[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Swan

Like them or not, you've gotta hand it to Arsenal, everything seems to have clicked into place for them this season. They look more than capable of winning every game they play atm. Top of the PL and CL tables going into December. If they can weather the hectic Christmas schedule storm i think the PL title is theirs to lose.

they could be 12 clear going into Jan at this rate

[Swan]

Yeah, i know Chelsea are in decent form atm, but i still see Arsenal winning at the weekend, they look pretty unstoppable right now. Chelsea need to attack Arsenal and not sit back (which isn't our style anyway).

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Swan

Like them or not, you've gotta hand it to Arsenal, everything seems to have clicked into place for them this season. They look more than capable of winning every game they play atm. Top of the PL and CL tables going into December. If they can weather the hectic Christmas schedule storm i think the PL title is theirs to lose.

Yeah.. they have crazy squad depth probably the strongest I can ever recall !!

They make substitution after substitution and get stronger as the game goes on !!

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by bots

I can see them getting a few trophies this year, not just one

With a little luck they could actually win everything … they basically have two teams plus a few spares

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Swan

Yeah, i know Chelsea are in decent form atm, but i still see Arsenal winning at the weekend, they look pretty unstoppable right now. Chelsea need to attack Arsenal and not sit back (which isn't our style anyway).

It’s one of those 6 pointers !!

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Zizu

It’s one of those 6 pointers !!

As far as title race goes, it's the biggest game of the season so far.

Interesting stat here for both Chelsea, Arsenal and City -

Chelsea goals for 23 - Top goalscorer Pedro with 4
Arsenal goals for 24 - Top goalscorer Eze with 4
City goals for 24 - Top goalscorer Haaland with 14

Chelsea and Arsenal scoring goals from all over the park, City heavily reliant on Haaland. That could be the difference this year. A Haaland injury would kill City, whereas Chelsea and Arsenal have multiple players scoring from every position. No one single player is carrying either side. And to think, Chelsea have been without Delap and Palmer for most gameweeks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...ue/top-scorers

[bots]

Originally Posted by Swan

As far as title race goes, it's the biggest game of the season so far.

Interesting stat here for both Chelsea, Arsenal and City -

Chelsea goals for 23 - Top goalscorer Pedro with 4
Arsenal goals for 24 - Top goalscorer Eze with 4
City goals for 24 - Top goalscorer Haaland with 14

Chelsea and Arsenal scoring goals from all over the park, City heavily reliant on Haaland. That could be the difference this year. A Haaland injury would kill City, whereas Chelsea and Arsenal have multiple players scoring from every position. No one single player is carrying either side. And to think, Chelsea have been without Delap and Palmer for most gameweeks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...ue/top-scorers

Eze scored 3 of those goals in 1 match so really the goals are even more spread out over the team

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Swan

As far as title race goes, it's the biggest game of the season so far.

Interesting stat here for both Chelsea, Arsenal and City -

Chelsea goals for 23 - Top goalscorer Pedro with 4
Arsenal goals for 24 - Top goalscorer Eze with 4
City goals for 24 - Top goalscorer Haaland with 14

Chelsea and Arsenal scoring goals from all over the park, City heavily reliant on Haaland. That could be the difference this year. A Haaland injury would kill City, whereas Chelsea and Arsenal have multiple players scoring from every position. No one single player is carrying either side. And to think, Chelsea have been without Delap and Palmer for most gameweeks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...ue/top-scorers

You are lucky to have TWO special players in Palmer and Estęvăo .. many big teams don’t have one

[Swan]

Originally Posted by bots

Eze scored 3 of those goals in 1 match so really the goals are even more spread out over the team

Yeah true. It shows how both Chelsea and Arsenal have developed into teams not reliant on just one player.

Originally Posted by Zizu

You are lucky to have TWO special players in Palmer and Estęvăo .. many big teams don’t have one

Estevao has been a revelation for Chelsea, and Palmer before him. But Estevao atm is as hot as they come. I would argue him starting on the bench has benefited Chelsea more overall (though, the form he's in, he'll soon be first name on the teamsheet) as whenever he comes on he sparks life into Chelsea. His energy rubs off on the other players.

[Swan]

Enzo, Neto, Palmer, Estevao, Gittens, Caicedo

Eze, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli, Odegaard, Rice

All capable goalscorers

[Zizu]

Interesting stat

Both Palmer and Yamal made their debuts for Chelsea and Barcelona respectively about the same time and in roughly the same position in 2023 and both had amazing , immediate impacts on their teams from them onwards .. same happened with their international teams as well !!


Scary thing is Yamal is 5 years younger !!

