Rival Watch / Other Teams

So happy to see another top 6 team other than us losing by 5 or 6 to a rival.

I guess this what other fans think when they see us lose 6-0, 8-2, 6-3, 5-1 etc etc

 

To be fair - we looked alot better agoinst City than Chelsea.

I still maintain we were pretty damn good for the first half in that match.

Pep is one hell of a manager. Greatest ever?.. Quite possibly.

 

I would not say greatest....would mancity, barca and bayern have won the titles when he was/is manager they have without him? I will say yes.

 

There’s also the question of money spent during his time at those clubs.

Would have loved to see him at a club like arsenal where resources are more limited.

 

Anyone else watch Ajax vs Real last night?

Mathias De Ligt has to be the best young CB I've ever seen. Rare to see that level of technical skill combined with size and athletiscm.

Also De Jong looks like a fantastic player. Good to see the Ajax academy still churning out quality after all these years.

 

@cini65 - I did tell you about Wolves They're a much better side than you were giving credit for.

This is their first season back in the Prem. They're 7th in the league and in an FA Cup semi-final.

They've beaten Man United and Liverpool in the cups.
They took 4 points against Chelsea, beat Spurs at Wembley, drew at Old Trafford, The Emirates and got a point off the current Premier League champions.

They've given every top 6 side a very tough time.

I'm hoping now you'll give them credit where it's more than due.

 

Never.

I'm never wrong.

 

Chelsea lost their game in hand. They still have to play united away and Liverpool away.

 

Wolves Watford Leicester Everton Burnley away are going to be such crucial and difficult games for us.
I think we will need to win minimum 3 of them.

 

Everton beat Chelsea 2-0 at Goodison Park. They're still only 3 points off, and we still have to go to Goodison too, but Chelsea still have trips to Anfield and Old Trafford to come. And based on their last two league performances, it is hard to envisage them getting anything from those games.

I hope the players will be up for the battle. It's going to be a long and draining 8 games left, but it's in our hands.

 

The crazy thing is I can see us getting the job done and getting third, but just as easily messing it up badly and not winning any of the away games. We will see.

 

Yep agree 100%. Gonna be very close. We are more than capable of another unbeaten run - which would see us take 3rd/4th but are equally capable of another capitulation.

Hopefully Emery can keep the squad focused and 100% motivated for the next few games.

 

I said I thought Chelsea would struggle under Lampard.

Its such a bad move hiring ex-players too quickly. It takes YEARS to become a good manager.

 

Well, Zouma aside, we have been the better team

 

For the first 15 you were but you've been secomd best since imo

 

To be fair to him, he's just lost Hazard, they had a transfer ban meaning they were unable to sign new players, and a lot of the players they have relied on for the past few years are starting to get on a bit i.e. Pedro, Willian, Azpilicueta, Giroud, Alonso etc. Then they have a ton of youth players that they're being forced to play, many of whom are largely untested at this level. They lack balance and the right level of experience. Not exactly the ideal circumstances for Lampard.

My gut instinct is I believe they will struggle too, but it's only the 1st game of the season. And they're playing a top 4 rival away from home. I wouldn't read too much into it just yet.

 

Sure - it's more those periods later in the Season where you loose a couple of games and the pressure builds up.
I dont think its ever a good idea to make managerial appointments based on sentimentality. Lampard would surely be better off doing what Arteta is doing and spending 4-5 years under a top manager. IMO.

Who knows though maybe he will do well. Im not entirely convinced by Solskjaer either.

 

He'll be binned before December.

 

I think its a transitional period for Chelsea. They have ALOT of good young talent but transfer ban has stopped them plugging some of the immediate holes in the squad. Plus they have appointed an in-experinced manager. I could see Chelsea finish anywhere from 3rd-8th its that unpredictability you get with a young manager and a young team.

 

Started watching since the dumb pen we gave away. We have been pretty good imo going forward. I like how we are being direct and counter attacking. Makes a change