Currently nine shots on target in the city game with a total of 2.9xG, and yet nine goals. Just play 11 outfield players each maybe yeah?
City were a Gvardiol-clearance-off-the-line away from totally bottling a 5-1 lead. I know they're only 2 points behind us (as it stands), but I'm just not sold on them at all, especially defensively. I'm not gonna 100% write them off because they are still City and Pep is still a top manager. And I know things can change in the second half of the season. But I never saw these vulnerabilities in their 22/23 or 23/24 teams - and I think these issues are both structural and due to personnel, which won't all be solved in the Jan transfer window.
The issue is they play with 10 men in their defensive set up every week - with Haaland's role purely to score goals. Every team that plays against them can create overlaps/space. Because they don't sit back it makes them very open. They do keep picking up points, though, despite the scrapes and they will improve when it really matters in the last 3rd of the season. Right now I would make Chelsea favourites for the league, with City next. I am quite down on our chances at this time given what I have seen from us in big games. All may change , though - it's early. Our job right now is to beat Brentford - which I am not overly confident of.
please log in to view this image Mate Chelsea can play well in big games when we want, but we are inconsistent as hell, our defence is half baked, and this season we cant seem to keep 11 men on the pitch for 90 minutes. Aint no way we winning no league unless Arsenal AND City both **** the bed and have dreadful seasons...that aint happening
Ok, I think this far too cynical, Jay. Chelsea have a talented group of players and a good coach, but they are not emotionally mature enough. I also question their quality up front and at centre half. They also have SIX red cards already this season, which is an abomination. I just don't see them doing it. City as I said are in the mix and I will never fully write them off, but they look extremely vulnerable and the last 2 games have shown they have a high degree of complacency when they get into a cushioned lead. They will need to tighten up defensively if they're serious about the league. For me, we are the best equipped to win the league from a balance perspective. The one thing I can see stopping us is not getting a clean bill of health when it comes to injuries. We were able to navigate through it so far because of our depth this season, but we will struggle if we continue to have our core players out for lengthy periods of time. We need our spine to have some continuity, not constant chopping and changing. One thing that's not been mentioned is the fact that City and Chelsea both have some difficult away fixtures in the second half of the season that we won't need to worry about as we'd have already ticked those games off. It's going to be very tough, but IF we get wins in the next 2 games, we'd have an 8 point lead on City before they play against Sunderland. Things could still get better for us... But yes, let's not look too far forward - one game at a time - let's get through tonight against Brentford and then a very difficult away fixture against Aston Villa beckons in an early Saturday kick-off.
I am definitely in a cynical phase at the moment - still quite pissed off with the performance against Chelsea TBH. Not just the result against 10 men, but how we played. On the remaining away fixtures - we do still need to go the Etihad and also to Spurs. Tough away games I'd say - for different reasons. City will be a direct rival and Spurs is an NLD. For now, though, hoping the team can step up the performance tonight and play with more fluidity and drive with markedly different levels of execution. It's a game we do need to win.
