- Jan 27, 2011
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This is really starting to grind my gears. The context is totally different.
Poch's 70 points is less than AVB's 72, I get it. I also get that 3rd place with CL is better than 5th.
Points totals will be ever decreasing as the 'lesser' teams in the league are getting better and better. There are only so many points to go around. Leicester's 81 points would have only won the league in 6 out of the 24 seasons in PL history, and it was comfortable. I get everyone is in full on depression mode after yesterday and rightly so, but this shouldn't be ignored IMHO.
Yes, Chelsea, City, Utd and Liverpool had poor seasons, but that isn't solely due to lack of quality. City reached the last 4 of the CL and Liverpool look set to win the EL, so they are pretty handy on their day. You just can't turn up every week with the better players and win anymore. You have to earn it every week. It's why Leicester did so well, coaching, effort and spirit has taken over from the chequebook. It is also why we did so well until our recent meltdown. If we can capture the spirit of our middle 30 games in the next season we will be up there again next season, regardless of whether you think we were lucky to get CL with 70 due to past seasons (spoiler: we did earn it).
To put Chelsea's league performance in perspective even the not so mighty Spurs have exceeded their 50 points tally in 9 of the last 10 seasons. Chelsea still reached the last 16 of Europe, and took 6 points off of second placed Arsenal. They have the quality but did not have the graft outside of the big games, and this beefed up league will find you out. It's no surprise to see West Ham and Southampton take so many big scalps, they have the work rate but now also ever increasing quality. City, Utd, Liverpool, etc have struggled to adapt to the increased competition as much as anything, they have not all just has a season off, they have been caught out.
Our head to head against the top teams has been strong this year, our ability to win against the lesser teams has also been superior to most. We have a strong base to build on for next season, but its clear that some squad strengthening and experience is required. We may finish below all the returning teams next season but it's far from a given, and it's certainly not because we got lucky by finishing 3rd with just 70 points.
Poch's 70 points is less than AVB's 72, I get it. I also get that 3rd place with CL is better than 5th.
Points totals will be ever decreasing as the 'lesser' teams in the league are getting better and better. There are only so many points to go around. Leicester's 81 points would have only won the league in 6 out of the 24 seasons in PL history, and it was comfortable. I get everyone is in full on depression mode after yesterday and rightly so, but this shouldn't be ignored IMHO.
Yes, Chelsea, City, Utd and Liverpool had poor seasons, but that isn't solely due to lack of quality. City reached the last 4 of the CL and Liverpool look set to win the EL, so they are pretty handy on their day. You just can't turn up every week with the better players and win anymore. You have to earn it every week. It's why Leicester did so well, coaching, effort and spirit has taken over from the chequebook. It is also why we did so well until our recent meltdown. If we can capture the spirit of our middle 30 games in the next season we will be up there again next season, regardless of whether you think we were lucky to get CL with 70 due to past seasons (spoiler: we did earn it).
To put Chelsea's league performance in perspective even the not so mighty Spurs have exceeded their 50 points tally in 9 of the last 10 seasons. Chelsea still reached the last 16 of Europe, and took 6 points off of second placed Arsenal. They have the quality but did not have the graft outside of the big games, and this beefed up league will find you out. It's no surprise to see West Ham and Southampton take so many big scalps, they have the work rate but now also ever increasing quality. City, Utd, Liverpool, etc have struggled to adapt to the increased competition as much as anything, they have not all just has a season off, they have been caught out.
Our head to head against the top teams has been strong this year, our ability to win against the lesser teams has also been superior to most. We have a strong base to build on for next season, but its clear that some squad strengthening and experience is required. We may finish below all the returning teams next season but it's far from a given, and it's certainly not because we got lucky by finishing 3rd with just 70 points.