Race to the Top 4
- Thread starter Frogfish
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Really? Our front 3 looked knackered in the 2nd half of the last game and beyond them our best creative option lately has been Milner, which says everything about Ox's form in recent games (weird, as he's been quite good vs City and before that). We also have the suddenly slightly thuggish Lallana, unproven Ings and Solanke and that's about it. Midfielders, other than Milner to some extent, don't offer enough in terms of creativity to carry the attack through a rough patch if needed.
I think we have a good chance at top 4, but to say it's "comfortable" and "not even up to discussion" – frankly that smacks of the kind of arrogance most of you lot displayed before the Swansea game. It's extremely tight between 2nd and 5th places and one or two results can change everything.
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Ha, I understand that too. I'm glad I'm not an Arsenal fan, but as a neutral I can allow myself enjoy the good aspects of their style, while they are not an immediate threat to us. For sure, next week against Spurs I wish them all the best.
Unless Salah gets run over by a bus in which case we'll come 8th.
City are really going to have a shocking end of season.
Ha. I nearly made that joke yesterday.
Yep. The time I hate us most is when we start to look like Arsenal.
Usually when there's that 'low block' & we're just passing it around the area aimlessly.
That finishing fourth is even regarded as an achievement is yet more proof that football is dead.
I agree with the sentiment.
Also with Woland when he points out that it's about lowered expectations.
However, in the cold light of modern football, when you look at the sides that usually win trophies, they are the ones who regularly get into the CL.
It gives you the ability to offer higher salaries, & in itself is almost a prerequisite to being able to attract the best players.
Therefore once you are in the competition on a regular basis you have a greater chance of winning trophies simply because you have better players & a side that is used to being tested against the best of Europe.
Fourth in itself is not an achievement, thinking that is wrong. However, doing so, & doing so regularly, is arguably the first step to long term success, so recognising that isn't a bad thing, despite hating the fact that you have to accept that state of affairs.
True. I'd argue that Arsenal's biggest problem is that they all, Wenger included, seem to happy with top four, as if that in itself is an achievement.
I don't for a second believe that Klopp thinks that, even if the owners might, so I think it is a genuine attempt to strengthen us & give us the ability to attract the type of players who will be able to regularly challenge for trophies, cos we don't have enough of those currently, as is clear to anyone watching us over the course of a season.
No they don't. Check the schedule in the first post !
Chelsea in 2018
Arsenal 2 : 2 Chelsea
Norwich 0 : 0 Chelsea
Chelsea 0 : 0 Arsenal
Chelsea 0 : 0 Leicester
Chelsea 1 : 1 Norwich
Brighton 0 : 4 Chelsea
Arsenal 2 : 1 Chelsea
Chelsea 3 : 0 Newcastle
Chelsea 0 : 3 Bournemouth
Watford 4 : 1 Chelsea
12 goals scored
12 goals conceded
2 wins
5 draws
3 losses
Their upcoming matches :
CL - Chelsea v Barcelona 20th Feb
PL - United v Chelsea 25th Feb
PL - City v Chelsea 4th Mar
PL - Chelsea v Palace 10th Mar
CL - Barcelona v Chelsea 14th Mar
PL - Burnley v Chelsea 17th Mar
PL - Chelsea v Tottenham 1st Apr
They could have an FA Cup fixture in there too if they beat Hull on the 16th Feb.
Chelsea's remaining away games : United, City, Burnley, Southampton, Swansea and Newcastle.
They are in serious trouble IMHO. Most people would have looked at Bournemouth and Watford and said that's their chance to consolidate 3rd, now however they are in a serious battle for 3rd to 5th and with by far the toughest away games and schedule of the three clubs.
They won't make the Top 4 from here is my feeling.
