Preseason 2021

[BobTheCharmer]

On points, we were. We were also the form team for the 1st 15 games, did we have the easiest run then too?

Our results were good but the performances were dire.

[Mark79]

Our results were good but the performances were dire.

In the last 10 games? Completely disagree. West Brom was a dud, a couple of others were patchy. The rest were solid.

[Kenneth]

Well for a start, that’s the 1st time you’ve actually defined what you consider ‘more recent form’ to be. I still say the final 3rd of last season, or 12 games, is a reasonable consideration for ‘recent form’, which is what you asked for.

Your ‘Early season with a few points’ is a actually the first 40% of the league season. We got more points than any other team managed and with the best goal difference. And that’s with key injuries already piling up since game 4.

The ‘late run in’ or the final 12 games, which is what I put up as recent form, accounts for 30% of the season. Again, we picked up more points per game and had the 2nd best goal difference in that period.

In other words, despite all those injuries and missing 1st team players, our points per game was the best in the league for 70% of last season.
Now, if you’re saying that that amount of the season is accounted for by us having an easy run of games or by City having the league wrapped up, then frankly your head must be cut.

We were undone by a catastrophic 5 week period in between, during Feb/March where we lost 6 out of 7 games. Had we averaged even 2 points a game (which would still have been below even the 1st 15 games and way below us at our full strength best), we’d have been tight with City going into those last 12 games. The ‘easy run in’.

Now then, Kenneth. Of those 3 periods, which do you think is most representative of the performance our team is likely capable of next season?

Because if this team can produce league best form for 70% of a season, (the most recent season, the most recent form, for everyone) when they were dealing with that many injuries and players off form, then is it not fair to claim that a full strength version of this team is still as good as, if not better than the rest?

I think that summarises it well enough.

Let’s look at the best games, ignore the rest and say we’re the best team in the league And let’s ignore that we could all see the likes of Mane and Bobby struggle horribly and assume they’re going to go into next season as the players they were two years ago. You know, because salah and Alison scored instead, as we fluked third place. I’m sold, we’re the best and don’t need to change a thing.

[Mark79]

Let’s look at the best games, ignore the rest and say we’re the best team in the league And let’s ignore that we could all see the likes of Mane and Bobby struggle horribly and assume they’re going to go into next season as the players they were two years ago. You know, because salah and Alison scored instead, as we fluked third place. I’m sold, we’re the best and don’t need to change a thing.

Lets ignore 70% of the season on focus on an absolute anomaly of a sequence of results, brought about by an all time injury crisis and all 3 forwards forgetting how to score for the same period of games. Absolutely, that’s clearly the true measure of this team.

Yep Mane and Bobby are clearly all done, even though they both showed an upturn in the run in. And more **** luck allowing, we’ll have Jota available for the whole season this time, who certainly didn’t struggle for goals or form, but we’ll just discount that too.

Let’s also overlook the fact that we’d still have finished 3rd even if Ali hadn’t scored that goal, and that Man Utd only finished 5 points ahead us in their best season for 8 years, when we only had half a team.

And just you go ahead and sarcastically claim we don’t need to change a thing, even though I clearly said I’m hopeful we bring in a couple more options too.

Great stuff, Kenny. Your relentless commitment to be being a contrary, disagreeable pain in the arse in the face of all reasonable argument, is absolutely unparalleled

[Fredo]

Preseason 2021

To be fair, we recovered from our slump to string a run of 10 consecutive wins. We didn’t play Champagne football in some of these games but that’s what we used to do during the previous season when won the league anyway when we used to dig out wins.

I always felt that City have been the team of the past 5 season. This is not even for debate, but we matched them pound for pound for 2 and a half seasons despite having less resources in squad depth. We’ve been on an upward trend over the last part of last season so there’s no reason we won’t carry this over and challenge again.

Are we good enough to win the league? There’s no question that we are. Is that going to be enough to topple City, seeing they could be spending £200m on 2 players, maybe not, but it won’t be a walk in the park for City for sure.

I’m sure we’ll run them close once again.

[SB]

From our title winning team we have swapped Gini with Thiago, added Jota (who was best player in PL before injury) and Konate.

For two years we were one of the best teams in history, so if we can keep our main players fit, it's a big ask to expect other teams to bridge the gap (bar City of course)

You forgot Adam Lallana

[Paul12]

You forgot Adam Lallana

And ol' father time.

[RedReet]

Lets ignore 70% of the season on focus on an absolute anomaly of a sequence of results, brought about by an all time injury crisis and all 3 forwards forgetting how to score for the same period of games. Absolutely, that’s clearly the true measure of this team.

Yep Mane and Bobby are clearly all done, even though they both showed an upturn in the run in. And more **** luck allowing, we’ll have Jota available for the whole season this time, who certainly didn’t struggle for goals or form, but we’ll just discount that too.

Let’s also overlook the fact that we’d still have finished 3rd even if Ali hadn’t scored that goal, and that Man Utd only finished 5 points ahead us in their best season for 8 years, when we only had half a team.

And just you go ahead and sarcastically claim we don’t need to change a thing, even though I clearly said I’m hopeful we bring in a couple more options too.

Great stuff, Kenny. Your relentless commitment to be being a contrary, disagreeable pain in the arse in the face of all reasonable argument, is absolutely unparalleled

[Harv]

[ame]https://twitter.com/MPBFirmino9/status/1422550563133132802[/ame]

I love Matip Wish he wasn't made of crisps

[Fivex]

Also is that Gomez in the vest looking like a brick ****house?

[Harv]

Looks like it. He's always been a unit

[RedReet]

Nothing to do with pre-season, but did anybody enter the ballot for tickets this season (under 13 games)? Results for first 3 matches supposed to be today.

[RedReet]

Nothing to do with pre-season, but did anybody enter the ballot for tickets this season (under 13 games)? Results for first 3 matches supposed to be today.

Successful for Chelsea.

New system is great.

[Mark79]

Successful for Chelsea.

New system is great.

Is it too late to enter the ballot for later games in the season, or are they taking applications in stages?

[RedReet]

Is it too late to enter the ballot for later games in the season, or are they taking applications in stages?

Registration for first half closed. 2nd half in November.