The Title Race - 2023/24

[Axel Freed]

There’s no way of knowing how it’s gonna pan out after two games. Ten games in and we’ll have a better idea.

We need to wrap Rodri in cotton wool, the most crucial part of the season could be between now and the window closing. If we get a decent deputy in or at least bolster the squad so that other players be it Stones or Kovacic are freed up to play the Rodri role then we can advance with optimism. He has to play fewer games this season.

 

[shemnel]

things have started nicely!

if you can even have viable worries two games in, mine would be (aside from KdB's fitness) the over-use of Rodri up to Christmas and the slightly thin looking squad sheet at the weekend.

 

[Blueknows]

Setting this up because we have one every season and of course it looks like we'll be well involved again.

Poll added as well for our usual points prediction, I'll close it at the end of August.

Next 5 games are looking tasty before Arsenal (A), I think this could be a strong start from us:
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Who's going to be the biggest threat to us?

Definitely won't be United. Newcastle look strong, they could beat the rest.

I'm torn between Arsenal and Liverpool.

Hang on the.media have been telling everyone that it's a good time to play us due to the loss of kdb to injury and losing gundo and mahrez ;-)

 

[Ste68]

Everyone fit and our first team and bench is by far the strongest in the league even now. Its so strong it has largely removed all fear or worry facing any side in the world. However once we lose a few we are quickly into the up and coming kids and suddenly there is a perceived element of risk as most of the young players we have, although talented . have not yet proven themselves over the course of a winning season.

The risk is often overstated as we have become less used to worrying about who we face , hence, some trepidation facing Newcastle who we completely outplayed in the end. Am confident we would win the league with the squad we have even if we don't sign anyone as long as Rodri stays fit and in form , however am now very greedy and want to win the CL , FA cup , League , League cup , world club championship , to go along with the Euro supercup so would welcome at least 2 or 3 more top quality signings.

 

[KS55]

Palace conceding last night means there is only one team in the PL who are yet to concede a goal.

 

[FatedBlue77]

I get the sense that arsenal are already too emotional and are expending a lot of energy this early on in the season. With CL as well for them for the first time in a long time, they’ll have to balance that along with the league.

I think we can win the league fairly easily as we know how to pace ourselves throughout the course of the season.

 

[Manchester33]

It's still too early to tell. In Pep's first year at Barca, he lost and drew his first two games, then went on to win the treble.

I'd say that City look very solid defensively. I'm optimistic. However, calls that we're going to run away with it at this point are premature.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

I get the sense that arsenal are already too emotional and are expending a lot of energy this early on in the season. With CL as well for them for the first time in a long time, they’ll have to balance that along with the league.

I think we can win the league fairly easily as we know how to pace ourselves throughout the course of the season.

I haven't seen that really. I thought Arsenal were overemotional in coming back to beat relegation battling Bournemouth at home last season (it was like they’d won the league there and then), but I think we celebrated our win against Newcastle with more gusto than Arsenal did theirs last night. Our players were punching the air, hugging and did a lap of appreciation.

 

[Rory Bluelow]

I haven't seen that really. I thought Arsenal were overemotional in coming back to beat relegation battling Bournemouth at home last season (it was like they’d won the league there and then), but I think we celebrated our win against Newcastle with more gusto than Arsenal did theirs last night. Our players were punching the air, hugging and did a lap of appreciation.

I guess treble winners plus super cup winners at their first home game - and turning over proper rivals after no rest - deserves a bit of emotion. The Arse game was a routine fixture they’d expect to win even with the sending off. I think Arteta is definitely over-emotional and team are following his lead. Personally I think this will work against them and grind them down over the season. Hope so anyway.

 

[JRockBlues]

Our biggest challengers so far this season look to be PiGMOL. Definitely some strange decisions already for those teams reckoned to have a chance to be around the top near the end of the season. We certainly need to add a couple of bodies too as impact injuries will increase due to the higher bar for fouls to be given.