Is this our best team yet?

[MadchesterCity]

We really do need a CL to put the crowning glory on it.

Should already have one.

Agree we were limp against Madrid in semi and vs Chelsea

 

[Stoned Rose]

Mangala not. Otamendi is in the starting line up for the majority of matches for that season. And even at his best Otamendi was not as good as what we've got now.
Incidentally I'd argue that even as back-up Roy Cropper is a whole level or two in terms of footballing skill above Mangala.

 

[Stoned Rose]

Been thinking about it. I saw the Liverpool side that included Tommy Smith, Emlyn Hughes, St. John etc. many times. With Clemence in goal. They were just incredibly difficult to beat.
It's so difficult to judge these things. The game has changed so much, apart from anything because pitches now look like billiard table tops pretty much right through the season. What's required of footballers is so very, very different. And there's an awful lot of football required of the top clubs now, so if you don't have a good squad, you're dead in the water.
That Liverpool side (and the one on into the 80s that included Rush, although I had much less experience of it live) would certainly give a good account of itself. Not sure, though, if it was as creative, or as tactically aware, as our current side. In fact it certainly wasn't. Hard, though – a hard team that hated to lose.

I’ve been watching a lot of the old 70s and 80s Match of the Days on YT.

The standard was absolutely laughable and that applies even to the teams who were the best at the time.

The best teams of that era would be relegation fodder today. The game has improved that much.

I watch the 90s ones as well and you can see the green shoots of the game, fitness levels and tactics, starting to improve.

 

[MadchesterCity]

I’ve been watching a lot of the old 70s and 80s Match of the Days on YT.

The standard was absolutely laughable and that applies even to the teams who were the best at the time.

The best teams of that era would be relegation fodder today. The game has improved that much.

I watch the 90s ones as well and you can see the green shoots of the game, fitness levels and tactics, starting to improve.

I agree to extent but disagree on how high a level you think they would be able to play. I know this is an emotive subject as these are our yesteryear heroes but the majority in those days wouldn’t even be anywhere near to being classed as professional footballers. The fitness levels are of such an extreme that perhaps only a handful of players would even be Premier league standard.

 

[01cravend]

People saying other teams of ours wouldn't put a glove on the 17/18 team.. The same team that lost 5-1 to Liverpool in the champions league?
That happened because they couldn't handle aggressive pressing. They wouldn't cope with our pressing now, especially from the front with Bernie and Rodri behind that.
The team we have now and last year is far more balanced. It's a better TEAM it's just not comprised of better individuals.

 

[alexmcity]

xPts after 18 games in 17/18 and 21/22 (understat):

17/18 - 46 pts, 21/22 - 44 pts.

The underlying stats about the performances in those two seasons are a lot closer than some people realise. And the fixtures in 21/22 are more difficult for the first 18 games than in 17/18. Also, the league is better now than in 17/18.

Tbf, Liverpool's underlying stats are overall better than in 18-20 (a bit worse defensively than in 18/19, but better offensively). The notion that Liverpool are worse now than in 18-20 is probably mistaken. The main difference is that they were luckier back then, especially in 19/20 when they were very lucky to get so many wins. They have more depth now than back then, for they have added Konate, Tsimikas, Thiago, Jota...They have midfielders on the bench like Keita and Oxlade who are more expensive than Bernardo and Gundogan! The problem for them is that their stars are 29-31 y.o. now.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I agree to extent but disagree on how high a level you think they would be able to play. I know this is an emotive subject as these are our yesteryear heroes but the majority in those days wouldn’t even be anywhere near to being classed as professional footballers. The fitness levels are of such an extreme that perhaps only a handful of players would even be Premier league standard.

Buzzer's very proud of having been part of the ’68 team, and rightly so. They were my heroes. But I fear that this current team would just play round them, and score for fun.

 

[Otamendi's Beard]

A tough comparison with 17/18 but we're far more balanced this season than ever before.

The defence is clearly better now with Dias and Cancelo instead of Delph and Otamendi (sorry Nico). Did Vinnie even have the consistency of Ruben? I'm unsure and injuries impacted that.

What's harder to separate is the midfield and attack. The vintage of 17/18 was something special, but the depth and versatility of 21/22 has returned more goals this calendar year and controls the game better.

If I was pushed I'd say this is the best team ever. A CL would be the icing on the cake.

 

[bluemoon32]

I’ve been watching a lot of the old 70s and 80s Match of the Days on YT.

The standard was absolutely laughable and that applies even to the teams who were the best at the time.

The best teams of that era would be relegation fodder today. The game has improved that much.

I watch the 90s ones as well and you can see the green shoots of the game, fitness levels and tactics, starting to improve.

Maybe so but give it another 50 years and people will be laughing at the game of today.

 

[CelesteItis]

Greatest sides.
Brasil 70 (in México WC the Brasil vs Perú; top match ever)

Dutch 74 (even though the krauts won it as per)

City 2011-2012, 13-14[*], 17-22 (records broken left, right & centre, to the media cúnts dismay)

[*] take it take it, you dipper cUnts, you. And goals for first record.