He's also inherited a team that won the title 2 years ago,plus there is plenty of experienced winners in that team.
Chelsea 2016/17 - Very Content
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Half the first team will probably be replaced this season tbh.
He's fortunate to have the likes of Courtois, Azpilicueta, Fabregas, Hazard & Costa at his disposal but the rest of the players he was given at the start could easily be replaced.
Fortunate, lucky or whatever.
11 wins in a row is not to be sniffed at. I felt they were more lucky early on in the season where Costa could have been sent off.
You have to give credit to their players also for turning it around because a lot of them just didn't look up to it early on in the season.
Hopefully Hazard sticks to his word about leaving out on top.
11 wins in a row is not to be sniffed at. I felt they were more lucky early on in the season where Costa could have been sent off.
You have to give credit to their players also for turning it around because a lot of them just didn't look up to it early on in the season.
Hopefully Hazard sticks to his word about leaving out on top.
They're not lucky. What they've done as opposed to City and Liverpool is provide their defence plenty of protection and then put complete faith in their attackers who are delivering week in week out.
Pep on the other hand has often fielded teams with one defence minded midfielder, and in midfield and fullbacks who push very high up. Klopp too often lines up with only Henderson as a proper defensively capable midfielder.
And that has to be applauded about Conte. He's focused on solidity and work rate in midfield, and given his front three a free reign. And it's worked big time and got far better results than being completely full throttle attack minded.
Pep on the other hand has often fielded teams with one defence minded midfielder, and in midfield and fullbacks who push very high up. Klopp too often lines up with only Henderson as a proper defensively capable midfielder.
And that has to be applauded about Conte. He's focused on solidity and work rate in midfield, and given his front three a free reign. And it's worked big time and got far better results than being completely full throttle attack minded.
Clear favorites now. Must be nice winning the first match of the weekend and none of the big teams playing till Sunday.
Why would he replace half the first team?
Really,I don't see Luiz, Cahill, Willian and Kante going anywhere this season.
Costa and Kante missing for Bournemouth,possible banana skin for Chelsea?
Yes, they're organized and have plenty of quality. But what sets them apart, like Leicester last year, is that intangible quality of winning. I would even say they are not creating more or conceding less chances than other top teams. They have not looked dominant against any other top team they've faced, even when they've won. Win vs City was certainly more down to luck than good defending. They have mental strength and consistence, and manager deserves all credit for that.
Could be, but only cause every great run is bound to end at some point. It's not like Costa and Kante will be replaced by nobodys.
But, for sure Bournemouth are not an easy opponent and on their day they can beat us.
I do think there were some elements of luck during our run since we played United, Spurs and City when they had kind of a blip.
I also think that the game against West Brom or today's first half was rather close. But still 11 wins in a row it's hard to argue with.
That was something und I did not expect when the season started. They've been brilliant thus far, can't quite grasp it that we've turned into a winning machine
But, for sure Bournemouth are not an easy opponent and on their day they can beat us.
I do think there were some elements of luck during our run since we played United, Spurs and City when they had kind of a blip.
I also think that the game against West Brom or today's first half was rather close. But still 11 wins in a row it's hard to argue with.
That was something und I did not expect when the season started. They've been brilliant thus far, can't quite grasp it that we've turned into a winning machine
There's nothing lucky about Chelsea this season, well no more than others anyway. The one DeBruyne moment that we could have put them to bed with, has went both for an against every team this year. No team can say they've had terrible luck or great luck. Decisions aren't standing out as suiting one team or the other.
Chelsea simply defend well, attack fast and have Hazard back on song along with Costa in the best form of his already ruthless and top notch career. Conte seems to have reigned him in and have him channeling his aggression the right way (as opposed to what Kun has so far this season).
Just picture, City draw with Arsenal and than beat Liverpool at Anfield, the title is over.
Those 2 results would leave a new years table of provided all teams win their other games. If they drop points it could well be worse as Chelsea will beat Bournemouth and Stoke quite comfortably at home.
