Poll Our biggest threat this season?
- Thread starter rurikbird
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
Prefix for Poll Threads
- Status
Like losing at home to Arsenal? Followed by a defeat to Istanbul and then PSG and RBL (twice inc. 5-0) all within the past 6 weeks? Their wins this season in the PL (mostly away because they have been shit at home) have been : Brighton (A), Newcastle (A), Everton (A), WBA (H), Southampton (A) West Ham (A), Sheff United (A) drawing 0-0 with Chelsea & City.
They're only 6pts behind us with a game in hand. Everyone is dropping points in these so called easy fixtures so can't really poo poo their results in the league.
I'll go back to sniggering at them if / when they're not within touching distance.
That'll be after we play them then (if not before)
I think it’s a bit of a statistical anomaly that United have managed to win so many games away in the league. They are wildly inconsistent and many of their worse performances happened to be in Europe (which is why they crashed out of the CL). They still don’t seem to have a game plan beyond counter-attacking which means they likely won’t be able to produce a consistent run of results. Spurs and potentially even Chelsea are a bigger threat IMO.
Home/away hasn't really meant much as no crowds, so I take the home/away stats with a pinch of salt.
Not with us, but there has been much more away success than usual this year.
Not with us, but there has been much more away success than usual this year.
Well they have to win that game in hand to still be 3 points behind (after ⅓ of the season) and they have been given a smooth ride injury-wise (just the 2 injured at the moment and they are not starters).
They've had more penalties than half the league combined and VAR has favoured them so considering the relative positions I'll be very surprised if that continues and they are within 10-15 points of us come the end of the season.
Oh and they crashed out of the CL losing 4 on the bounce, within that 'title-winning form' table, welcome to the EL and Thursday nights.
Our biggest threat this season ?
Injuries. And VAR.
Injuries. And VAR.
United keep going behind in games too. You'd think they wouldn't be able to keep doing that and picking up points, but who knows. This year is mad
Last edited:
Spurs are incapable of coming back when they fall behind. Not a championship winning mentality. Nor do they play the attacking football necessary. Counter attacking football is great until you fall behind in a game. And then what? Spurs haven't got an answer.
Make no mistake, our only 2 rivals this year are:
1) City - they have the manager and the players (when Aguero is fit), and the ability to win 10 games in a row. Belief isn't flowing right now, but if they find themselves 2nd at the end of Jan, with only 5 points between us, they'll think why not.
2) United - now, now, contain your laughter, they're complete outsiders (as I suspect they win drop points over Xmas), but they have shown some mettle in coming back to win games they've been shite in. We still have to play them twice, so if they some how sorted their home form and put a run together like the end of last season. With no Europe to focus on (EL will be sacrificed), they're capable of putting together a run.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more it's obvious that only City are our main rivals. That's the only team we really should be concerned about dropping points/belief each week.
Make no mistake, our only 2 rivals this year are:
1) City - they have the manager and the players (when Aguero is fit), and the ability to win 10 games in a row. Belief isn't flowing right now, but if they find themselves 2nd at the end of Jan, with only 5 points between us, they'll think why not.
2) United - now, now, contain your laughter, they're complete outsiders (as I suspect they win drop points over Xmas), but they have shown some mettle in coming back to win games they've been shite in. We still have to play them twice, so if they some how sorted their home form and put a run together like the end of last season. With no Europe to focus on (EL will be sacrificed), they're capable of putting together a run.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more it's obvious that only City are our main rivals. That's the only team we really should be concerned about dropping points/belief each week.
Indeed, this result will give them hope.
The thing with Utd is, I genuinely look at almost every fixture and think 'I could see them dropping points here' which is not something you associate with title winning side.
Obviously theyve done well enough to put themselves in contention but we are in the driving seat now. More points, better goal difference all we have to do is match their results from here and we win it. Im comfortable that over 24 more games we will do enough.
There are clear signs we are just starting to click, if that happens with the players we have coming back I think we are too good for anybody else to keep the pace for 6 months.
Obviously theyve done well enough to put themselves in contention but we are in the driving seat now. More points, better goal difference all we have to do is match their results from here and we win it. Im comfortable that over 24 more games we will do enough.
