please log in to view this image 1. Arsenal (25) 2. CHELSEA (20) 3. Liverpool (20) 4. Man City (19) 5. Southampton (19) 6. Tottenham* (19) 7. Everton* (19) 8. Man Utd (17) *Denotes game in hand. So far looking at the games we've played: Chelsea 2-0 Hull - First half was the best we'd played all season. Took our foot off the gas second half but nonetheless solid win Chelsea 2-1 Aston Villa - Did enough to win and came up against a Villa side that are pretty amazing away from home on the back of a win at the Emirates. Man Utd 0-0 Chelsea - Poor all round game which neither side really wanted to win and other priorities in Prague. Can't complain at getting a point at the home of the Champions, especially given the scandalous scheduling. Everton 1-0 Chelsea - Great first half but couldn't finish. Poor in the second half. Very disappointing given Everton were without key players and didn't even need to play well. Chelsea 2-0 Fulham - Poor game of football, more about the result than performance. Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Chelsea - Started quite poorly (again), grew into the game and probably would have won without the intervention of the red. A tad disappointing not to get the win there. Norwich 1-3 Chelsea - Controlled the game but very sloppy and allowed Norwich back into the game. Deserved to win on the balance of play but a tad fortunate with the 2nd goal. Chelsea 4-1 Cardiff - Really good team performance. Ran out comfortable winners. Chelsea 2-1 Man City - The late Torres winner probably the highlight of the season. We should have been home and dry at half time but City were marginally the better team in the 2nd half and at 1-1 looked the more likely. Comfortably the best side we've played all season and that win may be crucial come May. Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea - Less said the better, no commitment or desire but we came up against a spirited Newcastle side that got the tactics spot on. Comfortable away wins at Schalke and Arsenal in cup competitions and also good performances against Bayern Munich and Bucharest.
Before the season started I indicated,as did the majority on here,that I'd be happy with building this season and letting the younger players adapt and settle with the hope of going for a title push next year. Currently sitting in 2nd I guess I should be satisfied as we are on track to achieve what i expected. I'm a little disappointed Azpi hasn't played more as I believe him to be the equal of Ivan and that would free Ivan up to play in his best and preferred central role. I'm not going to go over the strikers as that has been done to death. It is what it is at least until Jan and more likely the summer. Another disappointment has been Cech. Looks poor and I wish we'd kept Courtois this season to really push him. I think he feels too comfortable. Been poor. I was never in favour of renewing Lamps contract. He is too slow and really slows down the play now. I think the injury to van Ginkel hasn't helped but we really need to be phasing him out now. On the whole we're doing as I anticipated, no more and no less. We do have a run of games now up to Xmas where we should be picking up a lot of wins. I think we'll go in to the New Year still well placed and maybe a few tweaks of the squad then can consolidate or kick us on a little. 7/10 from me.
Still think we can and will win it but almost by virtue of default not because we're a particularly great team. I think the winner will come from the top four. Don't think Everton/Liverpool/Spurs have enough overall quality or experience at any level to seriously challenge. I've been majorly disappointed with the application and attitude of the players in certain games, in particular Basel and Everton/Newcastle where we went down with no fight. In complete contrast to Bayern/Spurs/City where we tactically found them out for huge spells and used our heads a bit more. Like CPofL I'm disappointed Azpi hasn't been used. He was easily our best defender last season and the lack of natural width is noticeable. In the final third Cole has been poor since 2010/11 albeit he is still one of the best defensively. It's also disappointing De Bruyne hasn't kicked on after that great pre-season he had. Positives are that Torres looks considerably better than the last two seasons and we have enough depth to challenge on all fronts. For me this is a weak Premier League and one that our 04/05 side would be running away with but I still think there's enough quality in this squad to win it. I'd take top three and a real crack at the CL. I lumped on us winning it and I think Lisbon is a real motivation for Jose and the lads. I don't want to come across as negative. We're in a fantastic position and we've got six winnable games in a row coming up. If we are top by January I think we'll go on and win it but City and Arsenal are definitely more settled sides than us. United will improve but I don't think they'll have enough to win it. Chelsea, City and Arsenal for me with United as outsiders. 7/10 for me as well
Well looking at the fixtures we have had, going to Old Trafford, White Hart Lane, St James Park and Goodison (only team to beat Everton in their last 26 home games), then we have to be content with having 20 points from a possible 30. Our home league form is very good though and hopefully we go unbeaten at home, picking up the away wins will be key.
We came out of the trap slowly at the start of the season and we seemed to get better by the game . That all collapsed yesterday! I just hope some important lessons have been learned!
Looks like Jose is still trying to sort out his preferred team. None of our players seems to hold form more than a few games, they're all a bit up and down. Like to see more youngsters tried, though maybe that will happen 2nd half of season. We have some positives in players and knowledge, we sure need to address the poor midfield control , need a new young quick CD , and of course, striker. Until Toons we had shown signs of steady progress, now…… anyones guess. Lamps, Cole and Cech are all showing the signs of ageing and need to belayed with better management. So far, pretty damned good for a rebuild.