Chelsea 49,
City 40,
Liverpool 40,
Arsenal 38 (with a game in hand).
United 36,
Spurs 36 (game in hand.)
Both a quite possible as well.
Chelsea simply defend well, attack fast and have Hazard back on song along with Costa in the best form of his already ruthless and top notch career. Conte seems to have reigned him in and have him channeling his aggression the right way (as opposed to what Kun has so far this season).
Just picture, City draw with Arsenal and than beat Liverpool at Anfield, the title is over.
Those 2 results would leave a new years table of provided all teams win their other games. If they drop points it could well be worse as Chelsea will beat Bournemouth and Stoke quite comfortably at home.
Chelsea 49,
City 40,
Liverpool 40,
Arsenal 38 (with a game in hand).
United 36,
Spurs 36 (game in hand.)
Both a quite possible as well.
I agree it is perhaps a bit disingenious to call it 'luck'. You have to earn it somehow, and make most of it. But you can't put all down to quality, tactics, even winning mentality. Sometimes everything seems to work out for certain teams.
What a run. Rather they win it than any of the other 3.
The run has to end sometime but at home to the 10th place team without one of their starting CBs should be a win usually.
Fabregas/Chalobah can cover for Kante against an average opponent at home. Thing to see is how well Batshuayi does after such a long time on bench.
Yesterday was his first booking in something like 6 games, he's really changed how he plays, he still gives defenders a tough time but always fairly now. Yeah I hope someone keeps up, but out of the contenders I like Chelsea the most.
Well I like United more
Well I like United more
If we won from here I think it would get more praise than Leicester last year.
I'll be happy if Chelsea or City win the league as i like both coaches and they're prepared to aim to succeed in England with a way of playing and or a system that hasn't proven to be successful as of yet. Not my intention to sound condescending towards English football but it would be good for English football if a three at the back system or possession heavy style of play proved to be ultimately successful in a league and country where neither had succeeded.
Conte has done a terrific job but the best thing he got was the core of the team was already there. Of course he still had work to do but not having to build a new core makes a huge difference in my opinion. Then his real quality came out, thus far he has shown to be better than Klopp, Wenger and Guardiola so far. Each of them had a solid core of the team in place. Whereas, with Man Utd, we needed new players just to build the core of the team. So i would not put Mourinho in the bracket with other three managers mentioned above.
Starting to feel that in the end it could turnout to be just that Mourinho got us to click about 3-4 games later than Conte did with Chelsea. That is if we do not start to drop points again like in the last couple of months. It would hurt no doubt to see if the dropped points at home made the difference but a positive could be that we are heading in the right direction and get the top four. Maybe a bit of luck with having players (Mkhytaryan) fit might have helped, particularly in defence where Bailley, Smalling, Valencia and Shaw have all missed a fair bit.
Starting to feel that in the end it could turnout to be just that Mourinho got us to click about 3-4 games later than Conte did with Chelsea. That is if we do not start to drop points again like in the last couple of months. It would hurt no doubt to see if the dropped points at home made the difference but a positive could be that we are heading in the right direction and get the top four. Maybe a bit of luck with having players (Mkhytaryan) fit might have helped, particularly in defence where Bailley, Smalling, Valencia and Shaw have all missed a fair bit.
Reckon Lewis Baker will be part of the first team next season?
Unlikely to happen next season but maybe the season after. Might see Chalobah with bigger role next season and Ake come in as well.
Apparently Antonio turned up at the staff xmas party (for the groundskeepers and security and so on) instead of just sending a video. First one to do it since Carlo. Nice touch.
https://t.co/RXp77gTQbH
https://t.co/RXp77gTQbH
Conte has done a terrific job so far and I praised his qualities already before the start of the season but...Chelsea have been a bit lucky in some games and also relatively injury free. Key for them is Costa to stay fit. If he gets injured, they will struggle. No other top team is so dependent on one player, IMO. Maybe United are dependent on Zlatan, who knows, but Chelsea are where they are due to Costa being in a beast mode. 13 goals and 6 assists in 17 league games is fantastic.
