Saints (H) - Must win

Brentford (A) - Must win

Norwich (H) - Must win

Newcastle (A) - Must win

Burnley (H) - Must win

Only vs Leicester it's not a must win on paper but all these matches we should win.

On 27/09/2021 at 12:24, SydneyChelsea said:

 

We did, actually! In 2014-15, Chelsea never managed more than 4 wins in a row, although we had two lengthy unbeaten streaks and managed to string together 3-4 wins multiple times that season.

Leicester managed just two 5-game winning streaks in 2015/16. Even so, each five-win streak was part of a larger unbeaten run consisting of at least 7 games, with an 11-game unbeaten run to finish the season. 

However it's fair to say the competition has fundamentally changed since then, with 4 teams legitimately capable of challenging for a title with extended runs. It's marathon to see whose run will last the longest.

I like stats. This makes me happy.

I feel like I want to throw some other requests at you now 😆

Still top of the league which we should be very happy with.

Unfortunately I don't think we will win the league this season though. Too thin in attacking areas (quality wise) and both City and Liverpool have an abundance of quality in those areas which will probably make the difference in my opinion. Had we had someone of Salah's quality i'm convinced we would win the league this year though.

We are clearly going for the title and the hope is definitly there. But think it's a year early.

Think it’s between Liverpool & City also. Tuchel is way too conservative, and not sure you can play out the whole season like a cup competition. Yesterday; Klopp & Pep would have rolled the dice in his position, and ended the game with 3 defenders not a back 5. 

8 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Think it’s between Liverpool & City also. Tuchel is way too conservative, and not sure you can play out the whole season like a cup competition. Yesterday; Klopp & Pep would have rolled the dice in his position, and ended the game with 3 defenders not a back 5. 

Disagree ducavis. Our wingbacks are more midfielders/attackers than midfielders in our setup.

Highlighted by the fact that they are our top-scorers as well currently:

Some managers go with a back three (like Solskjaer currently at United) but Tuchel's is definitly a back three in my opinion.

Yeah over 38 games I just don't feel we are going to be as consistent as pool and City.

We have done well in these opening games, just the disappointing performance against City and yesterday's results being bad.

Now the dread Nov-Jan period begins and these our are league fixtures:

 

Leicester (A)

United (H)

Watford (A)

West Ham (A)

Leeds (H)

Everton (H)

Wolves (A)

Villa (A)

Brighton (H)

Liverpool (H)

City (A)

Spurs (H)

 

Brighton the last match of this year. I expect we are down in 4th, or maybe 3rd by the new year. Hoping we do well enough that TT is at least not sacked.

 

Edited November 7, 20214 yr by axman2526

2 hours ago, ducavis said:

Think it’s between Liverpool & City also. Tuchel is way too conservative, and not sure you can play out the whole season like a cup competition. Yesterday; Klopp & Pep would have rolled the dice in his position, and ended the game with 3 defenders not a back 5. 

I think the tactics are fine. We create more than enough chances and have the defense needed to compete for titles. The problem is our lack of ruthlessness, too often we keep games alive when they should be dead and buried. Yesterday was the perfect example of that and it finally caught up with us.

1 hour ago, Scott Harris said:

I think the tactics are fine. We create more than enough chances and have the defense needed to compete for titles. The problem is our lack of ruthlessness, too often we keep games alive when they should be dead and buried. Yesterday was the perfect example of that and it finally caught up with us.

And it will continue to cause issues throughout the season. Now the important note to remember is that Rom and Timo were missing and it's quite literally their job to finish these chances. With how many we made yesterday I'm confident at least one of them would have guaranteed the 3 points. 

It worries me though the games that we are contained and don't get enough chances on goal, we won't score because we don't have enough elite goal scorers. Outside of the wingbacks, Lukaku (perhaps Timo when he finds his shooting boots) and Mason on form not many of our players can actually score goals at least on a consistent basis, they shoot straight at the keeper or high and wide. 

It's surprising since Tuchel has such a good record for getting attackers firing, it could be that the title challenge won't be fully complete until next season and we actually end up doing better in the UCL since it's a format that suits our style better.

