Will we win the league this season?

doobyedoobye said:
The fact we are very much in contention whilst missing Rodri and clearly still finding our feet is a joy
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Agree with this. The obvious one is Nico G has started to blossom. But Phil paying in the middle has helped knit things together along with Bernardo. They always show for the ball and cover so much ground, I'd love to see individual running stats.

I think this has allowed Rodri to be held back and when he does return we will see a close to top speed version of him. Rather than a shadow who won't be functioning properly until next season.

We are still in all the cups and within spitting distance of the Arse. I reckon we could be in for some second half of the season, buckle up.
 
Dodge said:
Every pundit bangs on about City are an injury to Haaland away from disaster. Take Rice out of that tarquin team and they are fucked. As big to them as losing Rodders was for us. Delicious karma if it happens against us.

Two own goals and a pen to beat Wolves and Everton. If that was us we'd be getting slaughtered.

Very confident we'll beat Villa to the title.
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I'm afraid that's more wishful thinking (re: Villa being our main rival for the title).

I think Villa won't finish within 8 pts off Arsenal.

Arsenal are more dependent on Gabriel (defence and set pieces) than on Rice. Rice is very good but he isn't a (deeplying) playmaker. They competed for the title before they signed him and they didn't improve that much with him...

Villa - I'm not even sure they'll make the top 3...
 
I think City fans should be confident at the moment. We know City are not the finished article but we are young side that is improving. Cherki has added to City's game. Then there is Khusanov held back in reserve. Anyone who went to the Brentford game will have seen his potential in the 2nd half when he used his power and pace to eliminate any Brentford attack. It was hugely impressive. His time will come soon.

I have thought from the beginning of the season that we had a chance if we could fulfil our potential. Foden is back. Cherki is all we hoped he would be. Khusanov is coming good. The final piece in the jigsaw is Rodri. Let's hope that piece is still fully functional. Some day soon I hope Rodri will return, and this young City side will be ready to challenge for all the trophies.

We are in a privileged position to watch another of Pep's creations come into life. Citystein is beginning to walk, it needs one missing part to be complete.
 
alexmcity said:
I'm afraid that's more wishful thinking (re: Villa being our main rival for the title).

I think Villa won't finish within 8 pts off Arsenal.

Arsenal are more dependent on Gabriel (defence and set pieces) than on Rice. Rice is very good but he isn't a (deeplying) playmaker. They competed for the title before they signed him and they didn't improve that much with him...

Villa - I'm not even sure they'll make the top 3...
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I also think Villa will fall away, hopefully after they stuff the rags later. I'm also not sure Arse will maintain their form over a season. May sound obvious but I feel it may come down to us.
 
Roachy said:
I also think Villa will fall away, hopefully after they stuff the rags later. I'm also not sure Arse will maintain their form over a season. May sound obvious but I feel it may come down to us.
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Arsenal are already creaking. They are trying to inject Gyokeres with confidence by giving him pens. to take but he doesn't look very good. Havertz and Jesus are arguably more dangerous but neither is a proper striker. The Gyokeres experiment looks close to failure. If the VAR had done its job, Arsenal would have dropped points at Everton yesterday. If Rodri reaches his full potential, we are going to surpass them, but this is an unknown quantity.
 
Roachy said:
I also think Villa will fall away, hopefully after they stuff the rags later. I'm also not sure Arse will maintain their form over a season. May sound obvious but I feel it may come down to us.
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Morgan Rogers impact reminds me of Cole Palmer's impact in previous seasons. Ultimately, I think Villa might fall back when the fixtures hit them quick and hard in March/April. This is when titles are won. Sadly this is Arsenal's big advantage. They have the squad that City and Villa do not. However, that can change if Kovacic and Rodri come back, and if City can get something from Marmoush who is a top but underperforming player. I think all the parts are now there for City. At some point we have to connect the old turbo to the engine, and see if Rodri fires up. A bit of WD-40 and a few attempts will be required. Fingers crossed for 2026.
 
