is this squad good enough to win the title?

Seems a strange question given we just won the league and cup and have added some more good players,of course they are good enough but will we,who knows,we all know football loves surprises
 
Won't be easy again that's for sure.
With UEFA trying to stop us at every turn and the horrendous first few fixtures that the FA have "selected" for us you could easily be forgiven to think everyone seems to try and conspire against us.

I just sense a sluggish start with the usual catch up at the latter end of the season.
 
Our squad is good enough to win the Champions League let alone the Premier League.

Chelsea look much stronger this year so it will be tough.

The big improvement I want to is in our mentality, I just thought key moments last season nearly cost us the league in particularly Arsenal away when we went in at half time after completely dominating yet only came away with a draw and Liverpool away when we completely bottled it in that first half, it was a decent comeback though and if Vinny had been fit who knows what could have happened.

I thought Pellegrini on the whole was top notch last season but my only negatives would be Barcelona at home when it was our biggest bottle job of the season for me as we showed them too much respect, and I thought we ruined the chance of a potential domestic treble not taking Wigan at home seriously in the cup.
 
TonyM said:
It'll depend on how our WC crew knit back into the squad. To be fair to them it's an emotional drain that could hinder their early season form.

I don't think we've strengthened much to be honest. Fernando seems only marginally better than Garcia from his debut games. Obviously too early to tell though. Even if he can just not foul outside the box as much as Garcia it'll be an improvement. (To be honest Zuculini looked more of a fit as DM than Fernando v Hearts)

I'd prefer Richards to Sagna. Think he offers more going forward and is great in the dressing room....if he could just stay fit...

If we get Mangala it'll be for his ability in his 2nd year and beyond I think. Maybe Rekik could challenge.

So all in all not much improvement. Maybe more kids to come through to plug any holes.

That said we will be more familiar with Pellegrini's style so if the WC crew can start well then I'd expect us to be a the same level as last year. Probably means coming second to a stronger Chelsea and winning a domestic cup. Once we play well I'll be happy.
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Have to disagree with you. If Richards played for another team you wouldn't feel so confident about him. Even if he was the greatest RB in the history of football only playing 9 EPL games in 2 seasons doesn't help the club. He's a defensive liability with very poor positioning that has never improved since his first year with the club. Sagna is a huge improvement over him if only the fact he'll be fit to play.

Fernando is a very good player. Are you really going to base your opinion on him from a preseason friendly that means nothing? People were saying the same thing about Fernandinho after his first couple real games last year. Pretty sure those doubters feel quite differently now. First season in a new club and new league and was in the lineup with a squad that was full of "new faces". It took Garcia 1 year and a half before he developed into a descent player so let's give the guy at least a couple real games to bed in.

Mangala we'll see. Haven't seen much of him but the club are certainly sold on him. Yes MDM played very well down the stretch but is getting old and I believe it's imperative to get his replacement in now to give him the time to work his way into the team so he is ready for the starting 11 going into the final stretch of this season and the start of next season. Again another player that took half the season before he starting playing his best. Gives us a lot of flexibility if players get injured like the start of last season.

Willy a big improvement over Pants. Will push Hart and if he plays poorly I feel very confident of him coming in and winning games instead of simply not loosing the game.

One thing we have over most of the title competition is continuity, which should serve well for the start of the season. Chelsea have brought in a number of new players who will want to start, to go along with an already overloaded talent of attacking midfielders. How will they deal with not playing? Hazard has already had issues with Mourinho and hasn't played well for many months. Oscar has been poor for even longer. They still rely very heavily on Terry and while he was very good last year will he return tot he form of the previous years and being injured? Also are counting on Costa who has only had 1 good season and coming to a new league.

The Rags haven't done anything that worries me. Yes the manager is a huge improvement but their squad is still very average. Spurs much the same. Everton probably loosing Lukaku and will find it very hard to replace his goals. Arsenal still adding players they don't really need while leaving areas of need without strengthening. Desperately need a top CF and DM as well as a 3rd CH since Vermaelin is on his way out. Liverpool have lost their best player and like Arsenal continue to add attacking midfielders instead of strengthening their defense which was utterly inept.
 
2012 - Champions
2013 - Runner up
2014 - Champions

I think we must be doing something right!!
 
TonyM said:
It'll depend on how our WC crew knit back into the squad. To be fair to them it's an emotional drain that could hinder their early season form.

I don't think we've strengthened much to be honest. Fernando seems only marginally better than Garcia from his debut games. Obviously too early to tell though. Even if he can just not foul outside the box as much as Garcia it'll be an improvement. (To be honest Zuculini looked more of a fit as DM than Fernando v Hearts)

I'd prefer Richards to Sagna. Think he offers more going forward and is great in the dressing room....if he could just stay fit...

