Chelsea 2016/17 - Very Content

It's not just completely down to luck. While we've been unluckier than any other top side, we have also had to integrate Jose's new players into the side and change our style of play. The transition took awhile and our form was less than acceptable at the beginning but we've sorted it out now.

We are now the in-form team in the league.

If you don't agree that we have the best squad man for man, please tell me which club(s) have more quality and more depth than UTD?

Hmm, based on?
 
Like the offside goals in the last 3 games, The non- Rojo 2 red cards or the bad Feghouli red card?

Exactly all this we're unlucky and the officials are against us, that lets face fans of all teams shout is pretty much a nonsense. We all win some lose some as far as these things go. Do they even themselves out over the course of a season, probably not but it seems to me there's never much in it. However some managers like to blame things like luck and the officials and some don't, those that do tend to be supported by the fans as being right, which is convenient for them.
 
Exactly all this we're unlucky and the officials are against us, that lets face fans of all teams shout is pretty much a nonsense. We all win some lose some as far as these things go. Do they even themselves out over the course of a season, probably not but it seems to me there's never much in it. However some managers like to blame things like luck and the officials and some don't, those that do tend to be supported by the fans as being right, which is convenient for them.

Whether it's good or bad luck is entirely subjective. However there have been more bad decisions this season (both for and against us) than I can ever remember. I think the complaints about the standards of refereeing are fair, even though at this point it's starting to balance out for us.
 
Exactly all this we're unlucky and the officials are against us, that lets face fans of all teams shout is pretty much a nonsense. We all win some lose some as far as these things go. Do they even themselves out over the course of a season, probably not but it seems to me there's never much in it. However some managers like to blame things like luck and the officials and some don't, those that do tend to be supported by the fans as being right, which is convenient for them.

:lol:. No one cares about you.
 
Like the offside goals in the last 3 games, The non- Rojo 2 red cards or the bad Feghouli red card?
You lot should have had Luiz off on multiple occassions but it seems like that red cards are prohibited to be used against the Chelsea team.
 
Talk about deluded.

You're in 6th place in the table, after a pretty easy fixture list compared to some. But I guess that's just all down to "bad luck".
That easy run of fixtures was also available to other teams at some stage this season. Plus we have had three very tricky fixtures and we won convincingly in all those in this run so not sure why you keep ranting about it being easy. Have you lot had a 8 game winning run this season? I didn't think so.
 
Whether it's good or bad luck is entirely subjective. However there have been more bad decisions this season (both for and against us) than I can ever remember. I think the complaints about the standards of refereeing are fair, even though at this point it's starting to balance out for us.

The officiating is poor, players especially and managers need to take their share of the blame for that, but it's poor for everybody.
 
Glaston I'll stop if you tell me when you last won the league.
Yeah shut the feck up.

Chelsea and Arsenal and City and even Leicester.
Shut up

Lol why are you getting wound up so much when Glaston is not even speaking. Besides, credit where it's due. Spurs are above Utd on the table for a reason and they look quite good staying there.
 
Exactly all this we're unlucky and the officials are against us, that lets face fans of all teams shout is pretty much a nonsense. We all win some lose some as far as these things go. Do they even themselves out over the course of a season, probably not but it seems to me there's never much in it. However some managers like to blame things like luck and the officials and some don't, those that do tend to be supported by the fans as being right, which is convenient for them.
Yes. Its a fair assumption that luck evens out by the end of the season.
You lot should have had Luiz off on multiple occassions but it seems like that red cards are prohibited to be used against the Chelsea team.
I would much rather take all the free goals that United keep getting.

You lot would be much closer to 7th than 5th if refs did their job properly.
 
Yes. Its a fair assumption that luck evens out by the end of the season.
I would much rather take all the free goals that United keep getting.

You lot would be much closer to 7th than 5th if refs did their job properly.

What free goals? We've been disallowed more than we've been allowed, that's for sure. We were robbed of three potential goals in one game against Boro alone with the two penalties and Zlatan's goal.
 
Yes. Its a fair assumption that luck evens out by the end of the season.
I would much rather take all the free goals that United keep getting.

You lot would be much closer to 7th than 5th if refs did their job properly.
By free goals, you mean the ones which we didn't get like the Zlatan goal which was ruled out? Or do you mean all the penalties denied to us over the course of this season.

On the other hand, Luiz hacking people down with studs to the knees and the ref turning a blind eye to it is perhaps so common for Chelsea that fans don't even look bothered with it.

If the refs had done their jobs properly we would have been in top 4 currently and you lot not as far ahead as you are now. Count your lucky stars that refs like Atkinson are still allotted your games even when the bias is so clear.
 
Every set of fans is convinced that referees have done them down.

As much as I dislike the self-importance of some referees I think it's an understandable reaction to the negativity that's constantly sent their way, even when just doing their jobs.
 
Finally we agree on something.

You're right about what they are doing. And that's supposed to be ethical? It's bad for the youth players as it stunts their growth. It's also bad for other clubs who could have signed those same youth players and given them a chance.

As for this being how they make money. Yes I know they make money doing this. But isn't it ironic how they "made money" from selling Matic and then had to splash out 10x more to buy him back? I know UTD made the same mistake with Pogba but honestly the circumstances were different - Pogba wanted to leave and actively agitated for a move.

