The race for the title

[thinktank]

City, MU, Spurs - top 3.

Chelsea are gonna be right up there imo. I'd actually stick them in City's place in that list. Don't think we'll be coming third either. Gonna be such a competitive season though, anything can 'appen, ay.

 

[allpaths]

I think Chelsea and City could struggle this season.

exactly despite bringing in admittedly top notch managers, there squads both still have massive wholes

 

[sunnydelight786]

We failed to win any of the games that mattered when we were supposed to be in the title race, i.e. after xmas. Truth is we had a par season for us, 70 pints +/- 3 points, whereas the usual CL teams had a shocker.

To win the top league you have to put over 80 points on the board, we have NEVER done that in our history. I don't see that changing this coming season.

We have signed 2/3 players so far who are squad fillers but not a single one who will automatically get into our team and be a game changer. Yes the players signed give us strength in depth but would you say any of them is a genuine game changer? The type to win us a tight game with a moment of magic?

We will finish this season around the 70 point mark again, +/- 3 points. Is that enough to secure a CL spot it remains to be seen.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

We failed to win any of the games that mattered when we were supposed to be in the title race, i.e. after xmas. Truth is we had a par season for us, 70 pints +/- 3 points, whereas the usual CL teams had a shocker.

To win the top league you have to put over 80 points on the board, we have NEVER done that in our history. I don't see that changing this coming season.

We have signed 2/3 players so far who are squad fillers but not a single one who will automatically get into our team and be a game changer. Yes the players signed give us strength in depth but would you say any of them is a genuine game changer? The type to win us a tight game with a moment of magic?

No player we sign is going to automatically get into our team, it's not how Poch does things.

 

[Shanks]

I'm pretty excited about this season to be honest.

If you look at the competition this season, it should be an absolute corker - very difficult to predict the outcome (like last season).

City - Under Pep, no doubt will be much improved, they had a terrible season last year and I expect them to be up there - what could work for us, is that it's under new management, so possibly not as settled at the beginning, but this is Pep and he is supposed to be the best of hte best.

United - Mourinho - he knows how to win ugly, I expect a much stronger showing this year under Mourinho, I felt that if Mourinho went to the united at xmas last year, he could have got them into the position of winning the league, or at least very close to it. Having said that, it has been a few years since United showed what United were famous for, and under his management I am also expecting them up there. - like City a slightly unsettled squad may go in our favour.

Arsena; - they are always there ain't they, they won't win the league, they haven't strengthened, and as such will be fighting it out, hopefully fall out fo the top 4, but they always find a way.

Liverpool - probably more settled this year than last, going to be tough and I expect them to be up there.

Chelsea - new unsettled squad, few new players - can they get over the real manager at Chelsea, in Terry? Have no idea, but they won't be as bad as last year, thats for sure.

Leicester - simply can't rule out the current champions, without Kante and possibly Mayrez they may struggle, but then we all expected them to struggle right through, but they didn't.

Tottenham - Settled squad, players brought in for a purpose, Wanyama especially, adding steel right where it's needed...

It's going to be a hell of a battle for the title and top 4, and I cannot wait.

 

[adamsky]

We failed to win any of the games that mattered when we were supposed to be in the title race, i.e. after xmas. Truth is we had a par season for us, 70 pints +/- 3 points, whereas the usual CL teams had a shocker.

To win the top league you have to put over 80 points on the board, we have NEVER done that in our history. I don't see that changing this coming season.

We have signed 2/3 players so far who are squad fillers but not a single one who will automatically get into our team and be a game changer. Yes the players signed give us strength in depth but would you say any of them is a genuine game changer? The type to win us a tight game with a moment of magic?

We will finish this season around the 70 point mark again, +/- 3 points. Is that enough to secure a CL spot it remains to be seen.

Who in our first team would you want replaced? What we lacked last year was depth, to cover injuries/suspensions and to come off bench and do a decent job. That is what we have done so far.

 

[Gassin's finest]

The performance of Leicester and ourselves last season has blown the Premier League wide open... for the first time since the league re-branded from Division 1, anyone can win it. And in the words of ol' 'Arry... why can't we be one of those tilting for the title. We came damn close last season, and inexperience and composure let us down at the very end. Adding further strength in midfield, and a proper strike partner/alternative to Kane will allow us to last that extra bit longer across the competitions.

The league is an unknown quantity this season... you have 4 big clubs with new managers starting their first full season in charge, with huge budgets backing them. Chelsea have strengthened in a key position with Kante, while subsequently robbing Leicester with their backbone from last season; and with their lack of European competition they will have a freshness in those big weekend clashes.

I hope Leicester don't completely fall away though. Their success threatened to finally burst the big money bubble in English football, and if they were to just succumb to that big spending the very next season then there would be a sad sense of inevitability about it all.

Either way, I think we have as much chance as anyone at winning the title this season. There may be some superstar managers this season, but I still think we have a better first XI than Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal at the least.

 

[TropicalYid]

I expect us to be challenging for the title and atleast getting top 4 by the end of the season. Why should we aim for anything lower?
We have a good squad, good coach and got some valuable experience last season. Though it worries me seeing the other "top clubs" buying quality players by the numbers.

 

[arunspurs]

I expect us to challenge for the title. This is down to one single fact - we are really good defensively. Other teams have improved, but not defensively though.

Our back 5 is settled. And we have added Wanyama as a extra protector. By rotating the full backs, we also make sure, they stay fresh.

