2023/24 - The Race For..................

[eddiev14]

AFCON and Injuries will derail our progress. Still think we might sneak top 4, and that would be a huge achievement.

Ange has said on a few occasions that he needs a few more transfer windows and if you look at the bench you can see why

 

[spurs9]

I’m enjoying match by match and as much as I’d love us to keep up there and be in the title race, I think it’s going to be between City, Liverpool and Arsenal and we will drop off to 4th with Newcastle 5th.

Reason being, even though we don’t have Europe, we have Son & Bissouma at AFCON & Asia games missing 4-5 games in Jan and we don’t have the required quality to fill in for them for that many matches to keep up title winning form, same situation if Romero or VDV or Vicario etc get injured, the drop offs in a lot of positions is too big.

If we had a Leicester style season with injury luck etc and made 2-3 signings in January then maybe but I can’t see it.

But who cares let’s dare to dream anyway and let’s just bloody enjoy week to week the fantastic football E are playing and results we are getting.

City are off the pace a bit which is very usual the season after a treble but Arsenal and Liverpool do look good, just have to hope that once Europe comes around again it really stretches their squads.

Its a maximum of 4 league games and that for players that reach the semi finals. If their country gets knocked out of the group stage, they will only miss 1 game, Round of 16 is 2 games and quarter final 3 games.

In the last 4 AFCONs Mali (Bissouma's National Team) haven't made it past the round of 16. Senegal (Sarr's National Team) have made the final of the last 2, so will likely miss all 4 games. South Korea were knocked out of the 1/4 finals last Asian Cup.

 

[Timbo Tottenham]

we need a Leicester-esque season to win. health and momentum both.

And caffeine

 

[spurs9]

View attachment 133304

Apparently :
13 teams have has 23+ points after 9 games.
1 team failed to finish top 4 (Newcastle 94/95 finished 6th),.
1 team finished 3rd.
4 teams 2nd.
7 teams finished 1st.

 

[rossdapep]

Dont know where we will finish but opposition fans saying our position is a fluke then I have one thing to say.

Maybe it is (it isnt) but we have only just started so if you are behind us now when we are in our infancy, then what are the chances of us getting better and staying ahead?

 

[guy]

Apparently :
13 teams have has 23+ points after 9 games.
1 team failed to finish top 4 (Newcastle 94/95 finished 6th),.
1 team finished 3rd.
4 teams 2nd.
7 teams finished 1st.

So you're saying we'll likely finish 7th

 

[whitestreak]

Surely we keep Hojbjerg and a fit Bents means we should be good in the middle for whats most likely to be 2-3 games ie unlikely to both be finalists?
Biggest miss ATM may well be Son.......

 

[Stamford]

Apparently :
13 teams have has 23+ points after 9 games.
1 team failed to finish top 4 (Newcastle 94/95 finished 6th),.
1 team finished 3rd.
4 teams 2nd.
7 teams finished 1st.

The league has City in it though and they're regularly putting up 90 points

 

[danielneeds]

The league has City in it though and they're regularly putting up 90 points

I do wonder if they let too much experience go last summer in Gundogan, Mahrez, Laporte? I know De Bruyne has barely played this season, but that's a regular occurrence for him. We'd need to stay lucky with injuries and for them to get a couple of serious ones, but I just feel they have more players whose form could be up and down.

 

[dontcallme]

I’m getting ahead of myself but if the stars align, we’re in a title challenge.

 

[Mr Pink]

Its a maximum of 4 league games and that for players that reach the semi finals. If their country gets knocked out of the group stage, they will only miss 1 game, Round of 16 is 2 games and quarter final 3 games.

In the last 4 AFCONs Mali (Bissouma's National Team) haven't made it past the round of 16. Senegal (Sarr's National Team) have made the final of the last 2, so will likely miss all 4 games. South Korea were knocked out of the 1/4 finals last Asian Cup.

So basically we'll probably lose Sarr for the four and Bentacur is hopefully got himself up to speed by then...and Biss only a game or two.

Its losing Son thats more damaging imo.

But if Richy can contribute more goals by then it wouldnt be so bad.

A lot depends on Richarlison for me.

 

[djhotspur]

So basically we'll probably lose Sarr for the four and Bentacur is hopefully got himself up to speed by then...and Biss only a game or two.

Its losing Son thats more damaging imo.

But if Richy can contribute more goals by then it wouldnt be so bad.

A lot depends on Richarlison for me.

Yeah and Johnson I think. If they both can start scoring we’ll be ok.
plus as you say bentacur is pivotal. If he looks good and press resistant we’ll be ok.
Plus not losing a cb, signing a Kelly type.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Apparently :
13 teams have has 23+ points after 9 games.
1 team failed to finish top 4 (Newcastle 94/95 finished 6th),.
1 team finished 3rd.
4 teams 2nd.
7 teams finished 1st.

7th it is then

 

[cjsimba]

So basically we'll probably lose Sarr for the four and Bentacur is hopefully got himself up to speed by then...and Biss only a game or two.

Its losing Son thats more damaging imo.

But if Richy can contribute more goals by then it wouldnt be so bad.

A lot depends on Richarlison for me.

Agree the AFCON doesn't concern me much. I think we have sufficient cover.

it's the Asia cup which could derail us. We will need someone to step up in Son's absence and at this moment I'm not too sure who that will be.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

we need a Leicester-esque season to win. health and momentum both.

To be fair if we stayed up there and got into a 2-3 horse race we’d surely be the neutral’s favourites like Leicester were.

Leicester also had no europe that season and got very lucky with so few injuries, we would need the same and likely 2 signings in Jan to be in with any sort of chance, but as Ange says, let the fans dream, why not

 

[danielneeds]

Agree the AFCON doesn't concern me much. I think we have sufficient cover.

it's the Asia cup which could derail us. We will need someone to step up in Son's absence and at this moment I'm not too sure who that will be.

Given Klinsmann's coaching skills, there's every chance Sonny could be back early....

 

[Rout-Ledge]

I’m getting ahead of myself but if the stars align, we’re in a title challenge.

Yep. Depends on two things : (i) key players staying fit and/or significant business in January and (ii) City not going on an insane run. But the main thing is, unlike purple patches under Jose and Conte, this feels sustainable.

 

[Dead Ringer]

To be fair if we stayed up there and got into a 2-3 horse race we’d surely be the neutral’s favourites like Leicester were.

Leicester also had no europe that season and got very lucky with so few injuries, we would need the same and likely 2 signings in Jan to be in with any sort of chance, but as Ange says, let the fans dream, why not

The neutral’s favourites ?! That’s a good one!

 

[panoma]

Kind of crazy we're in a busy part of the season, yet have 10 days off until next match.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Royal for Davies was a great Ange sub at half time. Royal is great to have in the squad and totally outperformed Davies.