And besides, these methods are not exactly deliberate policy on the part of UTD but it is on the part of Chelsea.
I fail to see your point. It is not ironic and Matic wasnt anywhere near good enough for Chelsea then. When he went to Portugal he blossomed. Their players get sent on loan and no it is not Chelsea's fault that these youngsters sign on the dotted line for them. Chelsea pay their youngsters very well. Being on loan should get them playing time at one of Chelsea's feeder clubs such as Vitesse.
 
It's not just completely down to luck. While we've been unluckier than any other top side, we have also had to integrate Jose's new players into the side and change our style of play. The transition took awhile and our form was less than acceptable at the beginning but we've sorted it out now.

We are now the in-form team in the league.

If you don't agree that we have the best squad man for man, please tell me which club(s) have more quality and more depth than UTD?

Can you really look in the mirror and say this with a straight face?
 
Still not getting carried away with anything yet.

If we don't beat Liverpool next weekend then the entire Earth will come crashing down on this place again, like it does with any dropped points. Too much rests on the Liverpool game for United to be in the race right now. Lose on Sunday and we're quite comfortably not even in the title equation any more and Top Four will still be a huge ask. Win and the optimism will be so high.

I do think that come game week 30, the entire Top Six are still likely to be one or two results either way of being in the race or out of it (bar Chelsea who have done enough so far to finish in the Top Three even if they have a bit of a mare of a run at some point). It's that kind of season. We've been in our best form for years and haven't changed position for weeks, it's very congested above us.
 
Ake has been very impressive. Harsh on Bournemouth losing a first team player but that's the nature of a loan.

Will he start for Chelsea or be a good bench option?
 
Ake has been very impressive. Harsh on Bournemouth losing a first team player but that's the nature of a loan.

Will he start for Chelsea or be a good bench option?

Back up for the left wing back and also the left centre back. He also played most of his youth career as a defensive midfielder so could cover for Kante/Matic.
 
Yes, it does, which is why the ALT has you 13 points behind Chelski, 9 points behind Liverpool and Spurs, 7 points behind Arsenal and 5 points behind City.:

https://www.redcafe.net/threads/alternative-premier-league-table-2016-17.425132/page-2#post-20280876
That will be because we dropped points at home to Stoke and Burnley at home amongst others. That doesn't mean we've had easier fixtures. It means we weren't playing well at the time. I've already pointed out the shite you were talking about fixtures and you ignored it as per usual.
 
That will be because we dropped points at home to Stoke and Burnley at home amongst others. That doesn't mean we've had easier fixtures. It means we weren't playing well at the time. I've already pointed out the shite you were talking about fixtures and you ignored it as per usual.

Look, I don't want to derail this thread by continued discussion about fixtures to date. It would be more appropriate for the top 4 thread.

I've already provided at least two pieces of evidence to back up my claim that United have had an easier set of fixtures compared to some of the 5 teams above them, but if you don't accept this then let's leave it there. I won't be discussing it further in this thread.
 
Look, I don't want to derail this thread by continued discussion about fixtures to date. It would be more appropriate for the top 4 thread.

I've already provided at least two pieces of evidence to back up my claim that United have had an easier set of fixtures compared to some of the 5 teams above them, but if you don't accept this then let's leave it there. I won't be discussing it further in this thread.
You ignored it when I pointed it out the last time. That alternative table isn't evidence of easier fixtures. It's evidence we underperformed earlier in the season. You don't need a made up alternative table to tell you that.
 
Every team has decision go their way and against them. I do not agree the best squad in the league is at Utd. If we had to make a combined 11 of say the top 6 clubs... only De Gea gets in right now and Pogba, lets be honest. And that is not a form based opinion, it is my general opinion
 
Every team has decision go their way and against them. I do not agree the best squad in the league is at Utd. If we had to make a combined 11 of say the top 6 clubs... only De Gea gets in right now and Pogba, lets be honest. And that is not a form based opinion, it is my general opinion

I think De Gea, Bailly, Pogba, Mhkitaryan and Zlatan would all be good shouts for inclusion in a league's best XI (if you're saying it's based on quality and not form)
 
I think De Gea, Bailly, Pogba, Mhkitaryan and Zlatan would all be good shouts for inclusion in a league's best XI (if you're saying it's based on quality and not form)

No way Bailly gets in over Luiz, Alderweireld or Koscielny over quality of form. Infact, if you are just talking about quality, Zouma is also as good as Bailly. Pogba will not make it as Eriksen or De Bryune or even Coutinho have been better over the season. Mkhi is also not better than Sanchez / Hazard. Zlatan is equal to Costa and Aguero on form/ quality with Kane below them.
 
How many times did Costa win you games when he should have been sent off? I can think of three myself. Luiz should have atleast seen 2 red cards by now.

We've been denied penalties on 6 occasions. a perfectly legal goal disallowed. A red for slipping (Herrera).
 
I agree, united(and city) have the best squads. So what does that say about mourinho that he's 10 points behind conte and 5 behind klopp despite having the better squad? :lol:

I'd say it shows just how outrageously unlucky he was to draw vs. Stoke, Burnley & West Ham when the side he picked absolutely battered them and should have won easily. Add 6 points to United's league total & you probably see what Mourinho "deserved" even if his players don't deserve it @giorno
 
I'd say it shows just how outrageously unlucky he was to draw vs. Stoke, Burnley & West Ham when the side he picked absolutely battered them and should have won easily. Add 6 points to United's league total & you probably see what Mourinho "deserved" even if his players don't deserve it @giorno
I know, it was a dig at treble. The difference between chelsea and united in the table is that it took mourinho one month longer to figure out his team