There are clear signs we are just starting to click, if that happens with the players we have coming back I think we are too good for anybody else to keep the pace for 6 months.
Repost here for validity :
We've got to this stage despite a huge number of injuries and VAR mostly having worked against us (supposedly more than any other team in the league to around about a 4 points difference).
It seems most players will soon be back, giving us more options and a much stronger bench to resort to when required, and hopefully VAR will statistically start to even itself out (if that is even a thing). If we add to the equation the fact that our defence is now more settled with Matip & TAA returning then we should start to ship less goals.
One would also expect both Leicester and United's plethora of penalty decisions to abate and other teams to suffer more injuries than us from now on (again basing these assumptions on nothing but statistics, that tend to lie). I certainly don't expect United to 'give up' on the EL and focus on the league. They are one of the favourites for the EL and it's an automatic CL qualifier as well as another trophy (which Ole desperately needs). That said they've drawn Sociedad, another of the favourites, so may lose anyway.
I've watched their last three games and City have looked a shadow of their former selves, I don't expect them to suddenly start destroying all before them because this team just isn't as good as those over the past few seasons, that said they are still one of the best teams in the PL and a certainty for a Top 3 slot.
It's difficult to say how United will continue, confidence matters and they have their gander up. Their game in hand is away at Burnley. They have some quality attacking players but the defence is dodgy. A Rodgers-type team? Entertaining but not able to cross the void to the very top? Hopefully. Their next 9 matches are going to test their mettle and their title claim : Leicester (A - damn you Vardy, couldn't you wait one more match to get injured), Wolves (H), Villa (H), Liverpool (A), Fulham (A), Sheff Utd (H), Arsenal (A), Southampton (H), Everton (A). They also have away games at Chelsea, City, Villa and Spurs to come as well as the reverse fixture against us.
Chelsea's horrendous record vs. top half teams has them down as flat-track bullies so until that changes (not enough to save them this season) they are not serious contenders in either the PL or CL.
Leicester simply don't have the strength in depth and are going to greatly miss Vardy. This season the top teams are better than when they won the title last when virtually every top team was in transition.
Spurs will continue as they have done up to this point, inconsistent. Able to win one week against a top team and lose the next to another or even a mid-table club.
BTW : Villa could also be part of this conversation, win their two games in hand and they could go 2nd. However it's more likely they'll have a say in the title destination by beating title contenders rather than being in the final mix themselves.
If pressed for a Top 4 right now I'd go :
Liverpool
City
United
Spurs
We've got to this stage despite a huge number of injuries and VAR mostly having worked against us (supposedly more than any other team in the league to around about a 4 points difference).
It seems most players will soon be back, giving us more options and a much stronger bench to resort to when required, and hopefully VAR will statistically start to even itself out (if that is even a thing). If we add to the equation the fact that our defence is now more settled with Matip & TAA returning then we should start to ship less goals.
One would also expect both Leicester and United's plethora of penalty decisions to abate and other teams to suffer more injuries than us from now on (again basing these assumptions on nothing but statistics, that tend to lie). I certainly don't expect United to 'give up' on the EL and focus on the league. They are one of the favourites for the EL and it's an automatic CL qualifier as well as another trophy (which Ole desperately needs). That said they've drawn Sociedad, another of the favourites, so may lose anyway.
I've watched their last three games and City have looked a shadow of their former selves, I don't expect them to suddenly start destroying all before them because this team just isn't as good as those over the past few seasons, that said they are still one of the best teams in the PL and a certainty for a Top 3 slot.
It's difficult to say how United will continue, confidence matters and they have their gander up. Their game in hand is away at Burnley. They have some quality attacking players but the defence is dodgy. A Rodgers-type team? Entertaining but not able to cross the void to the very top? Hopefully. Their next 9 matches are going to test their mettle and their title claim : Leicester (A - damn you Vardy, couldn't you wait one more match to get injured), Wolves (H), Villa (H), Liverpool (A), Fulham (A), Sheff Utd (H), Arsenal (A), Southampton (H), Everton (A). They also have away games at Chelsea, City, Villa and Spurs to come as well as the reverse fixture against us.
Chelsea's horrendous record vs. top half teams has them down as flat-track bullies so until that changes (not enough to save them this season) they are not serious contenders in either the PL or CL.