Take the case of other top teams

ManCity - Older legs. Really doubt 50m John Stones will help them defensively
ManUnited - Eric Baily is said to be good potential. Injury prone at full back position. But it isnt a settled back4
Liverpool - a back5 of Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Matip/Sakho, Moreno is nowhere near good enough
Arse - They have not signed a upgrade for ever slower Mertesacker.
Southampton - Lost the defensive shield in Wanyama
Leicester - settled back4, but losing Kante is a big blow
Chelsea - only team I expect to be defensively better than us.

 

[sunnydelight786]

Who in our first team would you want replaced? What we lacked last year was depth, to cover injuries/suspensions and to come off bench and do a decent job. That is what we have done so far.

Lamela! Yes he works bloody hard, that is not in doubt, but in his position (AMR) it's goals and assists that are needed. We rely on our forward 4 to provide us with our lion share of goals/assists, Lamela is comfortably our weakest link in that regards....

This season coming up we have a European competition that we will take serious from game 1 as well as PL where many believe we will put a title challenge in. For that to happen and us to keep up our level we will need to rotate players, that also includes our midfield & forward line. Rotation should not mean we should have a massive dip in quality but as of now it would be with our squad. Mason/Carrol are no where near Dembele's level. Onomah/Chadli/Njie/NKD are no where near Alli/Eriksen's level. i won't mention Lamela/Son as there is not much to choose between them hence like for like.
This squad needs a serious case of quality up top/midfield, you're kidding yourselves otherwise if you don't think so. Grossly unfair to expect Alli/Eriksen/Dembele to play every game and keep their levels up....

 

[easley91]

For a neutral this could be a hell of a season.

We're more settled than the rest, going to be tight. Anyone of 5 could conceivably win it.

 

[g_harry]

I think our squad is still very short to compete in all competitions and push for the league. Another striker would b good and still need a world class AM that can change things like Hazard. Would love a Cambiasso type signing to help guide the young heads and prevent what happened at Chelski last year.

 

[tiger666]

Lamela! Yes he works bloody hard, that is not in doubt, but in his position (AMR) it's goals and assists that are needed. We rely on our forward 4 to provide us with our lion share of goals/assists, Lamela is comfortably our weakest link in that regards....

This season coming up we have a European competition that we will take serious from game 1 as well as PL where many believe we will put a title challenge in. For that to happen and us to keep up our level we will need to rotate players, that also includes our midfield & forward line. Rotation should not mean we should have a massive dip in quality but as of now it would be with our squad. Mason/Carrol are no where near Dembele's level. Onomah/Chadli/Njie/NKD are no where near Alli/Eriksen's level. i won't mention Lamela/Son as there is not much to choose between them hence like for like.
This squad needs a serious case of quality up top/midfield, you're kidding yourselves otherwise if you don't think so. Grossly unfair to expect Alli/Eriksen/Dembele to play every game and keep their levels up....

Stop being so bloody dramatic. Things are nowhere near as bad as you're making out.

 

[sunnydelight786]

Stop being so bloody dramatic. Things are nowhere near as bad as you're making out.

I'm just fine hun.....

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Lamela! Yes he works bloody hard, that is not in doubt, but in his position (AMR) it's goals and assists that are needed. We rely on our forward 4 to provide us with our lion share of goals/assists, Lamela is comfortably our weakest link in that regards....

He created the 6th most chances in the PL, and got 9 assists, which is amongst the highest in the PL.

 

[tiger666]

He created the 6th most chances in the PL, and got 9 assists, which is amongst the highest in the PL.

Oh come off it, you can prove anything with facts..

 

[adamsky]

Lamela! Yes he works bloody hard, that is not in doubt, but in his position (AMR) it's goals and assists that are needed. We rely on our forward 4 to provide us with our lion share of goals/assists, Lamela is comfortably our weakest link in that regards....

This season coming up we have a European competition that we will take serious from game 1 as well as PL where many believe we will put a title challenge in. For that to happen and us to keep up our level we will need to rotate players, that also includes our midfield & forward line. Rotation should not mean we should have a massive dip in quality but as of now it would be with our squad. Mason/Carrol are no where near Dembele's level. Onomah/Chadli/Njie/NKD are no where near Alli/Eriksen's level. i won't mention Lamela/Son as there is not much to choose between them hence like for like.
This squad needs a serious case of quality up top/midfield, you're kidding yourselves otherwise if you don't think so. Grossly unfair to expect Alli/Eriksen/Dembele to play every game and keep their levels up....

My point was that we need to improve the overall quality in depth, it is why I am satisfied with Janssen and Wanyama. I also think we need to improve the AM position as I am happy for Chadli to be replaced. Although, I am not sure who you expect us to sign that would walk straight into the first team over Lamela, we are just not gonna spend the £40 odd million it would take. We have to be content with whoever we buy as someone who could challenge for that position.

 

[djw1973]

We failed to win any of the games that mattered when we were supposed to be in the title race, i.e. after xmas. Truth is we had a par season for us, 70 pints +/- 3 points, whereas the usual CL teams had a shocker.

To win the top league you have to put over 80 points on the board, we have NEVER done that in our history. I don't see that changing this coming season.

We have signed 2/3 players so far who are squad fillers but not a single one who will automatically get into our team and be a game changer. Yes the players signed give us strength in depth but would you say any of them is a genuine game changer? The type to win us a tight game with a moment of magic?

We will finish this season around the 70 point mark again, +/- 3 points. Is that enough to secure a CL spot it remains to be seen.

With all the teams that will be competing this year, a lot of points will be dropped. A low points total could well win the Prem this year.

 

[Marty]

Oh come off it, you can prove anything with facts..

You sound like a Trump supporter.

 

[cozzo]

My concern is how we will cope without Dembele for the first four games of the season. That's a big loss.