Are Chelsea still a threat ??

[Mikhail Chigorin]

At the moment, I still can't allow myself the luxury of contemplating where we might finish in the League, come the end of the season, because at the back of my mind I've still got the feeling that it's early days.

However, we've now played 17 games and after another two fixtures, we'll be exactly half-way through the season, so it's definitely not "early days".

Already, Arsenal and Liverpool are dropping behind and Newcastle, who just a few weeks ago were in a promising third place, are now a full seventeen points behind us. Even with their game in hand, 'Arry's boys are flattering to deceive and, I feel, will implode sooner than later, which leaves only Chelsea to possibly try and fight it out with The Scum and ourselves at the top.

Just how much of a threat are Chelsea ?? Are they a fading force, or will AVB/Abramovitch disregard all FFP considerations and break the bank to buy five or six new players (at over the odds prices) in the January window ??

Furthermore, Michael Essien can't be too long before he makes a come-back. He's an immense player that I think Chelsea have really missed in their midfield but, having been out for so long, how rusty will he be and how quickly will he be able to re-discover his form ?? Moreover, if Chelsea buy a load of new replacements, how quickly will they start to 'gel' and how competent is AVB perceived at building and binding together a new team in short order ??

So many imponderable questions but, on that basis, are Chelsea really out of it or could they still be a threat to us winning the League ?? .....or are they now just a (temporarily ??) spent force with a former reputation that still lingers (bearing in mind that, in recent weeks they've "done a job" on both Spurs and ourselves) ??

[Mark (Blue Army)]

No Chelsea are not a threat any more there to far behind now. United are our main threat to the league but no matter how many games United win we will win more. We're gonna win the league this year I 100% believe it now.

[brite blu sky]

At a guess I'd go for Chelsea yoyoing a few times yet. They should get stronger and more settled but you can see them losing one or two they shouldn't even at home before the season's out. So I suppose that means they won't be a threat.
Spurs are having a good spell but I just don't see them having the strength in depth they will need, still could see them taking 3rd though and depending on the rags fighting it out for 2nd.

It is totally obvious but it is all about not losing games we should win. Bob has said 90pts, if that is really his target he is expecting a slump of some sort imo. We have some tricky games at home but unlike the competition we have less really top games away now. If we can keep the belief at home the rest will start to drop away slowly but surely. 90pts would be 15 wins out of the 21 left. Or 6 losses maximum.

[s1ty m]

Too far back. I wish we were playing them at home this week. We'd mollicate them.

[feedthegreek]

it looks like chelsea are too far adrift at present , but the season is long ,scum are our main threat i just think considering the battle
for the 3rd and fouth positions are between the 4 other teams , it should play into our hands considering we have 4 out of 5 at our place but scum have got them away, the tighter the battle to get into the top 4the better for us.

[TheBlueCatsWhiskers]

Utd are our only real rivals!

[TheBlueCatsWhiskers]

Spurs are dangerous, but we should really see them off. Very big three weeks for us...

[Crossie]

This will be Spurs one and only big season , i think they will get 3rd, distant. Harry will leave in the summer for England after the Euro's and the squad won't perform the same next season. I don't think they plan on buying Adebayor either.