Dont think anyone here expected us to win the league this year, but Jose's genius has put us up near the top in the final hurdle. Just want to say though, in light of last nights results, I really cant see anything other than a City title win now. Our only chance is if we win every game, Arsenal beat City and City and Liverpool draw (we dont want Pool getting points either). While all these are possible, we have to win every game, and on a few occasions we have messed it up (See Villa away and Wet Spam at home). Relying on Les Bottleurs to get a result against a top 4 team is never going to bear fruit, especially if the rest of the season has been something to go by. So barring any collapses of form from City, I cannot see anything other than the title going to them with us and Pool in 2nd/3rd. If we had beat Villa, we would be in a stronger position but I just cannot see it now, even if we win at Anfield that will probably just cement 2nd. I know being near the top towards the end gets us all hoping, but at the start of the season, top 3 was always our target with such an unbalanced team. Next season, we will get a striker, and remove some dead wood, and its game on!!
Our run-ins are pretty similar! Our only chance is the Liverpool away fixture, where we both have to visit! If we can win and they lose, we're in with a shout! If Liverpool beat us both they could take the title!
City are definately the favourites now need to win all our games and hope the gooners and scousers take points off them still been a good effort
I can see Pool taking points off City and I can also see Chelsea possibly winning at Anfield (our record against the top teams has been great this season), what I cannot see is anyone, bar Pool, taking points off City, and I am not entirely confident we will beat all the smaller teams (as this has been our achilles this season).
City won't necessarily win every game at home. They may go, 4 1 0 instead of 5 0 0, say. very unlikely with their firepower But our defeat at Villa may mean that does not matter. We need them to drop points at two of Emirates, Palace Anfield and Everton now. If they go 2 1 1 away, that's a 6 2 1 finish. 86 points + GD We need to finish 6 0 1 to get 87 points. Tough. Villa game was pivotal, they kept composure, we lost ours
City have Arsenal away next, the Gooners are poor at the moment but you never know. They then have Southampton at home, I'd expect them to win but again not the easiest of games. They also have us at Anfield and Everton away so there are potential pitfalls.
I'm hoping Jose no longer plays people like Willian and Ramires against the lesser sides like Villa and just sets up to attack them. That was our downfall imo.
Agreed, against the smaller teams, especially at home, we should be looking to overwhelm and kill teams (ie West Ham). Ok we havent got a World class Striker, but with Hazard, Oscar and Schurrle behind the striker, we should certainly be looking to punish teams like that, as Liverpool have done. Goal difference matters more than you may think, especially when things at the top are this close. (See United/City in 2012)
It's City's as it was back in August. If we'd had Matic for the season it would have been ours and with a striker next season we'll be better equipped.
I think Eto'o is more than capable of being a double figure striker. Really hope we keep him next season around the squad. Willian doesn't offer enough threat going forward and Ramires isn't that sort of player either - added to the fact he's been **** this season! Said it on the day, our line up vs Arsenal is our strongest and is perfectly balanced.
Agreed - was thinking the same thing earlier this morning. Swapping him for Mata is proving to be a stroke of genius
And a huge and expensive squad? Come on. Missing a world class striker or not, you're as strong as City or not far off, given their defence being so dicey.
But we had the same squad (minus Matic and Salah and plus Mata) last year and were no where near challenging. Same as United have more or less the same squad as last year but are performing well under par because they swapped a genius with a full on ****** for a manager.
I do think Jose has been the difference - not because we didn't have the quality but because it wasn't be used properly. Jose has changed the style and the attitude of the players in a season, and considering that I have nothing but high hopes for us next season and beyond. If we lose the title to City however, we all know it is because of the 5 points dropped to West Brom...
Because the likes of Oscar and Hazard were still developing - they are now at a much higher level, and were hardly bad to start with. Granted Mourinho has worked wonders with Cahill and maybe Luiz. You've also signed Eto'o, Willian and Schurrle... tells a lot about Chelsea that you've either left them out or don't even consider them.
