How close are we to challenging City & Liverpool ?

[$hoguN]

Based on the evidence of this season, pretty damn far.

If Paratici gets the players we want, then that gap will close. How far? Who knows… I’m fucking excited to find out though

 

[crokey]

After a good Summer we could be close to fighting for a "normal" PL title. But Liverpool and City are the 2 best teams the PL has ever seen.

If we end up even in the conversation it would be our best ever season.

 

[spurs mental]

I've always believed it's hard for a team to maintain their level for 3 seasons, it's why nobody has won it 3 times in a row since the late 00's.

City have just won it twice in a row, Liverpool the season before.

City obviously have gotten 2 signings done already and will probably replace Fernandinho and a couple of others wouldn't be surprising, but I won't be shocked if they don't win it next season.

Liverpool have done the Diaz move early and will probably sign a couple as well, Henderson and Milner are getting on, and one of Salah or Mane looks like moving on.

We need to get every signing we make this summer right. I do strongly believe that we can get closer to these two, if either or both under perform slightly I think we'll be there to take advantage.

 

[arunspurs]

Absolutely miles off.

7 wins and 1 draw

We cant take the gap that existed prior to Conte coming in...same way, Conte also needed time to get the best of the squad.

Last 14 games is a nice data set (1/3rd of a season) to compare...

Club	WIN	DRAW	LOSS	Points	Goals scored	Goals conceded	Goal difference
City	10	3	1	33	42	10	+32
Liverpool	12	2	0	38	33	7	+26
Spurs	10	2	2	32	38	7	+31

Certainly City Liverpool are next level, in that they not only did this in PL but same time performed admirably in other competitions as well.
At the same time, its also not easy to do what Conte did. No chance that Klopp or Pep does this mid season if they took over us instead of Conte.

We are certainly not miles off. Key is consistency. For that, we need additional signings. We have the pedigree of a great manager. Current squad is also responding to that great manager.

Give him the right ingredients & watch that gap in PL close.

 

[Serpico]

Closer than Arsenal.

 

[vegassd]

A lot of factors to consider, and I think that for each season that City and Liverpool have been scrapping each other, their club mentality gets stronger and stronger. Seeing Liverpool playing in game #62 or whatever it is and still digging in to find 2 goals in the last 10 minutes yesterday is incredibly impressive.

Obviously Conte is a winner and we have seen a huge improvement in terms of our own mentality these last few months. But there is a difference between performing under pressure during a league-only run in, and then being battle hardened across 4 competitions like the City and Pool are.

Next season may (or may not) see an improved Man U, a more capable Newcastle and Arsenal/West Ham seeing gradual improvement if they make the right moves in the transfer window. The "big games" will be every other week and I would fancy us struggling to keep up the consistency and mental intensity as well as the top 2 are already doing.

If we can improve our goals scored by 10-15 over the season and reduce goals conceded by 10 that's a huge step forward but still might be not enough to challenge for the title. And those numbers are a pretty big ask in my view.

 

[dimiSpur]

If one considers that with a system that relies on wingbacks, he's got limited options and has nonetheless managed to get 27 points from the last 11 games (that's 93 over a full season), then with the right backing, I do think we can get pretty close. They have to drop off at some point, they can't both keep getting 90+ points every season. My money is on Liverpool perhaps dropping off a little next season. City have won it twice in a row, the hunger will drop a little, it's unavoidable. It wouldn't be the most shocking thing to ever happen if we run them close, I truly believe it.

Imagine we back Conte and sign a really good wingback either side, with Doherty & Sessegnon as backups. Swap GLC for Pau Torres and stick him at the back with Romero & Davies. Get another CM in that can make the difference (like a Bissouma). Snap up Eriksen on a free. That's not difficult business I've just described nor does it require massive funds. And all of a sudden you have a real, quality squad with options to bolster the attacking third too if Stevie B or Lucas depart. I'd go in for Pope too, first thing I said when Burnley's relegation was confirmed, to push Hugo who is susceptible to errors.

Dare, Dream, Do the club told us...!

 

[PCozzie]

Think realistically we are a couple of seasons away, and that is assuming the natural cycle of 'things' brings them both down a peg and that we keep Conte and build much greater squad depth. I'd be delighted (but a little surprised) if we were to mount a season long title challenge next year. I suspect we will be a good third place, assuming Chelsea can't sort themselves out.