Either way it's early days and dropped points vs Burnely won't be the end of the world but, I'm certain Liverpool will close the gap.

We are still currently the best performing team in England so that says something but, truth be told the players are letting Tuchel down regarding their finishing and I hope they step up otherwise we may fail to accomplish some of our goals this season.

How I am feeling about results for these games ahead:

Leicester (A) - Loss

United (H) - Draw

Watford (A) - Win

West Ham (A) - Loss

Leeds (H) - win

Everton (H) - Draw

Wolves (A) - loss

Villa (A) - win

Brighton (H) - draw

Liverpool (H) - loss

City (A) - loss

Spurs (H) - draw

4 hours ago, Sindre said:

Disagree ducavis. Our wingbacks are more midfielders/attackers than midfielders in our setup.

Highlighted by the fact that they are our top-scorers as well currently:

Some managers go with a back three (like Solskjaer currently at United) but Tuchel's is definitly a back three in my opinion.

I am not disputing how he uses them, but if you have a chance towards the end of the game you’d rather it fall to one of your forwards.

I doubt those defenders can keep up their goal scoring form, as you are talking around 10+ PL goals at this rate. Lescott holds the record with 8 PL goals for a defender, with a 42% shot to goal ratio. That that record has stood for 14yrs.  

On 28/09/2021 at 13:10, ForeverCarefree said:

What worries me is that regardless of the final scores, we haven't looked particularly convincing in any of our fixtures so far this season, especially those since the international break. 

Once agian our forward players aren't looking in form with Hazertz, Mount and Ziyech all turning in pretty dire performances. 

We need those players to start showing a bit more form and taking a lot more responsibility in winning us games.  

I thought it quote this post because Burnley proved to be the opposite of that. Now the frustration has subsided the performance has convinced me we will challenge.

Although that said the response is key, there's been times before where we've been great despite dropped points and for some reason it set us on a rut (Goodison last season, QPR 2011, United 2012).

7 hours ago, Sindre said:

Still top of the league which we should be very happy with.

Unfortunately I don't think we will win the league this season though. Too thin in attacking areas (quality wise) and both City and Liverpool have an abundance of quality in those areas which will probably make the difference in my opinion. Had we had someone of Salah's quality i'm convinced we would win the league this year though.

We are clearly going for the title and the hope is definitly there. But think it's a year early.

Watching their game surely the advantage Liverpool have with their attack is offset by the one we have with the defense?

2 hours ago, axman2526 said:

How I am feeling about results for these games ahead:

Leicester (A) - Loss

United (H) - Draw

Watford (A) - Win

West Ham (A) - Loss

Leeds (H) - win

Everton (H) - Draw

Wolves (A) - loss

Villa (A) - win

Brighton (H) - draw

Liverpool (H) - loss

City (A) - loss

Spurs (H) - draw

1 hour ago, Argo said:

I thought it quote this post because Burnley proved to be the opposite of that. Now the frustration has subsided the performance has convinced me we will challenge.

Although that said the response is key, there's been times before where we've been great despite dropped points and for some reason it set us on a rut (Goodison last season, QPR 2011, United 2012).

There was nothing wrong with the Burnley performance, especially given it was without Lukaku, Werner, Kovacic and with Pulisic and Mount short of fitness. 

On another day we're home and dry by half time in a game like that but we were wasteful with our chances. But that's exactly why we bought Lukaku and so hopefully he's fit after the international break. 

You're not going to win anything starting the likes of Ross Barkley week in, week out and that's why it's promising knowing we've got so many players due back after the break. 

11 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

I feel like we’re in a good shout for the league this year. Liverpool have dropped a level slightly (whilst still good), City lacking a striker…we have the squad and the manager to do it. To win it though, we need to get Lukaku scoring again and more consistently. 

28 minutes ago, JM7 said:

I feel like we’re in a good shout for the league this year. Liverpool have dropped a level slightly (whilst still good), City lacking a striker…we have the squad and the manager to do it. To win it though, we need to get Lukaku scoring again and more consistently. 

I just feel that we need the whole squad to take their chances. That's all we need for this side to be complete. Everything else is there apart from being clinical at crucial moments.

