Castiel said:Well it can be done. United have done it recently with a weaker squad than yours. We've done it twice, and Arsenal did it before us. Last season was a good opportunity to blow the league away with our striker issues and United in free-fall. Liverpool weren't in contention for half the season, they were concentrating on top 4 (especially after consecutive defeats at the Etihad and Stamford Bridge) before the 3 of us let them back into it while we were trying to outdo each other on conceding the lead. Supercity makes a fair evaluation though, you did undergo a complete transformation in style from Mancini's system and your defenders took a while to adapt to it. This coupled with injuries to your key players would have stunted you. We struggled in the runin with key injuries, well, except against Liverpool.prestonibbo_mcfc said:Just a couple of points. Why should anyone run away with the league, it's the hardest league top to bottom. We had injuries to key players
at key times that cost us. IMO. As for pragmatism we'll let Jose do the bus parking, some teams like to entertain their fans ;-)
I found our matches in Barcelona and Muinch pretty entertaining!
Had it soured even by the start of the season, because we started slowly? If you listen to Kompany's interview with SSN he talks about complacency although it was the interviewer who raised the issue. I think City fans are being a bit defensive about this issue. It's always a problem fro Champions. You've achieved a target, and you have to set a new one. Of course it can be a positive too. I think City were helped in the run in through the experience of doing it before, and the pressure also told on Liverpool and maybe Chelsea too as they lost or drew unexpected games towards the end.Matty said:GHoddle said:Castiel said:I don't understand it tbh. The bookies don't put much in it but as champions you should be favourites. Our squads are comparably strong on paper but you produced the goods where we came short. Most of our fans over at our forums think you're favourites. Better odds to bet on your own team though!
The thing with City is you have this tendency to get complacent. Last season you should have run away with the title if you ask me, pulling off a points tally like ours in Mourinho's first spell. But you made your relatively easy early start much more complicated than it needed to be when you could have pulled away (like we did back then). We saw this again against Arsenal. City are their own worst enemy in this respect and it almost cost you. When we defeated Liverpool and opened the door for you, your poor run of form suddenly reversed and you stormed to the finish line.
With us there was a clear weakness in personnel, we needed a striker. With you it was more to do with mentality, there were no obvious weaknesses in your squad. Whatever the cause of that phenomenon, I think that's what makes pundits doubt you. During your best spell you looked completely unstoppable, particularly at home, but when things aren't working you look like a different team. Pellegrini could also adopt more pragmatism in the big games IMO, this is particularly key to succeed in Europe which I would guess is the next big priority for your club.
In any case I don't think there's much between us and Pellegrini now has plenty of PL experience, and both managers have had time to mould their teams. With Arsenal looking like they actually mean business now, United free of European distractions, and Liverpool being a surprise package - we're all going to be in for some serious competition this year. I prefer it to the 2 horse races of the past.
That's one reason why I don't think City will win the league (though I know City fans will disagree with this of course), I have a suspicion that they might do what they did last time after they won the league - wasn't it a drop off from 89 to 78 points? I just think there may be some potential for complacency since they've just won the league, and it's a difficult thing to repeat. Some star players might not give their all in less glamorous matches imo. I could just see United, Liverpool, and Chelsea having a bit more motivation, but I might be wrong.
Whatever happens, it's going to be a fascinating season imo, really can't wait to see it play out.
I think the whole "City didn't defend their title as they became complacent" argument is a huge red herring if I'm honest. Behind the scenes (and not so behind the scenes if we're being honest) the relationship between Roberto Mancini and pretty much everyone had soured to the point it was irretrievably broken. From the Director of Football down through the players and even the support staff, he was almost universally disliked by the end. With that going on within the club, eating away at everything like a cancer, it's hardly surprising we didn't perform in the way we should have done on the pitch. That won't be a problem this time around. Pellegrini is a very different character, polite, charming, erudite, and pretty much universally liked. Even opposition fans can't find anything negative to say about him, apart from "he's a bit dull" which after the days of Balotelli, Tevez and Mancini is a Godsend for City fans! I think people will be surprised by how focused we are on the task at hand, when compared to our last title defence.
Fabregas and Schurrle have both been taking both free kicks and corners in preseason. Fabregas scored a great one and Schurrle hit the bar. Hazard takes them occasionally. I think Fabregas will take most of them.Marvin said:Castiel, or anyone, can you tell me who will be taking Chelsea's free-kicks and penalties now that Lampard and Luiz have moved on? I suspect Drogba when he plays, but I am not expecting him to be a regular.
I really doubt it. I don't doubt that Atletico want him, but Mourinho won't sell unless they make an outrageous offer. He's the archetype of a Mourinho player. Disciplined, hard working, efficient and athletic - he's a model German. It's also a bit late for us to be looking at an adequate replacement. Unless he plans to go for something ridiculous like Di Maria or Reus.aguero93:20 said:Schurrle looks like he might be on his way out, strange.
Castiel said:Fabregas and Schurrle have both been taking both free kicks and corners in preseason. Fabregas scored a great one and Schurrle hit the bar. Hazard takes them occasionally. I think Fabregas will take most of them.Marvin said:Castiel, or anyone, can you tell me who will be taking Chelsea's free-kicks and penalties now that Lampard and Luiz have moved on? I suspect Drogba when he plays, but I am not expecting him to be a regular.
Castiel said:I really doubt it. I don't doubt that Atletico want him, but Mourinho won't sell unless they make an outrageous offer. He's the archetype of a Mourinho player. Disciplined, hard working, efficient and athletic - he's a model German. It's also a bit late for us to be looking at an adequate replacement. Unless he plans to go for something ridiculous like Di Maria or Reus.aguero93:20 said:Schurrle looks like he might be on his way out, strange.
Yep it's very unlikely we're going into the season with both Cech and Courtois. According to rumours it's either Real Madrid or PSG. Madrid have sold Lopez and they have ongoing drama with Casillas who is reportedly leaving next season at the latest, Ancelotti has also obviously worked with Cech before so that seems likely to me.bluechampion7891 said:you have 18 non HG player - 1 needs to go.
Although i think it will be cech
He was given a longer break but I think Fabregas is a better set piece taker. Schurrle is pretty accurate too, and he can hit them hard. I don't foresee a shortage in that department in any case.bluechampion7891 said:Oscar?