Why we will win the league!

[citymad]

Phil Thompson as unbiased as ever

and he has the candles winning by 4 points. at least make it a little closer big nose.

 

[Saddleworth2]

If you look at form over 6, 8 and 10 games we top the league for each. If current form continues for both clubs we will win by 4 or 5 points.

 

[Manchester33]

If you look at form over 6, 8 and 10 games we top the league for each. If current form continues for both clubs we will win by 4 or 5 points.

The scary thing with that is that we haven't even played well over that period of time. Just managed to grind out wins.

 

[bluenova]

The scary thing with that is that we haven't even played well over that period of time. Just managed to grind out wins.

Not sure it's quite grinding out.

Over 6 games it's 6 wins, 16 scored, 2 conceded. Across five of those games, we conceded just 10 shots, with 5 on target* - while we've had 96 shots (39 on target). Results may have been close in a couple of games, but it's not exactly a grind :) The games against Bournemouth and West Ham could just as easily have been 5-0 as 1-0.

* The most interesting stat in those six matches is that just one team did pretty much as well as the other five combined - 12 shots, and 4 on target against us - and they got beat 6-0.

 

[Manchester33]

Not sure it's quite grinding out.

Over 6 games it's 6 wins, 16 scored, 2 conceded. Across five of those games, we conceded just 10 shots, with 5 on target* - while we've had 96 shots (39 on target). Results may have been close in a couple of games, but it's not exactly a grind :) The games against Bournemouth and West Ham could just as easily have been 5-0 as 1-0.

* The most interesting stat in those six matches is that just one team did pretty much as well as the other five combined - 12 shots, and 4 on target against us - and they got beat 6-0.

I agree that we've been dominant in pretty much every game, but we haven't turned that dominance into comfortable wins IMO.

Take a look at our recent games:

Schalke 2 - 3 City: Had to come from behind and scored the winner right near the end.

Chelsea 0 - 0 City (cup final): Couldn't convert our chances during the 120 minutes. Won on penalties.

City 1 - 0 West Ham: Absolutely battered them, but needed a penalty to break the deadlock.

Bournemouth 0 - 1 City: Again, absolutely battered them. Strange miss-kick goal wins the game, but we did struggle to create many clear opportunities.

City 3 - 1 Watford: We were poor first half, needed a Sterling masterclass to pull us out of trouble.

City 7 - 0 Schalke: Okay, we leathered them. You could say they played a weakened team, but that's their issue, not ours.

Swansea 2 - 3 City: Had to come from 2 - 0 down, 'lucky' penalty for us? Also a very clear offside on our 3rd... it was Liverpool level offside. :')

In all of those games I think it's only Schalke at home that I would say we didn't grind out a win.

 

[Father Paul]

I agree that we've been dominant in pretty much every game, but we haven't turned that dominance into comfortable wins IMO.

Take a look at our recent games:

Schalke 2 - 3 City: Had to come from behind and scored the winner right near the end.

Chelsea 0 - 0 City (cup final): Couldn't convert our chances during the 120 minutes. Won on penalties.

City 1 - 0 West Ham: Absolutely battered them, but needed a penalty to break the deadlock.

Bournemouth 0 - 1 City: Again, absolutely battered them. Strange miss-kick goal wins the game, but we did struggle to create many clear opportunities.

City 3 - 1 Watford: We were poor first half, needed a Sterling masterclass to pull us out of trouble.

City 7 - 0 Schalke: Okay, we leathered them. You could say they played a weakened team, but that's their issue, not ours.

Swansea 2 - 3 City: Had to come from 2 - 0 down, 'lucky' penalty for us? Also a very clear offside on our 3rd... it was Liverpool level offside. :')

In all of those games I think it's only Schalke at home that I would say we didn't grind out a win.

Yes spot on. The positive is that I believe we have another gear to shift into and hopefully with a bit of luck with injuries we will have a big six weeks.

 

[richards30]

de bruyne, stones, fernandinho and dare i say it mendy being back helps us even further for the final push!

 

[bangkokblueballs]

I agree that we've been dominant in pretty much every game, but we haven't turned that dominance into comfortable wins IMO.

Take a look at our recent games:

Schalke 2 - 3 City: Had to come from behind and scored the winner right near the end.

Chelsea 0 - 0 City (cup final): Couldn't convert our chances during the 120 minutes. Won on penalties.

City 1 - 0 West Ham: Absolutely battered them, but needed a penalty to break the deadlock.

Bournemouth 0 - 1 City: Again, absolutely battered them. Strange miss-kick goal wins the game, but we did struggle to create many clear opportunities.

City 3 - 1 Watford: We were poor first half, needed a Sterling masterclass to pull us out of trouble.

City 7 - 0 Schalke: Okay, we leathered them. You could say they played a weakened team, but that's their issue, not ours.

Swansea 2 - 3 City: Had to come from 2 - 0 down, 'lucky' penalty for us? Also a very clear offside on our 3rd... it was Liverpool level offside. :')

In all of those games I think it's only Schalke at home that I would say we didn't grind out a win.