What we do this summer will set the tone for the next five, or even ten, years. Get it right and we could find ourselves on the ascendency just as City and Liverpool are having a breather.

 

[Spursmatty87]

Realistically I can’t see how we challenge. There is a lot of work to be done. To match their squads you are probably looking at improvement on Sanchez, Tanganga/Rodon, Reggie/Sess, Royal/Doc. That’s 4 defenders to push for starting places before you even get on to midfielders.

top 3 next season would be massive improvement and hitting 80+ points.

 

[max cady]

the key for me is holding on to Conte, we need to extend his contract and he must have the desire. That together with a few good signings should see us mount a proper challenged not just for prem but the cups also.

 

[Gollorius]

I'd like to see us consolidate Top 4 next season while closing the gap on the top 2. We have over 20 points to make up so we need to aim for a minimum of 25 wins. We just got 22 (more than Chelsea btw). 30 is unrealistic, not even City and Liverpool managed it this season. If we can also cap our defeats at 6 (11 this season), then I think that puts us in a good position to mount a serious challenge the following season. All based on City and Liverpool maintaining their form so who knows what could happen.

 

[spursfan77]

Next season nobody knows how the world cup will effect things. If England get far we have it's effect on Kane. Liverpool have Salah not going to the competition. Man City will have loads of players there. So much can happen. Honestly, I don't think anyone can say anything with any certainty over next season. We should recruit with it in mind, I know that.

 

[mil1lion]

It always annoys me when pundits talk about years for teams to challenge. A common one is 5 years. I never understood how anyone can put a time like that. I mean we were finishing above Liverpool up until 2 years before they won the title. With a top manager and key signings it can be done in good time. I can absolutely see Conte doing for us what Klopp has done. We've seen what difference 2 signings made in January. Our first team is very strong now but we need a much stronger squad as we can't rest as much in the CL.

We made up 10 points on last season but need another 20 for a title push so it's still a big climb. However there is no line to wait in and no time we need to allow for before we challenge. Conte has done it before so give him what he wants and anything is possible.

 

[mil1lion]

We need to stop the Brighton, Southampton and Burnley performances. If we consistently start beating the teams we should beat. (Anything below the top 6) then I think we have a great chance as I’d back Conte to come up with a plan to get enough points from the top teams.

Well Burnley away won't happen now so that's already a good start

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

Despite our recent improvements we will struggle to challenge the top 2 because of our lack of squad depth. Beyond our first 13-15 we have very little. Levy needs to be prepared to throw some serious cash in Conte's direction to deepen the squad to help us cope with CL. I'm not convinced he will.

 

[Serpico]

The narrative with arsenal supporters , they only play when the pressure is off. Couldn’t be more wrong for me. They are not good enough, for how much they try in the big games. It’s not nerves it quality. We have the quality when it matters. You can look at experience and age and although that can be a factor, Arsenal were only as good as WHU and MU were poor. We were able to keep in there, the runner in a long distance race who hangs in on the shoulder and able to do a sprint finish. Arsenal got blocked in behind the leader. The Conte factor is huge against the Arteta squib .

 

[Khilari]

First we have to hope Conte stays. Even this seems less than clear.

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

With a couple of key signings, we could probably put out a first XI close to theirs. Squad-wise though, it's not likely we'll get close, even with a good summer.

 

[mil1lion]

In terms of signings I really feel we need a few experienced winners. It's good to sign young players too and if we can get another 3 like Romero, Bentancur and Kulusevski it will be huge. However we also really could do with players who have won titles. Even a Thiago Silva type of signing can help (would love Chiellini but doubt he comes to England). Ideally though a couple of peak players rather than potential whi are used to winning things. We have Son and Kane in their peak so to get a couple more already developed would go a long way.

 

[dricha1]

Things that need to happen outside of signings;

1 - make home a fortress. City and liverpool rarely lose at home

2 - our record against current top 4 is ok, better than Liverpool’s……but we need to be flat-track bullies again. We were this under Poch, but our record against the so-called top 6 was woeful

3 - 12pts lost to Chelsea and United, mentally have to be better at the historically bad away days.

Conte can definitely sort most of these