The Race to the title 2016/17 (plus Top 4 Cup)

Harry Palmr · 08-03-2017 11:00pm

Man City held by Stoke 0-0

So same points as Spurs 10 behind Chelsea.

1 Chelsea 27 21 3 3 57:20 66

2. Tottenham 27 16 8 3 53:20 56

3. Manchester City 27 17 5 5 53:29 56

4. Liverpool 27 15 7 5 58:34 52

5. Arsenal 26 15 5 6 55:31 50

6. Manchester United 26 13 10 3 39:22 49

GavRedKing · 08-03-2017 11:05pm

Arsenal

City are so weak at home.

Thanks Stoke. Of course no football fan watched it with the Barca game but thanks anyway.

08-03-2017 11:08pm

Arsenal

Should be renamed "Stroll to the title"

GavRedKing · 08-03-2017 11:10pm

Arsenal

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Should be renamed "Stroll to the title"

I dont think any of the other teams have enough quality or consistwncy to captailise if we drew or lose a few games.

Maybe Spurs do, because City look weak.

08-03-2017 11:12pm

Arsenal

GavRedKing wrote: »

I dont think any of the other teams have enough quality or consistwncy to captailise if we drew or lose a few games.

Maybe Spurs do, because City look weak.

Spurs don't though
Record against top 6 is dreadful.
They will put away the other teams but all depends on who they play in the top 6 for the remainder of the season

GavRedKing · 08-03-2017 11:22pm

Arsenal

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Spurs don't though
Record against top 6 is dreadful.
They will put away the other teams but all depends on who they play in the top 6 for the remainder of the season

utd and arsenal I think both at home.

08-03-2017 11:23pm

Arsenal

GavRedKing wrote: »

utd and arsenal I think both at home.

They won't beat utd
Arsenal are in free fall so yes possibly
But it won't be enough

Harry Palmr · 08-03-2017 11:23pm

The head to heads for the rest of season could well decide it in the end.

The next one is
19/03/17 Manchester City v Liverpool then 02/04/17 Arsenal v Manchester City, so assuming City progress in the CL might they get a bit stretched?

Osmosis Jones · 08-03-2017 11:32pm

Arsenal

Harry Palmr wrote: »

The head to heads for the rest of season could well decide it in the end.

The next one is
19/03/17 Manchester City v Liverpool then 02/04/17 Arsenal v Manchester City, so assuming City progress in the CL might they get a bit stretched?

They've got Chelsea 3 days after Arsenal too.

Harry Palmr · 08-03-2017 11:50pm

That's quite a schedule, Guardiola made changes tonight as he looked to the next two games (FA Cup and Monaco) and paid for it. Starting Navas is almost never a good idea.

GavRedKing · 08-03-2017 11:55pm

Arsenal

24 points from the remaining 11 games will see Chelsea chanpions regardless of what happens.

I predict we'll pick up 20 and 86pts will do it.

Harry Palmr · 20-03-2017 12:36am

So then City and Liverpool share the spoils - a point may or may not be a bad thing, it's impossible to know. Arsenal on the other hand do know! Spurs win and Man Utd win and in the weekend just gone Everton were in the top six for about 24 hours. Well done them.

If Liverpool are slowly clawing there way back to some sort of results form - 7 from the last 9 reads pretty well if you try to overlook Lallana's miscue Arsenal are in free fall in the form guide and now look like the most vulnerable.

It's unlikely that the Toffees will steal in and yet....

Chelsea	        28	22	3	3	59:21	69	 
Tottenham	28	17	8	3	55:21	59	 
Man City	28	17	6	5	54:30	57	 
Liverpool	29	16	8	5	61:36	56	 
Man Utd	        27	14	10	3	42:23	52	 
Arsenal         27	15      5	7	56:34	50	 


Everton	        29	14	8	7	51:30	50

Next head to head Arsenal v Man City April 2nd (Merseyside derby April 1st)

Shanotheslayer · 20-03-2017 1:25am

Hard too see Everton taking anything from next two games.

Away to Liverpool haven't won there in over decade and away to United.