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Zizu

Interesting stat

Both Palmer and Yamal made their debuts for Chelsea and Barcelona respectively about the same time and in roughly the same position in 2023 and both had amazing , immediate impacts on their teams from them onwards .. same happened with their international teams as well !!


Scary thing is Yamal is 5 years younger !!

I think Yamal and Estevao are a lot more comparable tbh. Palmer (obviously not on his level yet) is more Zidane esque

[Crimson Dynamo]

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Zizu

You are lucky to have TWO special players in Palmer and Estęvăo .. many big teams don’t have one

All big teams have special players tbf. Estevao is on course to be a very special player though.

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Swan

All big teams have special players tbf. Estevao is on course to be a very special player though.

That’s my point .. very special
Palmer comes into that bracket I’d say ?

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Zizu

That’s my point .. very special
Palmer comes into that bracket I’d say ?

Palmer can be very special when he's in the groove, but does have a habit of disappearing in games at times. But yeah, when he's on it he's pretty much unplayable.

And it's crazy to think that we're getting amazing results without Palmer atm, if he comes back and hits the ground running, Chelsea will be in a title race this season.

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Swan

Palmer can be very special when he's in the groove, but does have a habit of disappearing in games at times. But yeah, when he's on it he's pretty much unplayable.

And it's crazy to think that we're getting amazing results without Palmer atm, if he comes back and hits the ground running, Chelsea will be in a title race this season.

Unless they only play ONE of them at a time

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Zizu

Unless they only play ONE of them at a time

What do you mean?

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Swan

What do you mean?

Well playing two free spirits may not appeal to the manager

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Zizu

Well playing two free spirits may not appeal to the manager

I think you start a fit Palmer, then bring on Estevao in the 60th min atm. Will obviously change though.

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Swan

I think you start a fit Palmer, then bring on Estevao in the 60th min atm. Will obviously change though.

Don’t suppose you are old enough to have seen the Brazilian midfield of yesteryear

1978 I think

They played 4 renown playmakers ( including Zico ) in the same midfield - fabulous to watch but I seem to recall them being beaten in the world cups final by a defensive minded, tough tackling Italy side

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Zizu

Don’t suppose you are old enough to have seen the Brazilian midfield of yesteryear

1978 I think

They played 4 renown playmakers ( including Zico ) in the same midfield - fabulous to watch but I seem to recall them being beaten in the world cups final by a defensive minded, tough tackling Italy side

No, my first real memory of Brazil is France 98. Im hoping the hype doesn't hamper Estevao. Pundits already declaring he's the biggest Brazilian talent since Neymar. I do think Estevao and Palmer can play together though, one of the biggest things of note being Palmer has zero ego. Chelsea are a very solid team, no big egos. They all work for each other. Garnacho may have had an ego at Utd, just like Sancho before him, but it doesn't wash at Chelsea. They ran riot in the Utd dressing room, but not at Chelsea, not under Maresca.

Same for Arsenal tbf. They all work and play for each other, for the team.

City's biggest ego is Pep. Liverpool, i dunno, maybe Salah, but they're just a mess atm. Spurs? Disjointed.

Chelsea and Arsenal have it right this season, the right balance. But here's why i think Arsenal win the league - You watch them, and you don't really see a banana slip like incident that will cost them the match. Chelsea on the other hand, they lose the ball way too much from defence. It's cost us points already this season, and i think it'll cost us even more crucial points as the season progresses.

[Swan]

Brazilian players have this uncanny ability to hit the ground running at Chelsea!

Pedro (fallen off a little since his explosive start)
Willian (always reliable, a workhorse)
Ramires (pure underrated quality)
Thiago Silva (one of the best CB's of the past 20 years)
Andrey Santos (always plays well when he gets minutes)
Alex (solid, won lots with Chelsea)
David Luiz (ok, a bit of a joke now, but he had his best years at Chelsea)
Oscar (again, wasn't world class but contributed a lot the team)

[Swan]

I know you wont have it @Zizu but when Chelsea get into the groove, they're the most entertaining team to watch in England atm. Arsenal a close second.

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Swan

I know you wont have it @Zizu but when Chelsea get into the groove, they're the most entertaining team to watch in England atm. Arsenal a close second.

I would agree !!

Liverpool have gone rogue

Spurs totally unpredictable

Arsenal USED to play joyous Sensible Soccer ( before your time again ) — fluent, fast slick football - now not so attractive leaning on the long throws and dead balls

I love their players just not Arteta’s new tactics


I like most of the team apart from the woeful CBs … Josh Acheampong looks to be a proper player though

I hope Delap gets a good run going as I like him and Toney as Kane’s backs or joint striker