Wouldn't say I'm entirely relaxed about it but I think I get your drift. I'm finding I watch our game only now. Previously, if we even drew, I'd be waiting for other results to see if we'd slipped. Don't give a shit now whether the Arse or Scousers win, lose or draw. Get as many dodgy penalties or VAR decisions as they like, I'm not witnessing any of it. Hopefully City start scoring again soon and we get back up the table a bit.I wonder if anyone else is feeling like this?
Over the last few days, I've realised that I've relaxed. A deep and much needed psychological relaxation. I mean by that that for years, certainly since Pep's arrival eight years ago, but really, probably going right back to Roberto, I've been kind of braced. Every season, expecting City to be in the title fight, every season, hoping that City will go through to the semi-finals or finals of the Champions League, wondering how far we'll get, round after round, in the two domestic cups, weighing up all the odds, every single match has been a source of anxiety. Even angst. Every single match has felt like a must win. Every goal conceded during a match has felt like a punch to the solar plexus. Now that I know we're not winning the PL, we're not winning the CL, we might get top four (we'll see), we might win the F.A. Cup, well, I'm taking a well-earned rest from this existential anxiety. Let the dipper supporters feel it — it seems to make them psychotic anyway. Let the Arse fans feel it for a bit. Let them feel the terrible burden of hope.
I'm taking a break…
Now don't get me wrong. I hate, not just these endless defeats, but the boring way we're being defeated. And if I wasn't absolutely, rock-solid, convinced that this will pass — maybe not in the next match against Everton, maybe not in the next month, maybe not this season — I'd feel very differently.
Excellent post .I’m still happy. This is just a natural, very overdue, dip.
By rights we didn’t have the squad to win the league in 2022-23. I thought we were lacking in depth in midfield, but almost every single player stayed fit and were all bang in form from February onwards. Until De Bruyne went off in the CL final, Rodri, Gundo and De Bruyne didn’t miss a beat for months and performed at a level I’ve not seen from many other midfields ever before in the sport. If Rodri and De Bruyne had been out like they have in the last 18 months between them, we probably wouldn’t have won a thing that season, such was the lack of midfield depth. Yet they stayed fit and we did something special and won the PL, FA Cup and CL.
By rights we didn’t have the squad to break the record fourth league title in a row last season. We had a small squad still, smaller than 2022-23, yet we won the Super Cup, Club World Cup and did break that record and won the PL.
We’ve done better than our depth in quality should have in the last two seasons. David Silva and then Fernandinho leaving left our midfield very thin on the ground, especially last season n’all losing Gündoğan. If we’d won the PL in 2020-21 and 2021-22 and then not again for the last two seasons, I wouldn’t have been surprised. But we did win the PL and have actually won two trebles, or six trophies over the two seasons.
Now the drop off has come and it’s been very long in the pipeline and completely expected for me. It’s come as no surprise at all. However, I’m happy as Larry still because we will learn a lot from this season as a club and will hopefully rectify things on what we’ve learnt.
Yes we do do with them all merging, ' the rot, a crisis?, and realism'. It's hard keeping track of them all!Oh great, another thread on the same topic of us being shite. Just what we need.
He's found his mojo again! I forecast a hat trick v The Toffees, just as long as the defence can cope with DycheBall!I don`t think anyone could see this fall from grace so quickly and its been a shock to the system for one and all.
I don`t blame individuals as IMO I believe its been a collective thing from the Powers That Be in the corridors of The Etihad, Coaches and the Players.
Lets just stand back for a while and take stock of how and why this has happened. Obviously the main problem has been injuries and long term ones for quite a few players but Rodders is the main problem as its near impossible to find anyone like him currently. Pep for whatever reasons has kept faith with some of "old brigade" for too long now so both himself and Txiki are culpable of not strengthening the squad, certainly this season.
Its certainly come back to bite Pep on the arse with using a small squad. We then look at the roles of Soriano and our wonderful Khaldoon. Have they taken their eyes off what could happen and been too over confident ?
And finally the Players. Lets be honest and I would say that the majority of Blues were delighted with the return of Gundo at that time. Certainly I was.Players like Walker, KDB,Gundo and Stones, just to name but a few are possibly well past their sell by date, but we shouldn`t forget their loyalty and how they formed this wonderful team.
The drop of Phil Foden is alarming and that to could be said of Bernie plus the drop off can be said of young Lewis after some very promising performances last season. Two or three of our signings have been underwhelming and perhaps we bought in panic mode, who knows.
So finally we have been on a wonderful journey over the past 8 seasons or so and all good things must come to an end eventually. I think the majority of Blues knew this journey wouldn`t continue ... but by the same token I don`t think we thought we would end up falling off a cliff so rapidly.
Who knows what the outcome will be on this season but lets not forget that should we not reach those top 4 positions then we will lose out on attracting the top players.
Fingers crossed.
Do not know why City went into the summer market like they did, and i do not believe anybody else does.This season is the season I was expecting last season ! So I'm not surprised.
We could argue that the club should have reinforced better in the summer but would 3 or 4 new players hit the ground ? Most take 12 months to get Pep.
Pep looks tired, the squad looks tired and is tired. You can see that their minds aren't working as quick as normal by the mistakes that are being made.
Fans turning on the team is a disgrace. Even in my WhatsApp group people are slagging of these players. I find it embarrassing and dont post much nowadays.
With the dramatic drop off now comes the rumours that City are about to be relegated etc etc.
It's a perfect storm for the press/media and rival fans. Some of our fans are also being drawn into it.
Me same as ever put my City gear on when going out, car still has City stickers, still have my tattoos, my work station still has City's flag, my picture of Noel and me at Brighton lol, my City flag is still flag in my garden.
CTID
I’m still happy. This is just a natural, very overdue, dip.
By rights we didn’t have the squad to win the league in 2022-23. I thought we were lacking in depth in midfield, but almost every single player stayed fit and were all bang in form from February onwards. Until De Bruyne went off in the CL final, Rodri, Gundo and De Bruyne didn’t miss a beat for months and performed at a level I’ve not seen from many other midfields ever before in the sport. If Rodri and De Bruyne had been out like they have in the last 18 months between them, we probably wouldn’t have won a thing that season, such was the lack of midfield depth. Yet they stayed fit and we did something special and won the PL, FA Cup and CL.
By rights we didn’t have the squad to break the record fourth league title in a row last season. We had a small squad still, smaller than 2022-23, yet we won the Super Cup, Club World Cup and did break that record and won the PL.
We’ve done better than our depth in quality should have in the last two seasons. David Silva and then Fernandinho leaving left our midfield very thin on the ground, especially last season n’all losing Gündoğan. If we’d won the PL in 2020-21 and 2021-22 and then not again for the last two seasons, I wouldn’t have been surprised. But we did win the PL and have actually won two trebles, or six trophies over the two seasons.
Now the drop off has come and it’s been very long in the pipeline and completely expected for me. It’s come as no surprise at all. However, I’m happy as Larry still because we will learn a lot from this season as a club and will hopefully rectify things on what we’ve learnt.
We all did.You seem to be more observant than the people running city. If Joe public could see that last season we were an accident waiting to happen why didn't you bypass the forum and send your observation direct to Trixi bolloks at headquarters.