Obviously two away wins will turn everything upside down but can't see it myself. Be lucky to get 2 points.

Harry Palmr · 20-03-2017 7:27pm

The game schedule for the 2nd - 6th (thanks to Blue Moon forums)

KaiserGunner · 20-03-2017 7:45pm

M!Ck^ wrote: »

They won't beat utd
Arsenal are in free fall so yes possibly
But it won't be enough

I don't know how you can definitively say that Spurs won't beat Man Utd. I'd fancy Spurs to beat Utd at white hart lane when they play. They have been the better side this season so far, despite losing at Old Trafford. This is coming from an Arsenal fan as well.

Jayop · 20-03-2017 7:48pm

Arsenal

KaiserGunner wrote: »

I don't know how you can definitively say that Spurs won't beat Man Utd. I'd fancy Spurs to beat Utd at white hart lane when they play. They have been the better side this season so far, despite losing at Old Trafford. This is coming from an Arsenal fan as well.

Meh, Spurs like having their belly tickled by United. It's generally one of the biggest bankers of a fixture for us over the years. We've lost once at Spurs in all competitions since 2001.

20-03-2017 7:50pm

Arsenal

KaiserGunner wrote: »

I don't know how you can definitively say that Spurs won't beat Man Utd. I'd fancy Spurs to beat Utd at white hart lane when they play. They have been the better side this season so far, despite losing at Old Trafford. This is coming from an Arsenal fan as well.

What jayop said

Johner · 20-03-2017 7:51pm

Arsenal

Spurs are unbeaten at home this season and it will be their last ever game at White Hart Lane, safe to say it will be a different feeling/atmosphere to any normal year.

Utopia Parkway · 20-03-2017 7:52pm

Arsenal

Don't think there's any doubt that on paper Liverpool have the easiest run in with no top six sides or cup games left to play. With the proviso that it's the smaller sides that give them more bother. Their form does seem to be picking up again though.

United definitely have the toughest run in on paper. Four top six sides still left to play (three of them away from home). Plus Europa League games.

City's run in not too bad either once they get over the next few games. Their last 5 games in particular look almost perfect. Four home games and only the terrible Middlesbrough away from home.

KaiserGunner · 20-03-2017 7:57pm

Jayop wrote: »

Meh, Spurs like having their belly tickled by United. It's generally one of the biggest bankers of a fixture for us over the years. We've lost once at Spurs in all competitions since 2001.

M!Ck^ wrote: »

What jayop said

Fair enough, must be something in the North London water as Arsenal have been cannon fodder for Man Utd too recently.

Anyway looking at Arsenals remaining fixtures is grim reading. 6 or 7 of them matches look tough, even for an Arsenal team not in free fall. Going to be a struggle to keep Wengers top 4 record going (a record he himself has mentioned a lot lately).

Iused2likebusts · 20-03-2017 8:03pm

Utd haven't won at whl since fergie stepped down 2 draws and a defeat. This is far more relevant than records dating back to 2001. This group of players beat utd 3 0 last year so i cant imagine there is any inferiority complex.Chances are utd will have an el sf 3 days before it aswell.

NomadicGray · 20-03-2017 8:44pm

Johner wrote: »

Spurs are unbeaten at home this season and it will be their last ever game at White Hart Lane, safe to say it will be a different feeling/atmosphere to any normal year.

I see absolutely no reason why united wont be on the end of a hammering that day.

21-03-2017 2:32pm

Arsenal

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Don't think there's any doubt that on paper Liverpool have the easiest run in with no top six sides or cup games left to play. With the proviso that it's the smaller sides that give them more bother. Their form does seem to be picking up again though.............

7 from 9 is indeed a huge improvement on the 6 pts achieved in the previous 7 PL games this calender year.

Back in form, Hendo perhaps back for the Everton game which is on paper the trickiest fixture remaining

Jayop · 21-03-2017 3:53pm

Arsenal

NomadicGray wrote: »

I see absolutely no reason why united wont be on the end of a hammering that day.

Could the fact that we've only had one hammering all year and that was against Chelsea about 6 months ago be one reason?

