Will we win the league this season?

[Stoned Rose]

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.

The team who wins the PL is the most consistent.

Nowt to do with growing.

 

[BlueMonkey79]

Yes we won last night
Yes we are only 2 points away from Arsenal who are top
Yes it was a great game for the neutral

But those kind of performances against a poor Leeds and clinging on from a 5.1 lead against Fulham doesn't win teams the league.

At 5.1 last night it should have been pipe and slippers time, with the CBs smoking cigars. Instead it was keystone cops defending and our general possession of the football was non existent.

Playing like that will drop us more points than winning them.

We are desperately short of a tough tackling midfielder to help out Nico. And I would say a no nonsense CB.

 

[Alfie Budd]

Yes we won last night
Yes we are only 2 points away from Arsenal who are top
Yes it was a great game for the neutral

But those kind of performances against a poor Leeds and clinging on from a 5.1 lead against Fulham doesn't win teams the league.

At 5.1 last night it should have been pipe and slippers time, with the CBs smoking cigars. Instead it was keystone cops defending and our general possession of the football was non existent.

Playing like that will drop us more points than winning them.

We are desperately short of a tough tackling midfielder to help out Nico. And I would say a no nonsense CB.

Last two games make the return of Rodri look even more essential. I’m not saying he’s going to lead us to the title but I think Leeds and Fulham both end with a lot less stress if he’s on the pitch.

 

[Roachy]

Yes we won last night
Yes we are only 2 points away from Arsenal who are top
Yes it was a great game for the neutral

But those kind of performances against a poor Leeds and clinging on from a 5.1 lead against Fulham doesn't win teams the league.

At 5.1 last night it should have been pipe and slippers time, with the CBs smoking cigars. Instead it was keystone cops defending and our general possession of the football was non existent.

Playing like that will drop us more points than winning them.

We are desperately short of a tough tackling midfielder to help out Nico. And I would say a no nonsense CB.

I reality subs get made through that 2nd half and continue all the good stuff from the 1st half and not what happened last night. What is our midfield now because I'm not sure myself. Those 2 positions you've mentioned are the priorities now by a long way. No more bargain basement purchases, the best we can get is what's needed.

 

[thomas1307]

You think we’ll finish 8th ?

no not at all i was more implying in terms of the way we play devastating going forward but suspect at the back

 

[thomas1307]

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.

personally i would add doku into that mix in the attack

 

[citytill1die84]

It's absolutely mental how my mind changes day to day lol

We're still within a chance, winning pts lol

IF and a big IF we can get Rodri back in the New Year and maybe Semenyo in I really think we could lol.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Yes we won last night
Yes we are only 2 points away from Arsenal who are top
Yes it was a great game for the neutral

But those kind of performances against a poor Leeds and clinging on from a 5.1 lead against Fulham doesn't win teams the league.

At 5.1 last night it should have been pipe and slippers time, with the CBs smoking cigars. Instead it was keystone cops defending and our general possession of the football was non existent.

Playing like that will drop us more points than winning them.

We are desperately short of a tough tackling midfielder to help out Nico. And I would say a no nonsense CB.

What is that based on? Is it based on previous season where teams barely dropped any points?

The league is completely different now. Every team is dropping points or conceding goals. I reckon even if we lose more games, we will still have a really good chance

 

[argyle]

The team who wins the PL is the most consistent.

Nowt to do with growing.

Its exactly to do with growing and getting better as the season goes on.

This is what we've done under Pep since he's been here.

 

[bondsman]

Yes we won last night
Yes we are only 2 points away from Arsenal who are top
Yes it was a great game for the neutral

But those kind of performances against a poor Leeds and clinging on from a 5.1 lead against Fulham doesn't win teams the league.

At 5.1 last night it should have been pipe and slippers time, with the CBs smoking cigars. Instead it was keystone cops defending and our general possession of the football was non existent.

Playing like that will drop us more points than winning them.

We are desperately short of a tough tackling midfielder to help out Nico. And I would say a no nonsense CB.

Can’t win a league defending like we are. Had Gvardiol not made that clearance last night would’ve been embarrassing

 

[City_Shirts]

Bold prediction but I think we will be top of the league going into the New Year

 

[argyle]

Bold prediction but I think we will be top of the league going into the New Year

Not sure about that.

I just hope we're close enough to Arsenal around Feb for Rodri to come back fully fit. He'll be the game changer.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

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.

Lol. I like your sense of humour, pal. I think it's Arsenal's to lose, and you've been in this position before more than once. Are you worried about us?

Still far too early in the season yet for me to think we'll win the league as we're letting in too many goals Arsenal are not, but things will change. But right now i think we'll finish runners up.

 

[Marvin.]

The team who wins the PL is the most consistent.

Nowt to do with growing.

If we don't get stronger, we won't win the title. We are inconsistent at the moment.

Arsenal are likely to be solid and remain at this level although they may like many teams suffer emotionally later in the season. As a young developing transitional side, I do expect City to get stronger.

Doku, Foden, O'Reilly, Reijnders, Cherki are all new or recovering. Rodri is out, and due back.

 

[herrock]

If we keep scoring one more than the opposition, yes.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

It changes with every game. The main thing though is that we dont think we WONT win the league. (Maybe the more negative moaners do) but we have a good good chance.

 

[Lavinda Past]

personally i would add doku into that mix in the attack

He's no more than a bench player imo. Age is on his side, but he's got a long way to go.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

The team who wins the PL is the most consistent.

Nowt to do with growing.

Every team grows into the season surely, so that by March they are winning game after game. Rather than the start where's all a bit bitty and finding the right combination of players. Maybe I am misunderstanding growing into the season. Consistency deffo.

 

[TFC]

Last two games make the return of Rodri look even more essential. I’m not saying he’s going to lead us to the title but I think Leeds and Fulham both end with a lot less stress if he’s on the pitch.

Completely agree, but we're over a full season without him now and its hard to say when he'll be back and if he'll be back with any kind of consistency. Nico is looking the business to be fair, but we need a plan B.

 

[Marvin.]

Every team grows into the season surely, so that by March they are winning game after game. Rather than the start where's all a bit bitty and finding the right combination of players. Maybe I am misunderstanding growing into the season. Consistency deffo.

Arsenal are a developed side that has been gradually put together. We might expect them to be more consistent than a City side that has been newly put together. City are probably yet to reach our full potential but that doesn't mean that the season will necessarily be on some smooth trajectory. Football is a human game with so many variables that it is almost chaotic. It is very hard to predict but we know that Pep has developed a new side and that it is a work in progress whereas Arteta's side has been long in the making. You sense that if Arsenal do not do it this time, their side and management will break up.