“If the rich could hire someone else to die for them, the poor would make a wonderful living.” (Jewish Proverb)

The Blues still in hunt

A bad beginning, a good end for Chelsea?

By Paul Burrowes

For the first time in the history of the English Premier League, Chelsea FC are in 16th place after match day eight.
The only other season that Chelsea started so badly was in the 1993-94 season when they were in 14th place after eight matches. They finished that season in 14th place.
English top-flight football, however, has not been at its best this 2015-16 season, as leaders Manchester City (18 points) secured the 34th best leaders tally in English top-tier football.
The 2011-12 season was better for the Citizens; in fact it was their best, as they sped to 22 points that season from eight matches, a season they won after edging Manchester United on goal difference — both finishing with 89 points.
Those 22 points after eight matches remained as the second best in EPL history, topped only by Chelsea in in 2005-06 when The Blues grabbed 24 points from the eight matches. Of course Chelsea won that season, their third of five titles.
Despite the Blues poor start, they are expected to finish in fourth place with 72 points, after Manchester City (80 points), Arsenal (78 points), and Manchester United (76 points).
Not surprisingly Chelsea are 13 points below the expected money league ranking, which measures teams' transfer expenditure in signing squad members.
Eden Hazard stands as Chelsea's best player so for the season, but he is outside the top 50 led by Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez, who has scored five goals and added three assists.