Media discussion - 2024/25

bongsblue said:
Our fightback will be so enjoyable.
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Not if you read the charges thread tonight. Apparently not only are we getting relegated, they will be putting 2 years ‘no promotion’ punishment in there as well as transfer bans. I’d love to know what world some of our fans are on. So mass criminal fraud it is all round then lol.
 
bluenova said:
I think that sums up exactly where people are getting confused. Looking at players aged 28-30 and thinking they are "always" injured, so this is totally normal.

According to transfermarkt, since Ake arrived, he has been available for 80% of games we've played.
In the same time period, Stones has been available for 85%.
Dias for 90%.
Akanji in his two and a half seasons, 93%.
Kovacic for 90%.

So, while none of them are up there with Rodri (who has an insanely good career record, which is one reason why we can't simply get a like for like backup), it is highly unusual for them all to have problems at the same time. Pep said at the start of this run that Walker hadn't been training and shouldn't have been playing, and even Gvardiol was a doubt at one point in the run, but had to play.

ps. The point with Walker is that at 34 he was supposed to be playing a final season with limited minutes. When he's not got recovery time, not got a fit and fast CB beside him, and Rico is playing left back, he's going to look like he's deteriorated a lot faster than he likely has in reality.
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Those statistics must be absolute bollocks
Stones, when fit and available, is our best centre half
Look at his playing record
An example being, last season, 16 PL matches

 
johnny crossan said:
a vigorous defence but although it is undeniably "highly unusual for them all to have problems at the same time" that is the harsh reality for which we are manifestly less well prepared than our rivals.
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But are we?

Arsenal reckon they lost the title two years ago because just one defender was out. Liverpool had a run as bad as our current one in 2020/21, losing six in a row in the PL at home, when they had a few defenders out at once.

While the maths isn't so simple, on average we have four of the five CBs available at any time. Four of our five CBs also play multiple positions, Walker has played at CB and Rico could play left back easily if he didn't have so many defensive duties. That makes City pretty resilient defensively, and is why we've won so many titles. This cluster of injuries happening has resulted in our worst form in years, because the likelihood of it happening to this extent is a once in a decade occurrence.
 
bluenova said:
But are we?

Arsenal reckon they lost the title two years ago because just one defender was out. Liverpool had a run as bad as our current one in 2020/21, losing six in a row in the PL at home, when they had a few defenders out at once.

While the maths isn't so simple, on average we have four of the five CBs available at any time. Four of our five CBs also play multiple positions, Walker has played at CB and Rico could play left back easily if he didn't have so many defensive duties. That makes City pretty resilient defensively, and is why we've won so many titles. This cluster of injuries happening has resulted in our worst form in years, because the likelihood of it happening to this extent is a once in a decade occurrence.
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Yep, no decent cover at CDM or RB/LB has cost us dear and we're yet to see what happens at CF if Erl gets crocked now Alvarez has gone.
 
wattle said:
Not if you read the charges thread tonight. Apparently not only are we getting relegated, they will be putting 2 years ‘no promotion’ punishment in there as well as transfer bans. I’d love to know what world some of our fans are on. So mass criminal fraud it is all round then lol.
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2 years no promotion punishment is an absolute gem.

That's a new one.

I'd love to see how that will fit in with the football pyramid.

Honestly I'm loving these mad theories from these bitter rivals of ours, proper creased up laughing.
 
dickie davies said:
Those statistics must be absolute bollocks
Stones, when fit and available, is our best centre half
Look at his playing record
An example being, last season, 16 PL matches

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But for most of last season, all 7 defenders were fit. I love Stones, but there are plenty on here who will argue that any one of Ake, Akanji, Dias or Stones are our best defender.
 
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