If someone looked at the tables in Europe's top 7 leagues at this moment not a single 22-23 champion is at the top. Benfica is second. City, Bayern, Barca, and PSG are third. Feyenoord are 4th and Napoli 5th. Every major title is a great accomplishment. Our 4th in a row in this particular league will be all the more exceptional...
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The Title Race - 2023/24
- Thread starter MCFC1993
- Start date
You can spin everything into a negative if that's your prerogative. So tell me, life on the line right now, who wins the Prem this year...Okay for the most part, but nothing exceptional until the substitutions.
Man City, and I say that as an Arsenal fan. Still by far the team to beat with the greatest managerYou can spin everything into a negative if that's your prerogative. So tell me, life on the line right now, who wins the Prem this year...
Clearly we score a lot of deflected goals every season, and I agree with the argument that if you take enough shots, then you're more likely to get that deflection.Luck is a made up hindsight-based entity in the same bracket as other things that don’t exist like fate and omens etc.
Whether shots are rocketing in the top corner or going to the corner flag and take a deflection that go in, they’ve worked a situation that could lead to a goal… and did so 8 more times than we did in the game. That’s not luck, that’s just doing more than we did.
However, if we'd had twenty shots, and they'd had just that one, the score would have been the same. That would surely have been nearer to the non-superstitious definition of "lucky".
Still - the xG of the game suggested that while they created more chances, those they did create were a lot poorer than ours, suggesting they were lucky to beat us.
They bombed at least half a dozen shots well over the goal that were a complete waste of time. Alvarez did it once for us. That said we do seem to be looking for the perfect shot much too much. The crazy part is many times we get it but not lately...Clearly we score a lot of deflected goals every season, and I agree with the argument that if you take enough shots, then you're more likely to get that deflection.
However, if we'd had twenty shots, and they'd had just that one, the score would have been the same. That would surely have been nearer to the non-superstitious definition of "lucky".
Still - the xG of the game suggested that while they created more chances, those they did create were a lot poorer than ours, suggesting they were lucky to beat us.
You can spin everything into a negative if that's your prerogative. So tell me, life on the line right now, who wins the Prem this year...
Manchester City, as Pep has history of finding solutions. At this stage, I'm interested only in the performances as it's too early to think of the title.
Agreed...Manchester City, as Pep has history of finding solutions. At this stage, I'm interested only in the performances as it's too early to think of the title.
Bluemoonadam
Well-Known Member
There's 2 games that are guaranteed losses spurs away and Liverpool away, we will not win them 2.
OK - so what was the point of citing 12 shots to 4 in Arsenal's favour?I didn’t say they were. I’m just saying that a shot that deflects in the net isn’t lucky (or unlucky for us).
Scaring Europe to Death
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 31 Oct 2014
- Messages
- 5,142
Just been checking the starts from recent seasons, as sometimes what you remember isn’t quite the same as what actually happened.
After 8 Games:
2016-17 19 (3rd)
2017-18 22 (Champions)
2018-19 19 (Champions)
2019-20 17 (2nd)
2020-21 12 (Champions)
2021-22 17 (Champions)
2022-23 20 (Champions
2023-24 18 ?
You could literally interpret it both ways, especially as our worst start under Guardiola still resulted in City being crowned Champions.
Similarly, although we didn't have a disastrous start to 2019-20, I'd forgotten that Liverpool were already 24/24
However, it doesn’t necessarily follow that City always finish strongly, as during 2020-21, it was the middle third, when every single result seemed to fall in our favour, and we suddenly found ourselves 9-10 points clear.
Towards the end, we lost 3 games in the last few minutes.
Our best finishes have tended to be when Liverpool have pushed us all the way and we’ve literally had to win every game.
In terms of results, the most similar start to this season is the last campaign under Pellegrini when we won our first 5 games before losing 2-1 at home to West Ham, and then 4-1 at Tottenham.
This season, aside from the three promoted teams, and maybe Bournemouth, there seems to be an abundance of potentially awkward fixtures, and whilst the Top Ten might all take points off each other, it's worth remembering that emotionally unstable Arsenal dropped all manner of stupid points last Spring, as soon as things started going wrong.
After 8 Games:
2016-17 19 (3rd)
2017-18 22 (Champions)
2018-19 19 (Champions)
2019-20 17 (2nd)
2020-21 12 (Champions)
2021-22 17 (Champions)
2022-23 20 (Champions
2023-24 18 ?
