The College Dropout

It's genuinely brilliant watching Sturridge blast Liverpool into the top 2 as Chelsea struggle for goals. It's the rat face I hate. Oh and the fans.

tbh you could say that about Arsenal as well and these are the 3 main challengers as it stands. Frankly I expect City at least to pull their s*** together to win it Think Ozil has done a lot for their self belief.

If they do challenge for the title, they'll choke imo. Same with Spurs.

Pardew often makes excuses before games instead of after.

Even if one misses out i'd back Spurs every time over Liverpool. Nothing against them, they are clearly very good but they are rank outsiders in this conversation. Rank outsiders for top 4? Nah. They'll be involved in the discussion down to the last few games imo. If they can get Suarez/Sturridge fit for most of the season they'll be up there. Think they'll challenge for 70 points.

Big fan of Ruiz but he's very inconsistent. Much like Miralles whenever he gains momentum he gets injured.

If Benteke didn't play at all, Sturridge becomes your ©. Yep, he didn't play at all. Sturridge taking me to a decent haul single handidly

Think it's a bit early to that with the Manc teams and even this version of Chelsea. I'm sure at least 2 of them will get it together and finish in the top 4 but all 3? I don't know. Not being in Europe is a huge advantage and they've only got the FA cup to go for.

They look good. Top 4 contenders for sure.

Forgot to make changes. With 6 injuries to my team I needed to make a wildcard. Captain Benteke was injured. Will Sturridge (VC) get my double points? If he does it would be a decent week.

Technically Hasselbaink was at Chelsea till 2004. That's why I said "close to".

There's only been one successful striker at Chelsea in close to 10 years. Drogba. It's a deep-rooted problem imo.

Something just tells me it is their year. Martin Jol surely has to be the next manager to get the chop.

In the moments after, if given the choice of being on the pitch at SJP or down a Siberian coal mine he'd have reached for his shovel. Its amazing at just how poor a player he is if not doing what he's employed to do. Play football well? Score goals?

4 league goals in 2013 Cisse is the superior finisher aye.

Gustavo Poyet.

Also, i've yet to see any pundits give credit to Arsene for sticking by Ramsey.

Brighton didn't win any league games after falling behind. Defensive as fook.

Always hated Poyet anyway. I look forward to hating him some more

Defending what? All I've seen is some countering the idea floated that it means we have 'No Interest Whatsoever In Winning Cups'. Call it what you want, it's the same people instantly taking an opposing view to anything negative said about the regime and their puppet. "The thread title is a bit misleading isn't it? The haven't said they have NO interest, just that they don't really have much of an interest, or something. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE. They're just being honest!" Yep

IMO you need a regular goalscorer to win the league unless your defence is water tight. I've said this a few times. Arsenal had 4 players score 10 league goals or more last season, more than any team in PL history. Walcott, Podolski & Cazorla (and now Ramsey) can be relied upon to share some goals for a few games. Injuries will of course play a factor. If they can keep all 4 forward type players fit, they should be okay for goals. But you would like another out and out forward as an option no doubt. I think it's more of an issue at the back. Sagna's been okay there I suppose but that can't be a serious option. They need to sell Vermaelen and bring in a better back-up CB. Can see Arsene winning the league this year, calling it a day at Arsenal, flip the finger to the media, then manage France or someone.

Exactly. 9th or 13th is not a big deal to fans

As a club, we are about Europe and *trying* to win cup competitions. Prior to Ashley we often got into Europe and were in a few Finals, semi-finals, QF's the prior 8 years. We looked to really give it a go in Europe and the FA Cup. Mike Ashley doesn't get or understand the clubs ambitions. Or he simply doesn't want to meet it. I really wish we had a Geordie in charge or someone that cares. Say what you like about that fat fool Freddy Shephard - but he had ambition for us.

He's not under direct instruction. But if your boss doesn't care about something and rather focus on an incremental increase elsewhere, you will do the same. If my boss doesn't care about something, I don't care about it.

It's a disgusting attitude. Disgusting lack of ambition. Maybe if we can stumble to a QF Pardew will realise he has a chance to make history and focus on a cup. IMO the very definition of a midtable side should be looking to cup runs. 5-6 points can take you from 9th to 14th in the league, such small margins. I understand the money from 9th-14th is significant but I wouldn't want my job depending on such a thing. I'd take lower midtable finishes and real cup attempts over finishing 8th and rolling over to Brighton again.