Marvin. said:
Morgan Rogers impact reminds me of Cole Palmer's impact in previous seasons. Ultimately, I think Villa might fall back when the fixtures hit them quick and hard in March/April. This is when titles are won. Sadly this is Arsenal's big advantage. They have the squad that City and Villa do not. However, that can change if Kovacic and Rodri come back, and if City can get something from Marmoush who is a top but underperforming player. I think all the parts are now there for City. At some point we have to connect the old turbo to the engine, and see if Rodri fires up. A bit of WD-40 and a few attempts will be required. Fingers crossed for 2026.
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Squads are fine so long as the mentality goes with it and history tells you that when the presure is on Arsenal always go to pieces
 
City have a clear problem in defense. When the opposition wants to attack us, they can easily pass the ball around and put their player just meters away from the goalkeeper. We've seen this in most matches, most recently against West Ham, who, if they had a striker, would have scored. This worries me a lot. That's why I think we need to strengthen the defense, not just the flanks, but also the center.
Rodri's return will undoubtedly help us a lot, but how long will it take him to get back to his best form? That's why I think signings this winter could be very important.
 
Millennium said:
City have a clear problem in defense. When the opposition wants to attack us, they can easily pass the ball around and put their player just meters away from the goalkeeper. We've seen this in most matches, most recently against West Ham, who, if they had a striker, would have scored. This worries me a lot. That's why I think we need to strengthen the defense, not just the flanks, but also the center.
Rodri's return will undoubtedly help us a lot, but how long will it take him to get back to his best form? That's why I think signings this winter could be very important.
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What would happen to those signings or Gonzalez if Rodri stays fit? Also, Kovacic is expected back in March. Then the new signing might struggle to make the bench (not to mention that it may take him months to get Pep's tactics...).

Pep is warming to Nunes as an option at DM and I think he's more likely to fit in there than a January signing.
 
Bantamgaz said:
Squads are fine so long as the mentality goes with it and history tells you that when the presure is on Arsenal always go to pieces
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It’s doesn’t though, does it? 1989 being the prime example. Nothing lasts forever mate. They will get it right one season if they keep knocking.
 
Arsenal aren't playing great but grinding out the results. I'd say we're playing the better football at present but we need them to start slipping up. I can see them buying in January, just hope it's not Semenyo as that could be the killing blow
 
Fordyboy46 said:
Arsenal aren't playing great but grinding out the results. I'd say we're playing the better football at present but we need them to start slipping up. I can see them buying in January, just hope it's not Semenyo as that could be the killing blow
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They're third in the last game form table...?
 
Think the stage is set really.

Arsenal are sturdy (and stodgy) as fuck but struggle to create big chances from open play.

We are attacking well but look shaky away from home and give up too many big chances.

Extrapolate over a season or one team needs to improve in a key area. Think Arsenal's issues are a feature not a bug and baked in.
 
Damanino said:
no chance sadly.

its the fear factor we lost is sick. teams not happy anymore to come to Etihad and get a lucky draw. they want to win.
Brighton not happy to come back with a penalty and keep it 1-1. they throw energy into winning it and commit players forward instead of sitting back and they do get the reward.

all comes from being soft, mentally, not enough hunger and running. no control of tempo,passing etc.
just poor all around. doesnt even matter if inverted fullbacks or not. we can lose same way with both.

Bournemouth came back vs Liverpool and Liverpool went ahead and scored two in last minutes. also Newcastle came back vs them and they still went ahead to attack and got rewarded.
I didnt see anything like that vs Spurs or Brighton. we were trying to avoid a third Spurs or Brighton goal more than score us ourselves. its just poor.

all the poor squad planning after treble win now coming back to bite us in the arse. sell Palmer, sell Alvarez, accepting missing out on Bellingham, Rice, Wirtz etc. bring in Nunes, Kova, Doku, Gundo return etc.
its like we on purpose making our squad weaker while rivals stepped on the gas pedal and sign players into their starting eleven, and better ones than the ones they are replacing.
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Interesting.
 
Brightwell Bros. said:
Think the stage is set really.

Arsenal are sturdy (and stodgy) as fuck but struggle to create big chances from open play.

We are attacking well but look shaky away from home and give up too many big chances.

Extrapolate over a season or one team needs to improve in a key area. Think Arsenal's issues are a feature not a bug and baked in.
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That picture is about right but a bit static.

Both teams have new players and players who are out injured, but I think our new players (the likes of Donna and Cherki) add more to the team than theirs, and that Rodri can make a bigger difference than their returning players.

IF Rodri can come back and stay fit, I would be surprised if City weren't the best team come March/April.
 
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