Will we win the league this season?

[WestGorton]

A resounding maybe from me

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

At the moment.

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

We are winning this league.

Not with our midfield we won't.
The only players with experience of killing the opposition off (Rodri excluded)have left the club.
Experience means fuck all unless it's on the pitch, not on the badge.

 

[Lavinda Past]

We don’t usually it form till after Chrimbo so we’re on course for the title Arsenal will have a blip you can be sure of that

I am beginning to think that Rodri is being kept 'under wraps' until the new year, and suspect that we'll sign at least two in the January window, (with a few being persuaded towards the exit door).

Whether or not that will make any difference is anyone's guess. However, if we don't make changes in January, I think we're destined to run out of steam (and ideas) before the end of March, and will be hanging on for a top 4/5 place.

Our midfield is too weak without Rodri and Kovacic, and our attack is over-reliant on Haaland and Foden.
Anderson and Semenyo are the latest media rumours... to be honest, I think they're the type of signings that could get us over the line.

 

[wolviedinho]

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

Our job is to win the league not sit potentially 5 points adrift. A stable city team leads this league at this stage. Shipping goals and falling apart under pressure is not some hidden sign that suddenly we can click.

No one believed we were secure in that game at any point.

Wishing us to be better is great, maybe Santa can lend us a different reindeer? -:)

The team is currently a mixture of possession, passive play to counter and not being able to keep hold of the ball. The press is hit and miss throughout the 90 min. Injury to Rodri is not an excuse anymore after spending a ton.

Defending is atrocious from front to back, midfield is physically weak and sluggish.

It a mess.

We shouldn’t be chasing Arsenal hoping for a slip, we should be 1st. That change in mentality is reflected in the current squad.

Amazed we are second. Maybe miracles do happen? On second thought….nah -:)

Never a dull moment tho.

 

[the blue panther]

I am beginning to think that Rodri is being kept 'under wraps' until the new year, and suspect that we'll sign at least two in the January window, (with a few being persuaded towards the exit door).

Whether or not that will make any difference is anyone's guess. However, if we don't make changes in January, I think we're destined to run out of steam (and ideas) before the end of March, and will be hanging on for a top 4/5 place.

Our midfield is too weak without Rodri and Kovacic, and our attack is over-reliant on Haaland and Foden.
Anderson and Semenyo are the latest media rumours... to be honest, I think they're the type of signings that could get us over the line.

It's refreshing to be linked with a couple of very good and physically strong players who would definitely improve the squad, and be long term assets.
I know he isn't available currently but the other guy I'd break the bank for is Van Der Venn from Spurs - a speed merchant like the last one we signed from there. Then, we'd be looking at another few in a row, if not this year, next year.
So, please Santa......!

 

[the blue panther]

Our job is to win the league not sit potentially 5 points adrift. A stable city team leads this league at this stage. Shipping goals and falling apart under pressure is not some hidden sign that suddenly we can click.

No one believed we were secure in that game at any point.

Wishing us to be better is great, maybe Santa can lend us a different reindeer? -:)

The team is currently a mixture of possession, passive play to counter and not being able to keep hold of the ball. The press is hit and miss throughout the 90 min. Injury to Rodri is not an excuse anymore after spending a ton.

Defending is atrocious from front to back, midfield is physically weak and sluggish.

It a mess.

We shouldn’t be chasing Arsenal hoping for a slip, we should be 1st. That change in mentality is reflected in the current squad.

Amazed we are second. Maybe miracles do happen? On second thought….nah -:)

Never a dull moment tho.

Just giving my head a wobble as I look at the league table.........yep: 2nd. And Haaland broke his record. And we won away - and scored 5. So, we conceded 4 - just enjoy; this is City!

 

[SouthStander12]

If we can get Rodri and Cherki fully fit and purchase a RB in Jan we have every chance! I just hope Reijnders keeps progressing now.

 

[Danny Tiatto]

Our job is to win the league not sit potentially 5 points adrift. A stable city team leads this league at this stage. Shipping goals and falling apart under pressure is not some hidden sign that suddenly we can click.

No one believed we were secure in that game at any point.

Wishing us to be better is great, maybe Santa can lend us a different reindeer? -:)

The team is currently a mixture of possession, passive play to counter and not being able to keep hold of the ball. The press is hit and miss throughout the 90 min. Injury to Rodri is not an excuse anymore after spending a ton.

Defending is atrocious from front to back, midfield is physically weak and sluggish.

It a mess.

We shouldn’t be chasing Arsenal hoping for a slip, we should be 1st. That change in mentality is reflected in the current squad.

Amazed we are second. Maybe miracles do happen? On second thought….nah -:)

Never a dull moment tho.

So basically you are saying that winning a league should only ever be done in one way.

I completely disagree. The team you are describing is still potentially a season or two away but that absolutely does not mean we give up on this years title.

It might not be our finest ever title win but they all count. And our best path to victory this season is hanging off the shoulder of a team renown for struggling when the pressure ramps up and then make our move in the final straight.

