Arsenal (H) - Sun 31st Mar, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[alexmcity]

Hope your right.

Out of curiosity:

Is Gundo worse than Nunes/Kovacic?

Is Doku better than Marez?

Are Arsenal and Liverpool worse off than last year?

Were you the the one who was predicting 97 pts for Arsenal last season around February?

Such comparisons between players are a bit shit. Tell me why we have won about as many points as last season after 28 games, given that KDB and Stones missed most of the current season through injuries, Haaland missed nearly two months, and Rodri missed several games through suspension.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Were you the the one who was predicting 97 pts for Arsenal last season around February?

Such comparisons between players are a bit shit. Tell me why we have won about as many points as last season after 28 games, given that KDB and Stones missed most of the current season through injuries, Haaland missed nearly two months, and Rodri missed several games through suspension.

You failed to answer a single one of my questions.

Cheers that you're 100% for City - I am too (in spite of what you may believe). But I'm a realist. Our squad this year isn't nearly as good as it was last season - and Liverpool and Arsenal are better (and in the case of Liverpool... significantly better).

 

[alexmcity]

You failed to answer a single one of my questions.

Cheers that you're 100% for City - I am too (in spite of what you may believe). But I'm a realist. Our squad this year isn't nearly as good as it was last season - and Liverpool and Arsenal are better (and in the case of Liverpool... significantly better).

I told you what I think about your questions. Let's assume it makes sense to compare the squads from last and this season like that and that you are right that the players who left are better than the new signings. Now tell me why we have won as many points as last season after 28 games, despite the injuries to key players. In contrast to last season, KDB missed 5 months, Stones missed 4 months, Haaland missed 2 months. Yet the results so far are comparable to last season. If anything, we have won more games this season than last season at the same stage. What's your take on that fact?

 

[jimharri]

So; if what City Xtra have tweeted is reliable it looks like it may be "only" Walker and Stones who won't be available. Why did that tw@ play them? Surely, you use friendlies to try out new players, not fellas who you are more than aware of what their capabilities are.

 

[uwerosler28]

Let's not forget first choice back 4 for most of the treble season had no walker, he was only brought in against speed merchants, Stones is the big miss.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Play as we can and we will have not a lot to worry about. Arsenal are a good side of course but the home advantage, spring sunshine and the crowd creating a cauldron of noise I back City to take the 3 points. We are well capable of stepping up the gears as and when needed and if we play a high tempo attacking match then it'll be a very Happy Easter. Keep the faith, up the blues. 3-1 City. Foden, Haaland, Doku.

 

[bridgeno1]

For us this isn't even our toughest match left. We have to face the world's greatest midfielder, England's saviour Kobbie Mainoo at the Bear Pit that is Old Trafford. Rice will use the match against City and his duels with Rodri as a sparring session to get himself ready to face the might of Mainoo, and hopefully a good performance at the Etihad means we only ship 4 or 5 goals at the Swamp.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

At some point, the best sides in sport lose their reign. For me, the current Man City side is far weaker than last year - last year we had Gundo, Mahrez and an in-form Grealish. Now we have Nunes/Kovacic and Doku as replacements. Meanwhile we're playing Gvardiol at LB where he is struggling - whereas he was, past season, a world class center back.

Our team is worse than it was last year in these positions - and meanwhile Liverpool (especially) and Arsenal (somewhat) are better.

It's not clear to me that we're the best side in the P/L this year - and on top of all of the above, we have a tough run-in.

TBH - I think we'll end up 3rd in the P/L this year and will not win the Champions League. A draw v. Arsenal would be a great result - but as both sides are so close in ability I don't know who will win.

Our squad is arguably slightly weaker but our best team isn’t. Gundo is a miss but to incorporate him we have to play Foden wide. Foden is playing the best football of his career in that Gundo position so I would argue that injury-free we are as good as last season and maybe even better. Mahrez was only a bit part player by the end.

The big miss for tomorrow will be stones because only he can do that job: a tactical innovation that will forever be known as the “John Stones position”.

I also believe we won’t win all three this year but it will be down to injuries and fixture congestion and not quality. Last year everything aligned, we could ease up in the title race, we got an easy semi final, and all these things affect freshness and injuries. This season feel like the opposite, especially when you throw in the extra games.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Our squad is arguably slightly weaker but our best team isn’t. Gundo is a miss but to incorporate him we have to play Foden wide. Foden is playing the best football of his career in that Gundo position so I would argue that injury-free we are as good as last season and maybe even better. Mahrez was only a bit part player by the end.

The big miss for tomorrow will be stones because only he can do that job: a tactical innovation that will forever be known as the “John Stones position”.

I also believe we won’t win all three this year but it will be down to injuries and fixture congestion and not quality. Last year everything aligned, we could ease up in the title race, we got an easy semi final, and all these things affect freshness and injuries. This season feel like the opposite, especially when you throw in the extra games.

Cheers - disagree though. I'd much rather have last years squad over this.

Gundo is better than our replacement mids.
Mahrez is better than Doku.

I agree with you about Foden - other pluses to our squad are the performances of our youth players: Lewis and Bobb are up-and-coming stars.

I'm hopeful that we'll win one of the following trophies: league title, champion's league, fa cup. I think we have a great shot at the fa cup - I think it's iffy that we'll win either of the other two trophies.

 

[jimharri]

For us this isn't even our toughest match left. We have to face the world's greatest midfielder, England's saviour Kobbie Mainoo at the Bear Pit that is Old Trafford. Rice will use the match against City and his duels with Rodri as a sparring session to get himself ready to face the might of Mainoo, and hopefully a good performance at the Etihad means we only ship 4 or 5 goals at the Swamp.