no,obviosly no

Weird.

If we had just got beaten 4-1 at Tottenham I'd be as worried about our chances as I am after getting a point back from a game that we had never got any grip on against a team that played with no pressure that played with everyone expecting them to lose and gave it their best shot.

 

City fans won't be writing off their chances that's for sure.

 

Eight points with ninety three still to play for in a division where the "lesser" teams have closed the gap on the top six means nothing is impossible and as I said before, I'd rather be eight points behind in September than eight behind in March...eight behind in March would likely see us comfortably top four though so there's a calming thought if you take into acount we really can't get much worse than we've been and in all honesty are likely to improve.

 

I hear people asking where I expect our improvement to come from judging by our performances to date and I really only have this to offer, we have a good squad that needs to be used better personel wise and tactically, we have the best man at the helm to do it and he has earned the right to a few bad managerial performances along the way.

 

In my opinion Jose will turn it round and get us on a decent run, I won't say I expect it to be enough to hold on to our title but in this League I can see the other hopefuls all dropping points unexpectantly.

 

So it's all still to play for and is looking like a difficult and interesting season where we're sure to learn a lot about the players and the Manager.

Edited September 27, 201510 yr by Chippy

Great post chippy

EDIT: I would also like us to stop messing around when we get to the oppositions penalty area, all of this passing the ball through the tightest of gaps is not working and we are just wasting chances when we do that. Create chances quicker.

 

This, a thousand times this. It was agonizing at times watching us constantly twatting about in the Newcastle box yesterday stringing together endless tiny passes until a Newcastle defender eventually inevitably just put his foot through the ball and cleared it. It's like the front guys are trying to carve out the perfect goal, when half the time just spanking it goalwards would likely get us a goal or two over the course of a match.

 

Maybe I'm just not noticing, but it seems like we almost never just hit shots in from the left side from the edge of the 18 yard box. it happens on the right, and sometimes Hazard will cut into the centre and shoot from there, but it seems like almost never from the left unless we're really close in. 

I change pre season preparation so team will peak in the end of the season relax

Edited September 27, 201510 yr by JoseMourinho

Yes, but we need to improve massively. Top 4 should be our first aim though.

Considering that only 8 games ago we were coming into a new season to defend our title, it's amazing how far expectations have fallen so quickly, but i'd take a top 4 finish now if you offered it to me.

TBH I always thought this season would be a strange one, I never thought we would retain the title but think we will make the top 4. I'm a bit disappointed with some of our performances but fairly hopeful overall that we'll make a CL spot.

My expectations haven't changed.

Depends on results vs other title contenders. And the January window.

Depends on results vs other title contenders. And the January window.

Even if we don't win the title, I do hope we finish the season on a high by not only making the top 4 but also putting up a good fight against the league leader till the end. Well, at least we can keep our heads up and say "we tried our best to win" come may.

 

Oh, and perhaps a strong run in CL and two domestic cup wins will make our title defence less depressing.

It's not that bad. Juventus are sat in 15th as well.

I'm going with the tried and tested (if slightly dangerous and deluded) blind faith.

 

In Mourinho I trust KTBFFH!

Its mathematically possible and as long as it is we will have a chance but if I ground myself (sigh) then I'd have to say we're performing poorly in too many positions and the likelihood that we will won is slim, top 4 finish is a must and I think we'll do that and maybe a domestic cup to boot.

While I am thoroughly convinced that winning the league is impossible - I still feel like we are in shouting distance of the top 6. We are in 15th with 11 points while Spurs are in 6th place with 17 points. It is essentially a 2 win difference. 

 

December is when the funny season begins. Didn't West Ham start well last season too and lose their way? Ditto Everton.  Liverpool - They too need to turn things around with their new manager but this transition period could mean more draws. WestBrom, CP, Watford, Stoke - all will be jogging in the treadmill to Drawsville. 

 

We can make up a lot of ground if we can get a string of victories and wait for the other teams to draw. Leicester, Spurs, SouthHampton, Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal are the teams that I expect will lose less points that the rest of the lot - But if things do go as in years past then expect the Spurs and South Hampton to mysteriously implode for no reason. And Arsenal are due for their annual injury plague towards the end of this year/beginning of next. So that could be a period where they too might be vulnerable. We may actually be on the outside of the top 4 looking in. 

 

* Here is where I expect Van Halen's Right Now to start playing *

Football is a magical game and anything can happen. I mean if Wenger can get a stiffer punishment for kicking a water bottle than shoving another manager, it's truely a league where anything is possible.

Two good months and we could be in reach of CL football

Mathematically, lots of things could happen. I mean City made up 7 points difference with us in a couple of weeks at the start of the year, then we sail away to a huge lead a few weeks later. Reality is we aren't capable of playing 2 good matches in a row, let alone 2 months of good football. If they haven't had that crisis meeting yet, now it's the time.

Depends when the mood is restored among the players.. the clock is ticking tho..