All this talk about who's playing who next season and all the dread about playing last year's top teams etc etc but that's exactly what they were, last year's top teams. They are not yet next season's top teams are they and how do we know that they will be? They might not. I repeat they MIGHT not. Will Utd be as strong as before? Will City with a new boss? Think of the pressure Jose will be under. Arsenal made it with a late rush. Just because they were top teams in recent seasons does not mean to say that they will be next season. A couple of defeats and worry sets in, then morale drops and the expensive players then start producing rubbish and the coach comes under more pressure. All the teams are equal at the start of the new season.
But some teams are more equal than others. For example, history shows us Utd have been up there since the dawn of the Premier League, but they have a new manager? Well City have shown over the last few seasons that a managerial changes disruption is smoothened out by the addition of transfer funds, something Utd seem to have gained over the last few seasons.
True to a degree. But let's be honest, who is more likely to win the prem, Utd or Norwich? Who is more likely to go down, Chelsea or crystal palace? Those top 4 teams have been up there for years, as have we for a few now. I expect similar next
taking all things into considiration,i think it will be a lot closer this season,and if we get the players AVB want's,we could be in there
I don't think it will be a runaway this season. Chelsea have a great squad, will spend and Jose will hit the ground running. Utd will be up there too but weaker than last year because of Fergie. I expect them to fight it out. City for 3rd, but won't be in it til the last. Then its anyones guess from us, Arsenal and possibly Liverpool (all depending on summer business of course). I wouldn't be surprised if come march there are 4-6 clubs within 6pts of the top. Then again, i wouldn't be surprised if Utd and Chelsea are 15pts clear either!
The euphoria of Jose's return will imo wear off. They'll start well then fall back, I've seen them do it before. I'm not sure that JM is as potent a force as once was.
Not under JM. It will be a different mentality and we'll also have a far bigger squad than we've had over the last 2 seasons.
I know, but the competition isn't as strong this time round, IMO. In the final third JM has more talented players to work with than he had in his last spell. A lot depends on how Pellegrini settles at City.
There is a danger here of exaggerating the influence a manager can have. Once he's picked a team and tactics, there is only so much he can do to influence how players react in adversity. In the longer run, then players can be replaced, but teams can't just mirror the manager's personality as easily as you imply. Beside, his last season with Madrid didn't produce a team of winners, they folded when it became critical.
Before i start i'll just re-point out i think its chelsea vs utd for th title. I'm not so sure about the talent at Chelsea compared to last time out though. He had flying wingers in Duff/Robben, an in-their-prime Lampard and Drogba scoring 20+ goals and backed up by a class box-to-box in Essien. I don't think anyone would argue that Drogba is better than Ba/Torres. Lampard, if in the team, is not as good as he was. I know they're not the same sort of player, but you aren't playing the same system either, but i'd compare Robben to Hazard. Tough one to call. Oscar > Duff though. The problem you have now is who is gonna get you 20+ a season (we know the feeling). In his last stint he was guarenteed that from 2 players, but this season? Edit - Was Essien post Duff/Robben? Was it Makele?
The problem we've had since 09/10 is lack of squad depth. I firmly believe that if you give an excuse for someone to fail/underperform, they will. In 11/12 it was marked as the "transitional season with a new and young manager", 10/11 "We'd won the double and the squad had been cut" and last season it was "the sacking of Di Matteo". Chelsea players are often talking to the media about how "difficult it's been" when changing managers, for me that's just a cop out. As you say, when a team takes to the field it's more or less in their hands and not the manager's.
It depends, I was comparing our first season under JM (04/05) to this season (13/14). Essien only came in 05/06. IMO Arsenal had a better team than us in Mourinho's first season but lacked the consistency and were unsettled due to Vieira wanting to leave and not really showing up that season. Here's how I see it: Cech (12/13) < Cech (04/05) Azpilicueta > Ferreira Ivanovic < Carvalho Luiz > Terry Cole > Bridge Mikel < Makalele Ramires > Tiago Oscar > Duff Hazard > Robben Mata < Lampard Torres < Drogba if rumours about Cavani are true, I'd place him ahead of Drogba (04/05)
Hazard better than Robben? Okay... Anyway this talk of 04-05 made me look up our squad from then and it is pretty damn awesome. Naybet, Bunjevcevic(the original face mask guy), Atouba, future World beater Ziegler, on loan Mido(so much better than signed Mido), England number 1, and future England number 2, Phil Ifill. If it weren't for Santini messing up our start to the season I can't see how we wouldn't have won the league.
