Well you are 9 points clear and are the most in-form team in the league. Plus, even if spurs reach a touching distance of you, they will bottle it for sure.
Top 4 race 2016/17
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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.
Well you are 9 points clear and are the most in-form team in the league. Plus, even if spurs reach a touching distance of you, they will bottle it for sure.
Hope so! Not taking anything for granted.
It is amazing that we are even in touching distance with the top 6. I don't believe we will finish higher than 7th but Koeman has done a good job in getting us back up there considering the disastrous last 2 seasons.
I agree, and with some really promising young players too. Hopefully you can keep them and build on it.
I agree, and with some really promising young players too. Hopefully you can keep them and build on it.
It's got to be pretty encouraging for Everton fans that the likes of Lukaku and Barkley haven't moved on. If they keep their players, Everton could have a really promising few years ahead although breaking into that top 4 group is a big ask.
You're going to win the league by more than 9 points I reckon. Can't and won't be caught. Enjoy the party. Also think City will finish closer to you than Spurs.
No-one wants to celebrate now and then look like a right bunch of dippers if the wheels come off at the end though.
Agree everton look really promising.
Defence seems to be a weakpoint if I am not mistaken, but Koeman is the manager to sort that out. He brought in Van Dijk right?
Defence seems to be a weakpoint if I am not mistaken, but Koeman is the manager to sort that out. He brought in Van Dijk right?
I sort of agree with you. People constantly decide who has won the title too early. It's most likely that Chelsea will go on to win it but we've seen collapses happen much later in the season. As long as Chelsea take it game by game they should get there but it's not time for title celebrations just yet with some tough games still to come.
Yes I don't disagree. Avoiding public celebrations until it's mathematically 'over' is very prudent. You can probably sleep easily though, Conte seems to have instilled a machine-like consistency that's more than vaguely reminiscent of his Juve side. Fantastic coach.
He has done brilliantly but next season will be tougher for him IMO.
It's so hard for a team to repeat as Champions. Many have tried but most have failed, sometimes spectacularly .
The players often lose that little bit of hunger and steel. Everybody wants to beat the Champs and there's also Europe to factor in.
If he can pull off a repeat when Pep and Jose have installed their own team as well as the other obstacles I've previously mentioned I'll be hugely impressed but in the meantime I'm on the fence.
We are also only 5 points clear of Everton with our 15 games unbeaten run.
He'll get to install his own team, too. Personnel wise this isn't truly Conte's team. Obviously other sides will improve next season but so will we.
I expect this to be one of our biggest ever summer windows.
Like I said.
If he pulls it off given the circumstances I'll be well impressed.
I'm not sure it's won this season yet. Most winning teams have a glitch along the way and they are yet to have theirs. It may be they carry on from here with pretty much immaculate football and results and if they do then they have won it and deservedly so. But there's no guarantee they aren't going to have an unexpected defeat or two, or just a few draws here and there, away from home, failing to get the winner. 9 points is a decent lead, but it's not in the bag. if we beat them and they lose at old trafford - both of which are entirely possible - that's 6 of the 9 gone right there.
You're assuming that the other teams will take full advantage of any Chelsea slip up. Something they've proven to be incapable of doing so far.
Especially this Chelsea bunch as was evidenced last season. If Costa is still there next season, fully expect him to come back way overweight.
Only Jose (once) and Fergie (multiple times) have won back to back PL titles. Conte will have is work cut out trying to pull that off.
Shockingly the last time the title was retained was us in 08/09...
Since
Chelsea 09/10
Utd 10/11
City 11/12
Utd 12/13
City 13/14
Chelsea 14/15
Leicester 15/16
Since
Chelsea 09/10
Utd 10/11
City 11/12
Utd 12/13
City 13/14
Chelsea 14/15
Leicester 15/16
And mourinho did it in a two-year period with united and arsenal in rebuilding-mode, too
Fergie on the other hand was just a marvel
Yeah, all credit to Conte though. He found the right formula before Jose and Pep to get on that immense run and will surely know what kind of players his squad is missing to challenge for multiple honours. Next season will be even more of a challenge when (I assume) Pep and Jose finally have their desired first 11 + most reliable sub/squad players. If Spurs keep their current squad and add a few more, they'll be stronger too. Not sure on Arsenal and Liverpool yet, but anything can happen in the top four race and next season. It'll be interesting if Conte can do it again, it has to be a closer race next time.
I think the top six teams are typically quite evenly matched overall, with Chelsea the stand-outs for now. I will be amazed if Chelsea don't win the title this season though, they can take a draw at Burnley IMO (good result) as I expect a draw between Liverpool/Spurs. Another game-week out of the way and I can't see any team in close enough proximity managing to out-do Chelsea by four results in the final 13 matches.
