck down. Even a month ago the very idea was laughable so why do people suddenly think we deserve to be mentioned as contenders. You don't earn that through a couple of good performances, you earn that through grit and consistency.

It doesn't matter how many goals Kane and Son score this season if we can't grind out results and see out 3-0 wins or kill off teams like Newcastle. We need toto earn the right to be considered true title challengers. We shouldn't even start talking about it (at least not to opposition fans - love some nonsense chat on SC) until we've proven we're the real deal.

 

[popstar7]

Realistically there's much more chance of City settling down and starting to clock up the points needed to win the league than us doing the same. Liverpool have managed two clean sheets in twelve games since they won the league and have just lost their best defender for maybe the rest of the season. That's a dagger in the heart for their hopes, I think.

Leicester, Chelsea, United and Wolves all had spells last season where they were winning week in week out then fell apart. Haven't seen much from them so far to show they can up their consistency this time round either. For us I think third, maybe second, is possible but getting back in the CL is an absolute minimum.

 

[SpartanSpur]

The worst thing is we've dropped 4 points that we really, really shouldn't have dropped.

We did exactly the same early in the Leicester season - a last minute goal against Burnley and another needless draw against Swansea IIRC. You just can't afford to do that if you want to win titles. It's those moments that make the difference.

Tbh, anyone talking about titles needs to calm the fuck down. Even a month ago the very idea was laughable so why do people suddenly think we deserve to be mentioned as contenders. You don't earn that through a couple of good performances, you earn that through grit and consistency.

It doesn't matter how many goals Kane and Son score this season if we can't grind out results and see out 3-0 wins or kill off teams like Newcastle. We need toto earn the right to be considered true title challengers. We shouldn't even start talking about it (at least not to opposition fans - love some nonsense chat on SC) until we've proven we're the real deal.

That's a good point. After Everton even top 4 looked unlikely so even getting back in the CL would be a great outcome (with some deep cup runs). I'm feeling a lot more confident of that based on recent performances and squad improvements.

Talk of league title challenges is optimistic right now but the league is potentially wide open. I don't think we'll know who the true contenders until the end of the year. These 4-7 dropped points could be costly if we do get in the mix. Hopefully we will and they won't be though. If we can win the next 3 then I think we'll be in the leading pack.

 

[hellava_tough]

First and foremost, finishing in the Top 4 places is most definitely realistic.

As for a title push, I believe that this season we have the talent to do so and our rivals are the weakest they've been in a while.

But we, like other teams, are just not consistent enough. When was the last time we won 3 league games in a row? Or 4? Traditionally, if you want to win a title you have to rack up 8, 9, 10 games in a row, drop a few points, then go on another long run of wins.

I know some will say that it's different this season, which of course it is, but we're already 6pts behind.

If we win our next 3 games (which are winnable), then I might start to believe. But until we have some consistency, a PL title is out of our reach.

PS At least we're still in the cups. Top 4 and a cup would be a fantastic season tbh.

 

[TH1239]

In my opinion, to build towards a long term top title challenge, there are two things Mourinho needs to do in the next three weeks:

#1: Identify his core XI that will more or less start every league match when fit.

#2: Rotate virtually every one of those core XI out during non-league matches until knockout phases of the cups.

Personally, if fit, I'd like to see the below team for the next 3 league matches:

Lloris

Aurier Alderweireld Dier Reguilon

PEH

Ndombele Lo Celso

Lamela Kane Son

​

This would leave us with the following team for the Europa matches:

Hart

Doherty Sanchez Rodon Davies

Sissoko Dele

Bale Bergwijn Lucas

Vinicius
​

It doesn't seem like Mourinho wants to operate this way, but this is the best path to keep all of these players happy, create competition for places, and keep our top players fresh while other Champions League sides play their best players twice a week. This second XI shouldn't have any issue winning all 6 group stage matches and should beat Stoke in the cup match. I expect Bale and Lamela to swap places once Bale gets match fit, but for now, Lamela is an important catalyst to the side.

What I fear happening is that Mourinho starts the likes PEH, Son, and Ndombele in some Europa matches, and then starts Winks and Sissoko in some league matches, to where the squad's best players aren't always playing in league matches and aren't 100% fit.

