I'm not discounting them - I'm saying they are nowhere near as good as previous versions over the past 5 seasons and all this talk of them being capable of reeling off 15 straight wins is based on historical data (which they achieved once with a team / squad loaded with class players).
I don't believe this team is anywhere near that standard (a simple look at their lack of squad depth and current first team speaks volumes) and certainly not capable of that.
It may not be necessary to win the title but it's going to be a much tighter league this season.
They've had slow autumns before. They've had benches filled with kids I've never heard of before.
You very well might be correct that this is the start of a (temporary) decline. But I wouldn't be making the error of writing them off just yet.