If we get Mangala it'll be for his ability in his 2nd year and beyond I think. Maybe Rekik could challenge.

So all in all not much improvement. Maybe more kids to come through to plug any holes.

That said we will be more familiar with Pellegrini's style so if the WC crew can start well then I'd expect us to be a the same level as last year. Probably means coming second to a stronger Chelsea and winning a domestic cup. Once we play well I'll be happy.
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Staggering, so much wrong with this.....I cant be bothered.
 
ballinio said:
TonyM said:
It'll depend on how our WC crew knit back into the squad. To be fair to them it's an emotional drain that could hinder their early season form.

I don't think we've strengthened much to be honest. Fernando seems only marginally better than Garcia from his debut games. Obviously too early to tell though. Even if he can just not foul outside the box as much as Garcia it'll be an improvement. (To be honest Zuculini looked more of a fit as DM than Fernando v Hearts)

I'd prefer Richards to Sagna. Think he offers more going forward and is great in the dressing room....if he could just stay fit...

If we get Mangala it'll be for his ability in his 2nd year and beyond I think. Maybe Rekik could challenge.

So all in all not much improvement. Maybe more kids to come through to plug any holes.

That said we will be more familiar with Pellegrini's style so if the WC crew can start well then I'd expect us to be a the same level as last year. Probably means coming second to a stronger Chelsea and winning a domestic cup. Once we play well I'll be happy.
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Staggering, so much wrong with this.....I cant be bothered.
Click to expand...

And that's him being positive ;-)
 
Yes! But Chelsea and Arsenal are much improved, and probably more talented.
 
The squad is good enough and the manager is so we should be able to have another go at it.

I think that it will depend on a number of factors for us.

1. Our start to the season with the hard run of games we have.
2. How we fare injury wise. We have lost Negredo already. Lose a key player like Silva for any length of time and it could impact.
3. How we cope without Yaya in Janaury/Feb with ACON.

Chelsea will be thereabouts with the additions they have made and both Arsenal and the Rags will be stronger. The latter easy start will give them momentum and they have no CL so fully refreshed every week.

Liverpool are an unknown to me. Some decent signings on paper but next season will show how much they relied on Suarez.

I am pretty relaxed about this season having won it last year. I am not blown away by our signings but hands tied hasn't helped us.

Top 3 and a cup would be good for me.
 
Being City its never going to run smoothly but with our settled squad i can see us doing another Domestic double next season.

I dont like sounding cocky or big headed but we really do have a wonderfully settled talented squad with players who have "been there and done it". TWICE :-) I have 100% confidence in the club, its players, the manager, the coaches, the fans, and the owners.

In my heart of hearts I still dont think we are "streetwise" enough to win the Champions League yet but i can see us getting another good run going in it and maybe a semi final??
 
If the manager had shown the pragmatism he showed in the second half of the season in the first half we would have won the league by a dozen points. Let's face it his tactical naivety away from home cost us dearly before Christmas. That wont happen this year and we have added quality. A tough opening schedule may see us lag some of the rivals in the first few months but if we are there or there about's at Christmas we will win. Not only do we have the best squad but these guys have been there. Not finished outside the top 2 for 4 seasons. My only real concern in United, the fact they have no European football and a very easy opening makes me think they may get a kick start and generate some momentum, as Liverpool did last year. Liverpool over performed massively due to these factors and United may be handily placed to do the same. That said if sanity prevails it will be City followed by Chelsea.
 
I don't understand this negativity about our opening fixtures. I like the fact that we've got several of the big boys straight off the bat. Get it sorted, is what I say. None of these trick "easy" games, like Cardiff, and Villa, with players going mysteriously to sleep. There'll be no need for motivating, focussing, or any of that, against Liverpool and Chelsea. It'll be there as a given. We have no more need to fear anyone. Respect yes, not fear.
 
Kun Aguero said:
Where the fuck has this myth that Jovetic is a winger come from? he's similar to Bergkamp and Bergkamp isn't a fucking winger.
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I know you said similar, but come on, can we seriously compare Jovetic to Bergkamp?

Big season for Jovetic who will need to show what he's worth
 
Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
I don't understand this negativity about our opening fixtures. I like the fact that we've got several of the big boys straight off the bat. Get it sorted, is what I say. None of these trick "easy" games, like Cardiff, and Villa, with players going mysteriously to sleep. There'll be no need for motivating, focussing, or any of that, against Liverpool and Chelsea. It'll be there as a given. We have no more need to fear anyone. Respect yes, not fear.
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Totally agree. Plus we play 2 out of the 3 of them in pre season friendlies (Liverpool in USA and Arsenal at Wembley).
 
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