Maybe the fact we're 3rd on the away league table despite having played fewer away games than all teams around us?

United have only conceded 13 goals away all season giving them the tied best away defensive record in the league?

There's 3 reasons to begin with.

Jayop · 21-03-2017 3:55pm

Arsenal

It's an interesting one actually. United have 25 points from 14 home games and 27 points from 13 away games.

sReq | uTeK · 21-03-2017 6:49pm

NomadicGray wrote: »

I see absolutely no reason why united wont be on the end of a hammering that day.

Would being unbeaten in the league home and away since October not have you doubting yourself a little

GavRedKing · 21-03-2017 7:30pm

Arsenal

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

Would being unbeaten in the league home and away since October not have you doubting yourself a little

Theres been more draws in that sequence than a series of Art Attack.

They've played 3 of the top 6 in that sequence, won 1 (spurs) and drawn 2 (Arsenal and Liverpool), all those games were at home too.

I think Utd face a serious test of their top 4 credentials down the run in.

They've to play 4 of the top 6 and 3 of those games are away.

If they manage top 4 with that run in they'll have had a good season.

Jayop · 21-03-2017 7:49pm

Arsenal

GavRedKing wrote: »

Theres been more draws in that sequence than a series of Art Attack.

They've played 3 of the top 6 in that sequence, won 1 (spurs) and drawn 2 (Arsenal and Liverpool), all those games were at home too.

I think Utd face a serious test of their top 4 credentials down the run in.

They've to play 4 of the top 6 and 3 of those games are away.

If they manage top 4 with that run in they'll have had a good season.

No doubt the Spurs game will be a tough match and no-one would be hugely surprised if Spurs win. The point we're arguing with is a ridiculous post to say that someone see's "absolutely no reason why united wont be on the end of a hammering that day".

Surely that's the post you should be taking issue with.

GavRedKing · 21-03-2017 8:20pm

Arsenal

Jayop wrote: »

No doubt the Spurs game will be a tough match and no-one would be hugely surprised if Spurs win. The point we're arguing with is a ridiculous post to say that someone see's "absolutely no reason why united wont be on the end of a hammering that day".

Surely that's the post you should be taking issue with.

I do think Spurs will win for various reasons, I however, dont think they'll hammer Utd, Joses teams dont really get hammered, not on score line anyway.

I just think the unbeaten record is a bit of false dawn and theres been far too many draws, especially at home, to so called cannon fodder that Utd would usuaully turn over for fun but Utd fans know that.

Chelsea had an unbeaten record under Hiddink last year but I'm sure we drew about 7 games and had won 3 of the unbeat run, granted Utds is more impressive than that but it wasnt something to shout about considering we were in about 10th-13th at the time too and going nowhere.

I still reckon Utd will get UCL next year, whether its by the league route or the EL though it remains to be seen.

Jayop · 21-03-2017 8:49pm

Arsenal

The unbeaten record was given as a reason why it was possibly for United not to be hammered. That's absolutely fair enough. The poster above was talking from the very darkest part of their colon and was most likely hoping to get a bite by posting such tripe.

sReq | uTeK · 21-03-2017 9:29pm

GavRedKing wrote: »

Theres been more draws in that sequence than a series of Art Attack.

They've played 3 of the top 6 in that sequence, won 1 (spurs) and drawn 2 (Arsenal and Liverpool), all those games were at home too.

I think Utd face a serious test of their top 4 credentials down the run in.

They've to play 4 of the top 6 and 3 of those games are away.

If they manage top 4 with that run in they'll have had a good season.

.....What's that got to do with me saying we won't take a hammering??

Do you read something, ingest it and come up with something that wasn't said.

Conceding 2 goals 3 times in 6 months and yet we are going to be hammered. Losing 1-0 to a Chelsea team away from home with a make shift 1st 11 and a man down for 60 minutes and we are going to get hammered.

Not talking about a top four or who we have or haven't played. I'm talking about us getting a hammering and throwing out actual facts that speak to the contrary.

rwbug · 21-03-2017 9:39pm

NomadicGray wrote: »

I see absolutely no reason why united wont be on the end of a hammering that day.

