BluessinceHydeRoad said:
I think it only fair to point out that most of the assumptions about this year's title battle appear to be very questionable: City "only" won it in the fifth minute of stoppage time, City won't get any better this season, United will be breathing fire and will storm away to win it "back", Arsenal will be real contenders this year and Chelsea are the favourites. City actually won it last season for the same reason as any other team wins it any season - we did better in our 38 games than any other team. I suspect 89 points will win it again, but we are two points better than last season so far: United are one point worse on the same games. Chelsea have made a net gain of 8 points so far - but they need to make up 25 points to rival City's total for last season, and that is a tall order. Their midfield looks to me to be excellent going forward but may like the size and weight to defend against powerful sides. We saw what atletico did to them in the supercup - so Chelsea DO have weaknesses in midfield and they don't have a replacement for Torres.
I said time & time again it was extremely naive for people to hang on to this "making up 25" points thing. You'd almost believe that Chelsea started with a 25 points reduction.
The way last season is linked to this season is by champions league qualification relegation & promotion.
The points that chelsea got last season has no bearings on the amount chelsea will get this season otherwise why did Chelsea finish with so few points last season?
Surely finishing with a good points total the year before that should have ring-fenced Chelsea's point tally for the next season?
It's all so silly. There's a different manager & new players and as I am sure you're aware with all the money City has spent & with the change from Mark Hughes... Recruitment can have a real positive effect. Just look at Newcastle who were in the Championship not long ago..
Also Sturridge from the wide position scored what Torres & Drogba scored combined.
If Torres gets injured Chelsea will be better with Sturridge up front, it's annoying that price discrimination keeps Torres in the team.
With all of that being said. It's not the 1st time we're competing for the league & you don't win it early in the season, Chelsea have a trend of having very bad mid-season form.
& when Lampard plays we're so much more vulnerable to counter-attacks.
As I said with Torres up top rather than Sturridge we won't be as good or clinical & so Torres has been fine against the smaller teams but in the bigger games his profligacy won't suffice. He hardly makes his own chances. I'm desperate for Sturridge to start, he's absolute class.