Between now and January: Us, Rags, Arsenal

We have a far set of tougher fixtures up until christmas eve, i'll be more than happy if we are top or even a couple of points off it as the fat fellow comes down the chimney.
 
Let's be honest we should be five points clear at the moment.
Villa was a huge mess up - not quite Typical City - but up there.
Similarly West Ham - I still don't know how we didn't batter them let alone lose.
 
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My predictions:

City:

Liverpool - 3 Southampton - 1 Stoke - 3 Swansea - 3 Arsenal - 1 Sunderland -3 Leicester - 1 Watford - 3

18 points


Arsenal:

West Brom - 3 Norwich - 3 Sunderland - 3 Villa - 3 City - 1 Southampton - 1 Bournemouth - 3 Newcastle - 3

20 points

Rags:

Watford - 3 Leicester - 1 West Ham - 3 Bournemouth - 3 Norwich - 3 Stoke - 1 Chelsea - 1 Swansea - 3

18 points

Somehow predicted no losses for any of the 3 there which is a bit optimistic but a lot of matches for Arsenal/United that look like a fairly comfortable 3 points. Feel United have been extremely lucky to have the points total they have so far, but they're good enough to be beating the teams they've got lined up for the next few weeks.

Wouldn't surprise me if we're 3rd after the next 5 games as we have 5 potential hiccups whereas United/Arsenal have 4/5 very winnable games.

Only thing I see stopping us winning the title come the end of the season is injuries, hoping after this international break we'll have a more normal amount of injuries & keep key players fit for longer periods, as then we should be tough to stop - only Arsenal with the team to compete & whether they've really changed from the past X number of seasons we'll find out later in the year. United will keep grinding away but their luck has to change at some point & some of these lucky draws/wins will turn into losses, and some of our unlucky draws/losses will turn into wins.

BlueAnorak said:
Let's be honest we should be five points clear at the moment.
Villa was a huge mess up - not quite Typical City - but up there.
Similarly West Ham - I still don't know how we didn't batter them let alone lose.
Click to expand...

We did batter them, something like 18 shots & 10 on target with 70% possession to their 3 shots on target - we played well & got unlucky. Villa again, did enough to score at least once but just didn't happen, not a great performance but deserving of a win. Whilst we've been getting a couple of results like that United have been doing the opposite, battered by Palace got a draw, battered by Sot'on got a win, worse team against Spurs got a win etc.

Only truly bad performance from us was against Spurs for me at least & even that wasn't that bad & had it's fair share of bad luck that I doubt I need to point out.
 
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I will be genuinely amazed if we are not top going into the New Year. We have all the tools in place and will be surprised, with the players we have, if we do not hit top gear and put a six/seven game unbeaten run together.

The return of Aguero will be the key. Two blanks away from home in recent weeks has not been typical of us for years. Once the consistent goal threat returns and Silva, Sterling and De Bruyne get a run of games together I think this side has the makings of something very special.

The tools are there, they just need to be fit and the side set up correctly.
 
I think this is where we'll have our little wobble. There's always a wobble, or 'mini-crisis' as the media like to call it. 3rd going into the new year, but ultimately clawing it back and finishing on top.
 
I think the result against the arse will dictate who is top on NYD.

I'm sure (fingers crossed) we'll pull away over Jan/Feb when the cold weather sets in for the southern softies. I did hear yesterday that Arse generally have an awful November so maybe we should just chill and watch them collapse.
 
City:

Liverpool - H (1)
Southampton - H (3)
Stoke - A (3)
Swansea - H (3)
Arsenal - A (0)
Sunderland - H (3)
Leicester - A (1)
Watford - A (3)
Total = 17

Arsenal:
West Brom - A (1)
Norwich - A (3)
Sunderland - H (3)
Villa - A (3)
City - H (3)
Southampton - A (1)
Bournemouth - H (3)
Newcastle - H (3)
Total = 20

Rags:

Watford - A (3)
Leicester - A (1)
West Ham - H (1)
Bournemouth - A (3)
Norwich - H (3)
Stoke - A (1)
Chelsea - H (3)
Swansea - H (3)

Total = 18
 
Tricky_Trev said:
I think this is where we'll have our little wobble. There's always a wobble, or 'mini-crisis' as the media like to call it. 3rd going into the new year, but ultimately clawing it back and finishing on top.
Click to expand...

Didn't we have our wobble already? Not sure we get two wobbles, do we?
 
BlueAnorak said:
Let's be honest we should be five points clear at the moment.
Villa was a huge mess up - not quite Typical City - but up there.
Similarly West Ham - I still don't know how we didn't batter them let alone lose.
Click to expand...
Villa had nothing to do with typical City, Arsenal and United will both drop points in games they are expected to win just as we will in the future. Everybody has Arsenal beating Norwich away but they have changed how they set up in the last 2 games and look a lot harder to break down. Just as Liverpool lost at home to Palace this week.
 
I'm getting a lot of "neutrals" around me saying they hope Arsenal win it this year, mostly citing the "attractive football" and lack of big spending to get there.

