City's title now

[chelsea - over 100 years of history]

Given City can still lose a game and it still being in their hands makes them big favourites now. The Villa result obviously hurt us badly.

Can't see us winning all our games either. Things can change quickly and if Arsenal beat City this weekend and we win, then my outlook may be different. But Arsenal's recent form and ability against the top sides just suggests (like last night) that a City win is almost inevitable.

All we can do is keep winning and hope but either way we should now get top 3 which is a good season.

 

[Bodinki]

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.

My point was that i dont think our squad is miles stronger than last years really.
Eto'o has been marginally better than Nando (and for free too ), ok We also have Willian and Schurrle but have lost Mata. So swings and roundabouts.
Matic has been the one signing that has had the most impact domestically for sure.
Also the defenders, same as last year, JT and Cahill, look how much better they have performed this season compared to last, and thats down to Jose.

 

[Master Yoda]

My point was that i dont think our squad is miles stronger than last years really.
Eto'o has been marginally better than Nando (and for free too ), ok We also have Willian and Schurrle but have lost Mata. So swings and roundabouts.
Matic has been the one signing that has had the most impact domestically for sure.
Also the defenders, same as last year, JT and Cahill, look how much better they have performed this season compared to last, and thats down to Jose.

'Ok you also have them' - they cost £50m!

Yes Matic no surprise has been great.

As I said Cahill's improvement is down to Jose.

From the outside you look a lot better this year, but still have the same weakness (at striker). City have a stronger attack this season but a weaker defence due to losing Mancini and not making any truly defensive signings.

Chelsea and City have been fighting the title out from day 1. To say anything else is wrong, IMO.

Not going to spend more time praising Chelsea so I'll leave it now. Have a good day.

 

[Bodinki]

'Ok you also have them' - they cost £50m!

Yes Matic no surprise has been great.

As I said Cahill's improvement is down to Jose.

From the outside you look a lot better this year, but still have the same weakness (at striker). City have a stronger attack this season but a weaker defence due to losing Mancini and not making any truly defensive signings.

Chelsea and City have been fighting the title out from day 1. To say anything else is wrong, IMO.

Not going to spend more time praising Chelsea so I'll leave it now. Have a good day.

No I totally agree.
Once we were 15 games in I knew it would come down to Chelsea and City.
Lets face it, Arsenal are perennial bottlers, so their fall was inevitable.
Didnt think Liverpool would keep up their good form for this long though and they are still in with a decent shout. ()

 

[District Line]

City were always the favourites. If they beat Arsenal on Saturday it basically means Chelsea either have to win all their remaining games or Liverpool have to win all off theirs including wins against City and Chelsea in which case neither will happen.

If Arsenal can get something off City and we beat Palace I think we can still do it as there'd be no incentive for Stoke, Norwich or Cardiff when they play us leaving Liverpool, Swansea and Sunderland as our only competitive games.

 

[Naas Blue]

Agree with the general consensus here that it's City's to lose. Having said that, when it's this tight i certainly think there could be more than a few twists and turns yet. Pool's edginess in getting over the line against Sunderland last night is a case in point. Just spent a while looking at the fixts to the end of the season. Leaving the Pool/City and Pool/Us games aside there will be other key games to watch out for. If City were to drop points on Sat against Arsenal it would obviously be a massive bonus but being honest i can't see that happening. But where i could definitely see it happening is at Goodison (Everton fighting for top 4) and that is City's last away match. One other thing is City don't get to play the second of their games in hand until the Wed before the final w/end of the season, which means they can't stretch away and things remain tight till the end. That game is at home to Villa who as we know have been very impressive on the road. All to play for !!!

 

[CFC: Champs £launderx17]

City were always the favourites. If they beat Arsenal on Saturday it basically means Chelsea either have to win all their remaining games or Liverpool have to win all off theirs including wins against City and Chelsea in which case neither will happen.

If Arsenal can get something off City and we beat Palace I think we can still do it as there'd be no incentive for Stoke, Norwich or Cardiff when they play us leaving Liverpool, Swansea and Sunderland as our only competitive games.

City need two more slip ups even if they slip at Arsenal.

As we'd settle for one slip up between now and May, winning six say.

 

[luvgonzo]

I still think that any of the top 3 could win.

 

[chelsea - over 100 years of history]

With City's GD as well, can we see them dropping enough points? I can't, not now they have nothing else to play for. I think they will win every game except maybe the 2 Mersey side away games where I'd expect them to maybe win 1 and drop points in another.

I know we are 2nd favourites at the moment but given we have at least 2 c.l games and still have to go to Anfield, I think it is a flip of the coin who win finish higher out of us and Liverpool too.

 

[luvgonzo]

With City's GD as well, can we see them dropping enough points? I can't, not now they have nothing else to play for. I think they will win every game except maybe the 2 Mersey side away games where I'd expect them to maybe win 1 and drop points in another.

