DEBATE: WILL WE STRUGGLE TO FINISH IN THE TOP FOUR?

I was watching SkySports' Soccer Saturday and when they talked ahead of the game yesterday, Paul Merson said he "worried for Chelsea" and "they are in a battle to finish in the top four this season". Of course his comments at the time had me ranting at the telly claiming that Merse' didn't know what he was talking about. This morning, I have a very different opinion.

I cannot believe I am asking the question once more. I had to do the same last season and I am doing again IN NOVEMBER for crying out loud!.

Let's face a harsh reality here. We are fourth at the moment, level on points with Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal but Spurs have TWO GAMES in hand. The first of their games in hand is against Villa tonight and the other at home against Everton and we had to be honest and see them both being wins for Spurs.

So, forget how the table looks now, we are six points off of fourth place in reality and we have to ask ourselves the question whether or not we will finish in the top four at this early stage of the season which is unthinkable.

Both Spurs and Arsenal are on good runs at the moment and you can only see them continuing their form, Liverpool with the win yesterday will be on a high and face City next week, Chelsea have a series of games now that could at this early stage define our season.

The next run of seven games in the Premier League are games we simply cannot afford to lose now after losing four games already!. Taking us right up to the turn of the year are games against, Wolves (H), Newcastle(A), City(H), Wigan (A), Spurs (A), Fulham (H) and Aston Villa (H).

The trips to Newcastle and Spurs and the home game with City could be six pointers as far as fourth place goes this early in the season and like I said, are games now that we simply cannot afford to lose.

If we do, it could prove all too costly.

So Chelsea fans, based on where we are at, how we have been playing and what you have seen of our season so far, I am asking you all the question:

From pre season title contenders, do we now face a battle to finish in the top four this season?

KTBFFH

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