Will we win the league this season?

Get Rodri fit again and we can do it, but according the media Liverpool and then Arsenal were running away with it. I’m not going to make a prediction because things can change quickly.
 
I feel confident at the moment.

I think we have another gear to go up and I don't think Arsenal have.

I loved Jesus, but the discussion this week is that he'll be the difference maker. Jesus is many things, but he isn't a title winning difference maker.

I do think, and it's the only caveat, we can also get worse. And likewise I think Arsenal are slow and steady and what you see is what you get.
 
The 2nd part of Pep's pre-match press conference is worth listening too. He is asked to compare this stage of the team rebuilding and he says that this is slower and more difficult because the players are younger. In the last side, Bernardo came and he was already at a very high level. This City are still a work in progress.

He also says that at the moment this City side can not win the title but we will get better. The problem he says is self belief. I think that should worry Arsenal.

Pep talks about improvements in goalscorers, assists but is not happy with the build-up play, and the defensive play is not aggressive enough.
 
lightning Rodri said:
Our press is ineffective.
We don't win second balls anymore.
We don't have midfield maestros at 8 anymore.
Our backline can't handle pace.
Widea forwards can't beat a player or score

But otherwise we're ready for the challenge
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lightning Rodri said:
Still no, but that's mainly due to the lack of consistency of the team, which is to be expected for a team in transition.

Looking back two months later, we have definitely improved in almost all departments.

Our press is better and are better positioned to win second balls than earlier. Still room for improvement in both .

Foden is actually transitioning himself to the midfielder that we all hoped him to be. Nico is making huge progress. Rudolph still needs to do more. Hopefully Rodri comes back fit December onwards.

With Nunes, NOR, Dias/Gvardiol, we are dealing with counter attacks much better recently, helped by our improved press.

Wide forwards are improving, still too less of scoring threat for my liking.
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Four months into the season there's definitely progress, Pep acknowledges it and seems to have a clear idea what needs to be improved.
 
lightning Rodri said:
Four months into the season there's definitely progress, Pep acknowledges it and seems to have a clear idea what needs to be improved.
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I watched both parts of the press conference and I was struck by Pep's repeated comments that at the moment we are not strong enough to win the Premier League or Champions League but that by the end of the season. we may be.
 
Marvin. said:
I watched both parts of the press conference and I was struck by Pep's repeated comments that at the moment we are not strong enough to win the Premier League or Champions League but that by the end of the season. we may be.
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That's what I was suggesting on here in... August :) Had some heated exchanges with some fans (mostly in Pep's thread).

We are not unlikely to have some bad results (not the finished article yet) and the team, Pep, some players will be questioned again. But I still expect the team to get stronger in the 2nd half of the season and compete for the big trophies.
 
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lightning Rodri said:
Four months into the season there's definitely progress, Pep acknowledges it and seems to have a clear idea what needs to be improved.
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Pep’s spot on. If we want to win the league our build-up play needs to be much better and we need to stop wasting so much and gifting the ball to the opposition to attack us. And defensively we're not aggressive enough and do need to have more courage… moreso the midfielders and wingers when defending, who are all a bit meek, than the actual back4.
 
Marvin. said:
I watched both parts of the press conference and I was struck by Pep's repeated comments that at the moment we are not strong enough to win the Premier League or Champions League but that by the end of the season. we may be.
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It’s the way Pep has worked for years with teams much stronger on paper than this one. He recognises that an English season is a grind and the first half of it is all about survival while keeping yourself in a position where you’re still in the mix to contend. The training is all set up for the team to go on a run after Christmas and reach its peak at the business end of the season.
We’ve had more than one title winning season where there have been plenty of doubts in October, November and December. Last season was the big exception as the run of dropped points coupled with bigger team issues ruled us out as potential champions very quickly but other than that we’ve been down the same road several times. Sooner or later we’ll have a year where it doesn’t ultimately work out in April and May but for now, trust the process.
 
Can't lie, I thought with the transition from the all conquering team to new and young players coming in, it was a season too early.

Maybe I was just trying to soften the blow for myself.

But now I see some semblance of a structured team. I always want us to have a dominating central midfield that keep possession and control the pace of the game, akin to Rodri and Gundogan.

Gonzalez is getting better by the game which heartens me and Foden is back to his best.

I'm becoming more optimistic as the season progresses.

Let's see where we are mid-March when the real League starts. See who is up for the scrap
 
Look at the odds change today not much in it! Cherki is the difference for me, just need to
Improve our away form but we have a real chance. Our manager is a genius.
 
We have a chance. Need to get more crosses in. To much dilly dallying. Imagine how many more Erl would get if we had decent wingers. Thought Sav was so poor when he come on against a ragged run left back. Not good enough although Pep keeps giving him chances.
 
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