Are Chelsea title contenders?
Some social media platforms and TV programmes were asking this question after the blues' 2-1 win at Leicester on Saturday. I now feel like I have to ask it in this post.
Chelsea are in a very good position in the league as they currently sit in 3rd and at the time of their win over Leicester, they were six points behind leaders Liverpool. That lead has since been extended to nine following Liverpool's win at Southampton on Sunday.
The blues have had a settled starting line up this season, unlike the last two seasons where they changed the team a lot in both. They've looked more like a team this season and this will give them a chance of potentially being up there.
They also have a lot of depth to their squad and especially in attack, where they have some exciting options. They have had to rotate their attack as times this season, but whoever has come in has stepped up when given their opportunity.
In terms of them being title contenders, at the moment I would say no because they're a young team that lack experience, and they also have concerns defensively and in the goalkeeper department.
But if they can keep up their solid start and if Man City's form doesn't improve soon, they could be up there.
Man City should've signed a defensive midfielder in the summer or used Kalvin Phillips more
Man City are missing Rodri more than ever this season. They're looking all over the place defensively as they're conceding a lot of goals, and are missing that midfield player who can dictate play and break up opposition attacks. This tells me that they should've either signed another defensive midfielder as cover for Rodri or Pep should've used Kalvin Phillips more before sending him out on loan.
City missed Rodri in the games he was unavailable for last season as they won just once without him in the side last season. They didn't play a recognised defensive midfielder in those games and because of how much of a miss he was in those games, this should've convinced Pep to bring in a defensive midfield as cover during the summer.
He did however have another recognised defensive midfielder in his squad in Kalvin Phillips, but he never gave him a chance. Rodri was of course their first choice defensive midfielder and the player that Pep trusted the most in that position, but he still could've given Phillips opportunities as you can't play the same players in every game.
Phillips is now out on loan at Ipswich and Pep might regret not giving him enough opportunities to prove himself. Especially as he's without another recognised defensive midfielder in his squad due to Rodri's injury.
Steve Cooper should've been given more time at Leicester
Steve Cooper became only the second managerial casualty of the season over the weekend as he was sacked by Leicester, despite the club being outside the relegation in 16th. This decision did surprise me as I didn't see it coming, but I felt that he deserved more time.
I think he should've been given more time because of the Foxes not being in the relegation zone. The football they played under Cooper wasn't particularly inspiring, but they're still outside the relegation zone and when a club is outside the relegation, they have a good chance of staying up. Out of the three newly promoted clubs, they've been the best of the three as they're higher than the other two who are in the relegation zone.
Although I do feel that he should've been given time, I wasn't sure about the club appointing him in the first place as he previously managed one of their rivals in Nottingham Forest, who still adore him for what he did there.
The fans of Leicester were never really on board with Cooper because of the football they were watching and the fact of him being a former Forest manager. But he still should've had more time.
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