Will we win the league NEXT season

At the moment I think no. Utd will get the help Arse had this season.

We have a new manager, desperately need a midfield refresh, we need a Bernie type shut house, need some aggression. Up front we need some creativity and we need to take these chances we do create.

I'm writing this as that shower of north London excrement are about to undeservedly win the CL.

Can this week get any worse?

So I'm not hopeful, but who knows.....

I did think Arse wouldn't retain the PL but with all these managerial changes they have stability. Depends how Pigmob feel and if there is a clampdown on the corner cheating.
 
Davie82 said:
Pep is a huge loss for you, as he would be for any club.

If it is Maresca, he has enormous footsteps to follow in.

I much prefer you to the other 'top six' clubs, but this squad is clearly weaker than in Pep's prime days when Silva x 2, De Bruyne, Sterling, Yaya, Kompany, Fernandinho, Rodri, Aguero were all in their prime or at least still very good.

But there's no real squad of that calibre anywhere in the Premier League, either. I see this as a transitional phase for City but still more than good enough to win the league with astute signings. I did think Semenyo was a player who doesn't really fit into how City usually play, but maybe you're going more direct now as with Haaland and will keep doing that. I am not really a big fan of Reijnders or Gonzalez but there are other players in your squad I like a lot (O'Reilly, Doku is starting to fulfil potential, Khusanov is improving all the time, and a few others).

Donnarumma I am not sure about - he's an excellent shot stopper usually but clearly nowhere near as comfortable with the ball at his feet as Ederson. I suppose it depends on what you want these days - I mean he can be serviceable at it, but it's more diffcult to play out from the back with him.

A lot also depends on summer acquisitions. Big summer coming up. But I think the safest bet is it being between Arsenal and City again. Rags are running on a hot streak and Liverpool and Chelsea have too many problems. Chelsea for one are run by venture capitalists with zero interest in winning, and last summer has messed Liverpool up, and if it Iraola, I am not convinced the squad can play to his style (though he may alter his style).

Clubs like the three Bs are very good and can beat anyone at any time, but not consistent enough to rack up enough points over the season to challenge.

A lot also depends on how much of this rugby style football continues to be permitted in the future.

Just some of my thoughts, feel free to disagree.

Overall, I think your centurion and treble teams would dominate this side (I don't think that is a controversial take), but this is a fairly young side with you'd imagine some more to come and some more reinforcements. Recruitment is key.
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A pretty perceptive post to be fair. Out of interest, you're clearly not a blue, who are your team?
 
journolud said:
A pretty perceptive post to be fair. Out of interest, you're clearly not a blue, who are your team?
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Thanks.

I am from a Rangers family but all the sectarian stuff put me off as a young adult. I felt I could no longer identify with the club as my political views formed as an adult were different to the youthful zeal I had for the club.

So I stopped many years ago and haven't supported anyone since - I have teams I prefer to others but not gonna do the rag thing of glory hunting a winning club.

My profile says Scotland but I am not bothered about them much either. It's a lot easier just following football to watch great football. Though obviously supporting a team and the tribal nature of the game is a massive draw, but it's just a shame I am left leaning and Rangers are a very right leaning club.
 
Davie82 said:
Thanks.

I am from a Rangers family but all the sectarian stuff put me off as a young adult. I felt I could no longer identify with the club as my political views formed as an adult were different to the youthful zeal I had for the club.

So I stopped many years ago and haven't supported anyone since - I have teams I prefer to others but not gonna do the rag thing of glory hunting a winning club.

My profile says Scotland but I am not bothered about them much either. It's a lot easier just following football to watch great football. Though obviously supporting a team and the tribal nature of the game is a massive draw, but it's just a shame I am left leaning and Rangers are a very right leaning club.
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Yeah don't really understand all the sectarian stuff and tens to favour whichever Glasgow team aren't currently dominating. Motherwell are my Scottish team though having lived there when I was younger and keep thinking I'll get up there to watch a game one day.
I think it was Chris Sutton who said 'well were playing the best football in the country earlier in the season.

Like many was gutted Hearts didn't go the extra yard
 
journolud said:
Yeah don't really understand all the sectarian stuff and tens to favour whichever Glasgow team aren't currently dominating. Motherwell are my Scottish team though having lived there when I was younger and keep thinking I'll get up there to watch a game one day.
I think it was Chris Sutton who said 'well were playing the best football in the country earlier in the season.

Like many was gutted Hearts didn't go the extra yard
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Aye mate, was gutted for Hearts myself. Motherwell tailed off a bit and I didn't see that much of them earlier in the season, but they had a run where they played some lovely stuff (saw some highlights which can be misleading but still) and weren't conceding goals at home.

We will need to see if they can maintain it now they've lost the manager.

You seem a sound guy mate, thanks for taking an interest and praising my post.
 
Davie82 said:
Thanks.

I am from a Rangers family but all the sectarian stuff put me off as a young adult. I felt I could no longer identify with the club as my political views formed as an adult were different to the youthful zeal I had for the club.

So I stopped many years ago and haven't supported anyone since - I have teams I prefer to others but not gonna do the rag thing of glory hunting a winning club.

