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As far as the starts are concerned, now we're coming off the first bend and teams are allowed to come out of their lanes, you can get a bit of a feel for who's doing well and who isn't. Us and Chelsea have had much the easiest start of the top six teams, while IMHO Arsenal and possibly the Mancs have had the hardest openings.
Our only game against top six teams was Spurs Away, while Chelsea's only one was Spurs at Home. Arsenal have played both the Manchester teams Away which was a bit of a tall order in the first six matches, while the Mancs have had Arsenal at Home, Man City at Home and Tottenham Away. That they've managed to win all three by fair means or foul has put them top of the league, despite incredibly losing at Burnley. Spurs have had us at Home, the Mancs at Home and Chelsea Away so their start has been tricky, while Man City have played the Mancs Away and have had Arsenal at Home.
All in all, based on the respective fixtures this is how the teams would rank in terms of achievement so far to me.
1. The Mancs. Jammy cheating tw@ts I know, but they're three big wins they've got over their rivals. They look to me like theyve got their foot on the gas as of now and will be trying to burn off challengers nice and early. The "golden opportunity" theory held that they wouldn't make the same mistakes as last season in terms of giving us a lead, and they won't. All that said, for reasons which I can't put my finger on I just don't think they'll win the league this time.
2. Arsenal. I said before the season started that if they were in contention after the first few matches they'd be doing very well. they are in contention and it's been a good effort. Very unlucky to lose at Old Trafford, and a point there would have led me to put them top. As it is though, I think one of the big four will get nudged out of the top four this season, and I think it will be them.
3. Man City. Another team who were desperately unlucky/robbed blind at Old Trafford, they also deservedly beat Arsenal. I think they WILL challenge, and I think they will finish the season in the top four. I'm going out on a limb here, and I'll go further by saying I think they are even potential Champions, although I don't think they'll get there quite.
4. Spurs. Comfortably beaten by both the Mancs and Chelsea, their opening day win over us and flat track bullying of poor teams has just got them the nod over us and Chelsea. Despite making the ricket of selling Darren Bent, Redknapp is doing an excellent job as he always does, and they'll end up sixth. Good start by them though.
5 Joint. Chelsea and Liverpool. Chelsea's start really has been absolutely p!ss easy, and even before the season started it was easy to imagine them winning a stack of games on the bounce. I said it on the "out of the blocks" thread IIRC, and only the result against Spurs at Home was out of the ordinary. It could have been very different as well, as they needed injury time goals to beat Stoke and Hull. Our start has not been so hard either, but the only two decent teams we've played have beaten us. Happily though, we look like we are running into form at just the right time with some difficult matches coming up.
When you look at who everyone has played and how many points each team has, then you realise just how crucial the Chelsea game is. Win there and our start begins to look quite good, lose there and it looks poor.
Our only game against top six teams was Spurs Away, while Chelsea's only one was Spurs at Home. Arsenal have played both the Manchester teams Away which was a bit of a tall order in the first six matches, while the Mancs have had Arsenal at Home, Man City at Home and Tottenham Away. That they've managed to win all three by fair means or foul has put them top of the league, despite incredibly losing at Burnley. Spurs have had us at Home, the Mancs at Home and Chelsea Away so their start has been tricky, while Man City have played the Mancs Away and have had Arsenal at Home.
All in all, based on the respective fixtures this is how the teams would rank in terms of achievement so far to me.
1. The Mancs. Jammy cheating tw@ts I know, but they're three big wins they've got over their rivals. They look to me like theyve got their foot on the gas as of now and will be trying to burn off challengers nice and early. The "golden opportunity" theory held that they wouldn't make the same mistakes as last season in terms of giving us a lead, and they won't. All that said, for reasons which I can't put my finger on I just don't think they'll win the league this time.
2. Arsenal. I said before the season started that if they were in contention after the first few matches they'd be doing very well. they are in contention and it's been a good effort. Very unlucky to lose at Old Trafford, and a point there would have led me to put them top. As it is though, I think one of the big four will get nudged out of the top four this season, and I think it will be them.
3. Man City. Another team who were desperately unlucky/robbed blind at Old Trafford, they also deservedly beat Arsenal. I think they WILL challenge, and I think they will finish the season in the top four. I'm going out on a limb here, and I'll go further by saying I think they are even potential Champions, although I don't think they'll get there quite.
4. Spurs. Comfortably beaten by both the Mancs and Chelsea, their opening day win over us and flat track bullying of poor teams has just got them the nod over us and Chelsea. Despite making the ricket of selling Darren Bent, Redknapp is doing an excellent job as he always does, and they'll end up sixth. Good start by them though.
5 Joint. Chelsea and Liverpool. Chelsea's start really has been absolutely p!ss easy, and even before the season started it was easy to imagine them winning a stack of games on the bounce. I said it on the "out of the blocks" thread IIRC, and only the result against Spurs at Home was out of the ordinary. It could have been very different as well, as they needed injury time goals to beat Stoke and Hull. Our start has not been so hard either, but the only two decent teams we've played have beaten us. Happily though, we look like we are running into form at just the right time with some difficult matches coming up.
When you look at who everyone has played and how many points each team has, then you realise just how crucial the Chelsea game is. Win there and our start begins to look quite good, lose there and it looks poor.