The Title Race - 2023/24

[supercity88]

I remember our conversation in Athens when you were far optimistic than me about this season.

Your whole argument was based around trusting Pep's judgment, whereas I was more concerned about the break-up of the KDB-Rodri-Gundogan midfield.

I hope you're right, because the early signs aren't good.

For me, this is why there needs to be a bit more leniency from fans. We lost Gundo and then first game of the season lost the best player in the league. That's not something anyone was expecting and he's irreplaceable. So Pep used Kovacic alongside Rodri and Alvarez alongside Haaland and it worked well, we won every game. Then came Rodri's suspension and we went from the midfield three that won us the treble to a completely new one, which has now had to play three league games this season. The critical position in Pep's side completely decimated.

He's tried to find a solution in the games Rodri missed and it hasn't worked. He's identified the lack of balance to the side and then over compensated last night. It happens.

Our next 10 PL games are:
Luton a
Palace h
Everton a
Shef Utd h
Newcastle a
Burnley h
Brentford a
Everton h
Chelsea h
Bournemouth a

One or two tricky fixtures in there, but nothing like the run we've been on...things change very quickly in this league.

 

[Bluemoonadam]

Pretty crazy were only 6 behind 1st considering the amount of points we have dropped.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

For me, this is why there needs to be a bit more leniency from fans. We lost Gundo and then first game of the season lost the best player in the league. That's not something anyone was expecting and he's irreplaceable. So Pep used Kovacic alongside Rodri and Alvarez alongside Haaland and it worked well, we won every game. Then came Rodri's suspension and we went from the midfield three that won us the treble to a completely new one, which has now had to play three league games this season. The critical position in Pep's side completely decimated.

He's tried to find a solution in the games Rodri missed and it hasn't worked. He's identified the lack of balance to the side and then over compensated last night. It happens.

Our next 10 PL games are:
Luton a
Palace h
Everton a
Shef Utd h
Newcastle a
Burnley h
Brentford a
Everton h
Chelsea h
Bournemouth a

One or two tricky fixtures in there, but nothing like the run we've been on...things change very quickly in this league.

This is spot-on. We lost Kev, then Rodri to suspension and then Kovacic to injury when he was looking good alongside Rodri (I don't think that combo lost a single match did it?). Last night we had Rico, an unfit Stones, and Alvarez. Not one of them is a specialised midfielder. The failure of Phillips has hit us badly but I think we will buy big in January to help Rodri.

 

[Mad_fer_it]

Agree with all of this except Kovacic who I think was building a strong partnershhip with Rodri before he was injured. In fact we have been shipping goals since Kovacic got injured. Given the sheer volume of matches for clubs and the absurd international calendar our players (more than most) have been overplayed. I think Gundo left for a rest as much as anything else!
I think Pep will get it right and we will win silverware (FA Cup or CL) but four-in-a-row will just elude us. You are right that we should have planned better in the summer but I think the World Cup fucked up a lot of things. I thought we looked dead on our feet in the CL Final but got over the line. I remain optimistic for the long-term future of City as a leading club and, unlike our enemies at LFC and MUFC, I welcome the increased competition provided in a much-improved PL. Whatever happens no one will ever beat our 100 points/100 goals record of 2018.

Yeah I agree about Kova actually, I just saw gaps in his game when we tried to play him without Rodri, which is where it became even more apparent just how good Gundo was. I just reslly wanted us to get that 4th in a row given how the league is more competitive, it would make it all the sweeter. It would certainly settle any debate about us being the best ever PL team assembled too. Treble winners, 100 points, fourmidables, then winning this knowing it was the most competitive league to date - it's all history making and dynasty defining stuff.

I'd love to be proven wrong and for us to turn it around that would be insane but it may well be the kind of season that only a team that's truly physically fresh can win and the kind of league that's almost impossible to win multiple honours in as a result.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

For me, this is why there needs to be a bit more leniency from fans. We lost Gundo and then first game of the season lost the best player in the league. That's not something anyone was expecting and he's irreplaceable. So Pep used Kovacic alongside Rodri and Alvarez alongside Haaland and it worked well, we won every game. Then came Rodri's suspension and we went from the midfield three that won us the treble to a completely new one, which has now had to play three league games this season. The critical position in Pep's side completely decimated.

He's tried to find a solution in the games Rodri missed and it hasn't worked. He's identified the lack of balance to the side and then over compensated last night. It happens.

