August done: Early season thoughts

[Marvin]

Perfect start: Impossible to better. The first half against Chelsea was as good as you will see.

What surprises me is how solid we look even though we have two wide men in the team.

Couple of tough games coming up in the league

Transfer window: Almost perfect. Most fans wanted a central midfielder in the mould of Pogba, and he looks like a miss. But if Toure maintains his early season form then who cares.

I like the look of Delph in the brief time I have seen him. Really mobile and I think he maybe required against a top European team where we have to do work off the ball.

Sterling: We knew our transfer targets in May and Sterling has been everything I thought he would be. Great one on one. Perhaps bettered only by one player in the Premiership: Hazard. Great workrate, and brought the best out of Kolarov who has been a revelation in the opening weeks. Sterling and Kolarov have been City's main way into the opposition defence

Otamendi: A strange buy because it was obvious that Mangala had settled in so is he going to play? I suppose with all the games we have he will prove vital at some stage.

De Bruyne: Not a player I know much about. He has made a great impact at Wolfsburg and the expectation is that he will come in for Navas and that City will retain our shape of 433 with De Bruyne coming in for Navas. He does not have the pace of Navas and he wont get the freedom that he did at Wolfsburg, but surely he can only strengthen us. I hope he has a better start than the other Bundeliga imports Schweinsteiger and Firmino.

Rivals

I thought Arsenal might be our strongest opponent, and I am hoping that the window closes without Wenger buying a forward. Chelsea's defence is suddenly a shambles with Terry and Ivanovic being very vulnerable to pace. A shock. Hopefully Chelsea do not respond by buying Pogba.

New ground

Looks great. Sounds great. Good to see it packed. Hopefully the North Stand extension follows soon.

Manager

Strange situation with Guardiola. Can see Bayern struggling this season as key players are getting old. It will only become an issue if City's form slips.

Predictions

City Champions
Arsenal
Chelsea - Although they could collapse
Liverpool - If Sturridge gets fit and stays fit

Down

Watford
WBA
Sunderland

 

[1dart]

I know it's only been 4 games but they have been the most dominant 4 games I think I've seen us turn in on the bounce. We look the complete package. Time will tell if we can keep it up, we have the squad to do so.

 

[IanBishopsHaircut]

It's currently very hard not to get giddy

 

[Centurions]

Nearly perfect start, I wanted another 3-0 win against Watford but that's just being greedy ;)

Relegation candidates look probable to me but with us as Champions (too early to get cocky?) I couldn't even begin to guess the rest of the top 4. Before the season started I would have put my picks down but after the start of the season with everybody else all over the place I have absolutely no idea.

 

[SJC]

It's currently very hard not to get giddy

Very true, I'm tryin to stay relaxed but we look so good at the moment. Would love us to run away with the league so we can enjoy a few games at the end of the season as champions.

 

[hgblue]

Couldn't be happier. Every single player looks fit and focused. On the pitch the shape we're playing suits us perfectly, and the team look happy and hungry. Off the pitch our transfer business has been handled superbly, and on the commercial side we're going from strength to strength. For the first time in all my years following City, there's literally nothing to moan about. Happy days.

 

[foetus]

Yep pretty happy

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

Can't complain with how we've started, need to keep this going. It felt inevitable that Chelsea would win the league even in he early stages last season. We need to make the rest of the league think the same.

Two top draw players to integrate into the squad with Otamendi and de Bruyne and the group stages of the champs league on the horizon. It feels like 2011/12 again where everyone was in awe of us.

 

[stan bowles]

A long way to go but no complaints so far. New signings have gelled quickly, senior players have returned to their true form and we have a settled back four who look impossible to rotate out atm. Sagna and Kolarov are the big suprises for me. Both have been superb in all four games so far and I just we return after the international break with no injuries. Can't wait for Aguero and YaYa to hit top form...watchout when they do.

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

Superb start,couldn't of asked for better of the blueboys.

