I agree with youThat's a really harsh sacking IMO. They've had an insane run of fixtures. Average table position of their opponents in 2023 is 5th.
Who are these inferior teams?If we’re getting kicked all over Europe midweek by inferior teams whilst Arsenal’s midfield are in the treatment room / light training between games in the spring sunshine… nope, not over - just unlikely
Who kicks us all over?Who are these inferior teams?
My thinking tooThe CL is far less physical in terms of being kicked than the Prem is in general outside of the Redscouse n’all.
I dunno, that season where Spurs knocked us out in the cruelest way possible and then we had to play them at home in the early kick off the next Saturday was one of the bravest, if certainly not best, performances I've seen from a City side.I have been of the belief when City have been in a similar position it can really deflate us.
Take your pick from seven.Who are these inferior teams?
Certainly when it comes to City I feel like we're much better when we play regularly and are in a rhythm. That game is irrelevant until a few days before it whereas for Arsenal, like you say, it's a focus for a long time and can therefore build up the nerves. They would benefit from being in the Europa in my opinion. They're a team that has been mentally weak before. Last season they were nailed on for 4th but absolutely bottled it, to Spurs of all teams. So they'll start creaking when each game has that added pressure with no distraction. They might still get the job done, but we shall see. This could galvanise them and be used as a tool not to feel that disappointment again. For the majority of their squad this is their first time competing for anything significant though, pressure will tell. It's not like Leicester where they really didn't expect to win. Those Arsenal fans expect now, the media will be all over them if they slip up. Can they handle it?
The way we responded to the loss at the Bernabeu last season, which must've been unbelievably deflating for the players, with a convincing 5-0 win over Newcastle a few days later was pretty impressive too.I dunno, that season where Spurs knocked us out in the cruelest way possible and then we had to play them out home in the early kick off the next Saturday was one of the bravest, if certainly not best, performances I've seen from a City side.
I'd go along with nearly all of that. I'd just point out, as I have already on this forum, that in the 2012 run-in, that everybody not a City fan was emphasising that United had been there, done it and got the t-shirt over and over, and that nobody actually playing for City was even born the last time we'd been champions. We very nearly fucked it up, too, I will allow. But in the end…