But how the Hell is it a rebuild when you have exactly the same personnel playing (well ate least should be as none of the new ones are any better!) Any difference in Keeper? - Eerrr no Any difference in defence? - Eerrr no Any difference in DM? - Eerrr no The 3 Amigos - Same Striker - Torres still there So, bearing in mind Mourinho and Benitez are 2 peas from the same pod, where's the rebuilding job?
It's strange because you couldn't find two more contrasting managers if you tried. The rebuilding job is creating a new focal point of attack which we haven't had since Drogba and also instilling a winning mentality so that when Terry, Cole and Lampard leave (their contracts expire this Summer) we don't slide down the table. For the first 3 months of last season "The 3 Amigos" were unstoppable because nobody knew how to play against them. When we played Man U we got completely found out for the first 15 minutes and found ourselves 0-2 down. The problem you have with playing Mata, Oscar and Hazard all in the same team is no natural width. United did the same to City last season. There's a reason why Chelsea signed Schurrle/Willian and why City signed Jesus Navas. Courtois will come in next season.
A couple of dissapointing results, the Newcastle game and Basel. Other than that pretty much on track with what I thought, St James' and Goodison are always the grounds I like visiting least since we rarely get results there even when the Toffees and Toon arent playing well. They are our bogey grounds for sure so it is good they are out of the way, but it would have been nice to get something from one or both of those games. I still think its between us and City, Arsenal dont have the squad for a 38 game challenge, as soon as they start picking up Winter injuries they will fall away. Liverpool and Spurs are not quite there for a challenge yet either, and Man Yoo are in a huge transition. As long as we are there or there abouts and less than 8 points from the top come January we are in with a shot. Jose needs to instil some more ruthlessness in them and make a signing or to in Jan.
Schurrle and Willian will be a distinct dissapointment to you if you're expecting natural wide play. Hence, and this is only how I see things, the need to push your fullbacks much further forward providing the overlaps and width. The Mourinho and Benitez thing is also my opinion based on: Both enjoy the siege mentality thing Both must not lose as opposed to must win Both set their teams up according to who their playing with immense attention to study and detail For me your not playing to your very best at all this Season, and that is due to players concerning themselves far too much with duties (defensive) that are against their natural flow. Your strength lies in the rejuvenation of your captain and the 3 genius', I am absolutely convinced that Mikkel should never play for Chelsea and that Luiz is your natural DM alongside Ramires with Lampard or Oscar able to join in when required. Oscar is no lightweight and can be just as productive in that role, but Luiz and Ramires will solve your Midfield issue overnight. I'm sure you can all see that this is your main issue so would it not at least be worth a go? As stated on numerous occaisions, this is not to wum, this is a genuine outsider's view on proceedings at the Bridge.
I agree with your assessment, especially about Luiz and attacking full backs, but unfortunately it won't happen under Jose. My guess is he will sell players, even very good ones like Mata and Luiz and bring in others whose natural game is to play Joses way. He has no track record of adapting to the particular talents he inherits, they either adapt to him or they go. He will still win plenty, but not give us very exciting teams.
I'll keep it short. Its been an okay start to the season, but we are yet to click into gear. Few genuinely good points that I can think of, maybe apart from the purchase of Schurrle, Terry's return and the improvement in Oscars game. Bad points would be that Lampard is too much of a regular, there are significant drops in the form of Cech and Cole, Hazard hasnt come alive, strikers, MVG is injured and Arsenal are top. Still, long way to go...
Arsenal are yet to have a fully fit squad, we have been plauged by injuries all season so far and everytime we get a player back another one seems to be out injured. We regularly have a bench of youngsters and reserves and some young players have been given opportunities in the first team. So what you are seeing at the moment is Arsenal not at full strength and dealing with injuries. It looks like we will see our players returning to fitness over the next month or so and it'll be interesting to see how much better we are able to perform with pacey wide players like Walcott/Oxocube/Podolski in this team. So from an Arsenal point of view i think we are hoping to see the opposite of your prediction with our players returning to fitness rather than loosing more to injury. But you never know with injuries! I think we may see some action in the winter transfer window as well. For me it's still too soon to be talking about who will still be competing for the title come may. But if i had to try and narrow it down based on the first 10 games of the season and the squads and managers available, i'd say it's between City, Chelsea and Arsenal. Wenger knows what it takes to win the league and Arsenal have had a fantastic start to the season and have a very settled squad (we will know more after the Utd game i think). Mourinho again knows what it takes to win the league and has a squad littered with real quality players to play with. City have a decent manager and haven't had quite as great a start to the season but there squad is full of quality, lots of it. And for the rest i think Utd have started poorly and Moyes is obviously not settled yet and neither are the squad so i think it's too much to expect them to turn it around and win the league although i wouldn't put top 4 past them. Liverpool i think lack enough quality and in particular midfield strength, whilst Tottenham i think lack the couple of top top quality players that are needed to win a league title. As i said though it's too early to tell and who knows what injuries will happen, what teams will go on long or short cup runs, how many more penalties tottenham will keep getting to win themselves points, etc.... But i do think the league is competitive enough at the top this season that we could have a different winner and a different top 4 to last season.