You could literally interpret it both ways, especially as our worst start under Guardiola still resulted in City being crowned Champions.
Similarly, although we didn't have a disastrous start to 2019-20, I'd forgotten that Liverpool were already 24/24
However, it doesn’t necessarily follow that City always finish strongly, as during 2020-21, it was the middle third, when every single result seemed to fall in our favour, and we suddenly found ourselves 9-10 points clear.
Towards the end, we lost 3 games in the last few minutes.
Our best finishes have tended to be when Liverpool have pushed us all the way and we’ve literally had to win every game.
In terms of results, the most similar start to this season is the last campaign under Pellegrini when we won our first 5 games before losing 2-1 at home to West Ham, and then 4-1 at Tottenham.
This season, aside from the three promoted teams, and maybe Bournemouth, there seems to be an abundance of potentially awkward fixtures, and whilst the Top Ten might all take points off each other, it's worth remembering that emotionally unstable Arsenal dropped all manner of stupid points last Spring, as soon as things started going wrong.
Even though I don't think we've been great this season, I have a feeling this loss is going to be one that lights a fire up our arse. Rodri's back now, that loss will motivate our players no end, especially seeing the reaction to it post game.
manimanc
Well-Known Member
Are we out of it after yesterday?
John Wayne
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 9 Mar 2007
- Messages
- 3,792
Yes. No way can we possibly make up two points on Spurs and Arsenal with only 30 games to go.Are we out of it after yesterday?
It’s only been the last two games that we haven’t created many chances so it’s hardly a crisis but it’s still a problem as tend to be packing midfield ti cover Rodri’s absence which has failed . We need to get speed on the flanks and start using pace ti attack and get service to haaland . Also we really do need to sign a left back
Impossible situation. We find ourselves in .Yes. No way can we possibly make up two points on Spurs and Arsenal with only 30 games to go.
ChicagoBlue
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 10 Jan 2009
- Messages
- 21,773
Untenable!
its a Barm
Well-Known Member
I said last year that I really wanted 3 in a row and would try and stay relaxed about this year upto now I have you know we can't win every year its just not possible, yes we have the best squad and manager in the world but sometimes it just doesn't happen, we had the greatest season ever last year better than anyone's ever, I'm sure we will be very competitive throughout the season and I'm sure we will win a pot or two.
It's difficult but I'm trying not to be a spoilt brat.
It's difficult but I'm trying not to be a spoilt brat.
supercity88
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 9 Aug 2009
- Messages
- 15,701
Just been checking the starts from recent seasons, as sometimes what you remember isn’t quite the same as what actually happened.
After 8 Games:
2016-17 19 (3rd)
2017-18 22 (Champions)
2018-19 19 (Champions)
2019-20 17 (2nd)
2020-21 12 (Champions)
2021-22 17 (Champions)
2022-23 20 (Champions
2023-24 18 ?
You could literally interpret it both ways, especially as our worst start under Guardiola still resulted in City being crowned Champions.
Similarly, although we didn't have a disastrous start to 2019-20, I'd forgotten that Liverpool were already 24/24
However, it doesn’t necessarily follow that City always finish strongly, as during 2020-21, it was the middle third, when every single result seemed to fall in our favour, and we suddenly found ourselves 9-10 points clear.
Towards the end, we lost 3 games in the last few minutes.
Our best finishes have tended to be when Liverpool have pushed us all the way and we’ve literally had to win every game.
In terms of results, the most similar start to this season is the last campaign under Pellegrini when we won our first 5 games before losing 2-1 at home to West Ham, and then 4-1 at Tottenham.
This season, aside from the three promoted teams, and maybe Bournemouth, there seems to be an abundance of potentially awkward fixtures, and whilst the Top Ten might all take points off each other, it's worth remembering that emotionally unstable Arsenal dropped all manner of stupid points last Spring, as soon as things started going wrong.
It's been a good start considering we do tend to start slowly and have had a lot of injuries/Rodri's suspension. Ideally we'd have another 3pts and be top by 1pt still, but whilst our fixtures have been okay on paper, that doesn't usually stop us dropping points at the start of the season.
So far there isn't a stand out side, but everyone knows if we click into gear we'll take some stopping. Stones and Rodri coming back takes us up a level and hopefully we get through the internationals unscathed. We've also had 4 away games in a row. Get back home, give the players a lift and hopefully we can go and win the upcoming games. Brighton, Rags, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Liverpool. A good opportunity for us to come together and show we're still by far the best side in the world!