Chelsea are going to do a Spurs and just not bother with the EL. Draw a couple of games and if there's any danger of qualifying out of the group make sure they lose.After one good game against relegation candidates, Hazard is already bored of putting in effort
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/sep/19/eden-hazard-chelsea-paok-salonika-tiredness
my view is that they will try to go as far as possible but with the proviso that they can get out of the group using in the main fringe / squad players .Chelsea are going to do a Spurs and just not bother with the EL. Draw a couple of games and if there's any danger of qualifying out of the group make sure they lose.
how did I forget that.
Chelsea are going to do a Spurs and just not bother with the EL. Draw a couple of games and if there's any danger of qualifying out of the group make sure they lose.
Or come 2nd, 3rd or 4thTop of the league, don’t do a United to qualify for the CL via EL. Just win league.

Or come 2nd, 3rd or 4th![]()
Yeh but they don't have to win it to qualify for the CL which was my only point.Sure Sarri will push for title, it’s the Chelsea cycle.
Nothing to do with sulky-boy, but from the same article:After one good game against relegation candidates, Hazard is already bored of putting in effort
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/sep/19/eden-hazard-chelsea-paok-salonika-tiredness
However, they [PAOK] have only seven points having had two deducted as part of punishments that followed the jaw-dropping moment in March when the club’s president, Ivan Savvidis, stormed on to the pitch during a match against AEK Athens to protest against the referee’s decision to deny PAOK an 89th-minute goal. Savvidis was carrying a gun at the time.
Nothing to do with sulky-boy, but from the same article:
The mind boggles.
No wonder the refs favour the introduction of VARNothing to do with sulky-boy, but from the same article:
The mind boggles.

On Spurs i think a lot depends on Pochettino being brave and resting Kane as they can and in fact did play well when he was unavailable last season but right now he is so sluggish he is offering nothing in open play.just my opinion but....
1. man Utd. not up to city standards but will be up there on 75 points min. will get out of cl group.
2. spurs. look shocking right now. have ****ed up a bit but should get out of group if they pull themselves together in time. imo might just struggle for 4th. depends on kane.
3. Chelsea. very good first 11, new.manager, in Europa with lost of reserves to play the games... I think they will be up on the 75 points min and probably 85 so big rivals for title. will prob win 2nd Europa league trophy.
4. city. missing debruyne? still look good and should sweep most aside. looked poor in cl but should still qualify. target is 90 points really.
5. arsenal. doing better but I think will still be flaky. don't have the personnel at the back or at cm. I think they will be 65-75 points max by end. will be up there but I thunk will fall short.
6. lfc. running well now. have the 11 at this point if it all works (which it hasn't quite done but it's gone well none the less.)
no less than 80 points should be target. hopefully up to 90.
cl: got a great start. if we can avoid loss away to Napoli and beat red star twice I reckon we will be cruising home in group. home game v Napoli last = our must not lose game it'd be ideal to be 4 points clear of Napoli before that game. (already 2)
for me
top 4 incumbent most at risk = spurs
most likely to take spot = Chelsea.
most at risk of implosion = utd. (mourinho)
It's going to be a competitive year. someone has to muss out and for once i just dont think we will even enter the equation. We should be right up there at the sharp end not.looking behind us at 5th place chasers.
On Spurs i think a lot depends on Pochettino being brave and resting Kane as they can and in fact did play well when he was unavailable last season but right now he is so sluggish he is offering nothing in open play.
Chelsea should be right up there this season with no CL distractions but depends to a large extent on Hazards form as the defence looks creaky atm.
We still have gaps in the squad the strength in depth has so increased than the last 2 seasons that there is far more reason to think that we can successfully compete on 2 fronts this season.
On Spurs i think a lot depends on Pochettino being brave and resting Kane as they can and in fact did play well when he was unavailable last season but right now he is so sluggish he is offering nothing in open play.
Chelsea should be right up there this season with no CL distractions but depends to a large extent on Hazards form as the defence looks creaky atm.
We still have gaps in the squad the strength in depth has so increased than the last 2 seasons that there is far more reason to think that we can successfully compete on 2 fronts this season.
Son is a very useful player for them as he can play a variety of roles , though Poch playing him at wing back was a step too farSon should be back and firing soon for Spurs. He adds a little something different for them. They will possibly dip into transfer market at Xmas, but look likely to miss out on top four.
, and is very direct in his attacking play and atm only Lucas Moura is offering that .i think the Chelsea tie will be a contest to see which manager can field the "weakest" team .I'd have to agree there.Kane does look shot through and he does have another forward who's not terrible. Pochettinho needs to manage his side through this period and get back on track. They normally come on strong in second half of season but who knows. I just think right now they are vunderable and could end up playing catch up. But who knows.
You are astro are right about Cheslea switching to a back 4 not a back 5 and it not looking as good but For me yes hazard is a vital player but morata and willian and even pedro are very very good players. Morata might quietly just prove a few wrong. he's only 25 now but he's a really talented footballer if sarri can get into his head.
As for us? well.. we are where we are. If sturridge can actually contribute it's going to be a shock but thats 5 forwards from nowhere with origi and solanke as added extras we prob won't see play. In midfield we need just about ok but lallana being no use to us again we might just be one body short as ox won't be back. At the back really LB and LCB cover is the issue. But clyne might cover LB if moreno is useless. I would have to take you up on that TWO front s and quietly nod. If we go deep in the league cup imo it'll be an issue for us later, we should play the origi's and solankes and see what they can do and see what happens. The league and CL campaigns are if successful going to push us to the pin of our collar.

i think the Chelsea tie will be a contest to see which manager can field the "weakest" team .![]()