The Title Race - 2023/24

[Moss Side's Finest]

Didnt we win our first six league games ? If thats true we have W3 D3 L3 since in the league , that really is an eye opener , Rodri has missed four of those games , Stones & KDB has missed all of them , Jack was missing for four of those games , our squad simply isnt strong enough this season.
Nunes Kovacic & Phillips are not at the level required , Rico and Oscar Bobb are better alternatives than those three , losing Gundo , Mahrez and Laporte has weakened our squad because the players who have arrived as replacements are not good enough.
Top four and a decent tilt at the Champs league will be a good season , after a treble winning season there this was always going to be a "after the Lord Mayor's show season".

Mr negativity. Winning the league is a good season

 

[Kippax77]

We are not getting 60 out of a maximum of 69 points, however I don’t think 90 points is needed this season, no club looks likely to do that. Too many teams are beating each other, too many defences are leaking goals. 4 titles in a row has never been done before and we are all seeing why, the problem is you have to refresh your squad and first team to maintain standards and that is frought with uncertainties.

The "play until next team scores" latest rule with all the injury time from the Premier league to sell the product is/will cause burnout for most teams over a long hard season. It will be a crazy finish to the winning line this season with the usual suspects getting more helping handouts than in previous years

 

[ChicagoBlue]

They don’t we are at 20 without those 2, 1 space.

Not sure where you are getting your squad size regulations from, but….

The Premier League rules are similar to European competitions, such as the Champions League. A 25-man squad — the List A (or A list) — requires you to have a minimum of eight places for a locally trained (homegrown) player.

However, unlike the Premier League, UEFA categorises a locally trained player into two: a club-trained player and an association-trained player.

A club-trained player is someone who was on a club’s books for three years between the ages of 15 and 21, while association-trained players are players who were on another club’s books in the same association for three years between the ages of 15 and 21.

No club can have more than four association-trained players among their eight nominees on their List A.

Players under the age of 21 (born on or after January 1, 2002), can be added to a club’s List B. This is separate from List A and players can be added to it throughout the season when necessary. To qualify for List B, players must have been at the club for a minimum of two years between the ages of 15 and 21 (or for an uninterrupted two-year spell if the player is 16).

 

[blueparrot]

Not sure where you are getting your squad size regulations from, but….

The Premier League rules are similar to European competitions, such as the Champions League. A 25-man squad — the List A (or A list) — requires you to have a minimum of eight places for a locally trained (homegrown) player.

However, unlike the Premier League, UEFA categorises a locally trained player into two: a club-trained player and an association-trained player.

A club-trained player is someone who was on a club’s books for three years between the ages of 15 and 21, while association-trained players are players who were on another club’s books in the same association for three years between the ages of 15 and 21.

No club can have more than four association-trained players among their eight nominees on their List A.

Players under the age of 21 (born on or after January 1, 2002), can be added to a club’s List B. This is separate from List A and players can be added to it throughout the season when necessary. To qualify for List B, players must have been at the club for a minimum of two years between the ages of 15 and 21 (or for an uninterrupted two-year spell if the player is 16).

We are allowed 21 free places + 4 club trained + a B list OF u21s. We have 20 of the 21, we have 1 club trained Foden, plus Lewis and Bobb as U21.
If we buy anyone they go on the free list of 21, if Phillips goes we will have 19 players so 2 spaces.At the moment we have 20
Carson
Ortega
Ederson
Walker
Stones
Dias
Ake
Gomes
Akaji
Gvardiol
Rodri
Phillips
Nunes
Kovacic
Bernardo
KDB
Doku
Grealish
Alvarez
Haaland

 

[Father Paul]

Good synopsis covering quite a few things. Whilst not fatal, our recent run obviously hasn't done us any favours. However, this run of poor form really needs to come to an end now. Whilst it would be thoroughly welcome I don't think we need one of those insane 15 game winning streaks. A nice 6-8 run of victories would do nicely about now.

We really need to win all the games coming up and probably away to Newcastle as well to stay up there. Dropping anything against Luton, Palace or Everton and it gets very difficult. Hope I'm wrong but not sure we can manufacture one of those trademark runs this season. The chemistry just doesn't seem right for one.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

We are allowed 21 free places + 4 club trained + a B list OF u21s. We have 20 of the 21, we have 1 club trained Foden, plus Lewis and Bobb as U21.
If we buy anyone they go on the free list of 21, if Phillips goes we will have 19 players so 2 spaces.At the moment we have 20
Carson
Ortega
Ederson
Walker
Stones
Dias
Ake
Gomes
Akaji
Gvardiol
Rodri
Phillips
Nunes
Kovacic
Bernardo
KDB
Doku
Grealish
Alvarez
Haaland

So if you understand all this, why are you saying we couldn’t pick up reinforcements in January, plus any U-21 talent?

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

4 titles in a row has never been done before and we are all seeing why, the problem is you have to refresh your squad and first team to maintain standards and that is frought with uncertainties.

It's mad to see this obvious point so rarely pointed out in favour of chat of "hunger" and "desire".

 

[ChicagoBlue]

How “Typical City” is it that Brentford’s two main attacking threats are currently out and our home game against them has to be rearranged because of the CWC?!

No doubt they’ll both be back and in great form by the time we get to reschedule that banana skin!

 

[blueparrot]

So if you understand all this, why are you saying we couldn’t pick up reinforcements in January, plus any U-21 talent?

Any U21 we buy doesn't qualify as they won't have been with us long enough. I've said all along we can buy 1 maybe 2 if we sell players, our squad is only 1 of maximum and not as threadbare as made out. I've also said it's unlikely the right players will be on the market in January and the players we want won't be available until summer.
Think at best we will sell Phillips and bring in one,though that would be a back up to Rodrin not a clue who, not any great game changing signing.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Any U21 we buy doesn't qualify as they won't have been with us long enough. I've said all along we can buy 1 maybe 2 if we sell players, our squad is only 1 of maximum and not as threadbare as made out. I've also said it's unlikely the right players will be on the market in January and the players we want won't be available until summer.
Think at best we will sell Phillips and bring in one,though that would be a back up to Rodrin not a clue who, not any great game changing signing.

I’m not sure about that. No-one had heard of Rodri when we signed him.

We have solid finances and this is already going to be another good year, so we have an opportunity to push the boat out a bit to secure some quality where it’s needed.

Be nice to see two solid squad players (at a minimum) brought in.

Also, don’t forget we can rejigger the squads after the January window and remove players we will be moving on, although that’s less likely.