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Watching Mata early, then Oscar's masterclass against Arsenal pretty strongly confirmed Mouriho's decision to go with the Brazilian imo. Mata's strength is creativity going forward, but he doesn't like tracking back and lacks the strength and tenacity that is so important in big games in England.
I'd like to have an alternate universe discussion, where we pretend Chelsea fans delayed the start by setting off flares in the Emirates concourse, Mourinho stormed into Wenger's tactical area and shoved the Arsenal manager in the chest, a Chelsea cast-off was MOTM for Arsenal while Chelsea's most expensive acquisition was a disinterested passenger. Would anyone be discussing those things today if the script was flipped?
I heard the reports on flares was made up.
Pardew needs to figure out whatever the hell it is that puts Cisse on his hot streaks. It's probably saved his job twice now.
Not really, considering their opponents. They've had the easiest start out of the top 6 and are well off the pace for where "they should be" considering who they've had to play- this is where the aplt comes on handy, at least until the new year imo
Until they get that defense straightened out, they'll keep leaking points. They don't have a good enough defensive line to consistently sit back like they did against Everton and absorb pressure (that they willingly invite). At least they're exciting to watch now for footballing reasons as opposed to watching for the trainwreck.
It's an alternate way to measure performance vs expect outcome.
Yeah - I think it misses out on ManUtd bringing in guys like di Maria and Rojo, as well as Shaw and Blind, and it ignores the injury issue they had to start the season.
I don't disagree at all, and it's not the only "truth"... It doesn't take into account strengthening of your own squad, or the fact that "lesser" teams could've improved, or elite teams regressed. It's only meant to give an indication on how easy/tough the opponents have been in the fixtures played and the results in those games.Historically it has given a decent indication of how teams are doing.
What it does show is that ManUtd has played an "easy" schedule to start the season, and they haven't performed up to par during the first 7 game. It is not predicting the future.
Its possible their continued success depends quite a bit on Diego Costa's not-so-reliable hamstrings. The fact that he started and played 90 midweek against Sporting shows how little faith Mourniho has in Drogba and Remy. With continued Spain call-ups, that's a pretty fragile situation.
They need 14pts out of 18 possible to maintain par, and win against ManC and/or Arsenal away to improve on their bad start (-10)
APLT tracks the expected results needed to win the league. Since only one team actually does win the league each year, "nearly every team falling below par" is the expected result, not some statistical anomaly.
I might rather have recent vintage Eto'o than recent vintage Drogba, but otherwise I think Chelsea is no worse off at 9 in reserve. Remy, and even Schurrle are better in that position than what a lot of teams are going to run out there.
It will be interesting to see how Remy fits the team. I've no idea how that is going to work. Maybe we'll see him in the League Cup against Shrewsbury Town, which is possibly what it will take for Mourniho to trust him with a start. Drogba got a start at home against Schalke a couple weeks ago and confirmed that he's strictly in the joker role - 85th minute guy. I agree even Eto'o would be better. If the club finds itself deep in the FA cup with midweek games against top Euro teams this Feb/March, its going to be interesting, potentially boring boring.
: that did not make it on to Fox Soccer+ tonight.
Big fan of Di Matteo
