Will we win the league this season?

Manchester33 said:
In today's starting lineup we had:

Haaland: 25
Doku: 23
Foden: 25
Gonzalez: 23
O'Reily: 20
Gvardiol: 23

That's 6/11 who are 25 or younger.

Donarumma is 26 which is young for a goalkeeper.

On the bench we had:

Trafford: 23
Cherki: 22
Ait-Nouri: 24
Savinho: 21
Khusanov: 21
Lewis: 21

So, you can't exactly say our team is old. We're a very young squad that you would expect to peak in 5+ years.

So, based on that, I disagree with the bold point about squad age.

We really need an out and out RB. A centre back who can stay fit and partner Gvardiol would be helpful too. If Kovacic and Rodri don't sort out their fitness, then we need another CDM. 3 transfers could sort the squad out.
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I never said that the team was old. I said that most of the starting XI are 25+. It's a team that's largely built to win now. O'Reilly is the one with real room to develop. He's still less than 50 senior appearances in.

Donnarumma - 26
Dias -28
Rodri - 29
Foden - 25
Bernardo - 30
Haaland - 25

That's the spine of the team. The heart of the team. When everyone is fit.

The average age of the overall squad is approximately 26.5. That's an ideal average. You ideally want most of your key players to be 25-28.

This is Pep's preferred XI:

Haaland (25)

Doku (23)----Reijnders (27) Foden (25)---Bernardo (31)
Rodri (29)

O'Reilly (20)---Gvardiol (23)---Dias (28)---Nunes (27)

Donnarumma (26)

​
 
Pep had a lot to say in his post match press conference. If you want to watch it, you can find it. It's worth listening to in explanation of the Fulham game and what we watched and for Pep's thoughts on the title race.

His key comment I thought was the team who wins the Premier League is the team who grows. This is a point I have been making continuously. Out of Arsenal, City and Chelsea, you can make a good case that City have the highest potential.
 
We need to change a lot to get near

Having said that, if Arsenal dont win it from here it will be the biggest bottle job and failure in history....and the meltdown on AFTV would be epic
 
Ric said:
I think it’s probably more down to the fixtures tbh. Arsenal have already been to Anfield, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge whereas our away games, on paper at least, haven’t been as tough so far. I’m pleased that we’re second, obviously, but Arsenal are a much better side than us at the moment.
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At the moment.

And that’s the key. We have superior experience to do what they fail to do.

We are winning this league.
 
Ric said:
Seems absolutely insane really that we’re only two points behind Arsenal (albeit having played a game extra).
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Maybe arsenal actually aren’t this all conquering invincible team that some of the posters on this forum talk them up to be.
 
simon23 said:
We need to change a lot to get near

Having said that, if Arsenal dont win it from here it will be the biggest bottle job and failure in history....and the meltdown on AFTV would be epic
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Maybe just a fit Rodri and a way of integrating Cherki?
… and Arsenal having their customary wobble after Christmas.
 
I’ve said it many times and I’ll probably say it many more. Don’t let Arsenal build an early unassailable lead like the Dippers did last season and we will reel them in during the new year.

They are going to need that breathing space because the pressure on them and their manager to win the title is going to be on a level not seen in the league in years. And I don’t believe they have the plsying or management group to cope with it.

Our job is to be there to apply that pressure
 
T'was the Bard of Avon that with a flick of his quill wrote the immortal line "To be, or not to be: That is the question:" And somewhat I find Hamlet's thoughts very comparable to this season.

Hamlet may well of been weighing up the pain of living against the unknown fear of dying. He saw death as a sleep that could end his suffering, but the possibility of nightmares in that sleep makes him choose to continue enduring life's difficulties. In a similar way I've been weighing up the pain of losing the league against the unknown fear of Arsenal winning the league and the possibility of the nightmares thereafter.

I find myself in a bit of a dilemma.
Where are we in comparison to past City teams under Peps tenure - miles off would be my answer. I think we are kidding ourselves if we think three to five players aren't required. A genuine quality right back is a must, Nunes has improved but that's not enough to be considered where we want to be. Another defensive midfielder or a fully fit Rodri back as soon as possible. Another winger, Doku has just about done enough to be given more time but Savinho and possibly Bobb needs selling. I'd be happy to see if Bobb can find another position first. A genuine world class creative midfielder and a striker to ease the big mans load upfront.

Have we improved from last season - yes without a shadow of a doubt. I think we can see the first green shoots coming through. Our short quick passing is growing in confidence. Ok it doesn't always work but remember we are a team in transition, just a few players I feel aren't coming along at the same rate and it's hampering that progress. Maybe not hampering but it's certainly providing a few bumps in the road.

All of that said we are tonight currently sitting two points behind the heir to the throne so are we better than we think we are? I would say no because you can see other teams in most games we've played this season have at some point taken the game to us and are far more open to having a go. We do have a soft underbelly.

Can we win the league - damn right we can. I think we will continue to improve, we wont go backwards nor stand still and Arteta will know that. No leading team wants Manchester City on their heels, we know what that pressure felt like when it was Liverpool. And Pep knows that.

Will we win the league - ah!
Now thats my Hamlet moment I'm currently musing in my head. So for now I will happily take out a cigar and listen to Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Air on the G string' (if you're an foc like me you'll remember the Hamlet cigar advert) and chill the fuck out and enjoy the ride. Up the Blues!

 
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this reminds me a lot of klopps first few season at liverpool so exciting to watch going forward but absolutely awful at the back
 
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