2 hours ago, JM7 said:

I feel like we’re in a good shout for the league this year. Liverpool have dropped a level slightly (whilst still good), City lacking a striker…we have the squad and the manager to do it. To win it though, we need to get Lukaku scoring again and more consistently. 

We will see. We joke about it but the truth is this Nov-Jan period has killed many good starting league campaigns and ended many managers reigns.

We will either get to look back and say you and others who agree with you were spot on, or the gun was jumped ala Chillwell after the Leeds game last season.

This football team, functional word being team here has only failed to score more than 1 goal in 4 games in the keague this season and those are the only games where there hasn't been more than a 2 goal difference in the match. (Liverpool draw, City loss, Brentford win and now Burnley draw). 

I'm not saying it's all gravy but reading some of the posts here would seem we are passive and lucky at best. This is a team that is as close to the Chelsea teams that have delivered titles for us in the sense that game control and management are up there. 

Goal difference is best in league, 2nd most goals behind pool with their lethal strike force that rip teams to shred and score for fun,best defense in the league. More than several good bases to be a launch pad for a title assault in my opinion. 

Just need to have perspective and whilst I'm not getting excited or carried away I don't see why we can't win the title this year. 

One factor against us winning the league this year is the number of matches we need to win, I'd have taken the penalty lose the other week in the cup than another mid week game in December. The deeper you are in a cup competition, the more likely you are going to play your first team players. Then there's the World club cup and the FA cup, we will be doing some mad rotations from December to end of season. I could see the reason Barkley got picked on Saturday, Tuchel needs to try out his squad player, and decided that was the game to take a chance

How we cope without Mendy during the African Nations will have a massive baring on our title hopes. 

A lot of very pessimistic views in here. I think Chelsea are well placed to win it this year. Having watched quite a bit of Liverpool this season, they have dropped a level or two without question.  Their performances this year have shown that last season was not a blip. They’ve  also a big reliance on Salah and Mane to a lesser extent who will both be missing for up to a month. 

Personally would have it as bit of a toss up between Chelsea and City with Liverpool behind but also capable of winning it. 

Keep on dreaming ,we won't win it this year,I still feel we are missing key players that could take us there next season as well.

We have a great chance of winning the league, im surprised some think we aren't ready, we are!. Keeping Lukaku fit is vital though, without Lukaku we will have games like Burnley more often. Liverpool aren't as strong as before although still strong, City dont have a striker and i think they will have blanks in a few more games this season, already had that problem VS Spurs, Southampton and Palace.

People on here are making out like we are tenth highest scorers in the league, we are the second highest scorers in the league with the best defence. We have the squad, the manager and a proven striker in his prime to get us the goals. Next season will be even harder if Utd get a new manager and City buy a striker.

Before anyone says about Lukaku not scoring for 7 games, the service he had in those games was terrible. Alot of those games we were playing 532 with is a bit defensive and lacks creativity. Reece James wasn't playing in some of those games also and he's a huge creative outlet for us. Lukaku showed how efficient he could be VS Villa at home, give him the service he will score the goals for us.

14 minutes ago, jack_super_class said:

We have a great chance of winning the league, im surprised some think we aren't ready, we are!. Keeping Lukaku fit is vital though, without Lukaku we will have games like Burnley more often. Liverpool aren't as strong as before although still strong, City dont have a striker and i think they will have blanks in a few more games this season, already had that problem VS Spurs, Southampton and Palace.

People on here are making out like we are tenth highest scorers in the league, we are the second highest scorers in the league with the best defence. We have the squad, the manager and a proven striker in his prime to get us the goals. Next season will be even harder if Utd get a new manager and City buy a striker.

Before anyone says about Lukaku not scoring for 7 games, the service he had in those games was terrible. Alot of those games we were playing 532 with is a bit defensive and lacks creativity. Reece James wasn't playing in some of those games also and he's a huge creative outlet for us. Lukaku showed how efficient he could be VS Villa at home, give him the service he will score the goals for us.

Agree except i think Lukaku is the one to blame for him not scoring lately not the team, his first touch has been really poor, that really doesn't help when your trying to set up a shot, if he wants 6yd tap ins like Ziyech got served with by Callum then Lukaku needs to get mobile and lose his markers.