Chelsea.
They just keep rolling. Fantastic defensive record after getting shown up early in the season. Since Arsenal served them and Conte's change of formation they've scored 35 and only conceded 6 goals in 15 games! League winners for me.
Spurs.
Really found their shooting boots. They were top 6 mini leagues lowest scorers but since the return of Harry Kane have been knocking them in for fun. Best defensive record in the league. Think they'll get top 4.
Liverpool.
League's top scorers. Currently sitting top of the mini league of the top 6. Hit a dip in form but grinding out results. Key players to return, no European football, all of their big games at home aside from City and a favourable finish to the season should see the target of top 4 met.
Arsenal
Currently bottom of the mini league but riding high in the table. Is there a better flat track bully? Consistently finish in the top 4 and no real signs that this year will be any different. If they can pull out some big results against good sides could go close to challenging Chelsea.
Manchester City
What's happened? Has Pep been found out? They looked like a well oiled machine and league winners so quickly. Maybe food for thought for Chelsea fans and this article in general, things can change quickly. Pep has ruled out the title already and if he doesn't turn things around soon he'll be having to rule out top 4 too.
Manchester United
Real signs of a resurgence under Jose as the season has gone on but their early season form has cost them which has been compounded by their low points haul against the top 6. The Europa League kicks in soon and Jose will probably have to make a choice. They need results in big games.
I think there's a good chance that the top 4 and bottom 3 will be the same as it is now, albeit in a different order. The strength of the league this season at the top end is impressive. I hope the next few years of the Champions League sees our teams competing at the highest level again.
Quick take on the chase for top 4
posted on 16/1/17
I think spurs from right now looks ominous for arsenal and city.
Kane and alli are absolutely flying and they are mean at the back so that really puts them down as a side capable of challenging.
LFc will do ok I think once a few remaining issues are ironed out. having to publicly announce the matip scenario to force a response for example and figuring out how to get mane replaced v chelsea.
Arsenal look up and down, utd look better than city.
but yes. the costa thing gave hope to clubs we need to see if they really steamrollered leicester or if leicester are just muck
posted on 16/1/17
comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
posted 10 minutes ago
Firstly, we weren't even expected to make top 4. People wrote us off in favour of the other big sides, inc. ourselves. Secondly we were never ahead of Leicester at any point and in fact quite far off the pace at the start of the year. As I say, Arsenal actually were ahead at one point around this time. What is their excuse?
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If you had held on when you were 2-1 up against Arsenal you would have claimed Top spot and in the form you were in who knows.But against a 10 men arsenal you got to excited, lost discipline, dropped 2 points and that was it.
That was your chance.Beyond that you were always chasing.The results against Westbrom, Chelsea and Stoke just sealed the embarrassment.
Leicester were playing away at united the following day, a game which they drew. If you had won that game against Arsenal I think you would have won the league.
posted on 16/1/17
comment by taxidriver (U21039)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
posted 10 minutes ago
Firstly, we weren't even expected to make top 4. People wrote us off in favour of the other big sides, inc. ourselves. Secondly we were never ahead of Leicester at any point and in fact quite far off the pace at the start of the year. As I say, Arsenal actually were ahead at one point around this time. What is their excuse?
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If you had held on when you were 2-1 up against Arsenal you would have claimed Top spot and in the form you were in who knows.But against a 10 men arsenal you got to excited, lost discipline, dropped 2 points and that was it.
That was your chance.Beyond that you were always chasing.The results against Westbrom, Chelsea and Stoke just sealed the embarrassment.
Leicester were playing away at united the following day, a game which they drew. If you had won that game against Arsenal I think you would have won the league.
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You've clearly got your facts mixed up. Leicester were playing Watford with their game in hand, which they won. meaning we'd have only temporarily been on top of the league.
However Arsenal actually were top of the league for almost a month, and lost their position after losing to 10th place Chelsea at home.
posted on 16/1/17
The only way we will get in the top four is if we win our away games against the teams above us.
posted on 16/1/17
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 2 hours, 16 minutes ago
The only way we will get in the top four is if we win our away games against the teams above us.
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from what I've seen of the top 6 v the rest that seems plausible.
Arsenal and city need to implode to let you catch up. they re always capable of it though.
posted on 16/1/17
comment by Robbing_Hoody (U6374)
posted 5 hours, 22 minutes ago
I think Spurs did.
Bottling it is not playing to your best when under pressure. Did Spurs play to their best at the business end of the season?
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Going into the Chelsea game last April, a must win game, our form from the turn of the year had been P14, W10, D3 L1. That aint the form of bottlers, it's actually the form of a team thrusting themselves into contention....as it was we drew at The Bridge. No disgrace there either, especially as it was the only half of football all season that CFC decided to play to their very best. But we were never at the top of the league, always playing catchup and normally always playing 2nd. Once the title chance was gone, our spirit was broken, hence losses in the last 2 games
I can understand why people dont take Spurs' threat seriously, based on history. I just hope we can wipe the smile off their faces sometime in the future.
But really Arsenal are the bottlers here. In a season when 80 points wins them the league the mustered their lowest total in years. They have in the past achieved 79 pts to end 4th, so are well capable. In a season when Utd, City and Chelsea all fall away, its Arsenals title to lose. They never got close to it.
posted on 16/1/17
Spurs bottled second place
They're in second place now.. will they bottle it again?
posted on 16/1/17
Spurs are a fantastic side who deserve to be where they are. But, by the same token, they can be really tempremental. If offered, like us, they would take a top four slot now.
But returning to yesterday's game, who do you think was the more happy after the game, Jurgen or Maureen? Maureen was going mental at times like I've never seen him before. You look at Martial, Pogba, Mkitayrian at what, combined, £150M+, and did he get any value for money out of them?
Did they play the game he wanted them to? The last 20 minutes,high balls to Zlat and Fillaine, it ain't exactly special football is it? Entertaining, yes, but is/was there any skill there, route one? Jurgen was only frustrated we didn't hang on for the last few minutes.
It will come.
JimmyTheRed
posted on 16/1/17
Klopp was probably frustrated a little bit at stuff off the pitch.
For example the Matip situation.
Mourinho said himself that we had no central defensive option in Matip or anyone else on the bench that could possibly counter the long ball so he used Fellaini instead of Rashford.
However if given that circumstance and Trent Alexander Arnold in defence you asked Klopp if he'd take a draw, he would probably have said yes.
posted on 16/1/17
comment by Redinthehead - FreeGaza - فلسطين (U1860)
posted 2 hours, 58 minutes ago
Spurs bottled second place
They're in second place now.. will they bottle it again?
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Best side they've ever had...they bottle it they'll never ever win the Prem