Flash....football is changing so fast it is now becoming quite difficult to make comparisons even two or three years ago.

I do think a manager must be given time to install a completely new playing style and philosophy at a club. For me that means giving Sarri at least 2 full seasons. And even though I am not convinced as of yet by his idea of possession football I am happy fo him to be given this time.

As for Hazard, he won't be at Chelsea if we are not in the CL next season.

I am certain of that!

The money is a huge difference yeah. Guardiola could buy whoever he needed to implement his style. Sarri is gonna be far more restricted in the players he can buy to fit his system, which is why I don't think he'll ever make his system work at Chelsea unfortunately. Either he adapts or he'll be fired.

The fact that this is arguably the most difficult season to finish top four since the inception of the PL has to be factored into this discussion.

Spurs have never been this good in the PL as they are right now. Probably the same for Liverpool. Arsenal are as good as they've been in many years and Utd are starting to look like Utd again under a new manager.

City seem to have gone backwards from last season but they're still very good and better than us.

So for me it's quite difficult to make a direct comparison in how a team performs under a manager from this season compared to three years ago.

For comparison's sake Leicester won the title three seasons ago. Would that exact same Leicester side have won the title this season? I seriously doubt it based on the improvement of the competition.

comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 18 minutes ago
The fact that this is arguably the most difficult season to finish top four since the inception of the PL has to be factored into this discussion.

Spurs have never been this good in the PL as they are right now. Probably the same for Liverpool. Arsenal are as good as they've been in many years and Utd are starting to look like Utd again under a new manager.

City seem to have gone backwards from last season but they're still very good and better than us.

So for me it's quite difficult to make a direct comparison in how a team performs under a manager from this season compared to three years ago.

For comparison's sake Leicester won the title three seasons ago. Would that exact same Leicester side have won the title this season? I seriously doubt it based on the improvement of the competition.
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was there ever any doubt that city wouldnt get it as easy as last season. Only two teams have ever successfully defended the premier league title although i hope they do as i dont think we are there yet and the alternative of either spurs or pool winning it is unbearable to think about as their fans are forking plebs when they Arent winning anything.

The comparison isn't as far off as you'd think. Pep by in large inherited a squad that had two key components of his methodology - Silva & KDB as two advanced playmakers, everything else he had to buy into the club or adapt to accommodate (e.g. Aguero). Sarri's in a similar boat this season having two players, Jorginho & Hazard, who form the focal points of his Napoli system (now Hazard's being played as a false 9) and he's having to accommodate everyone else.

I've said before I don't see top 4 as something that should be a factor in evaluation of Sarri's performance this year, and I'm even more convinced of that seeing how this season's panning out so far - I can't recall a PL season where the top 6 has been this collectively strong before. This season's all about learning the squad and how effectively Sarri can implement his style, and referring back to the Pep example he's not done bad as all - they looked more accomplished than us now when everything clicked but we've been more consistent in the baseline of playing the manger's football minus a few isolated matches (e.g. second halves vs. Wolves & Leicester)

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 2 hours ago
As for Hazard, he won't be at Chelsea if we are not in the CL next season.

I am certain of that!
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I don't see him here even if we are

comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 0 seconds ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 2 hours ago
As for Hazard, he won't be at Chelsea if we are not in the CL next season.

I am certain of that!
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I don't see him here even if we are
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and to do that we need to do one of the following

1) win the Euromick...very difficult
2) hold off Arsenal who have two strikers to our none, & a revitalised Utd...

2) hold off Arsenal who have two strikers to our none, & a revitalised Utd...
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That's easier than it might appear on the surface. For all fans want to say about our defensive problems, most of it completely true, it's nothing compared to Arsenal's & United's. To use a boxing analogy they're both prolific strikers with glass chins, both will drop plenty of points before the season's over.

City finished 3rd that season, 2 points ahead of Liverpool.

Went out of the LC after fielding a team of kids against United (unforgiveable in a Derby game).

Got hammered twice - Everton and Leciester away when he 'dabbled' with formations aginst teams he underestimated.

I other words, it takes a manager at least one season to get used to the Premier League and the English game in general, give him time.

Some stupid opinions in a few comments on this article and even though I disagree with some of the points by Superb,have a 5 star from me.