Will we win the league this season? No

[Ysabel 123]

I agree that such results happen. But I think that because the Fulham game was played recently it weighs a lot. By the end of the season its overall effect will be weaker. My expectation is that we are going to concede around 33 goals. That is, we are likely to improve in the 2nd half of the season.

Note that in the first 3 games we played without Donna, Gvardiol and O'Reilly, and we have played mostly without Rodri. So there's room for improvement.

We have conceded 12 goals in the last 12 league games, including the shitshow at Fulham.

As long as we have a better goal difference than Arsenal after 38 games!

 

[cleavers]

I am concerned about the amount of football Nico G is playing and the undetermined return of Rodri, as well Doku's recent injury. He is THE player for me that determines how this new look City team plays.

I assume you mean Doku ?

We didn't miss him at all today for me.

 

[cleavers]

As long as we have a better goal difference than Arsenal after 38 games!

We'll have more points, so GD won't be required, as that'll be better anyway.

I think we should be more worried by villa, who have beaten both of us at this stage, though a few injuries there will seriously effect them.

 

[Gorbachev]

I assume you mean Doku ?

We didn't miss him at all today for me.

I don't think we get pressed as aggressively as Palace pressed us if Doku is playing because of his pace.

We won 3-0 today but Palace could have had 2 or 3 themselves.

 

[Axel Freed]

If our strike force are anything like as merciless in capitalising on opposition mistakes as @Danny Tiatto is in reminding bedwetters of the absurdity of their previous posts then this league is ours !!

 

[Danny Tiatto]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing to possess, but it’s truly astonishing how little slack numerous posters were prepared to give a manager who delivered six titles in seven years, followed by a disappointing and flat one.

Too focused on the latter; happy to minimise the former.

It’s not about prescience, but rather the application of a combination of logic, experience and respect.

It’s mainly about a bunch of clowns overreacting in the heat of the moment. I’ll gladly continue to call them out in this thread as well.

Some of the negative dribble I have read over the last month or two whilst simultaneously over praising our very average rivals has been laughable

 

[Marvin.]

I still think Arsenal will win it for the very reasons I've stated in the past. Our win against Palace could easily have gone the other way.

You went further than that. You said that we wouldn't even be title-contenders...

Agree.

Alas, we're not capable of going on a long, long P/L winning streak. We're very good - but not dominant. Against sides that press us we'll struggle - most often we're better but marginally so.

This is Arsenal's title to lose.

We're close - and with luck - next season's signings will return us to the top. This season, we're top 4 P/L - but not - alas - title contenders.

 

[Indaparkside]

Absolutely not. I'll bookmark this and shame myself if we do, but I'm very confident. Rodri is a much bigger miss to us than Haaland would ever be.

How do you feel now

 

[malg]

How do you feel now

Exactly the same. Happy to call myself out if we do win it.

 

[alexmcity]

Our win against Palace could easily have gone the other way.

And our losses at Brighton and Newcastle could've easily gone the other way. In any of our league defeats this season, Spurs aside, our xG was higher than the opposition's.

We completely dominated Brighton in the first 60 minutes and could/should have been 2 up before their equaliser. We missed about 5 big chances at Newcastle. We missed several really good chances at Villa... It's normal to win games where you are the inferior team and to lose games where you create more chances than the other tram.

 

[remember arthur mann]

 

[Jesus2020]

Someone has just pointed out we play Villa on the last day of the season again. Could be a slightly different game this time around

 

[KingGeorge]

Someone has just pointed out we play Villa on the last day of the season again. Could be a slightly different game this time around

Arsenal has a fairly light run in to finish the season. If we are going to win this ideally we need to at least a four point lead as we go through the finishing stretch in my opinion.

 

[Jesus2020]

Arsenal has a fairly light run in to finish the season. If we are going to win this ideally we need to at least a four point lead as we go through the finishing stretch in my opinion.

Could also be City vs Villa for the title last game if the season

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

I would have said “no way” a month ago, but now we seem capable, especially if we ger Rodri fit

 

[bluemurray]

I think its way too early to call the title race, all this who's winning what statred before the season and the pundits are often off-target... I would also suggest that, at this point in time, there are 3-teams in the race - we should not discount Villa; the Arse and ourselves may actually be overtaken by them if we don't keep our eyes on the ball, so-to-speak...

 

[SkyBlueFlux]

And our losses at Brighton and Newcastle could've easily gone the other way. In any of our league defeats this season, Spurs aside, our xG was higher than the opposition's.

We completely dominated Brighton in the first 60 minutes and could/should have been 2 up before their equaliser. We missed about 5 big chances at Newcastle. We missed several really good chances at Villa... It's normal to win games where you are the inferior team and to lose games where you create more chances than the other tram.

People like to slate xG but it is the single best predictor of long-term results that we have. That's why it's used.

We have topped the league every single year on xG since Pep arrived, with the sole exception of last season. This year we are basically neck and neck with Arsenal. We're up there for a reason, and the reason is that on balance we deserve to be. As the season goes on, all this luck equalises out and people get the results they deserve.

 

[ScottSinclair]

People like to slate xG but it is the single best predictor of long-term results that we have. That's why it's used.

We have topped the league every single year on xG since Pep arrived, with the sole exception of last season. This year we are basically neck and neck with Arsenal. We're up there for a reason, and the reason is that on balance we deserve to be. As the season goes on, all this luck equalises out and people get the results they deserve.

Yes. United under Ten Hag when they finished 4th had numbers that should have seen them around 14th. They failed to improve their general play and saw their performances even out with their results in the following season. First falling to 8th and then their horrible season last year. xG predicted that years ago

 

[schfc6]

I don't think we get pressed as aggressively as Palace pressed us if Doku is playing because of his pace.

We won 3-0 today but Palace could have had 2 or 3 themselves.

They couldn’t. They hit the post from a mistake. They had a bit of pressure and nothing more. And they’re a fucking mint side who set up with a system that always troubles this City.

 

[The perfect fumble]

Well worth a watch....