mancityscot
Well-Known Member
Agree, we look well off it, but these bonkers line ups and formations aren’t exactly helping.
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Is It more Than Coincidence that City/Liverpool/Spurs All look Burned Out.
- Thread starter SidJames
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Brightwell Bros.
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Bless you for including Spurs in the discussion!
I think there is probably a grain of truth -- Liverpool and City have pushed each other to the limit over the last five years, there's a lot of football in a lot of player's legs, and City and Liverpool in particular have probably played more minutes than any teams in Europe -- but I also think that probably understates how poor Liverpool's recruitment has been and overstates City's problems.
I think there is probably a grain of truth -- Liverpool and City have pushed each other to the limit over the last five years, there's a lot of football in a lot of player's legs, and City and Liverpool in particular have probably played more minutes than any teams in Europe -- but I also think that probably understates how poor Liverpool's recruitment has been and overstates City's problems.
Devil's Advocate
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Agree.We’ve got more points than we had at this stage in either of the ‘13/‘14 and ‘20/‘21 title winning seasons.
It’s not been great so far but we nearly always come on strong in the second half of the season. I’m not saying everything is on course and it’s a formality we’re going to go on some amazing run. I’m just saying it’s too early to panic or throw in the towel.
If the leaders were just having a good season rather than been on course for 100 points, our form probably wouldn’t be under quite so much scrutiny.
20/21 was the weird behind closed doors season. It followed on almost continuously, effectively without a pre-season, from project restart and we had a shit start and were written off early doors in terms of winning the league. Lots of turgid stuff.
By 18 games in we were 2nd, 2 points behind the rags. We were 6 games into the 15 game winning run in the league:
P18 W11 D5 L2 38 points - Scored 31 Conceded 13.
The title win was built on false 9, control and at times slow, boring football. A masterclass in it's own way.
This season:
W12 D3 L3 39 points - Scored 46 Conceded 18.
Some turgid stuff but also some brilliant.
My theory is Pep is managing the squad in the same way this season. Mindful of the crazy schedule, keeping players mainly fit, hoping for control before with the lowest of physical demand before breaking out again towards the business end. But, after the debacle of yesterday, we might have too much to do.
Not sure about Spurs but I did think there might be a drop off in form from us and Liverpool after such an intense few seasons head to head for the league. For us, we won and it's always going to be hard to maintain that level. For them, they put in all that effort and didn't win the league. I thought this might leave a gap for Chelsea or Spurs to fill. Then a mid season world cup always meant it could throw up some odd league positions especially with CL priorities coming up. I'm just glad it's Newcastle pushing and Arsenal looking the more likely than Utd sneaking in with this being their best opportunity in years only to lose out to fucking Arsenal. And Areteta. It's almost poetic.
You can't win it every season, although we still might, but if we don't this is still going to be quite funny.
You can't win it every season, although we still might, but if we don't this is still going to be quite funny.
dennishasdoneit
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Wise words.We’ve got more points than we had at this stage in either of the ‘13/‘14 and ‘20/‘21 title winning seasons.
It’s not been great so far but we nearly always come on strong in the second half of the season. I’m not saying everything is on course and it’s a formality we’re going to go on some amazing run. I’m just saying it’s too early to panic or throw in the towel.
If the leaders were just having a good season rather than been on course for 100 points, our form probably wouldn’t be under quite so much scrutiny.
Stephen230
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Another thing to consider is that I think some people have been lulled into thinking, due to recent seasons, that point totals like 98/99/100 are normal and anything less is almost failure.
It’s not normal. Even for great teams. The average number of points by the Premier League winners is 87. It’s been won by a lot less on numerous occasions. United have won it four times with 80 points or less.
Even though everybody would agree we’ve started poorly. And most people would agree it’s almost inconceivable there isn’t going to be at least some degree of improvement in the second half of the season, we’re still currently tracking for 82/83 points.
I think maybe we’ve been spoilt a little.
It’s not normal. Even for great teams. The average number of points by the Premier League winners is 87. It’s been won by a lot less on numerous occasions. United have won it four times with 80 points or less.
Even though everybody would agree we’ve started poorly. And most people would agree it’s almost inconceivable there isn’t going to be at least some degree of improvement in the second half of the season, we’re still currently tracking for 82/83 points.
I think maybe we’ve been spoilt a little.