When do we start to believe ?

[Letters]

Liverpool have a shown a massive improvement as well and it's down to them having stability. There have been some shock results at City and Chelsea this season and I can't imagine them starting off this slowly this time next year. The points tally doesn't tell the full story because it doesn't say whose played who and where they dropped points.

It's a very simplistic way of looking at things to say that stability = improvement.
It helps I guess although only if the set up is good to start with. If a team has a crap manager and squad then stability isn't going to make it better.

On the one hand you attribute Liverpool's improvement to 'stability' but when I point out that Chelsea have also improved and City done about the same you dismiss it.
Of course Mourinho was playing mind games. They're not favourites by default but with Fergie gone - again, I think Utd are the only major contender to be affected negatively by 'instability' - and with Chelsea having a fantastic squad and now one of the best managers around they've got to be one of the serious contenders. City too have chucked enough money around that they've got a ridiculous squad. All City and Chelsea have done is got better managers in and as I've said it doesn't seem to have affected them too badly. City's away form has been curiously poor but at home...well, you saw what happened to us and they've won every single game, most of them by large margins. Despite their 'instability' they're both up there as most people expected them to be. Both clubs already had their teams expensively assembled and even if it did take a while for the new managers to get their feet under the table I don't buy it takes a whole season to do that, we're half way through now and half a season is enough to get it together.

I agree that next year will be no easier but I'm not convinced it will be much harder - there's only so good a squad can get and City and Chelsea's are about as good as it gets. There is certainly room for improvement in our squad and we do the right things in the transfer market then we could be more competitive next season, or this season if we do the right things in January, which I doubt.

[selassie]

interesting city stat here. against the top 8 sides, they have played 6 games and taken 15 points out of 18. however they have only played one of those game away from home. chelsea and they lost. and given their away form so far this season, they have to improve big time IMO.

chelsea have been shaky all season and we have been the best team so far. we know our weaknesses and thats squad depth and big game tactics. right now we have the advantage by 2 points. january will be huge, get that month right and i think we will win the league purely because we have shown more consistency then either chelsea or city

The optimist in me says if we could sort ourselves out in the big games and nick 3 points here and there and a point here and there we would finish as Champions.

Despite the above, if City sort out their away form which unfortunately looks more likely they will walk away with the league this season.

Chelsea are totally inconsistent, they are actually probably our equal despite ploughing millions more into their squad. Don't see them finishing as Champions unless they sort out Central Midfield and Attack, they have work to do, their defence isn't great either TBH.

The 'Dark Horse' is Liverpool, I am beginning to take them very very seriously because they have been thrashing the smaller teams and don't fair too badly in the big games either.

Put it this way, Liverpool's record against the likes of City and Chelsea/United is a darn sight better than ours.

[Power n Glory]

It's a very simplistic way of looking at things to say that stability = improvement.
It helps I guess although only if the set up is good to start with. If a team has a crap manager and squad then stability isn't going to make it better.

On the one hand you attribute Liverpool's improvement to 'stability' but when I point out that Chelsea have also improved and City done about the same you dismiss it.
Of course Mourinho was playing mind games. They're not favourites by default but with Fergie gone - again, I think Utd are the only major contender to be affected negatively by 'instability' - and with Chelsea having a fantastic squad and now one of the best managers around they've got to be one of the serious contenders. City too have chucked enough money around that they've got a ridiculous squad. All City and Chelsea have done is got better managers in and as I've said it doesn't seem to have affected them too badly. City's away form has been curiously poor but at home...well, you saw what happened to us and they've won every single game, most of them by large margins. Despite their 'instability' they're both up there as most people expected them to be. Both clubs already had their teams expensively assembled and even if it did take a while for the new managers to get their feet under the table I don't buy it takes a whole season to do that, we're half way through now and half a season is enough to get it together.

I agree that next year will be no easier but I'm not convinced it will be much harder - there's only so good a squad can get and City and Chelsea's are about as good as it gets. There is certainly room for improvement in our squad and we do the right things in the transfer market then we could be more competitive next season, or this season if we do the right things in January, which I doubt.

I can’t believe I’m having this conversation. As if you haven’t witnessed the damage done to our club with all the chopping and changing to personnel. You’ve seen how the constant manager swapping disrupts a team’s progress as well. How hard is it to understand that this is their bedding in period? They’re two very good coaches but we’re not seeing the best of them just yet. Chelsea lost again last night and that’s very unusual for Jose but I’m sure the more time he has with this team he’ll get them playing in the way he wants. If you don’t believe we’re strong enough to win the league, fair enough and we’ll leave it at that.

[Letters]

I've seen the damage constantly selling our best players has done, to the point where last season we were rubbish to watch and clung on to 4th place by the skin of our teeth.
One big signing later and you think the 'instability' at other clubs (which I showed has had no effect in terms of how they've done so far, Chelsea have actually done better) and you think we're suddenly going to win the title.

No, I don't think we're strong enough and after the last 2 seasons I never expected us to be. Ozil was a good signing, we're clearly a lot better this year but it's not enough as we're still too lightweight up front. I rate Giroud but he's not at the level of a striker who can win you the title. We're heading in the right direction though and that's good enough for me, for now. What we need to do is keep strengthening and we could be serious contenders next year, possibly this year if we make a major signing up front in January which I think unlikely.

[Letters]

PS:
Obviously constantly chopping and changing manager can cause damage but that is mitigated by
a) The new manager being very good and, in Mourinho's case, having previous experience with the club and with winning the PL
b) Having a top quality squad which both clubs do and bloomin' well should given the money they've spent.

Utd have suffered because neither of the above are true. Moyes is fine but he's no Fergie, to be fair to him no-one else is.
And they didn't really have a top squad, they had no business winning the title last year and I don't think anyone other than Fergie could have won it with that squad. They've not really strengthened since.

[Power n Glory]

It’s stupid to dismiss our chances. It’s an open race and we’ve got as much of a shot as our rivals. Chelsea lost again last night and have been poor defensively and wasteful upfront. This isn’t the same Jose Chelsea squad and it will take him time to get that right.

[Letters]

We're top so yes, it is stupid to dismiss our chances. But before the season started - even when the season started - it wasn't obvious we'd be this good.
Chelsea might have wobbled a bit but they're still only 3 points behind us, for all City's poor away form they're only 2 points away.
If we lose on Monday I think it's all over, getting nervous about that one 'cos I think they're there for the taking and we absolutely have to win.

[Power n Glory]

Why do you think they’re there for the talking?

[Letters]

Their away form has been a bit patchy, our home form is very good.
We'll have had a whole week's rest, they played last night and had extra time (not sure what team he put out and how much affect that will have).

We're not going to hammer them but we've got a real chance to beat them this time. I just hope the psychology doesn't affect us, do this lot really believe they can win big games like this? We'll find out on Monday I guess.

[Power n Glory]

That’s why I feel we have a shot at the title this year. Jose is still adjusting and his team will be inconsistent. I just hope we don’t wobble because both Man City and Chelsea will improve next season.