Will we win the league this season?

[Lavinda Past]

City are treading water in 3rd. We fall just short every time we go away to an Arsenal, Newcastle, Villa etc but I think we are entitled to believe that a fit Rodri makes the difference.

I am inclined to agree with you on this Marvin, but I've got a feeling that (if and when) Rodri does come back, we won't see the same player that we saw win the Ballon D'or.

 

[Marvin.]

I am inclined to agree with you on this Marvin, but I've got a feeling that (if and when) Rodri does come back, we won't see the same player that we saw win the Ballon D'or.

Yes that is a question that we we cannot answer at the moment.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

I predict;

City/Leeds - City Win. Chelsea/Arsenal - Draw
Fulham/City - City win. Arsenal/Brentford - Arsenal win
City/Sunderland - City win. Villa/Arsenal- draw
Palace/City - Palace win. Arsenal/Wolves - Arsenal win
City/West Ham - City win. Everton/Arsenal - Arsenal win
Forest/City - draw. Arsenal/Brighton - Arsenal win
Sunderland/City - draw. Arsenal/Villa - Arsenal win

Total points from next 7 games- City 14, Arsenal 17

Not sure these 7 games are the ones to catch Arsenal. Chelsea and Villa away earlier in the run are tough but Palace and Sunderland away are tough as well. Basically 2 of Arsenal's next 3 games are tough and I cas see 2 draws for Arsenal meaning City close the gap to 3 points but thereafter the next 4 should be routine Arsenal wins whereas City have some bastard fixtures against physical sides who will know they can be more physical in the midfield than City.

Realistically (and I know it never works out like this) the one game left where Arsenal won't be favourites is away at the Etihad. City still have to go to Klanfield, Old Toilet etc. So it's not a case of thinking the next 7 games is where Arsenal get reeled in, it's saying from now on City win every single match and keep relentless pressure on which causes the mind to do strange things and ensure they are in a position to win against Arsenal at the Etihad and overtake them there.

Going to be tough. I'm saying this knowing I'm a Gooner on a City forum and not wanting to come about as smug and instead just wanting to be real about it (and not be polite for the sake of it either) but I think the foundations have already been laid for Arsenal, there won't be a bottling as the squad is far bigger so City need to start their run NOW as New Year will be too late. City absolutely can do it of course (IMHO the only team that can) but it needs to start immediately and against some tough teams - it's not like Arsenal are away at the big boys for the rest of the season and City are playing relegation fodder. These are tough matches where there is no margin for error.

I think the frustrating thing for me when Liverpool won their two titles is we didn't keep them honest. If we are five points when you come to our place and the ground is rocking (I know we get shit for our atmosphere, fairly so sometimes, but we turn it on for big games these days and you lot shat yourself the last time) and you get a result then fair play, enjoy your title and see you next year. I just don't want you lot drifting to one like Liverpool did last year.

 

[Lavinda Past]

Yes that is a question that we we cannot answer at the moment.

I'd be happy to see Kovacic return alongside Nico G in the meantime.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

I am inclined to agree with you on this Marvin, but I've got a feeling that (if and when) Rodri does come back, we won't see the same player that we saw win the Ballon D'or.

Completely agree and it's affected so many other components, from defending set pieces to a midfield goal threat, dominating possession, and even providing more space for Foden as Rodri drags opponents out of position.

 

[MCFC1993]

I predict;

City/Leeds - City Win. Chelsea/Arsenal - Draw
Fulham/City - City win. Arsenal/Brentford - Arsenal win
City/Sunderland - City win. Villa/Arsenal- draw
Palace/City - Palace win. Arsenal/Wolves - Arsenal win
City/West Ham - City win. Everton/Arsenal - Arsenal win
Forest/City - draw. Arsenal/Brighton - Arsenal win
Sunderland/City - draw. Arsenal/Villa - Arsenal win

Total points from next 7 games- City 14, Arsenal 17

Not sure these 7 games are the ones to catch Arsenal. Chelsea and Villa away earlier in the run are tough but Palace and Sunderland away are tough as well. Basically 2 of Arsenal's next 3 games are tough and I cas see 2 draws for Arsenal meaning City close the gap to 3 points but thereafter the next 4 should be routine Arsenal wins whereas City have some bastard fixtures against physical sides who will know they can be more physical in the midfield than City.

Realistically (and I know it never works out like this) the one game left where Arsenal won't be favourites is away at the Etihad. City still have to go to Klanfield, Old Toilet etc. So it's not a case of thinking the next 7 games is where Arsenal get reeled in, it's saying from now on City win every single match and keep relentless pressure on which causes the mind to do strange things and ensure they are in a position to win against Arsenal at the Etihad and overtake them there.

Going to be tough. I'm saying this knowing I'm a Gooner on a City forum and not wanting to come about as smug and instead just wanting to be real about it (and not be polite for the sake of it either) but I think the foundations have already been laid for Arsenal, there won't be a bottling as the squad is far bigger so City need to start their run NOW as New Year will be too late. City absolutely can do it of course (IMHO the only team that can) but it needs to start immediately and against some tough teams - it's not like Arsenal are away at the big boys for the rest of the season and City are playing relegation fodder. These are tough matches where there is no margin for error.

Assuming we play to our best and you find your hard games tough, I'd go:

City	Arsenal
Leeds (H) - Win	Chelsea (A) - Draw
Fulham (A) - Win	Brentford (H) - Win
Sunderland (H) - Win	Villa (A) - Loss
Palace (A) - Loss	Wolves (H) - Win
West Ham (H) - Win	Everton (A) - Draw
Forest (A) - Win	Brighton (H) - Win
Sunderland (A) - Win	Villa (H) - Win

18 points City - Losing to Palace (A)
14 points Arsenal - Drawing to Chelsea (A), Everton (A) and losing to Villa (A).

