Title Race

[Drogs]

We're 21 games in and now have a good idea of who will be the main contenders for the title with 17 games to go. Arsenal and City have remained consistently brilliant this season, with the former a surprise inclusion. Arsenal are yet to have a blip, and looking at their fixture list it looks as if one could be round the corner.

City:

Jan -
Cardiff (H)
West Ham (A)
Spurs (A)

Feb -
Chelsea (H)
Norwich (A)
Sunderland (H)
Stoke (H)

March -
Utd (A)
Villa (H)
Hull (A)
Fulham (H)
Arsenal (A)

April -
S'oton (H)
Liverpool (A)
WBA (H)
Palace (A)

May -
Everton (A)
West Ham (H)

City have easy home games considering how good they are at the Etihad. Can see them winning every single one with possibly the exception being us picking up a point there, ordinarily I'd go for a loss but with Jose in charge I'm hopeful. Luckily they also have some very challenging away fixtures including Spurs, United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton. All of whom are capable of beating City at home.

Chelsea:

Jan -
Man Utd (H)
Stoke (H)
WHU (H)

Feb -
Man City (A)
Newcastle (H)
WBA (A)
Everton (H)

March -
Fulham (A)
Spurs (H)
Villa (A)
Arsenal (H)
Palace (A)

April -
Stoke (H)
Swans (A)
Sunderland (H)
Liverpool (A)

May -
Norwich (H)
Cardiff (A)

Similarly to City, I don't think we'll get beaten at home. However I do think we'll drop considerably more points. Another great thing for us is that bar Liverpool and City, we don't have to travel to any of the teams around us. On the other hand, we tend to perform badly when we walk into games thinking we've already won.

Arsenal:

Jan -
Villa (A)
Fulham (H)
S'oton (A)

Feb -
Palace (H)
Liverpool (A)
Man Utd (H)
Sunderland (H)

March -
Stoke (A)
Swansea (H)
Spurs (A)
Chelsea (A)
City (H)

April -
Everton (A)
WHU (H)
Hull (A)
Newcastle (A)

May -
WBA (H)
Norwich (A)

Arsenal have the most difficult remaining fixtures of all three of us. I actually think today's game is crucial for them to win due to the horrendous run of games they have in March, with Munich away plonked right in the middle of them. They need to form a decent gap between themselves and Merseyside before they reach March with a win over Liverpool too if they want to keep themselves in the title race and even the top four imo. Need to sign somebody very good this month in my opinion.

Very tough to predict imo, but I'll go with City winning it with Chelsea second. With Arsenal's fixtures I can see them dropping off quite a bit but still think they can keep themselves above both Liverpool/Everton. I'll go with top four finishing as it is now with maybe United replacing Liverpool if they make a good signing this window.

 

[District Line]

Arsenal will win today but I wouldn't be surprised if they dropped off the pace a bit in February/March/April, I just don't see how they'll be able to sustain a challenge unless Wenger strengthens and his tactics/mentality change against the top sides. I would say there's a good chance Arsenal could drop points in every remaining away game after tonight but their home games are cake walk more or less.

As for City and Chelsea, it depends on the next 3 games. If we can remain within 1 point of City by the time we've played them at the Etihad that'd make us clear favourites in my book.

I'll go with City as well. I don't see how we'll be able to match their home form given the fixtures that remain and we are no better than them on the road, if anything they are slightly better.

 

[ollyday]

City are obviously our main rivals, if they maintain their awesome home form it is hard to see past them
Arsenal win the matches you expect them to win but struggle against their main rivals
where as we do well against our main rivals and have thrown points away in matches we should have won
I feel its going to be close and at least we are genuine challengers this season

 

[chelsea - over 100 years of history]

City are obviously our main rivals, if they maintain their awesome home form it is hard to see past them
Arsenal win the matches you expect them to win but struggle against their main rivals
where as we do well against our main rivals and have thrown points away in matches we should have won
I feel its going to be close and at least we are genuine challengers this season

Pretty much spot on. You do wonder how each side will fare with the C.L games. Arsenal normally struggle around feb/march time when matches are coming thick and fast. City also have 2 epic games v Barca and probably greater pressure to finally have a good European run. I really can only see City winning it this year though. We are grinding out results now which is good but are far from the finished article and this season may come too soon.

 

[CPofL KTBFFH]

Need City to play ManU in the COC final too. With CL and final and tough away games they could be pushed hard even with their squad.

Nasri out for a few weeks.

 

[District Line]

Need City to play ManU in the COC final too. With CL and final and tough away games they could be pushed hard even with their squad.

Nasri out for a few weeks.