Arsenal 2 : 2 Chelsea
Norwich 0 : 0 Chelsea
Chelsea 0 : 0 Arsenal
Chelsea 0 : 0 Leicester
Chelsea 1 : 1 Norwich
Brighton 0 : 4 Chelsea
Arsenal 2 : 1 Chelsea
Chelsea 3 : 0 Newcastle
Chelsea 0 : 3 Bournemouth
Watford 4 : 1 Chelsea
12 goals scored
12 goals conceded
2 wins
5 draws
3 losses
Their upcoming matches :
CL - Chelsea v Barcelona 20th Feb
PL - United v Chelsea 25th Feb
PL - City v Chelsea 4th Mar
PL - Chelsea v Palace 10th Mar
CL - Barcelona v Chelsea 14th Mar
PL - Burnley v Chelsea 17th Mar
PL - Chelsea v Tottenham 1st Apr
They could have an FA Cup fixture in there too if they beat Hull on the 16th Feb.
Chelsea's remaining away games : United, City, Burnley, Southampton, Swansea and Newcastle.
They are in serious trouble IMHO. Most people would have looked at Bournemouth and Watford and said that's their chance to consolidate 3rd, now however they are in a serious battle for 3rd to 5th and with by far the toughest away games and schedule of the three clubs.
They won't make the Top 4 from here is my feeling.
They're definitely struggling and still have some big games to come. Lets hope they don't sack Conte yet.. I at least want him to stick around until they play manure. I want to see the mourinho vs conte handbags battle.
You seem to get zero enjoyment out of football. Every single opinion you have about us and the modern game is laced with actual hatred. Fair enough, it's your world.
Maybe it's just not for you, and you should fuck off and do something else with your time?
Remaining games :
Chelsea
H-WBA, A-Man U, A-Man City, H-Palace, A-Burnley, H-Spurs, H-West Ham, A-Soton, H-Huddersfield, A-Swansea, H-Liverpool, A-Newcastle
Spurs
A-Palace, H-Huddersfield, A-Bournemouth, H-Newcastle, A-Chelsea, A-Stoke, H-Man City, A-Brighton, H-Watford, A-WBA, H-Leicester
Manchester United
A-Newcastle, H-Chelsea, A-Palace, H-Liverpool, A-West Ham, H-Swansea, A-Man City, H-WBA, A-Bournemouth, H-Arsenal, A-Brighton, H-Watford
Liverpool
A-Soton, H-West Ham, H-Newcastle, A-Man U, H-Watford, A-Palace, A-Everton, H-Bournemouth, A-WBA, H-Stoke, A-Chelsea, H-Brighton
Chelsea look by far to have the toughest run-in : 4 Top 6 games, plus Burnley, Saints and Swansea away and two more derby matches in Palace and West Ham at home. Pity they'll soon be out of the CL.
Spurs should win all their home matches bar City. Away from home not quite so simple but not too exerting bar Chelsea and Brighton. A chance to beat Juve in the CL with Dybala and missing for Juve. Should coast to Top 4 the way they are playing.
United have 4 Top 6 matches to play, it would be great if they lost them all but unlikely since 3 are at home. Away a little tougher. Should comfortably make the last 8 in the CL. Their cushion should see them home and dry even with a few dodgy results.
Liverpool - we have some tough away matches (Chelsea, United, Saints, Everton) but should win all of our home games (as if it ever works out that way). Should beat Porto to make last 8 in the CL. If the CL doesn't mess us up we should still make the Top 4 at Chelsea's expense.
Chelsea
H-WBA, A-Man U, A-Man City, H-Palace, A-Burnley, H-Spurs, H-West Ham, A-Soton, H-Huddersfield, A-Swansea, H-Liverpool, A-Newcastle
Spurs
A-Palace, H-Huddersfield, A-Bournemouth, H-Newcastle, A-Chelsea, A-Stoke, H-Man City, A-Brighton, H-Watford, A-WBA, H-Leicester
Manchester United
A-Newcastle, H-Chelsea, A-Palace, H-Liverpool, A-West Ham, H-Swansea, A-Man City, H-WBA, A-Bournemouth, H-Arsenal, A-Brighton, H-Watford
Liverpool
A-Soton, H-West Ham, H-Newcastle, A-Man U, H-Watford, A-Palace, A-Everton, H-Bournemouth, A-WBA, H-Stoke, A-Chelsea, H-Brighton
Chelsea look by far to have the toughest run-in : 4 Top 6 games, plus Burnley, Saints and Swansea away and two more derby matches in Palace and West Ham at home. Pity they'll soon be out of the CL.