​

 

[Ledley's Right Foot]

I'm weirdly optimistic after yesterday's match. It's clear we have an issue with set pieces but that is easy to train out. We've sorted attacking play and defensive play from non-free kick situations. The last two pieces of the puzzle are getting set pieces sorted (relatively easy with our players) and playing possession football that kills a game when we have a lead - also relatively easy to coach (AVB could bore us to death with it).

Might see another few freak results for the next month or so but after that - I think we could go on a serious run in the league.

Gutted about yesterday and also loving how we pull teams apart up front...that's he hardest part of the game and we are mustard at it.

COYS!

 

[Dov67]

I'm weirdly optimistic after yesterday's match. It's clear we have an issue with set pieces but that is easy to train out. We've sorted attacking play and defensive play from non-free kick situations. The last two pieces of the puzzle are getting set pieces sorted (relatively easy with our players) and playing possession football that kills a game when we have a lead - also relatively easy to coach (AVB could bore us to death with it).

Might see another few freak results for the next month or so but after that - I think we could go on a serious run in the league.

Gutted about yesterday and also loving how we pull teams apart up front...that's he hardest part of the game and we are mustard at it.

COYS!

agree with all of this, and given our problems with set pieces, the first thing we need to do it not concede them especially not in dangerous places. We gave away i think 5 corners in the first half yesterday even when we were on top.

Then there is Aurier.........f**k me Aurier. This guy is forever a ticking time bomb. Never clears when he has the chance, always giving away stupid, needless free kicks. I saw during the passage of play that a free kick was coming - not because i am some sort of football genius (I'm not) or because i possess the powers of prophecy (I don't), but because i have seen this with him over and over again.

We can't defend free kicks from dangerous areas - so don't play the guy who constantly gives away free kicks from dangerous areas.

 

[Shanks]

We’ll be fine lads, it’s all learning!

the league is wide open still, a little run of games and right back in the mix

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

This time yesterday we were title contenders. Now we're not, next week we might be again.

This is all very exciting.

 

[dontcallme]

This time yesterday we were title contenders. Now we're not, next week we might be again.

This is all very exciting.

West Ham was a must win for some. I am still trying to work out what the repercussions are for not winning 15 of our must win games each season.

 

[Shadydan]

agree with all of this, and given our problems with set pieces, the first thing we need to do it not concede them especially not in dangerous places. We gave away i think 5 corners in the first half yesterday even when we were on top.

Then there is Aurier.........f**k me Aurier. This guy is forever a ticking time bomb. Never clears when he has the chance, always giving away stupid, needless free kicks. I saw during the passage of play that a free kick was coming - not because i am some sort of football genius (I'm not) or because i possess the powers of prophecy (I don't), but because i have seen this with him over and over again.

We can't defend free kicks from dangerous areas - so don't play the guy who constantly gives away free kicks from dangerous areas.

Not sure what you're on about here, Aurier doesn't even make a a foul for the 3rd goal.

 

[deka-]

Not sure what you're on about here, Aurier doesn't even make a a foul for the 3rd goal.

Agreed, for me it shouldn't have been a free kick. Baffles me how those fouls are always given, player just need to go to ground when barely touched from behind. Unless Serge raped him with a massive boner and we couldn't see it, I don't see what's wrong there.

However, Serge got into this mess by himself, like he does game after game. That's his classic trick : interception, then too slow to react and make the pass, opposition player get between him and the ball, foul. It keeps repeating and he doesn't learn. Fucking frustrating when we know how sloppy we are at defending free kicks right now.

 

[Shadydan]

Agreed, for me it shouldn't have been a free kick. Baffles me how those fouls are always given, player just need to go to ground when barely touched from behind. Unless Serge raped him with a massive boner and we couldn't see it, I don't see what's wrong there.

However, Serge got into this mess by himself, like he does game after game. That's his classic trick : interception, then too slow to react and make the pass, opposition player get between him and the ball, foul. It keeps repeating and he doesn't learn. Fucking frustrating when we know how sloppy we are at defending free kicks right now.

That is indeed our weak spot, you just know opposition managers are telling their players to target us on set pieces - they must have been licking their lips to see Dier out of the match as at least he takes some responsibility.

I said before the match that West Ham would target us via set pieces and would have thought that Jose would line up playing our biggest players at the back.