It was just the same 2 years ago with loads of "Liverpool Fans" coming out of the closet. Wonder if those supporting the Arse now were doing so 12 years ago when literally they were never losing.
 
oz1975 said:
I'm getting a lot of "neutrals" around me saying they hope Arsenal win it this year, mostly citing the "attractive football" and lack of big spending to get there.

It was just the same 2 years ago with loads of "Liverpool Fans" coming out of the closet. Wonder if those supporting the Arse now were doing so 12 years ago when literally they were never losing.
Click to expand...
If City are second this year I hope Spurs win it but I don't think they can. Arsenal certaintly have the easier fixtures but strange things happen in football. However there is one factor that is nearly always crucial to sucess in this league. Taking all 3 points at home in all games. We only dropped 2 points all season winning under Boby Manc and not much more a couple of years back. The Rags under red nose and Chelski have built success upon becoming almost unbeatable at home. With this in mind we really need to win those four home games and see what we can get on the road. The game against the gooners could be crucial if a win were to open up a six or seven point gap either way. On reflection if we are no more than 3 points behind after Watford on Jan 2nd. I would feel confident. The fixture list for us in Jan/Feb is reasonable and with a bit of luck with injuries we might be able to kick on during this period which in recent years has tended to be a fairly bad time for us.Keep the faith
 
We are the best team in the league, the only thing that will stop City winning the title is City! Play as we can and we win it by 10 points minimum!
 
The Fat el Hombre said:
Agreed. Can't afford to be blowing points like that against duffers.
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In 11/12 we dropped points against Fulham, West Brom, Sunderland (twice), Stoke and Swansea. In 13/14 we dropped points against Cardiff, Stoke, Villa, Sunderland (twice) and Norwich. You can totally afford to blow points like that against duffers and still win the league, teams do it every season.
 
FromPollockToSilva said:
In 11/12 we dropped points against Fulham, West Brom, Sunderland (twice), Stoke and Swansea. In 13/14 we dropped points against Cardiff, Stoke, Villa, Sunderland (twice) and Norwich. You can totally afford to blow points like that against duffers and still win the league, teams do it every season.
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Yea you're right. It wasn't meant to be taken to literally to be honest - probably every team that's ever won the league has dropped points against lowly opposition at some point on the way to winning it, but it puts pressure on the trickier games coming up. Guess we'll find out at the end of the season if the 2 points we dropped at villa will have been costly to us. I think we should still be fine with a bit of luck and if the team play close enough to their potential
 
The Fat el Hombre said:
Yea you're right. It wasn't meant to be taken to literally to be honest - probably every team that's ever won the league has dropped points against lowly opposition at some point on the way to winning it, but it puts pressure on the trickier games coming up. Guess we'll find out at the end of the season if the 2 points we dropped at villa will have been costly to us. I think we should still be fine with a bit of luck and if the team play close enough to their potential
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Couldn't agree more mate :)
 
ayrshire_blue said:
Just having a look online at the fixtures for ourselves, Arsenal and the rags between now and January the 2nd.

Arsenal's games on paper look the easiest, with us having it slightly harder than the rags in my opinion.

Realistically, how do we see the 3 clubs comparing over this time period? Personally, I think being within touching distance of Arsenal come January 3rd would be absolutely ideal given the fixture list.

Anyone else see different?

City:

Liverpool - H
Southampton - H
Stoke - A
Swansea - H
Arsenal - A
Sunderland - H
Leicester - A
Watford - A


Arsenal:

West Brom - A
Norwich - A
Sunderland - H
Villa - A
City - H
Southampton - A
Bournemouth - H
Newcastle - H

Rags:

Watford - A
Leicester - A
West Ham - H
Bournemouth - A
Norwich - H
Stoke - A
Chelsea - H
Swansea - H
Click to expand...

Simply put we have to beat Liverpool home and get at least a draw away at Arsenal, I think we might be a few points behind both teams and we will look back regretting 2 points dropped against Villa and other poor results
 
ayrshire_blue said:
Just having a look online at the fixtures for ourselves, Arsenal and the rags between now and January the 2nd.

Arsenal's games on paper look the easiest, with us having it slightly harder than the rags in my opinion.

Realistically, how do we see the 3 clubs comparing over this time period? Personally, I think being within touching distance of Arsenal come January 3rd would be absolutely ideal given the fixture list.

Anyone else see different?

City:

Liverpool - H
Southampton - H
Stoke - A
Swansea - H
Arsenal - A
Sunderland - H
Leicester - A
Watford - A


Arsenal:

West Brom - A
Norwich - A
Sunderland - H
Villa - A
City - H
Southampton - A
Bournemouth - H
Newcastle - H

Rags:

Watford - A
Leicester - A
West Ham - H
Bournemouth - A
Norwich - H
Stoke - A
Chelsea - H
Swansea - H
Click to expand...

I expect we will have 24 points out of the games you listed. With a record goal tally. :D :D
 
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