I think the timeslot of the Everton game makes it tough for you.

I also think our Sunderland (A) game is a lot easier than it was for you, they have 8 or 9 at AFCON. 4 of which started against you and 2 came on.


That's my optimistic view, realistic is we get about the same points.

 

[citymad]

If they can just swat aside one of the best teams in Europe then theres not many teams they’ll fear. Arteta has created a machine that’s taking care of business. Mentally they’re strong and physically powerful.

 

[argyle]

If they can just swat aside one of the best teams in Europe then theres not many teams they’ll fear. Arteta has created a machine that’s taking care of business. Mentally they’re strong and physically powerful.

Taken him 5 years and lots of money to do it and many fans and pundits calling for his sacking inbetween.

We're at the start of a rebuild, but I'm not sure after tasting success that some fans will have the patience to allow us to build.

 

[SamBlue]

This thread still active? :)

 

[.db.]

stay in reach 7pts or less untill the new year, dont know the fixture date of Arsenal at home but win that its game on

18th April. What’s nagging me about that game is that Arsenal have won the league at Anfield, Old Trafford, White Hart Lane twice and Stamford Bridge twice, so have a history of winning the league at the big grounds.

 

[Gorbachev]

Even if we stay in reach, you have to look at the trajectory and overall average performance you are getting from this City team.

We are a competent team, but we have just not got the level of quality within us yet to consistently make a dint at a title charge week in week out.

Europe however, I could see us doing a Chelsea 2021.

We are where Arsenal were a few years ago where they were "competing", but you knew they just didn't have enough to get over the line and that we were by far the superior team at the time.

The level between us and Arsenal might not be much in regards to points, but it is quite a distance away in regards to performance and consistency.

I think if we were to play Arsenal 10 times, we would probably win about 3 of them at the moment.

 

[Damanino]

problem is all these away matches:
Chelsea
rags
dippers
Palace
Bournemouth
Spurs
and add in likes of Fulham, Everton, Sunderland, Forest as tricky if we underestimate them and let them win second balls or we dont take our chances and give away easy goals etc.

this is 10 more games, 30 points to play for, but with how Pep doing away from home, there could good couple losses in these still.

btw we have 13 more away games left, only lesser opponents on top of above are Burnley, Leeds, WHU. the rest all are hard-tricky category.
while our display was dogshit overall in away games to Arse, Brighton, Newcastle, Villa already. Wolves is horrible we did well vs them and Brentford away was a tight but good 1-0 win.

we are just not great away from home in the league.

for comparison last two titles we won we did 37 of 57 away from home in 22-23 and 44 of 57 in 23-24. only 29 points last season tho. dont see any more than that this season unless serious improvement in how we approach away games anyone that isnt WHU, Wolves, Burnley level.

Palace away a good test if we learned anything. Glasner is sound tactically to spot our weaknesses and punish them. are we looking to counter this tho? if not very little chance we get a win there. we have a better squad but our application and tactics needs to be better too

 

[Roachy]

This thread still active? :)

For now.

 

[citymad]

18th April. What’s nagging me about that game is that Arsenal have won the league at Anfield, Old Trafford, White Hart Lane twice and Stamford Bridge twice, so have a history of winning the league at the big grounds.

Wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve won the league well before then. We have to remain pretty much perfect from now on to stay on their coat tails. Not impossible but highly unlikely. We’ll know more after Arsenal’s game against Chelsea.

 

[Bluearmy]

Even if we stay in reach, you have to look at the trajectory and overall average performance you are getting from this City team.

We are a competent team, but we have just not got the level of quality within us yet to consistently make a dint at a title charge week in week out.

Europe however, I could see us doing a Chelsea 2021.

We are where Arsenal were a few years ago where they were "competing", but you knew they just didn't have enough to get over the line and that we were by far the superior team at the time.

The level between us and Arsenal might not be much in regards to points, but it is quite a distance away in regards to performance and consistency.

I think if we were to play Arsenal 10 times, we would probably win about 3 of them at the moment.

Theres an improvement this season (could hardly be worse than last seasons shit show). However we are 3 or 4 players away from challenging seriously for the title. RB, CM and both wings imo.

The goal situation (or lack of) is a huge concern, outside of Haaland.

Foden, Doku, Cherki and Reijnders all got 1 goal each in the league.

Savinho/Bobb/Bernardo/Marmoush all have zero goals in the league. This cant be allowed to go on any longer...

 

[SatOnTheWall]

Just win the next game, please, City.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

One for my fellow motorsport nerds but Arsenal are the Oscar Piastri to our Max Verstappen.

 

[DelToro]

One for my fellow motorsport nerds but Arsenal are the Oscar Piastri to our Max Verstappen.

Arsenal are Red Rum.

City are Betsy the Shirehorse

 

[philiph20]

Arsenal

Arsenal are Red Rum.

City are Betsy the Shirehorse

Sadly at the money you're right but we can always hope for a Devon Loch moment.

 

[Roachy]

Theres an improvement this season (could hardly be worse than last seasons shit show). However we are 3 or 4 players away from challenging seriously for the title. RB, CM and both wings imo.

The goal situation (or lack of) is a huge concern, outside of Haaland.

Foden, Doku, Cherki and Reijnders all got 1 goal each in the league.

Savinho/Bobb/Bernardo/Marmoush all have zero goals in the league. This cant be allowed to go on any longer...

We may well need to look at the CB positions as well. I think we'll need at least 1 of the absolute highest quality