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

[Lighty64]

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.

we did mess up the start of the Leicester season, but not v Swansea and Burnley (weren't in the EPL 2015/16 that was the Chelsea season)

 

[Crowedem]

Despite the collapse yesterday we are still leagues ahead of where we were this time last season in terms of looking like a team. Iron out the creases and we get champs league - we’ll also likely have a decent pop at the cups.

 

[Lighty64]

The more I think about it the more this season is like the season Leicester won it.

I know some may say not this season but I think this is another unreal opportunity. Any team that tightens up at the back I think will win it.

I just hope the players see that and I think Jose will be drilling that into their brains

got to be honest if this was the transfer forum I'd be begging @Archibald&Crooks to ban you every time you say something like "we're going to win the league, the very next game we seem to "spursy it"

 

[JCRD]

got to be honest if this was the transfer forum I'd be begging @Archibald&Crooks to ban you every time you say something like "we're going to win the league, the very next game we seem to "spursy it"

Yeah but we will this time.

This is our year. Ends in 1 don't forget

 

[Lighty64]

Yeah but we will this time.

This is our year. Ends in 1 don't forget

oh well you have just helped Burnley get something next week. I have lost count on the times you have posted that and at no time have we ever been 1pt on top.

please keep believing, just try very hard to not share

 

[Stamford]

we seem to have a some sort of voodoo curse against us. Of all the outrageous decisions against us in recent months, Var and non-Var, i think the Lucas handball decision against Sheff Utd has to be the worst IMO. Even more egregious that the Dier handball incident.

The worst decision I've ever seen

 

[olliec]

Still think we can win the league this season, it’s going to be such a bizarre one as no teams can defend so everyone is shipping goals. But we do have possibly the best attack in the league and that’s what it’s going to come down to in the end.

 

[shelfboy68]

Still think we can win the league this season, it’s going to be such a bizarre one as no teams can defend so everyone is shipping goals. But we do have possibly the best attack in the league and that’s what it’s going to come down to in the end.

Goals win games defence wins titles, whoever defends the best will be champions imo.

 

[olliec]

Goals win games defence wins titles, whoever defends the best will be champions imo.

Nobody can defend so it’s going to be a bizarre season. VVD means liverpool won’t be able to defend also.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Goals win games defence wins titles, whoever defends the best will be champions imo.

Generally I think you'd be right but now? I reckon that's 50/50-ish. A few years ago we let in seven goals less than the team that won the league. That didn't do us much good. So yeah, defending well is a big part of it but it's not always the crucial factor, this might seem obvious but often times it's a combination of the two.

I think we can all see that the lack of crowds is having an effect on performances and results so this year i'm not sure what would usually be the standard will apply quite so much, it's possible that this years winners will have let in a few more than the average.

Take a look at the current league table. There's a lot of teams in the conceded 6, 7 or 8 bracket (we're on 8). Only two have conceded less and nine teams have conceded more. Although we've had some bad luck I don't think we've had many more mistakes or much bad luck than any other team, which doesn't make it OK but it's part of a trend so maybe we're not doing so bad and IF that's the case then I hope our attack might be the difference maker for this extraordinary season.

Do I think we'll win the league? No. We don't win leagues But you never know..............

Oh and one more thing. I don't usually go to stats so the above may well be bollocks

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Generally I think you'd be right but now? I reckon that's 50/50-ish. A few years ago we let in seven goals less than the team that won the league. That didn't do us much good. So yeah, defending well is a big part of it but it's not always the crucial factor, this might seem obvious but often times it's a combination of the two.

I think we can all see that the lack of crowds is having an effect on performances and results so this year i'm not sure what would usually be the standard will apply quite so much, it's possible that this years winners will have let in a few more than the average.

Take a look at the current league table. There's a lot of teams in the conceded 6, 7 or 8 bracket (we're on 8). Only two have conceded less and nine teams have conceded more. Although we've had some bad luck I don't think we've had many more mistakes or much bad luck than any other team, which doesn't make it OK but it's part of a trend so maybe we're not doing so bad and IF that's the case then I hope our attack might be the difference maker for this extraordinary season.

Do I think we'll win the league? No. We don't win leagues But you never know..............

Oh and one more thing. I don't usually go to stats so the above may well be bollocks

Only 3 have conceded fewer, Villa have only conceded 2 believe it or not.

But your point is correct, our defence isn’t the bomb site it’s being made to be. There are clear, addressable issues and they’re not really in open play.

The fundamentals are there. We’ve played the fourth most passes of any team in the league, with only Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool ahead. We’ve scored the most goals. We have the top shooter and top playmaker who happens to also have scored be amongst the top scorers. All but 1 of our goals have come from inside the box. As above, we’ve only conceded three times from open play, with Southampton first goal being the only real goal as a result of our defence being split.

Sort out our set pieces situation (both in how many we conceded and how we defend them) and we’re looking very good. We’ve also played 1/4 of the teams in the league, none of whom are currently in the bottom 1/4 of the league positionally (albeit our wins have come against the bottom 2 sides we’ve faced in Southampton (12) and Man Utd (15).

I personally think that we’ll get at least 5 more points than Everton over the remaining 33 matches, 4 more than Villa and 1 more than Arsenal. I think our big three rivals will be City, Chelsea and Liverpool, all of whom at this point seen as up and down as us.

 

[ardiles&villa]

If we can sort it out defensively, which in My opinion we will...we could win the league this season. I believe.

 

[shelfboy68]

Generally I think you'd be right but now? I reckon that's 50/50-ish. A few years ago we let in seven goals less than the team that won the league. That didn't do us much good. So yeah, defending well is a big part of it but it's not always the crucial factor, this might seem obvious but often times it's a combination of the two.

I think we can all see that the lack of crowds is having an effect on performances and results so this year i'm not sure what would usually be the standard will apply quite so much, it's possible that this years winners will have let in a few more than the average.

Take a look at the current league table. There's a lot of teams in the conceded 6, 7 or 8 bracket (we're on 8). Only two have conceded less and nine teams have conceded more. Although we've had some bad luck I don't think we've had many more mistakes or much bad luck than any other team, which doesn't make it OK but it's part of a trend so maybe we're not doing so bad and IF that's the case then I hope our attack might be the difference maker for this extraordinary season.

Do I think we'll win the league? No. We don't win leagues But you never know..............

Oh and one more thing. I don't usually go to stats so the above may well be bollocks

I think you could be right it is a strange season and maybe our firepower will be the difference.
Like you I can't see the league being won by us, but a cup is more likely as you say we don't win leagues.

 

[Stamford]

We can still win the league. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

 

[Basil Brush]

Top 4 spot and a trophy will do me.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Guessing that two points dropped v West Ham has ended Manchester City’s hopes of the title?

 

[chinaman]

This season looks even more open than when Leicester won it.

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

Guessing that two points dropped v West Ham has ended Manchester City’s hopes of the title?

Well they have an identical record to us, so certainly hope not!

 

[DogsOfWar]

I think the teams who are most likely to win the league are those who can improve the most over the season and I think we are high up in that group.

PEH and Ndombele are getting better with every game. I expect Bale to be near his best by Christmas.
Europa should see Vinicious and Rodon getting up to speed.

I expect all the traditional top six to improve due to bigger squads etc, but still think, along with Chelsea, we have the most scope for improvement over the season.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Well they have an identical record to us, so certainly hope not!

My comment was facetious as last week our season was over by the sounds of several on here