Leicester simply don't have the strength in depth and are going to greatly miss Vardy. This season the top teams are better than when they won the title last when virtually every top team was in transition.
Spurs will continue as they have done up to this point, inconsistent. Able to win one week against a top team and lose the next to another or even a mid-table club.
BTW : Villa could also be part of this conversation, win their two games in hand and they could go 2nd. However it's more likely they'll have a say in the title destination by beating title contenders rather than being in the final mix themselves.
If pressed for a Top 4 right now I'd go :
Liverpool
City
United
Spurs
Reposting here for validity :
Fixtures :
A quick look of the fixture list and I can see City moving up rapidly by the end of January with a whole string of relatively easy matches (Chelsea A and Everton A their toughest). From 6th Feb thru 6th March is potentially an extremely tough spell though (Liverpool A, Spurs H, Arsenal A, West Ham H, United H) and could decide their title challenge. Last 6-7 matches should be wins if they are still challenging.
Spurs' tough and easy games are well spread out. They don't seem to have either a particular smooth or rough ride anywhere.
Chelsea have a very tough time between now and the end of January with 6/7 matches providing very difficult opposition. Mid Feb onwards also sees 6 tough teams in a row. April easy enough but 4 tough matches to finish the season (City A, Arsenal H, Leicester H and Villa A).
Liverpool : our matches based on difficulty are generally well spaced out, though early to mid Feb sees 3 tough matches in a row (City H, Leicester A, Everton H). Thereafter nice spacing again and we really do have a nice balanced fixture schedule, at least until CL interference.
Leicester : Entertain United H next with a few easier games before Saints H, Chelsea H and Everton A to finish off January. Three tough games in February in a row ; Wolves A, Liverpool H and Villa A. Their tougher matches are then well spaced out - until the last three games of the season : United A, Chelsea A and Spurs H.
Man. United : As I posted above, Leicester (A), Wolves (H), Villa (H), Liverpool (A), Fulham (A), Sheff Utd (H), Arsenal (A), Southampton (H), Everton (A) means a relatively difficult run through 6th Feb. March is also a stern test with Chelsea A, City A and West Ham H. Thereafter comes mostly an easier spread until early May with Liverpool H, Villa A and Leicester H, they finish with Wolves A.
Fixtures :
A quick look of the fixture list and I can see City moving up rapidly by the end of January with a whole string of relatively easy matches (Chelsea A and Everton A their toughest). From 6th Feb thru 6th March is potentially an extremely tough spell though (Liverpool A, Spurs H, Arsenal A, West Ham H, United H) and could decide their title challenge. Last 6-7 matches should be wins if they are still challenging.
Spurs' tough and easy games are well spread out. They don't seem to have either a particular smooth or rough ride anywhere.
Chelsea have a very tough time between now and the end of January with 6/7 matches providing very difficult opposition. Mid Feb onwards also sees 6 tough teams in a row. April easy enough but 4 tough matches to finish the season (City A, Arsenal H, Leicester H and Villa A).
Liverpool : our matches based on difficulty are generally well spaced out, though early to mid Feb sees 3 tough matches in a row (City H, Leicester A, Everton H). Thereafter nice spacing again and we really do have a nice balanced fixture schedule, at least until CL interference.
Leicester : Entertain United H next with a few easier games before Saints H, Chelsea H and Everton A to finish off January. Three tough games in February in a row ; Wolves A, Liverpool H and Villa A. Their tougher matches are then well spaced out - until the last three games of the season : United A, Chelsea A and Spurs H.
Man. United : As I posted above, Leicester (A), Wolves (H), Villa (H), Liverpool (A), Fulham (A), Sheff Utd (H), Arsenal (A), Southampton (H), Everton (A) means a relatively difficult run through 6th Feb. March is also a stern test with Chelsea A, City A and West Ham H. Thereafter comes mostly an easier spread until early May with Liverpool H, Villa A and Leicester H, they finish with Wolves A.
This is the smallest the gap will be for the rest of the season. We are going to pull away from here.
Everton will bend over and spread their arse cheeks.
Any broken bones?
No, but Richarlison got a busted lip and a concussion, that's something.
- Status