Maybe Uniteds record at WHL is a reason -

WWWWWWDDWDWDDDL

KingdomYid · 22-03-2017 12:13am

There will be no hammering but I would fully expect Spurs to win as they are a better side than United the last few seasons and will be up for this big time being the last game at the Lane.

suffering golfer · 22-03-2017 1:26am

Jayop wrote: »

Meh, Spurs like having their belly tickled by United. It's generally one of the biggest bankers of a fixture for us over the years. We've lost once at Spurs in all competitions since 2001.

Jayop wrote: »

No doubt the Spurs game will be a tough match and no-one would be hugely surprised if Spurs win.

That is some backtracking to be fair :P

Jayop · 22-03-2017 2:01am

Arsenal

suffering golfer wrote: »

That is some backtracking to be fair :P

It's not back tracking at all. Personally I don't have any fear of United playing against Spurs. I think we have better players and we beat them in white heart lane nearly every time. That doesn't mean that my second post is inconsistent. They are a very good team, ahead of us in the league and playing well. It wouldn't be a surprise if we lost to them but I don't expect it to happen.

Iused2likebusts · 22-03-2017 8:17am

Jayop wrote: »

It's not back tracking at all. Personally I don't have any fear of United playing against Spurs. I think we have better players and we beat them in white heart lane nearly every time. That doesn't mean that my second post is inconsistent. They are a very good team, ahead of us in the league and playing well. It wouldn't be a surprise if we lost to them but I don't expect it to happen.

Times have changed though. You haven't beat them in the most relevant timeframe the post fergie era two draws and a 3 0 defeat last year. Fergies record there was great but utd were the best team in the league then and spurs by and large weren't great. Spurs for me now have a better first eleven than utd they have the best home record in the league 41 pts out of 45 . Spurs have comfortably outscored utd and have conceded less goals. They are a more balanced team. It doesn't matter that utd used to always win there its now different managers and different players and the fear that spurs may have had of playing utd is gone as is the superiority utd may have felt when playing spurs.

Harry Palmr · 22-03-2017 9:44am

That game will be decided by one goal, it'll be tight as that's Utd's way in big games these days.

Jayop · 22-03-2017 10:04am

Arsenal

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

Times have changed though. You haven't beat them in the most relevant timeframe the post fergie era two draws and a 3 0 defeat last year. Fergies record there was great but utd were the best team in the league then and spurs by and large weren't great. Spurs for me now have a better first eleven than utd they have the best home record in the league 41 pts out of 45 . Spurs have comfortably outscored utd and have conceded less goals. They are a more balanced team. It doesn't matter that utd used to always win there its now different managers and different players and the fear that spurs may have had of playing utd is gone as is the superiority utd may have felt when playing spurs.

The history was only one of the reasons given for it not being a hammering which lets not forget us what we're talking about. Have a look at my post straight after that assertion as I couldn't be bothered typing it all out again.

sReq | uTeK · 22-03-2017 10:07am

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

Times have changed though. You haven't beat them in the most relevant timeframe the post fergie era two draws and a 3 0 defeat last year. Fergies record there was great but utd were the best team in the league then and spurs by and large weren't great. Spurs for me now have a better first eleven than utd they have the best home record in the league 41 pts out of 45 . Spurs have comfortably outscored utd and have conceded less goals. They are a more balanced team. It doesn't matter that utd used to always win there its now different managers and different players and the fear that spurs may have had of playing utd is gone as is the superiority utd may have felt when playing spurs.

No one doubts any of that and you make great points.

We're however dismissing the posts eluding to a hammering

Iused2likebusts · 22-03-2017 10:21am

I agree with you lads the hammering is not going to happen and that poster was way Ott. However what brought the initial discussion up was the believe that utd won't lose to spurs due to what had happened in the past . Utd at arsenal linked in with Jose v Wenger now that is a different story and I'd be thinking what's happened in the past is very relevant there and would expect a utd win.

Harry Palmr · 02-04-2017 6:03pm

Brief pause for breath.