 

[Danny Tiatto]

I am beginning to think that Rodri is being kept 'under wraps' until the new year, and suspect that we'll sign at least two in the January window, (with a few being persuaded towards the exit door).

Whether or not that will make any difference is anyone's guess. However, if we don't make changes in January, I think we're destined to run out of steam (and ideas) before the end of March, and will be hanging on for a top 4/5 place.

Our midfield is too weak without Rodri and Kovacic, and our attack is over-reliant on Haaland and Foden.
Anderson and Semenyo are the latest media rumours... to be honest, I think they're the type of signings that could get us over the line.

2 weeks ago our attack was too reliant on just Haaland

Now Foden has joined the conversation. Give it another month and maybe another name is added to the list.

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

don't see us signing someone in January to help boost the team, but we are very similar in points margin from previous seasons

 

[Dialog]

If we drop more points between now and Jan and Arsenal manage to open up a gap by the January transfer window—and we STILL fail to reinforce the midfield with someone who brings real steel, plus a winger who can score goals—then we won’t stand a chance. It’s that straightforward. The warning signs are flashing, and if we ignore them again, we’ll only have ourselves to blame.

 

[argyle]

Our job is to win the league not sit potentially 5 points adrift. A stable city team leads this league at this stage. Shipping goals and falling apart under pressure is not some hidden sign that suddenly we can click.

Those City teams that came from more than 5 points behind to win the league must have been really shit.

 

[St Helens Blue (Exiled)]

If such a thing as a rational City fan exists, they should expect City to improve if Rodri returns to full fitness. That is a significant variable in how this season might unfold.

He has basically been out for 18 months so if you think Rodri is going to make a huge difference then I would be thinking again. Yes he will help but come on Marv

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

If we drop more points between now and Jan and Arsenal manage to open up a gap by the January transfer window—and we STILL fail to reinforce the midfield with someone who brings real steel, plus a winger who can score goals—then we won’t stand a chance. It’s that straightforward. The warning signs are flashing, and if we ignore them again, we’ll only have ourselves to blame.

It's not so bad... hell, if we can score 5 goals every game I think we'll contend for the title.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

No chance.

If by some miracle we start defending properly then we'd be in the mix, it's just difficult to see that happening.

 

[Dialog]

It's not so bad... hell, if we can score 5 goals every game I think we'll contend for the title.

If we start putting 8 goals past teams every single game, then maybe I will believe and we know that 8 goals or even 5 won't happen every game. Because right now, we collapse at the slightest touch. The moment any team shows even a hint of resistance, they suddenly grow in confidence. They realise we’re soft. They realise we panic. They realise all they need to do is press a bit, push a bit, and we’ll start handing out goals like gifts.

And that’s the worst part: even when teams are getting battered, even when the scoreline is a cantar, they do not fear us. They stay calm because they’ve seen us crumble before. They’ve seen us blow leads. They’ve seen us lose control and composure as soon as the pressure rises.

Going from 5–1 to 5–4, and nearly 5–5 if not for Gvardiol’s heroic clearance… that is not elite mentality. That is not title-winning mentality. That is garbage mentality. This is not bad luck. It’s psychological fragility.

Our players are far too soft, far too easy to disrupt, and the repetition of these collapses is becoming genuinely alarming. You can see it, the fans can see it, opposition teams can see it — everyone knows the moment pressure hits, we wobble.

This has to be addressed. Because no amount of goals scored will matter if we keep inviting chaos every time we should be putting games to bed. I hope we bring in players that are tough as steel in Jan and we go on a title charge!

 

[bridgeno1]

If you do win it the team will be lifting the trophy in front of an empty Etihad as all the City fans will be in a cardiac ward.

 

[Axel Freed]

Because right now, we collapse at the slightest touch. The moment any team shows even a hint of resistance, they suddenly grow in confidence. They realise we’re soft. They realise we panic. They realise all they need to do is press a bit, push a bit, and we’ll start handing out goals like gifts.

PL record since end of August ie when Don arrived and we began to catch up conditioning wise with the rest of the league .....

W8 D1 L2

The two defeats were narrow ones away to good teams

Explain how a "soft" team which "collapses at the slightest touch" and which is liable to "panic" and "hand out goals like gifts" puts together that kind of record.

 

[citymad]

TBF he has a point. Gvardiol saved the day even though overall Him and Dias were appalling in that second half.

 

[baggy]

If we drop more points between now and Jan and Arsenal manage to open up a gap by the January transfer window—and we STILL fail to reinforce the midfield with someone who brings real steel, plus a winger who can score goals—then we won’t stand a chance. It’s that straightforward. The warning signs are flashing, and if we ignore them again, we’ll only have ourselves to blame.

Exactly this. Anyone who doesnt see we are papering over the cracks of last season is wearing blinkers. We need a RB, CM and RW in January (At least) then offload quite a few more and replace them in the summer. Last night was unsustainable both on and off the pitch.