Our next 10 PL games are:
Luton a
Palace h
Everton a
Shef Utd h
Newcastle a
Burnley h
Brentford a
Everton h
Chelsea h
Bournemouth a

One or two tricky fixtures in there, but nothing like the run we've been on...things change very quickly in this league.

Not disagreeing about those fixtures, but for the moment I'm looking no further than the Luton game.

Firstly, we need to return to our natural possession-dominating game where we pull opponents out of position and create overloads and overlaps. That way we don't lose the ball in silly areas (must have happened a dozen times last night) resulting in Gvardiol being dragged out wide and his lack of pace exposed by speedy opponents
This might also mean switching Foden to a more central role, and Alvarez on the bench, as it provides the extra body in midfield

Secondly, our defending needs to be more solid and we need to be quicker to the ball. That way some of those shots are blocked rather than deflected.

Thirdly, we need to be more clinical. It's almost been forgotten, but Haaland should have scored that header last night, and it wasn't the first time this season. Similarly, he should have done better against Liverpool and Tottenham.

That's the only way we'll start to progress, because all I'm reading at the moment is some kind of blind faith that everything will suddenly fall into place.

 

[MadchesterCity]

Still not worried if I were a City fan. As long as you're within 10 points reach of us or Liverpool, then you'll still win it. Ill put a bet on when the odds are best for you guys winning the league and CL this year.

Shut up it’s getting tedious

 

[MadchesterCity]

One thing to hold out hope for is that our fixture list in the second half of the season is nicer. The big games are more spread out, and most of our tough games are at home.

In theory, it should be easier to build momentum. Obviously, we need to find a way to become more solid in the process.

Don’t we play Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle away?

 

[supercity88]

Yeah I agree about Kova actually, I just saw gaps in his game when we tried to play him without Rodri, which is where it became even more apparent just how good Gundo was. I just reslly wanted us to get that 4th in a row given how the league is more competitive, it would make it all the sweeter. It would certainly settle any debate about us being the best ever PL team assembled too. Treble winners, 100 points, fourmidables, then winning this knowing it was the most competitive league to date - it's all history making and dynasty defining stuff.

I'd love to be proven wrong and for us to turn it around that would be insane but it may well be the kind of season that only a team that's truly physically fresh can win and the kind of league that's almost impossible to win multiple honours in as a result.

We'd certainly have won at Wolves with Gundo in the side, possibly at Arsenal as well. But changes to the midfield in Pep's team have huge impacts. We've seen four players generally play in the three midfield spots for quite a long time. Gundo played the DM role against Chelsea in the CL final and that didn't go so well! I think, with Rodri we would have won at Wolves and possibly last night as well. His lack of discipline with his red card has certainly cost us.

But ultimately we're not up against outstanding teams. We're 6pts off top despite being 3pts ahead of the rags! Arsenal and Liverpool aren't blowing teams away. Both have drawn at Chelsea. Arsenal drew at home to Spurs and Liverpool lost at their place. Arsenal lost at Newcastle and drew at home to Fulham. Liverpool drew at Luton and Brighton.

Undoubtedly we're in poor form, but it's also been a bad time for us to go through injury/suspensions to our players. With everyone but De Bruyne back (hopefully Doku's issue isn't major) we can go on a run now, win the Club World Cup, taste success and remember why we want to keep winning things.

 

[Bluemoonadam]

Don’t we play Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle away?

No chance we will beat Liverpool or spurs at there place.

 

[wattle]

For me, this is why there needs to be a bit more leniency from fans. We lost Gundo and then first game of the season lost the best player in the league. That's not something anyone was expecting and he's irreplaceable. So Pep used Kovacic alongside Rodri and Alvarez alongside Haaland and it worked well, we won every game. Then came Rodri's suspension and we went from the midfield three that won us the treble to a completely new one, which has now had to play three league games this season. The critical position in Pep's side completely decimated.

He's tried to find a solution in the games Rodri missed and it hasn't worked. He's identified the lack of balance to the side and then over compensated last night. It happens.

Our next 10 PL games are:
Luton a
Palace h
Everton a
Shef Utd h
Newcastle a
Burnley h
Brentford a
Everton h
Chelsea h
Bournemouth a

One or two tricky fixtures in there, but nothing like the run we've been on...things change very quickly in this league.

Perfectly put. I’ve think two wins v palace and Luton and a world champions trophy - with Kev coming back also - will put everyone in a better mind set. All teams have dips. We’ve no Devine right to not have one, which some soft arses on here should recognise