Will we win the league this season? No

[ysmsa]

But surely the FA should have planned for this?

They can't plan fuck all mate.

 

[Berti No Show]

They can't plan fuck all mate.

Sounds like they don't want to do. These congested fixtures create drama, and this is what they want. More drama, more viewers, more money and more chance of another PL winner other than City.

The fact they didn't send Gabriel off the other week with video replays at hand is another story.

 

[ysmsa]

At this stage, there's no room for relying on anything else, we simply have to approach every game with the mindset of winning it. There's a lot of talk about Arsenal potentially slipping up, but the reality is they're more than capable of winning all 4 of their remaining fixtures.

Even against Newcastle, when they looked a bit nervy, they still found a way to defend their lead and come away with all 3 points - and that's what top sides do at this stage of the season and it's all that matters. The pressure is then put back onto us to win our games. Winning breeds confidence, no matter how you win these games. This is why I stand by the fact that winning at Burnley was huge - especially coming 3 days after the gruelling match against Arsenal.

That's exactly why we can’t afford to take any chances or look elsewhere for favours. The only thing in our control is our own results, and that has to be the focus - go out, be clinical and try to win every single game left. Forget about Arsenal.

They have won 1 and lost 4 of their last 5 domestic games.

I really fancy Fulham to get something,
"Power to the people"

 

[Berti No Show]

They have won 1 and lost 4 of their last 5 domestic games.

I really fancy Fulham to get something,
"Power to the people"

I take your point, but title races rarely play out in a neat or predictable way - we've seen that often enough. I'm fully prepared for the less glamorous side of it, where Arsenal grind out results with a narrow 1–0, maybe from a contentious penalty or a scrappy set-piece. That's just the reality of how these run-ins can unfold.

Because of that, I'm not going to lose my head or overreact if things go that way. In my mind, it's about being realistic as well as hopeful - and the realistic view is that we may well find ourselves 6 points behind by the time we play Everton.

All we can do is stay composed, accept that the margins might not fall our way, and focus entirely on winning our own games. If we're going to be in this, it'll be because we've handled our business properly - not because we've relied on anything else going in our favour.
And with all that said, I still believe in this club. I back this team to rise to it, overturn the deficit, and find a way to win the title. We've been there and done it.

 

[JGL07]

But surely the FA should have planned for this?

It's FA to do with the FA.

They only deal with the FA Cup fixtures not the PL matches.

 

[coolcity]

I see they’re being looked after with the fixtures? Playing Tuesday in the return leg but they don’t play until Sunday 4:30 West Ham away.

Playing Wednesday first leg then 5:30 Saturday

To be fair, these schedules are usually worked out months in advance, several weeks at least. Probably won't make much difference in the greater scheme of things

 

[coolcity]

We had a clear and reasonable window to play Bournemouth this week, which would have allowed for a proper 5 day recovery period before facing Everton next Monday. Instead, we now find ourselves in a far more congested and disadvantageous position, having to fit an away trip to Bournemouth and a home fixture against Palace in between the FA Cup final and the final day of the season.

It's a scheduling outcome that's difficult to view as anything other than avoidable, and to some, it may even feel intentional. Cunts.

Personally I would rather the team have the rest and recovery time.

Would have made sense though, they haven't played since last Wednesday and don't play again until Sunday, both home matches for them so both clubs could have fit the fixture in you would think.

 

[coolcity]

I take your point, but title races rarely play out in a neat or predictable way - we've seen that often enough. I'm fully prepared for the less glamorous side of it, where Arsenal grind out results with a narrow 1–0, maybe from a contentious penalty or a scrappy set-piece. That's just the reality of how these run-ins can unfold.

Because of that, I'm not going to lose my head or overreact if things go that way. In my mind, it's about being realistic as well as hopeful - and the realistic view is that we may well find ourselves 6 points behind by the time we play Everton.

All we can do is stay composed, accept that the margins might not fall our way, and focus entirely on winning our own games. If we're going to be in this, it'll be because we've handled our business properly - not because we've relied on anything else going in our favour.
And with all that said, I still believe in this club. I back this team to rise to it, overturn the deficit, and find a way to win the title. We've been there and done it.

Very true, never quite understood this results predicting thing because they never go the way they're expected to. It's a bit of fun, good for the bookies I guess but utterly pointless otherwise.

I've backed us all the way and I still am, for two reasons; I knew we would continue to improve as the season went on and the players got used to each other and we found our best XI (and that Arsenal were as good as they could be and wouldn't get any better), and I knew they would start to panic at this time of the year as long as we stayed in touch.

Seems odd to me that everybody put us down as favourites after we'd finally clawed our way back to the top then Arsenal scrape a nervy 1-0 win and suddenly we're panicking again.

 

[Chippy_boy]

The B team was fantastic at Newcastle. Three days later Barcelona A did worse there than City B.