Am I the only one who is still not impressed with Manchester City? They just about managed to beat Swansea in extra time. People speak as if they are on an upwards trajectory, but I'm not seeing it. They still have the same issues they have had all season right? A susceptible defense plus keeper. Considering their amazing winning run at the beginning of the season I don't see any reason as to why they would be a shoehorn for top 4.
They're still a long way off, but it can't be a coincidence that bringing in Caballero has resulted in conceding one goal in three games. Even if he's by no means a great goalkeeper, it has obviously instilled a bit of confidence to the outfield players that Bravo simply doesn't provide. Jesus has also added a little extra spark to the attack, so right now I'd expect them to finish in the top three with Spurs and Chelsea. Having said that, I couldn't argue against someone who'd say they will likely just have a bit of a collapse again once the Champions League fixtures are back in swing.
3 goals in the last three games right? 2-2 v Spurs, 4-0 v West Ham and 2-1 v Swansea? Or is there a game I'm missing? Also, he didn't really do well on the Swansea goal for me.
Anyway, City can look really good, but they've been inconsistent (and generally quite poor) after their great start. They had 18 points from their first 6 games (6 wins), after that they have collected 31 points from 18 games (1.7 points per game). Their attack wasn't really their main problem so I don't know about Jesus, who may or may not continue to produce. But who knows, City could hit form now and produce, but I've seen a few pundits as well who puts them 2nd/3rd 'guaranteed', and I don't really see what has changed from the Everton result. I would personally back Arsenal before City, although it is very tight.
In all competitions, it was Palace (0-3), West Ham, and Swansea. Bravo played the Spurs game and was since dropped.3 goals in the last three games right? 2-2 v Spurs, 4-0 v West Ham and 2-1 v Swansea? Or is there a game I'm missing? Also, he didn't really do well on the Swansea goal for me.
Anyway, City can look really good, but they've been inconsistent (and generally quite poor) after their great start. They had 18 points from their first 6 games (6 wins), after that they have collected 31 points from 18 games (1.7 points per game). Their attack wasn't really their main problem so I don't know about Jesus, who may or may not continue to produce. But who knows, City could hit form now and produce, but I've seen a few pundits as well who puts them 2nd/3rd 'guaranteed', and I don't really see what has changed from the Everton result. I would personally back Arsenal before City, although it is very tight.
Ah ok! Yeah we'll see what happens. 2 good teams will miss out, or one good team and Liverpool by the looks of it
Indeed. I'm always surprised Wenger never managed it. Especially when he had that team around the early 2000's.
And even City, with the money they've spent haven't been able to retain a title.
Yeah, hats off to Conte. He's been brilliant. I actually thought he'd struggle because he was with Italy all summer, and LvG was given slack in his first season because he missed a pre-season as Dutch manager. Conte has ripped up the excuses book and put everyone to shame.
He has done brilliantly but it can't be understated what a difference a manageable schedule and good run with injuries and suspensions makes.
Next season will be the test for him IMO.
Because of Chelsea. United were in the full peak of the class of '92 for most of those years. When they finally had to rebuild, Abramovich showed up and quickly put together a better side than theirs and with a better manager
City on the other hand have been badly mismanaged
Chelsea always seem to be lucky (good with) injuries. And Suspensions is down to Conte's management so he deserves praise there.
But I agree next year is a bigger test again. And he's never really done it in the CL.
Suspensions are also governed by the foibles of refs.
In a contact sport the interpretation of officials plays a huge part in whether a player of the importance of Costa, Ibra or Aguero get a 3 game ban or a yellow card and a telling off.
True enough, although I was not assuming it. Unless Chelsea slip, it matters not what the other teams do, so I was just for the moment thinking about whether Chelsea might slip. I agree that even if they were to do that, the other teams have to improve their consistency quite considerably.
To be fair Chelsea had a pretty sizable glitch in September, when they took a grand total of 1 point for the whole month.
Well, it's only one point between them and Spurs, and they looked a much better team in recent match vs Spurs. I disagree about their attack not being the problem, as complacency upfront was exactly their main problem. They would usually refuse to finish their chances, consequently become insecure and concede with first shot on goal. In the beginning of the season they looked decent defensively. Defending is all about confidence. It seems this new addition gave them some drive and tenacity in offense, and it could be a confidence boost for whole team.
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Wins against Chelsea and City at home and draws against Spurs and Arsenal should be enough for the 4th spot, provided some good results against weaker teams.
Yeah, and Klopp is not doing so well aftr all. I thought so, but Rafateria guy took it painfully
Im a bit pissed in benidorm but you don't play city at home, unless I'm totally missing the point (won't be the first time)
Looking much better moving up one place!
Can sit back, chill and watch Liverpool v Spurs.
Can sit back, chill and watch Liverpool v Spurs.
Very interesting and still very tight atm.