The euphoria of humiliating United again might also lead to a lapse in concentration that usually follows with all Carling Cup Winners.

 

[CFC: Champs £launderx17]

If we get Matic we have a chance of the title. But we need Ba Torres and eto to get 15+ goals between them to support Hazard and co scoring.

 

[Skylarker]

Don't forget Liverpool

We have played all the top teams away (except Utd, but **** them) so everyone has to come to Anfield. We have SAS back together and a few key players back soon.

We're only 5 points off city. Not saying we're likely to win, but we have a slim chance. It's been a close run thing so far and I think that'll continue.

If not…………………….

"Next Year"

 

[CPofL KTBFFH]

Don't forget Liverpool

We have played all the top teams away (except Utd, but **** them) so everyone has to come to Anfield. We have SAS back together and a few key players back soon.

We're only 5 points off city. Not saying we're likely to win, but we have a slim chance. It's been a close run thing so far and I think that'll continue.

If not…………………….

"Next Year"

You won't get top 4 you deluded scouse prick.

 

[Chelsea Pensioner]

Looking at games left it is remarkably similar to the drawer at the start of the season !!!
My choice then was City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd.
Now it's City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

 

[Skylarker]

You won't get top 4 you deluded scouse prick.

Great counter argument

 

[Jesus Christ.]

You won't get top 4 you deluded scouse prick.

Now that's surely a bite. I think your current squad is more than capable of winning the title, any additions will just be a massive bonus. Granted you guys don't dish out the headline grabbing results that City do, but City look beatable away from home. You guys are consistent, very hard to break down even away, I reckon that will give you the edge.

Good luck.

 

[District Line]

Don't forget Liverpool

We have played all the top teams away (except Utd, but **** them) so everyone has to come to Anfield. We have SAS back together and a few key players back soon.

We're only 5 points off city. Not saying we're likely to win, but we have a slim chance. It's been a close run thing so far and I think that'll continue.

If not…………………….

"Next Year"

Personally think you are better off without Sturridge and Gerrard in the side. Coutinho and Henderson seem inhibited when they play.

I don't think you'll contend due to your defence but win at Old Trafford and CL football is yours in my book.

 

[theevilreddevil]

You won't get top 4 you deluded scouse prick.

.

 

[CFC: Champs £launderx17]

You won't get top 4 you deluded scouse prick.

To be fair they dont play in Europe so have a big advantage

 

[cini65]

Pretty much spot on. You do wonder how each side will fare with the C.L games. Arsenal normally struggle around feb/march time when matches are coming thick and fast. City also have 2 epic games v Barca and probably greater pressure to finally have a good European run. I really can only see City winning it this year though. We are grinding out results now which is good but are far from the finished article and this season may come too soon.

March coincided with our change in fortune last year and charge back into the top 4 starting with a 2-0 win in Munich.

February is generally when we lost a game or two because we invariably play a top team in the CL who do us in.

However, I'll grant you that this year we have Munich twice, United, City, Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool all done and dusted by the end of March.

Our last 5 league games are as easy as you can get in a run-in.

 

[Breakingbad14]

You won't get top 4 you deluded scouse prick.

.

 

[CFC: Champs £launderx17]

.

nice to see you back. no wifi access in your cave?

 

[Mantis]

March coincided with our change in fortune last year and charge back into the top 4 starting with a 2-0 win in Munich.

February is generally when we lost a game or two because we invariably play a top team in the CL who do us in.

However, I'll grant you that this year we have Munich twice, United, City, Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool all done and dusted by the end of March.

Our last 5 league games are as easy as you can get in a run-in.

I was thinking the same. If we can somehow still be around the top of the table after say gameweek 32, our last 5 games are very winnable, i.e. West Ham, Norwich, West Brom, Newcastle at home and Hull away. If we can win those, we might still be in with a chance given that Chelsea have to visit Anfield in the second last gameweek of the season. It's too difficult to predict where we'll be though, our March/April fixtures are very tough and there's a good chance we'll drop points. But, if we can keep being consistent in winning you never know what will happen.

 

[chelsea - over 100 years of history]

I was thinking the same. If we can somehow still be around the top of the table after say gameweek 32, our last 5 games are very winnable, i.e. West Ham, Norwich, West Brom, Newcastle at home and Hull away. If we can win those, we might still be in with a chance given that Chelsea have to visit Anfield in the second last gameweek of the season. It's too difficult to predict where we'll be though, our March/April fixtures are very tough and there's a good chance we'll drop points. But, if we can keep being consistent in winning you never know what will happen.

You're not consistently winning those big games though and you have loads in March/April. I think it'll be close but can't see you finishing above City at least.