OK, let's be realistic

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

My biggest concern at the moment is other teams are showing more desire to win games. Coupled with the fact we're showing zero quality in virtually every area of the pitch, then it's a recipe for disaster.

But of course they're hungry. We've kept them starving for seven years, barring one (and then it was Liverpool and us second). And very often we took the “small” titles, F.A.Cups and League Cups, just for good measure. Furthermore, we've finished (temporarily — I repeat my conviction, temporarily) on a climax — a continental treble that only one other club (I forget who) has done in the entire history of the game, and then a fourth consecutive title which no-one else has done.
We have feasted. They have starved. Now we look slow and bloated. It will change, but it needs time to get hungry again.

 

[Roachy]

But of course they're hungry. We've kept them starving for seven years, barring one (and then it was Liverpool and us second). And very often we took the “small” titles, F.A.Cups and League Cups, just for good measure. Furthermore, we've finished (temporarily — I repeat my conviction, temporarily) on a climax — a continental treble that only one other club (I forget who) has done in the entire history of the game, and then a fourth consecutive title which no-one else has done.
We have feasted. They have starved. Now we look slow and bloated. It will change, but it needs time to get hungry again.

The hunger should return. I think it will be quite a different team when it does though, but that is natural.

 

[Pollock's Deft Backheader]

If we turn it around against Everton will Villa become the new York away?

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

It's really weird, because you could see this coming almost a year ago, and yet we still won the PL.
Ironically the defeat at Villa Park last season was even more one sided and then we dropped silly points at home to Spurs and Palace.
Cue the Newcastle game when Half Time couldn't come quick enough and yet somehow we won 3-2
Even now you look at our next three games and things could change dramatically

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Nobody saw this coming and these players have not been in this position before and don't look as though they know how to deal with it sadly.
It started with injuries to our most important players on mass and these players then having to play not fully fit half a game or 20 mins at a time. That's doesn't do any player any good short or long term.
As a result confidence has absolutely drained from the team now. Imo the most disastrous result during this run was the feyenord game. These players don't even think they can win a game even at 3-0 up now.
Just goes to show how important confidence and momentum is in football. Both of which we are a million miles away from.
What is alarming for me is the lack of leaders in the squad at the moment which I didn't think was the case before this season.

And neither has Pep and he doesn’t look like he knows how to deal with it either.

 

[bitterblue78]

Anyone actually think that we may not sign anyone next month

 

[Gesario]

Anyone actually think that we may not sign anyone next month

Yep , bang on Who? From where ? Hope I’m wrong but can’t see anything major happening in Jan

 

[eyalluvitt]

Yep , bang on Who? From where ? Hope I’m wrong but can’t see anything major happening in Jan

I think we have to do business in Jan, we are in a tailspin and need something or someone to arrest it, because if we could with what we have, we’d have done it already

 

[ColinBellsjockstrap]

Anyone actually think that we may not sign anyone next month

As I said on the Villa match thread, what world class player would want to sign for us knowing we MAY be playing in the Championship next season?

They will wait to see what the verdict is. and who could blame them?

 

[FanchesterCity]

I've always been in favour of the mantra that if players don't want to be at City, then let them go, but the harder it is to get into the first team, the more frustrated players will be with many of them preferring a move elsewhere.
We have let a number of good players leave without replacing them with equivalents or better.

Perhaps Pep thought the likes of Nunes, Doku and Savinho would turn out to be revelation but there are no signs of that.

KdB is a hell of a player of a player to lost next, but it's coming. Replacing him will be damn difficult if not impossible.

The 115 can't be helping. I don't know how offputting it is to potential transfer targets but it certainly isn't adding anything. Pep will be gone in a couple of seasons, so again, that probably doesn't help matters. Are incoming targets really attracted to 2 seasons only? Perhaps my doubts are tainted by our current form, but it does like quite a task ahead of us.