Thank you - eloquently penned, and I completely understand and appreciate the symmetry between yourselves and Leicester.I completely understand the Leicester fan's view that their league triumph was the greatest ever and will never be repeated.
But the Manchester City fan's experience has been rather different from Leicester's. Yes, 10 years ago we were both average clubs who had been up and down the divisions and never thought we would ever win a title again. But the difference is, our nearest neighbours and closest rivals have been the most dominant team the country has ever known.
Generations of City fans have grown up not knowing anything other than United winning everything and City being a whipping boy. Everyone under 45 have had our noses rubbed in it our whole life by friends and even family. The arch nemesis overlord of all this was Fergurson who has patronised us at every opportunity, calling us the Noisy Neighbours and saying "Not in My Lifetime".
To finally have a team go toe to toe with them, get 8 points in front, let it slip, then get it back again, only to lose on the final day to QPR would have been absolutely catastrophic. But to actually score 2 goals in injury time, winning the title for the first time in 44 years and snatch the title away from Darth Vader's grasp with the last kick of the season, it will just never get better than that as a City fan.
As I said, I understand Leicester fans thinking their title win would be the best ever. For Leicester, it probably will be. But for a City fan, the way we won it in 2012 will never be equalled. It's impossible, there was too much hurt, too much anguish bottled up over those 44 years that was relieved with one swipe of Aguero's boot. It's impossible to imagine it ever getting better than that.
But we have won the league again in 2014 and 2018 and it was still absolutely fantastic. Especially the 100 points, which we similarly achieved with the last kick of the season. It wasn't as meaningful or as special as 2012, but it was still a brilliant feeling.
So to answer your question, yes of course you should want to win it again, it's still a fantastic experience second and third time around. It will never feel as special as the first time, but then doing it again doesn't make the first time feel any less special ;-)
We thought we could for much of the season, but we still didn't expect it.I believe the ONLY difference (money apart) is expectation. We never (nor the rest of the world) saw IT coming but perhaps your first title win was less of a surprise?
It's probably too soon to say how we think next season will shape up, but it's fun.
Here's my top 4:
Manchester City - In recent years all the Champions always struggle the next season, but City were so good, I don't see a challenger. If someone could get 90 points then maybe we'll be beaten, but the rest of the Premier League is so far behind, I can't see anyone improving to the extent required to challenge City. We also missed Mendy for almost all of last season and played the season without a left back so he'll be like a new signing for us.
Liverpool - I think they will challenge. In some ways they probably should have done better last season. One point worse off after adding Salah's 32 league goals suggests their other players weren't that good. I think they'll get a keeper, they have VVD who is good and have already bought some players which look good on paper. I really rate Shiqiri as well and it looks like they will get him. They could go all the way if they start well and get the self-belief but I think they have really struggled to play their high intensity Cup game to the week in week out grind of the league
The Harry Kane team - Possibly their full backs aren't so good now. Rose doesn't look the same player since his injury and Aurier and Trippier are nowhere near as good as Walker. For me although they play good football they are a bit too cautious and draw too many games, but they will have the boost of a new stadium.
Arsenal - I really rate Lacazette and Aubameyang. I think if they can bring in a central defender to replace Koscielny then they will be back in business and they don't have the CL to worry about
I am ruling out Chelsea. I think Chelsea are going to struggle because I think players like Courtois and maybe Hazard are going to go, and they still have not sorted out the coach's situation. That's really ridiculous.
Man Utd are difficult to predict because they know they have to spend massively to transform that squad, and if they don't it will be back to square 1. I can see hem trying to land Bale or Mbappe, but they have to make a really special signing to transform them. If they went with the team they have now, I don't think they will finish in the top 4.
Leicester. Two problems: How long can vardy go without starting to lose that bit of pace that sets him apart? if Mahrez goes, how well will Leicester spend the £60m plus? An unknown. Could be an opportunity, or it could be near impossible to do. perhaps players like Kelechi will step up and fill the gap.
2nd half of last season
---------------------------PL-W-D-L-G--A--GD
1 Manchester City ----19 14 3 2 46 15 +31 45pts
2 Tottenham-----------19 13 4 2 40 18 +22 43pts
3 Liverpool ------------19 12 4 3 43 15 +28 40pts
4 Manchester United -19 12 3 4 27 14 +13 39pts
and Liverpool dropped a few silly points in the last few games due to the CL SF/final
Gonna be much closer next season unless we go on another long winning run
I would be surprised if salah backs up last season... We will see.So we won both halves of the season, despite being in 4 comps, then 3, and winning 2?
Salah and City will regress to their mean, it will depend who mitigates it better or who has a higher mean. We have an exceptional team and are signing exceptional players. Should be fun
I thought that about Kane after his first big season but he proved me wrong, be interesting to see how Salah goes if he's still there next season.I would be surprised if salah backs up last season... We will see.
Can you please explain this bit here ? In layman terms of course :)So we won both halves of the season, despite being in 4 comps, then 3, and winning 2?
Salah and City will regress to their mean, it will depend who mitigates it better or who has a higher mean. We have an exceptional team and are signing exceptional players. Should be fun
I thought that about Kane after his first big season but he proved me wrong, be interesting to see how Salah goes if he's still there next season.
On topic, Mahrez would be a great signing but these things do drag on a bit, though at least our two main targets are not involved with the World Cup which should help.
Yes....................a translation into "old fashioned " English would be good !!Can you please explain this bit here ? In layman terms of course :)
Can you please explain this bit here ? In layman terms of course :)
My understanding of this that the poster believes that both City and Salah had above expected seasons and therefore unlikely to repeat to the same levels....which of City or Salah drop most from last seasons high levels to their normal levels is going to have big impact
Thank you - eloquently penned, and I completely understand and appreciate the symmetry between yourselves and Leicester.
I believe the ONLY difference (money apart) is expectation. We never (nor the rest of the world) saw IT coming but perhaps your first title win was less of a surprise?
Can you please explain this bit here ? In layman terms of course :)
Yes....................a translation into "old fashioned " English would be good !!
That's a lot better i almost understand it now.
And he is probably right about that. I doubt we will get 100 points again. Less should do it off course. What Salah is concerned he certainly had a season where everything worked for him. I hope he will be less effective next season, because Liverpool will not be able to challenge us unless he repeats his wonder season.“Mean” is basically another way of saying “average”.
So he’s saying Salah and City overachieved last season and will probably return to their normal level next year.
And he is probably right about that. I doubt we will get 100 points again. Less should do it off course. What Salah is concerned he certainly had a season where everything worked for him. I hope he will be less effective next season, because Liverpool will not be able to challenge us unless he repeats his wonder season.