Sorry I have to disagree. The reasons you list ARE the reasons we will win the league. To come back against Schalke like that told me everything I needed to know about this team. The other games have only confirmed it. We have a steel in the team that Liverpool and most other teams don’t have to the same extent. This and superior skill will see us happy come the end of the season

 

[Manchester33]

Sorry I have to disagree. The reasons you list ARE the reasons we will win the league. To come back against Schalke like that told me everything I needed to know about this team. The other games have only confirmed it. We have a steel in the team that Liverpool and most other teams don’t have to the same extent. This and superior skill will see us happy come the end of the season

Yeah I completely agree. My initial point was that on paper our 'form' looks brilliant, but we aren't even playing well (for our standards). The post above was to give some substance to that argument.

The only thing that could stop us winning a domestic treble now is fatigue.

 

[Blue Maverick]

de bruyne, stones, fernandinho and dare i say it mendy being back helps us even further for the final push!

I might get shit for this but for KDB should be used as a sub for most games, he’s nowhere near last season and Bernardo for me starts before him in the middle, bring KDB on if we are absolutely desperate and tiredness has set in, but for me the team is firing in all cylinders, Fernandinho starts ahead of gundogan and stones instead of Otamendi apart from that team pretty much picks itself.

 

[citymad]

I might get shit for this but for KDB should be used as a sub for most games, he’s nowhere near last season and Bernardo for me starts before him in the middle, bring KDB on if we are absolutely desperate and tiredness has set in, but for me the team is firing in all cylinders, Fernandinho starts ahead of gundogan and stones instead of Otamendi apart from that team pretty much picks itself.

Fair point about KDB but one could argue that Ota has been excellent while Stonesy has been out. Such decisions highlights what a fantastic set of players we have.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Fair point about KDB but one could argue that Ota has been excellent while Stonesy has been out. Such decisions highlights what a fantastic set of players we have.

I knew that would be raised, but I just feel Stones has less mistakes in him and a bit more speed at the back.

 

[Marvin]

The scary thing with that is that we haven't even played well over that period of time. Just managed to grind out wins.

That might be true for the last few games but City are on a run of 19 wins in 20 matches (all comps) and in that time we've scored 67 goals.

 

[Marvin]

I might get shit for this but for KDB should be used as a sub for most games, he’s nowhere near last season and Bernardo for me starts before him in the middle, bring KDB on if we are absolutely desperate and tiredness has set in, but for me the team is firing in all cylinders, Fernandinho starts ahead of gundogan and stones instead of Otamendi apart from that team pretty much picks itself.

I thought KDB was approaching his best just before he got injured. We can't possibly play the same 11 anyway game after game. We need a healthy fit confident squad.

 

[Blue Maverick]

I thought KDB was approaching his best just before he got injured. We can't possibly play the same 11 anyway game after game. We need a healthy fit confident squad.

Yep understand that but I just think he doesn’t make at the moment our strongest starting 11

 

[Manchester33]

Yep understand that but I just think he doesn’t make at the moment our strongest starting 11

Based on this season's form, you could argue that: Kompany, Otamendi, Mendy, Gundogan, KDB, Mahrez and Jesus don't make our strongest starting 11. 2 or 3 of those would walk into the other 5 'big 6' starting line ups.

 

[Manchester33]

That might be true for the last few games but City are on a run of 19 wins in 20 matches (all comps) and in that time we've scored 67 goals.

Scary run of form. Even more impressive when you think we've had to deal with a huge fixture pileup and most of our key players having an injury over that period.

 

[KCblue]

Back to business in the coming days! Six points is a must from our next two fixtures.

 

[Marvin]

Yep understand that but I just think he doesn’t make at the moment our strongest starting 11

--------------Ederson
Walker--Stones--Laporte--Zin
---------------Fern
---------KDB---Bernardo
---Sterling---Aguero---Sane

Well Fern and Bernardo are probablay automatic starters in a best XI but who is the 3rd midfielder? Gundog, David Silva, Foden or KDB?

The great thing is that we can rotate players and hardly affect the quality of the side. KDB might not be at 100% but he might be by the end of the season, and to an extent I think Pep will be looking to play him into form.

 

[Father Paul]

--------------Ederson
Walker--Stones--Laporte--Zin
---------------Fern
---------KDB---Bernardo
---Sterling---Aguero---Sane

Well Fern and Bernardo are probablay automatic starters in a best XI but who is the 3rd midfielder? Gundog, David Silva, Foden or KDB?

The great thing is that we can rotate players and hardly affect the quality of the side. KDB might not be at 100% but he might be by the end of the season, and to an extent I think Pep will be looking to play him into form.

Can't see 3 just off the injury list starting. Gundog and Merlin likely to start ahead of Fern and Kevin who will appear after the hour. Stones may have to start. Agree with front three but Pep may give Mahrez a start ahead of Sane. Big week coming up need a win to get the ball rolling and if the attitude is right we will take all the points.