One significant difference at Newcastle was that Newcastle wanted to attack. Another difference was that both O'Reilly and Doku played.

Anyway, we need our team A to win the title. But Pep will have to rotate more than some would like in the final 10-11 days of the season in which we play 3 league games and a FA Cup final. If we rely only on 11-13 players, we may lose both trophies.

Fortunately, we have some good options, especially in defence and CM. The problem is that the attacking options are not in form if we go by Southampton: Marmoush, Foden, Savinho and Reijnders didn't impress. Pep will have to use some of them. Let's hope they'll perform better.

I think our VERY long standing issue is lack of creative players. Back in the day, if David Silva didn't play, we struggled. Then if KDB didn't play, we struggled.

Now we've not replaced either of those giants with anyone with similar abilities. But we still have flair players who can make a difference - Doku, Cherki especially. Sometimes Kovatic can play a useful through ball. But without them, too many of our players lack composure in the final 3rd with hurried attempted passes going astray, no ability (or attempt sometimes) to get the ball to Haaland, and a seeming contentment to pass the ball around in front of well drilled, compact defences for 90 minutes. A pattern we have all witnessed far too often over the past 10 years.

 

[supercity88]

I’m a little worried we’ve had 2 poor/average games in a row, but on the other hand, we know this side is likely to drop a poor performance every month or so and we got through two of them with 2 wins.

Not worried about goal difference too much because I don’t see Arsenal winning all 5 but I think we’re more likely to score extra goals against sides like Brentford and Villa.

I think the toll of chasing arsenal had a lot to do with the Burnley performance. We created plenty, just the final ball or shot that was lacking. The changed team was always going to impact our Southampton performance.

The rest should help, it's just whether it hurts us against Everton with a lack of sharpness, but they'll have had a long break too.

LIke you say I don't think goal difference will come into it.

 

[Sibierskii]

 

[bitterblue78]

Whats this about arsenal fans crying because we have to re-arrange games

 

[woolwich_FC]

Whats this about arsenal fans crying because we have to re-arrange games

You guys were knocked out early in the champions league and playing once a week we have far worse timetable then you that’s part of reason why you are favourites in league

 

[ysmsa]

You guys were knocked out early in the champions league and playing once a week we have far worse timetable then you that’s part of reason why you are favourites in league

So far you have played 1 more Champions League tie than us (2 games). We have played an FA Cup semi and will now play in the Final.

If you go out of the CL we will end up playing the same amount of games.

You were allowed to bring forward a league match by several weeks (Wolves), but we could not do the same because our opposition could not reschedule.

The Arse schedule is no worse than ours, in fact it is less demanding over the coming weeks.

 

[Marvin.]

You guys were knocked out early in the champions league and playing once a week we have far worse timetable then you that’s part of reason why you are favourites in league

Arsenal are on thin ice at the moment, and your manager is jumping up and down on top of it.

 

[Tb1981]

Those Fanny’s in north London are you gonna fuel us on to win our remaining games

All this Bournemouth palace match anger is irrelevant
We will beat Everton and Brentford and be top of the league when they go to west ham
That’s when the bottle job will start

They are scared to death

 

[alexmcity]

I think our VERY long standing issue is lack of creative players.

Based on data, Cherki and Doku are two of the most creative players in the league (especially from open play) per 90. It's pointless to compare them to David or KDB since they are still young and several years before their prime.

Our record with both Cherki and Doku starting has been fantastic: 7 wins in the league and one (controversial) loss at Newcastle in November, i.e., 2,57 ppg.

In all compets: 11 wins and 2 losses (Newcastle and Real at home).

 

[woolwich_FC]

So far you have played 1 more Champions League tie than us (2 games). We have played an FA Cup semi and will now play in the Final.

If you go out of the CL we will end up playing the same amount of games.

You were allowed to bring forward a league match by several weeks (Wolves), but we could not do the same because our opposition could not reschedule.

The Arse schedule is no worse than ours, in fact it is less demanding over the coming weeks.

You will have had 9 whole days before you play Everton in that time we would have played 2 intense games you can’t tell me that not an advantage for your team….before our game against Bournemouth we had a energy sapping game against sporting 3 days before we are tired for a reason the last thing you can complain about is fixture congestion just look at what we are going through.

 

[woolwich_FC]

Those Fanny’s in north London are you gonna fuel us on to win our remaining games

All this Bournemouth palace match anger is irrelevant
We will beat Everton and Brentford and be top of the league when they go to west ham
That’s when the bottle job will start

They are scared to death

Just make sure you don’t slip up

 

[citytill1die84]

You guys were knocked out early in the champions league and playing once a week we have far worse timetable then you that’s part of reason why you are favourites in league

Knocked out early? You've played one extra round than us so far lol