OB1
Well-Known Member
Completely outplayed us. Amazed you managed to concede that tame Lamela shot and from a corner - which we are horrific at usually.
KDB is something else. Gives me a sinking feeling every time he gets the ball in the attacking third. He seems so consistent. I'm a Spurs fan so see things through a different light of course and watch most City games (just not when fixtures clash). Have seen a lot of hate given to Kyle Walker-Peters for the first goal. It was the lads 10th league appearance at age 22 against a side that attacked us as good as I have seen anyone. The ball from KDB, and the header from Sterling was pretty amazing - a world class goal.
You lot probably should have been 4-0 up from the chances created, though I would say those 4 goals should have come from other chances missed rather than converting something so special which you cant 'expect'.
City are the best team in Europe with the exception of Barcelona when Messi is doing his thing - but for consistency City appear far better than Barca to me.
As for Liverpool, I believe they were flattered last season getting away with all sorts that VAR would have stopped a lot of - likely squashing their momentum over the season.
Hate VAR all you want now, but I do believe it will be responsible for you lot finishing a good 15 points above Liverpool this season.
My view is that;
City are a 90-100 points team.
Liverpool are a 80-90 points team.
Spurs are a 75-85 points team.
You also have to remember that we aren't in the same place as City right now. It looks like Eriksen and possibly others might be leaving before the European transfer window closes, new arrivals that are not fit/ready to play, and big players missing (Dele, Vertonghen, Son and to a certain degree Kane). The massive difference between City and Spurs, is that when you have an outstanding player missing, it doesn't really make that much of a difference. Partly due to the personnel that come in as a direct replacement, but more so to do with the style of play and footballing ethos of a Pep side. I love Poch and our team - would love us to hang around giving the media cause to sell a 'title race', and believe we are capable of beating 14 other teams home and away.. but it almost certainly wont happen.
Through the 90s I had to put up with 'wanting' United to win the league because it basically prevented Arsenal from doing it while we were fighting for being in the top half. Now I of course have to be optimistic about our chances - but if it comes down to City preventing Chelsea or Liverpool winning the league while also playing some of the most fantastic football I have ever seen - you have my vote.
As for levels though - do you really want to walk the league and win it in March/April looking like Celtic or PSG? That's the way it could be going and I'm not entirely sure City fans would even want it that way? Isn't the passion and drama in football only prevalent due to the competition?
After last season, I'd be happy to walk the league and be able to give greater focus to also winning the UCL. There's no guarantee by the way that we will win anything this year.
I'd also like to see us set more records, including most consecutive English titles: it's fun.
Also, I hate losing but most of us can cope with that: we've had enough practice.
Ultimately, boring non-event after non-event title race is not a good thing but it's up to the rest to catch us and it's not our wealth that is putting us ahead now: it's how well we are managed. Therefore, other teams can challenge; plus, we will lose Pep one day (in two years as it stands) and that will inevitably take something away from us. Also, football goes in cycles so we just have to enjoy it while it's our turn to shine.