 

[Gundogan's Moustache]

Very true, I'm tryin to stay relaxed but we look so good at the moment. Would love us to run away with the league so we can enjoy a few games at the end of the season as champions.

Scenes if Nasri is lifting the trophy in our last home game of the season....against arsenal

 

[Jack74]

That Brazilian guy who as been superb in the 3 out of the 4 games looks back 2 back 2 best , impressed with the whole team 2 b fair

 

[br88]

There is a solidity and strength about the team which just was not there last season. They seem to be a happier bunch of players allied to the tremendous form of the less heralded players from last year such as Sagna, Kolarov, Kompany, Yaya and Fernandinho.

 

[simmo]

The league table makes happy reading, just perfect.

10 goals scored, if you add any 3 of Chelsea, Utd, Arsenal or LIverpools goals so far I think it is only 1 more!

Team looks balanced and have both ends of pitch measured, looking good.

 

[taleofbluehalves]

Stay focused and take nothing for granted. A very good start. A very timely return to form for all.

 

[SJC]

Scenes if Nasri is lifting the trophy in our last home game of the season....against arsenal

Pretty sure, there wouldn't be a gooner in sight if that was the senerio bud haha nice thought never the less. .

 

[Marvin]

The coming games look very difficult. Hopefully the team retains its focus.

Like to see Bony back asap. Aguero struggled against Watford

 

[shemnel]

great start to the season obviously, very happy, so i'll put two downers on things in traditional BM style;

1 - letting overconfidence and cockiness creep in will be our main detractor now, not the ability of other teams to beat us.

2 - i know we have a few injuries kicking about but i was quite surprised at the bench against Watford, does that indicate a slightly thin squad? probably not to be honest.

 

[the blue panther]

Perfect start: Impossible to better. The first half against Chelsea was as good as you will see.

What surprises me is how solid we look even though we have two wide men in the team.

Couple of tough games coming up in the league................

Agree with most of the OP's comments. We've been as good as any of us could have hoped. This is the most exciting of times for us, and we may even do the business in the chumps league. Fantastic squad; fantastic ground; improved atmosphere; big performances from our big and much-loved players - it's all good.

I would distinguish Stirling from Hazard on the basis that you get a defensive work ethic with Stirling which Hazard doesn't give Chelsea.

Not bothered if Chelsea sign Pogba - he's overrated and not what they need. Will they turn it round? Will Maureen be there at Christmas?

How much stronger will we be with KDB in for Navas?

I said pre season that if we win the first 3 matches, we'll win the league. I am now more sure than ever that we will be champions, and the rest will fight it out for the minor places. United could get second if they sign a striker, but I can't see it happening, and I don't think they are any stronger than the others despite all their spending to date. I can't wait for us to play them, and hope that we're still at full strength that day. If they lose today, places 2-4 in the league really are wide open as every other fancied team has looked crap at some stage or the other, and - just possibly - one of the unfancied teams might squeeze in to 4th or 5th place.

 

[the blue panther]

Sorry.......
Agree with most of the OP's comments. We've been as good as any of us could have hoped. This is the most exciting of times for us, and we may even do the business in the chumps league. Fantastic squad; fantastic ground; improved atmosphere; big performances from our big and much-loved players - it's all good.

I would distinguish Stirling from Hazard on the basis that you get a defensive work ethic with Stirling which Hazard doesn't give Chelsea.

Not bothered if Chelsea sign Pogba - he's overrated and not what they need. Will they turn it round? Will Maureen be there at Christmas?

How much stronger will we be with KDB in for Navas?

I said pre season that if we win the first 3 matches, we'll win the league. I am now more sure than ever that we will be champions, and the rest will fight it out for the minor places. United could get second if they sign a striker, but I can't see it happening, and I don't think they are any stronger than the others despite all their spending to date. I can't wait for us to play them, and hope that we're still at full strength that day. If they lose today, places 2-4 in the league really are wide open as every other fancied team has looked crap at some stage or the other, and - just possibly - one of the unfancied teams might squeeze in to 4th or 5th place.