Doesn't Zlatan have about 70% of your goals this season? Think I read that the other day. I'd say you're far more dependent on him than we are Costa. Batshuayi, Pedro, and Hazard can all play up top with Costa out and I think we'd still be good. You guys have Rooney or a 19 year old Rashford if anything happens to Zlatan.
You'll be good without Costa but not excellent and the other teams will close the gap if Costa is out for, say, 2 months. Martial could play up top for us and this may be his best position. Maybe we are too dependent on Zlatan though. Time will tell.
This is why I like the guy. Everything about him says 'normal human being' despite his elevated status. I wouldn't be surprised if the groundstaff, unused to this behaviour, chased him off the grounds with pitchforks calling him a witch.
Bit early to say what we'll be like, considering we have one of the most highly rated young strikers in Europe sat waiting for his opportunity.
I mean, yeah, we'd struggle without our talismanic striker for a long time like that. City looked useless up front until the Arsenal capitulation without Aguero. Spurs are utterly toothless without Kane. Sanchez is completely carrying Arsenal. Zlatan is completely carrying the goal scoring load for you guys.
Can say all of the top sides in England are dependent on their top player.
No idea why some on here rate Batshuayi so highly. I've watched a hell of a lot of him and do not think he is anything special. Good back up striker, still young and a nice prospect but he isn't one of the most highly rated young strikers at all. He scored a decent amount in a dire French league.
Pat Nevin described him as one of the most complete strikers he's ever seen, and spent an inordinate amount of time convincing people at the club to buy him. I trust wee Pat's judgement.
Mate, he was highly coveted by numerous sides this last summer. West Ham and Spurs were two I distinctly remember. He's got all the tools to be a top striker and his style and physique are perfect for this league.
It's just unfortunate for him that Diego has been insane this season so he can't get into rythm or a run of games. I think if he was playing every so often he'd look much better.
Way to early to judge him hes hardly had a sniff but if hes fast strong and proven he can finish in the past then he is already half way there in regards to having the necessary attributes, its a shame for him Chelsea hardly ever rotate and he also has to compete with arguably the most in form striker in the world(one of the best around too).
West ham and Spurs targets aren't who we should be aiming for. I'm not judging him on how he has played for Chelsea at all, I'm judging him on the 50+ times I've watched him for his previous clubs.
I would say @Spiersey is spot on. I had seen him about 10 times for OM. And he seemed no better than Traore was for us last season who is a couple of years younger and far less experienced.
That said in the initial few games Batshuayi played very well and its a shame his run dint continue.
That said in the initial few games Batshuayi played very well and its a shame his run dint continue.
Agreed. I've seen him a good few times and I must say he's absolutely a top class talent with a frightening set of skills. He has pace, power, good technique and what I like most - he can really smash them in with either foot. But he's far behind Costa when it comes to 'the art' of the striker (decision making, timing of runs etc). He needs time.
Good team player by all accounts too, Batshuayi. Chelsea can always use more of them!
What is it with Belgian strikers and possession of all good traits except brain cells? Benteke, Lukaku, Origi and now Batshuayi?
He inherited a team that NO-ONE had as their favourites for the title. They were 10th, mentality rock bottom, lacking belief. They didn't win many games under Hiddink neither which suggests they had deeper problems. They started this season in a similar vain and looked hopeless, until he switched the system which is now getting the best out of what they have.
Comparing Batshuayi to Traore is a new low on here. The former is miles better & it's not even close.
I think that match was pivotal. If City's finishing had been up to scratch then Chelsea could have been blown away which would have dented confidence and the growing aura of invincibility.
As it turned out City didn't do the business and Chelsea found a way to win and are marching on. Right now it's hard to see any other winner of the PL but stranger things have happened.