I know we are 2nd favourites at the moment but given we have at least 2 c.l games and still have to go to Anfield, I think it is a flip of the coin who win finish higher out of us and Liverpool too.

You might be right but I'm going full on delusion from here on in, we'll probably lose to Spurs this weekend now!

 

[Foredeckdave]

You might be right but I'm going full on delusion from here on in, we'll probably lose to Spurs this weekend now!

That's the real difference between us and both City and Chelsea. We know that we are far from being the finished article and therefore we don't fit into the normal rationale. We are now within touching distance of securing a top 4 finish - a goal that nearly everybody said was beyond us at the start of the season. Therefore a shot at the title really is dreamland and we know it. So as long as its possible then all we have to do is go far it. If we succeed then we'll really party. If we don't then we'll have achieved our prime objective.

What we do know is that we know where we have to improve for next season and if we do then we'll be an even greater threat to everybody next season. But for this season we'll remain deluded and sing "We're going to score 1 more than you"

 

[luvgonzo]

That's the real difference between us and both City and Chelsea. We know that we are far from being the finished article and therefore we don't fit into the normal rationale. We are now within touching distance of securing a top 4 finish - a goal that nearly everybody said was beyond us at the start of the season. Therefore a shot at the title really is dreamland and we know it. So as long as its possible then all we have to do is go far it. If we succeed then we'll really party. If we don't then we'll have achieved our prime objective.

What we do know is that we know where we have to improve for next season and if we do then we'll be an even greater threat to everybody next season. But for this season we'll remain deluded and sing "We're going to score 1 more than you"

4-3's all the way to the end of the season. My nerves are already shot!

 

[CPofL KTBFFH]

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.

Sick of reading this. Firstly all teams are allowed 25 player over 21. Secondly we've registered fewer players than most clubs incl. Liverpool

 

[CPofL KTBFFH]

That's the real difference between us and both City and Chelsea. We know that we are far from being the finished article and therefore we don't fit into the normal rationale. We are now within touching distance of securing a top 4 finish - a goal that nearly everybody said was beyond us at the start of the season. Therefore a shot at the title really is dreamland and we know it. So as long as its possible then all we have to do is go far it. If we succeed then we'll really party. If we don't then we'll have achieved our prime objective.

What we do know is that we know where we have to improve for next season and if we do then we'll be an even greater threat to everybody next season. But for this season we'll remain deluded and sing "We're going to score 1 more than you"

Yes because no one else will add to their squad and the extra games in Europe won't make a difference to you.

This is your chance. You won't get close to us with a striker and a few tweaks next season. City will strengthen too.

 

[Foredeckdave]

Yes because no one else will add to their squad and the extra games in Europe won't make a difference to you.

This is your chance. You won't get close to us with a striker and a few tweaks next season. City will strengthen too.

Keep telling yourself that. It will still hurt however when we out perform you next season.

 

[chelsea - over 100 years of history]

Keep telling yourself that. It will still hurt however when we out perform you next season.

Good luck with that. The extra expectation, extra fixtures and likely improvements to the teams of richer clubs around you are all reasons why next year won't be Liverpool's year.

Blind faith is commendable but not backed up by anything tangible. Bit like religion.

 

[Bodinki]

City and Chelsea will strengthen, as will Arsenal.
I expect Man Utd to improve a great deal and be in top 4 contention as well (They cant be any worse than this year surely).
Everton and Spurs are a mystery. Everton are playing some good football this year and are still in with a top 4 shout.
Spurs, lord knows what will happen with them.

The way I see it, with the extra European fixtures and the amount of cr*p liverpool have IN their first XI let alone their squad, they will need to shift about half a dozen players and replace them with quality players if they want to challenge for the title AND be in the CL next year.
IMO this means a spend of at least £50-60m (if you deduct the amount of money they receive from shifting their deadwood, I am guessing 20-30m).
The fact that they are failing FFP will not help this either.

 

[chelsea - over 100 years of history]

Plus Liverpool will be seen as more of a scalp next year. You only have to look at how Villa beat us at Villa Park one week and then got battered at home to stoke the next to see how some sides raise their game against the top teams.

 

[CFC: Champs £launderx17]

Keep telling yourself that. It will still hurt however when we out perform you next season.

Priceless. We'll finish 15 points ahead of the dippers next season. With Europe they will drop down to the 75 points bracket.

If we get a striker and CM, we've got 90+ potential.

Liverpool haven't managed serious challenges in the league and CL since 1984

 

[Bodinki]

See this is what pissed me off about Liverpool fans more than any other,
They havent won ****, they are just challenge for one season....ONE Season.....and all of a sudden they are Billy big bollocks again.
They get so carried away.
That article in the Echo about how Liverpool are becoming an unstoppable force that makes other PL teams quiver with fear was f**king priceless.

They are so desperate for success it is cringeworthy.