Games against the top 6

[MarsLlama]

Last season we were notoriously bad against any team in the top six of the Premier League. This year we seem to have improved- but how much does it really matter?

Thanks to my train having no internet, I made this table showing how the top 6 have fared against eachother. Not definitely 100% accurate, will check later.

--------------------Chelsea-------Liverpool------Tottenham-----Man. City-----Arsenal-------Man. United-----Points---------GF------GA-----GD------Rank------
-Chelsea-----------------------------L(1-2)-----------L(2-0)----------W(3-1)------L(3-0)------------W(4-0)----------6-------------7---------8------ -1 -------3---------
-Liverpool---------W(1-2)----------------------------D(1-1)----------W(1-0)------W(3-4)------------D(0-0)---------11------------8---------5------- 3 --------1--------
-Tottenham-------W(2-0)----------D(1-1)----------------------------W(2-0)------D(1-1)-------------L(1-0)---------8--------------6--------3------- 3 --------2--------
-Man. City---------L(1-3)-----------L(1-0)----------L(2-0)-------------------------W(2-1)------------W(1-2)---------6-------------5---------8------ -3 -------4---------
-Arsenal-----------W(3-0)-----------L(3-4)----------D(1-1)----------L(2-1)---------------------------D(1-1)----------5-------------9---------8------- 1 -------5---------
-Man. United------L(4-0)-----------D(0-0)----------W(1-0)---------L(1-2)-------D(1-1)------------------------------5-------------3---------7------ -4 -------6---------

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Ouch my eyes, it would be much better boxed mate.

 

[TBooksbluearmy]

If we are to stand any chance of winning the premier league this season we have got to win all the games against the top 6. If we don't do this then we stand no chance of winning the league at all. Are record against the top 6 over the last 3 seasons has been awful, and simple not good enough to challenge for the title.

 

[01cravend]

Last season we were notoriously bad against any team in the top six of the Premier League. This year we seem to have improved- but how much does it really matter?

Thanks to my train having no internet, I made this table showing how the top 6 have fared against eachother. Not definitely 100% accurate, will check later.

--------------------Chelsea-------Liverpool------Tottenham-----Man. City-----Arsenal-------Man. United-----Points---------GF------GA-----GD------Rank------
-Chelsea-----------------------------L(1-2)-----------L(2-0)----------W(3-1)------L(3-0)------------W(4-0)----------6-------------7---------8------ -1 -------3---------
-Liverpool---------W(1-2)----------------------------D(1-1)----------W(1-0)------W(3-4)------------D(0-0)---------11------------8---------5------- 3 --------1--------
-Tottenham-------W(2-0)----------D(1-1)----------------------------W(2-0)------D(1-1)-------------L(1-0)---------8--------------6--------3------- 3 --------2--------
-Man. City---------L(1-3)-----------L(1-0)----------L(2-0)-------------------------W(2-1)------------W(1-2)---------6-------------5---------8------ -3 -------4---------
-Arsenal-----------W(3-0)-----------L(3-4)----------D(1-1)----------L(2-1)---------------------------D(1-1)----------5-------------9---------8------- 1 -------5---------
-Man. United------L(4-0)-----------D(0-0)----------W(1-0)---------L(1-2)-------D(1-1)------------------------------5-------------3---------7------ -4 -------6---------

If we had beat the 3 above us we'd currently be 5 points clear of Chelsea at the top of the league. But instead we are 7 points behind..So it does matter if you want to win the league imo as you are picking up points when your rivals aren't instead of everyone picking up points playing teams outside the top 6 etc. Look how important doing the double over United was in the 11/12 season for example

 

[Saddleworth2]

1. 
   I had a look at the top 6 mini league on the basis that whoever tops that will in all probability win the title this year. At halfway, the position was:
   
   Dippers Pl 5 W 3 D 2 L 0 Points 11
   Chavs pl 5 W 3 D 0 L 2 Points 9
   City pl 5 W 2 D 0 L 3 Points 6
   Arse pl 5 W 1 D 2 L 2 Points 5
   Manure pl 5 W 1 D 2 L 2 Points 5
   Spuds pl 5 W 1 D 2 L 2 Points 5
   
   Obviously, Spuds have since beaten Chelsea to move into 3rd spot in that table. Liverpool, City and Spurs each have 3 of the 5 top 6 games at home in the second half of the season. The timing of the remaining top 6 games is also quite interesting, the ideal being to have as easy a run in against the teams outside the top 6. Liverpool will have completed all fixtures against top 6 opposition by March 18th, City by April 5th, Chelsea April 15th, Arsenal 6th May, Tottenham and Manu 13th May.
   
   So what does all that tell us?
   City need to improve their record against top 6 in second half of the season to be credible challengers. We really do need to beat Liverpool at home, Chelsea away and take maximum points from our home games against Spuds and ManU. Also we need to be more clinical and stop dropping points at home against other teams. If we achieved that then I do think we would be in the mix. Chelsea will win if they can maintain their consistency against teams outside the top 6 and at least maintain their first half season form against top 6 teams.
   If Liverpool are close to the top following their game against us on 18th March they will be very difficult to stop as they have by some way the longest and most comfortable run in. Man U, Spurs and Arsenal all play each other in the last month so will drop points.
   
   Could well turn out to be the most competitive Premier league in many years if not ever.
   
   Mods, this subject is already covered in the 'is it still on' thread (see copy of the post above). Maybe needs merged.

 

[Nelinho]

Put the home matches horizontally, then you would have the away matches for each team vertically; and add the two sums.

Chelsea have already played vs Spurs twice. In the first line you should put their victory [2-1] under Tottehham, leave their defeat at WHL (win for Tottenham at home) in the first column (as it appears). Respectively, they haven't yet played against us at home, so it's [-] in the first line under Man. City, leave their victory at the Etihad (defeat for Man. City at home) in the first column (as it appears). And so on.

 

[Pablo ZZZ Peroni]

 

[Sleeping_Easy]

If we can get 10 points from the 15 we have left on offer against the other top 5 we're definitely in the title race. I think the issue is picking up the points consistently against the other teams in the league. We dropped 9 points to Leicester (A), Middlesborough (H), Southampton (H), Everton (H) in the first half of the season. If we don't drop those we're 3 clear of chelsea.

 

[KunKun]

It matters of course, points are points and bonus if you can stop a rival winning too. But Chelsea have a decent lead at the top and got smashed by Arsenal and Spurs and lost at home to Liverpool so....!