My profile says Scotland but I am not bothered about them much either. It's a lot easier just following football to watch great football. Though obviously supporting a team and the tribal nature of the game is a massive draw, but it's just a shame I am left leaning and Rangers are a very right leaning club.
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I lived in West Lothian for seven years and met so many lapsed Celtic and Rangers fans who hated the sectarian/religious divide and followed City. This was the 90s when we were shite but Oasis were huge in Scotland. What you have said is spot-on. City have a great chance next season. It will be wide open. The quality at the very top of the PL has declined but the quality in the middle has improved. City and Arsenal will both be there or thereabouts.
 
bobbyowenquiff said:
I lived in West Lothian for seven years and met so many lapsed Celtic and Rangers fans who hated the sectarian/religious divide and followed City. This was the 90s when we were shite but Oasis were huge in Scotland. What you have said is spot-on. City have a great chance next season. It will be wide open. The quality at the very top of the PL has declined but the quality in the middle has improved. City and Arsenal will both be there or thereabouts.
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Yeah it really is a shame. I wanna support Rangers and sometimes think I should, but it feels hypocritical when there's so many reform and royalist types in their support. I don't feel I am able to do it. But at the same time it would be good to have a 'tribe' again. On the other hand, I have never really felt the need to belong to anything.

Thanks on the other stuff too. I think that's about right. There is a dip in English football right now, which has allowed Arsenal to capitalise. They'd have been nowhere near the title in 2018-2022, for example.

Even watching this game right now - PSG are a brilliant team and had a lot of plaudits as a potential all-timer team, but they look absolutely clueless here. Then again, breaking down an expertly organised team that 'parks the bus' is one of the hardest things in football. Man City and Barca have had many problems with it at times, too.
 
We were on the right trajectory under Pep.

For me, we're in the middle of a rebuild and are ahead of schedule.

Pep leaving threw a spanner into the works but with the right signings we'll have the best squad in the league.

Reserve judgement for now.
 
Davie82 said:
Pep is a huge loss for you, as he would be for any club.

If it is Maresca, he has enormous footsteps to follow in.

I much prefer you to the other 'top six' clubs, but this squad is clearly weaker than in Pep's prime days when Silva x 2, De Bruyne, Sterling, Yaya, Kompany, Fernandinho, Rodri, Aguero were all in their prime or at least still very good.

But there's no real squad of that calibre anywhere in the Premier League, either. I see this as a transitional phase for City but still more than good enough to win the league with astute signings. I did think Semenyo was a player who doesn't really fit into how City usually play, but maybe you're going more direct now as with Haaland and will keep doing that. I am not really a big fan of Reijnders or Gonzalez but there are other players in your squad I like a lot (O'Reilly, Doku is starting to fulfil potential, Khusanov is improving all the time, and a few others).

Donnarumma I am not sure about - he's an excellent shot stopper usually but clearly nowhere near as comfortable with the ball at his feet as Ederson. I suppose it depends on what you want these days - I mean he can be serviceable at it, but it's more diffcult to play out from the back with him.

A lot also depends on summer acquisitions. Big summer coming up. But I think the safest bet is it being between Arsenal and City again. Rags are running on a hot streak and Liverpool and Chelsea have too many problems. Chelsea for one are run by venture capitalists with zero interest in winning, and last summer has messed Liverpool up, and if it Iraola, I am not convinced the squad can play to his style (though he may alter his style).

Clubs like the three Bs are very good and can beat anyone at any time, but not consistent enough to rack up enough points over the season to challenge.

A lot also depends on how much of this rugby style football continues to be permitted in the future.

Just some of my thoughts, feel free to disagree.

Overall, I think your centurion and treble teams would dominate this side (I don't think that is a controversial take), but this is a fairly young side with you'd imagine some more to come and some more reinforcements. Recruitment is key.
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Really great post and I would agree with the vast majority of it.

Liverpool will be an interesting one, as a lot of the new signings underperformed (Wirtz, Kerkez, Isak) and also the regulars (Konate, Salah, McCallister etc). I still think they have a lot of great players so will be interesting to see if it’s just a natural drop off, after winning the title, or more structural.

Must be great to just enjoy football for what it is, as the downside of following a club is you do get dragged into the tribalism at times which can take the enjoyment away outside watching your own team.

Case in point this match. The bias, in the punditry, is nauseating in Arsenals favour. Completely spoiling the match for me.
 
franksinatra said:
Really great post and I would agree with the vast majority of it.

Liverpool will be an interesting one, as a lot of the new signings underperformed (Wirtz, Kerkez, Isak) and also the regulars (Konate, Salah, McCallister etc). I still think they have a lot of great players so will be interesting to see if it’s just a natural drop off, after winning the title, or more structural.

Must be great to just enjoy football for what it is, as the downside of following a club is you do get dragged into the tribalism at times which can take the enjoyment away outside watching your own team.

Case in point this match. The bias, in the punditry, is nauseating in Arsenals favour. Completely spoiling the match for me.
Click to expand...
And the trouble is they are mob handed with Gooners on TNT tonight, there has been no balance at all, which should be embarassing for TNT. They are allowed to say ridiculous things unchallenged. And all that nonsense peddled about this being a 'Free Hit' after winning the Premier League. Tell that to their fans who spent £10,000 to go to the Final. Arteta needs to brush up on his Motivational PowerPoint Presentations. They have lost two cup finals this season. Their centre backs are good and give them a good base, but would it not have hurt TNT to have fewer Gooners on the coverage tonight. Bit more balance please. Though some of the international coverage had even more annoying celeb fans. I wonder if Piers Morgan is on the pitch now.
 
No, if we talk about this squad of players, the weakest one we've had since Mancini's era. We are left with three or maybe four achievers (if we include Dias) at the club, one of those has been crocked for two seasons, one fell out of love with football for some reasons for two seasons, and the one who will keep scoring if there is any supply, whether it is Salzburg, Dortmund, Manchester or any other future club.
Just one of examples is we moved from FFS, multiple trophy winner that could single handedly destroy clubs to R Cherki, a beautiful player, but the luxury only one so far.
I expect a huge drop after Pep, but I prepared myself and I'll be at peace whatever happens.
 
Remember guys, Maresca smashed this PSG team 3-0 without parking the bus. Even mr. Arne Slot-Machine won PL in his first season. I think we'll fully complete our rebuild this Summer then go and win it.
 
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