Will we win the Premier League

[PeterWithesShin]

Some would say in 2017, as an example, the league was stronger. Becasuse the top 6 were the Sky6. Everton a chunk behind in 7th and then a massive gap between them and 8th. It wasn't stronger, the Sky6 were just way stronger than the mediocre to cack 13 other clubs. No side are mugs now as they've closed the gap on those 6, and in many cases over taken them. Chelsea and ManU are proof that the tactic of a decade ago of outspending everyone else is no longer enough.

Even ignoring how well we are doing, this and last season are way better than the endless Sky6 processions in the top 6 and cups.

[algy]

 That's not the same as it being poor or weak. Give me a proper competition any day over one or two teams being streets ahead of the rest.

Same here.

I actually think the difference this season is that the mid level teams (and even those just outside the relegation spots) are really good, but the competition is so tight that the table makes them look bad.

Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, etc have teams that could compete at the top end in other countries - eg Bundesliga.

Yeah. Last season Southampton got £109m in prize money despite finishing bottom. It was £123m for the lowest figure of a side that stayed up (Wolves).

In comparison, Bayern Munich got €107.1m for winning the Bundesliga. Eintract Frankfurt in 4th got €89.4m.

In Spain, Barcelona got €180m (Liverpool got £175m in comparison) and Real Madrid €173m, but it drops off after that - Atletico Madrid got €125m (so less than Wolves) and the prize money for 4th place was €88m.

Even bleaker in Italy - Juventus got €93m, outside of that outside the top 6 it’s all €50m kind of amounts. The winner of Ligue 1 gets €60m.

Money only plays part of it of course, and this doesn’t include champions league money or commercial income, but the point remains that even teams at the bottom end of the premier league would likely win any ‘lesser” European league, and would probably expect to be in or around the Champions League places in Serie A/La Liga/the Bundesliga. The team that finishes 17th in the Premier League is likely better than all bar a dozen teams in the world outside the UK.

[Somniloquism]

Nice of the BBC to run a poll on whether or not we are in the title race.

Options are
Absolutely or You're having a laugh.......

[Mellin]

I hate to shit on the Leicester comparison parade, but the key difference is they were top at this point and had just won at Man City 3-1 around this time of year.

Think they were second, behind Arsenal (albeit on the same number of points)

Stand corrected. Thought City was in Jan and they stayed top from there (from memory). Just checked and it was 6th Feb.

[Mellin]

2016, after 22 games

1 Arsenal 44 points
2 Leicester 44 points
20 Villa 12

We're currently 21 played and 43 points. So right now we're doing better than Leicester were, unfortunately Arsenal are even betterer.

Worth adding off that I was running a line at JLR at the time. One of the ops was Leicester. At the start of the season we bet £20 on who would finish higher. Paid out in about December.