On Tuesday Man Utd play Everton, both sides should be better than they were on Saturday. While on Wednesday Chelsea host City Liverpool have the chance to put the Bournemouth embarrassment right or add to it. Arsenal play West Ham so should win and Spurs play Swansea away, hard to see them losing points there for all the improvement of the Welsh side.

NomadicGray · 02-04-2017 9:30pm

rwbug wrote: »

Maybe Uniteds record at WHL is a reason -

WWWWWWDDWDWDDDL

Looks like its getting increasingly worse for them, cool.

Harry Palmr · 10-04-2017 10:08pm

A big long weekend for Arsenal, defeat leaves them now looking like side least likely to reach the Top 4 and the way Everton are playing who knows....

Spurs might make Chelsea sweat a bit but you'd still put all your money on the Blues with Tottenham as the runners up. After that City and Liverpool are tight enough. Man Utd play City of course at some point (has that been sorted yet?), so the winner of that is as important for Liverpool as Utd. Liverpool's injury list seems to be clearing up bar Mane who is out for the rest of the season.

Next big game Chelsea v Man Utd 16/4/17

citytillidie · 10-04-2017 10:11pm

Harry Palmr wrote: »

A big long weekend for Arsenal, defeat leaves them now looking like side least likely to reach the Top 4 and the way Everton are playing who knows....

Spurs might make Chelsea sweat a bit but you'd still put all your money on the Blues with Tottenham as the runners up. After that City and Liverpool are tight enough. Man Utd play City of course at some point (has that been sorted yet?), so the winner of that is as important for Liverpool as Utd. Liverpool's injury list seems to be clearing up bar Mane who is out for the rest of the season.

Next big game Chelsea v Man Utd 16/4/17

Manchester Derby is Thursday April 27th

Harry Palmr · 17-04-2017 11:09pm

Chelsea you had one job to do! Spurs might sniff blood and Chelsea have stopped winning with clean sheets, is the collapse on? Arsenal win but still need plenty of errors above them. Man Utd obviously cocky now but their hard schedule is kicking in this week. Liverpool scrape a vital away win to "bogey type team". City rolled over Soton. Everton win means they continue to lurk.

Next Top 6/7 meetings

27/04/17 Manchester City 20 : 00 Manchester United
30/4/17 Everton 14 : 05 Chelsea
30/4/17 Tottenham Hotspur 16 : 30 Arsenal

domrush · 17-04-2017 11:12pm

Arsenal on 57 and in 6th for what its worth :P

Harry Palmr · 01-05-2017 11:03pm

Yikes! :eek:

Chelsea win
Spurs win
Liverpool win
Man City draw
Man Utd draw
Arsenal lose

Everton lose

Liverpool's UCL qualification chances rise to 89% after beating Watford and seeing rivals drop points; Man City at 91%, Man United at 16%, Arsenal at 5% according to Soccer Power Index

Next six pointer Sunday Arsenal v Man Utd who will be throwing everything at Celta Vigo on Thursday surely.

Lord TSC · 02-05-2017 10:19am

I'd say Liverpool have top 4 now. Can't see them dropping any more points.

It was unlikely we were going to get through our games without dropping points, but to do it to relegation candidates like Swansea stings badly. It was made worse when City also dropped points to relegation candidates too.

Think the top 7 as it is now is how it will end too.

TitianGerm · 02-05-2017 10:34am

Arsenal

Lord TSC wrote: »

I'd say Liverpool have top 4 now. Can't see them dropping any more points.

It was unlikely we were going to get through our games without dropping points, but to do it to relegation candidates like Swansea stings badly. It was made worse when City also dropped points to relegation candidates too.

Think the top 7 as it is now is how it will end too.

Liverpool have dropped loads of points to the relegation teams as well though.

Mr.H · 02-05-2017 12:51pm

emmetkenny wrote:

Liverpool have dropped loads of points to the relegation teams as well though.

That's the thing. Teams will always have a chance of dropping points to relegation candidates who will view the last 10 games in their season as the biggest games of their season. They fight for every point and that's why they are more motivated in these games than "bigger teams"

The Race to the title 2016/17 (plus Top 4 Cup)

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