Spurs should win all their home matches bar City. Away from home not quite so simple but not too exerting bar Chelsea and Brighton. A chance to beat Juve in the CL with Dybala and missing for Juve. Should coast to Top 4 the way they are playing.
United have 4 Top 6 matches to play, it would be great if they lost them all but unlikely since 3 are at home. Away a little tougher. Should comfortably make the last 8 in the CL. Their cushion should see them home and dry even with a few dodgy results.
Liverpool - we have some tough away matches (Chelsea, United, Saints, Everton) but should win all of our home games (as if it ever works out that way). Should beat Porto to make last 8 in the CL. If the CL doesn't mess us up we should still make the Top 4 at Chelsea's expense.
Well it certainly kicked Arsenal on
As I said to HC when he said that though, they didn't seem to see regularly getting fourth place as a step towards greater things, rather they seemed happy with it being the achievement itself, which of course it isn't.
There's no getting around it though, to build a long-term successful club side now, you need to have regular CL football to attract those top players who will play & stand a much better chance of winning things for you.
Oh I agree that FSG would love it, no real outlay & guaranteed income revenue increasing year on year. It's a lizards perfect business model.
I highly doubt someone as competitive as Klopp would view fourth place itself as the achievement as opposed to something necessary to further success.
I highly doubt someone as competitive as Klopp would view fourth place itself as the achievement as opposed to something necessary to further success.
Very interesting set of fixtures coming up.
- Chelsea could be 6-7 points behind us after this little lot if results go our way, virtually confirming Top 4 with 7 matches to go.
- We play United 3 days before their return in the CL vs. Sevilla. If Sevilla do well in the 1st leg at home, and Chelsea lose at United, it could even see Mourinho resting a couple of players for the home leg vs. Sevilla.
- We have 4 home games and a 30 mile trip down the M62 in the next five.
- Spurs should continue their run and likely be 2nd after this set. Where they are likely to finish looking at their schedule.
- We have 9 days rest before West Ham and a total of one game in the next 16 days - should be well rested for the run-in and CL.
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Very interesting set of fixtures coming up.
- Chelsea could be 6-7 points behind us after this little lot if results go our way, virtually confirming Top 4 with 7 matches to go.
- We play United 3 days before their return in the CL vs. Sevilla. If Sevilla do well in the 1st leg at home, and Chelsea lose at United, it could even see Mourinho resting a couple of players for the home leg vs. Sevilla.
- We have 4 home games and a 30 mile trip down the M62 in the next five.
- Spurs should continue their run and likely be 2nd after this set. Where they are likely to finish looking at their schedule.
- We have 9 days rest before West Ham and a total of one game in the next 16 days - should be well rested for the run-in and CL.
Cos it normally pans out like that...
Don't mean to be cynical but trying to predict results of numerous teams over a period of weeks is a fool's game.
I’m looking forward to playing Utd you know. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way. I really fancy us to turn them over at theirs. We’ll lose to a shit team to equalise things of course.
- We have 9 days rest before West Ham and a total of one game in the next 16 days - should be well rested for the run-in and CL.
Last year when we also had a break in schedule and used it for training the team came out from the mini-break looking rusty and tired and lost the next game. Hope Jurgen learned from this.
BTW I can't see the image.
So, we're 18 points behind the top team and only 2 behind second. Last season we ended up 23 and 10 points respectively. This is the stage when our season stumbled, stuttered and eventually wheezed over the line in 4th with some seriously inconsistent performances. Here's to a better run in.
Hmm. I've now downloaded the image and put it on Tinypic - hope it's visible now.
Rustiness is always a concern but I'd rather they get the downtime now considering what's to come and the size of our squad.
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