The final break in the league for a while I figure it’s time to look at what we’ve seen so far
A lot of people excited about a tight title race. By the numbers, the leaders from last year (Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United) are all doing worse while the chasing pack (Newcastle, Spurs, Liverpool) are doing better resulting in a congested top 5
Results in same fixtures - 22/23 v 23/24
Everton after a horror start (no wins in 5) have actually recovered well and are the 2nd biggest improvers (with Chelsea) compared to last season. All the teams who were in a relegation battle last season, namely Everton, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth are all doing better this season. Bournemouth despite only being on 9 points after 12 matches, are actually 4 points ahead compared to last seasons fixtures which seems wild.
It’s intersting when you look at the table compared to last season that EVERY position up to 15th has more points than last season, 16th has the same and the bottom 4 are behind. It’s also interesting to note the difference in points after 12 rounds for some teams compared to the difference in points in the same fixtures last season.
Aston Villa for example have 13 more points after 12 rounds compared to last season but have actually only gained 2 extra points compared to results last season. Similarly, Brighton have 4 more points compared to this time last season but are down 6 points when you compare results.
I had hoped before this season started that the title race would be more open, but if you compare tables, even a KDB-less City are still roughly in the same position as before and we know how last season ended. City actually haven’t been top of the table after matchday 12 since 18/19 so being 3-4 points behind at this time of the season is kind of “normal” for them. The only time they didn’t win the league in the past 5 seasons was 19/20 when Liverpool had a 9 point gap on them (after 12 games) and didn’t lose a game until February, winning 26 from 27 games. That’s what it takes to dethrone City.
Also there is the Asian Cup AND AFCON this January which hurts Arsenal (Tomiyasu, Partey), Liverpool (Salah, Endo) and Tottenham (Son, Bissouma, Sarr) more than it does Manchester City who have 0 African or Asian players. Manchester United will also be losing Onana which should be interesting. So even more of a reason why City will most likley stroll to another league title.
When you look at the table there is a divide forming between the bottom 4 and the rest of the league. But as shown in the first table, Bournemouth are actually doing better compared to last season so if they stay on a similar trajectory, they should end up safe which means potentially for the first time since 97/98 and for only the 2nd time ever, all 3 promoted teams could drop back down.
Worst starts to a Premier League season after 12 games
I thought this seemed like the weakest the bottom of the Prem has been in a while and if you look at the stats, it is. All 3 teams currently in the bottom 3 are amongst the top 18 worst starts in Prem history. In fact, Burnley’s 4 points from 12 games is the 2nd worst start ever. Sheffield Uniteds 31 goals conceded is also the equal 2nd most conceded after 12 games and Burnley and Sheffield United’s -21 GD is again the 2nd lowest GD after 12 games ever. The only team who conceded more and had a worse GD was Barnsley in 97/98 but atleast they had 9 points at the time.
There are reasons why each team are struggling, one of which is scheduling, Burnley and Sheffield both already playing the top 4 from last season and Sheffield are yet to play a fellow promoted team. At the start of the season most people said Luton Town surprised everyone but had come up too early to survive, Sheffield United’s transfer business was questionable but Burnley would be the “Fulham” of this season and potentially finish midtable. But all 3 have a similar problem. They can’t score to save thier lives, with Burnley the lowest scorers in the league with 9 and Burnley and Sheffield United both only scoring 10. Seems like it’s going to be a long season for all 3 of them.
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Kompany has no clue.
He didn’t in the championship either. He won it because he had the best squad by far in the league.
sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe shit
I love Oasis
Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes.
Hence why the prem is famous for “the great escapes”.
I was so confused with seeing 5th last season… Until I remembered we started off with Tuchel
Tuchel only coached 5 matches earning 7 points from 15 possible. The remaining 14 points were from Potter before all of the injuries
Can’t believe that was last season. Feels like years ago we got that handshake fight
More of a handshake tussle but I enjoyed it immensely
The whole Asian cup/afcon thing is wild
Manchester United
I cannot understand how they are still a point of discussion
Something something something Manchester United.
Fucking upvote this comment right now
Biggest club in the league will always be a point of discussion
Currently, a point of ridicule. It is discussion, I guess, so yeah, you are right.
Yeah, good or bad people will talk about United. I certainly didn’t try to imply its because they’re doing well
Biggest club on Instagram means fuck all my brother. Liverpool is still #1 English club for top honours and have won much more than Red Devils in the past 10 years. You lot are living on Fergie and it shows.
biggest club when it comes to bottling W’s.
Not really but keep trying to fit football phrases you learned this week into comments. You’ll get some in in the right context if you keep trying.
Mate just so you know, your comment made no sense whatsoever. But I can’t really be the judge myself can I??
Washed club
Shouldn’t you be posting in /r/Championship this season?
Me neither, people love to hate them I guess 🤷
“A lot of people excited about a tight title race. By the numbers, the leaders from last year (Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United) are all doing worse”
City literally have more points, same with Liverpool. What are you talking about, boss?And Newcastle have less than last year??
Corresponding fixtures, not by game week total
City don’t have more points after 12 games tho. The table you’re seeing shows them having played 11 last season, they had 29 points after 12 games last season.
They are 1 point worse off after 12 games than last season. Arsenal are 3 points worse off after 12 games. Liverpool are obviously doing a lot better.
Man City definitely need de bruyne because they are not the same team without him
I think the dream of Everton going down is Joever
What if they knock off 12 points?
Probs still be safe, this year anyway.
If they’d go to negative then maybe but with the deduction they would have like a point or 2? Burnley, Sheffield and Luton are too terrible sadly
Never underestimate the ability of Everton to Everton themselves. There’s still time (and a points deduction).
Felt good about our performances recently then I saw we were still 10th. I’m depressed.
You should feel good - you can see the glimmering of a club identity and playing style start to come together with Chelsea. Might not make Europe this season, but you should be excited about the future
VAR has somehow become even more of a shit show than ever before has unfortunately been the main takeaway so far this season
The chart actually shows really well which teams have improved from last season.
We’ve learned that Ten Hag has learned nothing
Chelsea… not as bad as they seemed they’d be.
They just needed to gel, like I said.
Can you explain the tables to me? OP says Chelsea have improved by 7 points, but the tables they posted show they’re doing far worse
If we have 12 points more than last season how do we only have 2 more points? Am confused
its comparing the results you got in the same fixtures last year
2 more points when you compare the actual fixture results between this year and last… i.e. we’re objectively better on a game-for-game basis.
The 12 points difference is due to the different fixture schedule then and now.