The Title Race - 2023/24

[its a Barm]

just fuckin win.

 

[bridgeno1]

I`ll be shocked if you don`t put a least 5 past them. I always like seeing those twats getting a pounding, but strange things happen in run ins and you haven`t yet proved you can overcome the pressure and win. You haven`t won a trophy since 2020 which I think is your problem, so the question is do your players really believe you can win. We`ll see.

Hopefully if we can get a win at Fulham I can sit back and enjoy your game what ever the outcome.

Oh our players absolutely believe we can win, we've just got the slight issue of Man City also going for the title!

I think both sides will win all their games and we go again next season with both teams strengthening over the summer. Irony is Villa have been absolute dogshit of late apart from that 2-0 win at the Emirates, now they couldn't buy a win!

 

[WEMBLEY76]

I am remaining quite calm about the next 3 games,belief in the modern City way is finally beginning to hit home to me as a fan since early 1970s,would absolutely love to get the 4 in a row however also realise whatever the outcome we are the best team of this age by far,and cannot win everything.

 

[Protein Junkie]

I am remaining quite calm about the next 3 games,belief in the modern City way is finally beginning to hit home to me as a fan since early 1970s,would absolutely love to get the 4 in a row however also realise whatever the outcome we are the best team of this age by far,and cannot win everything.

This post should be pinned at the top of every match day thread.

 

[r.soleofsalford]

Oh our players absolutely believe we can win, we've just got the slight issue of Man City also going for the title!

I think both sides will win all their games and we go again next season with both teams strengthening over the summer. Irony is Villa have been absolute dogshit of late apart from that 2-0 win at the Emirates, now they couldn't buy a win!

Proof of the pudding.

 

[supercity88]

If we are discussing permutations, you raised the point of pressure on Arsenal the following day, and how a bigger goal margin would add to that, on top of giving us a cushion etc.

I'll be honest, I think a marginal last minute win would deflate them more than a resounding comfortable one. Obviously would rather want the second one, but happy with any whichever way it comes, and I think both will have a similar effect. I'd also rather thake two 1-0 wins in a row, than a 6-0 and a 1-1.

I believe the players are much like us fans at this time of the year. Both sets will be focussed on the game ahead, but I would expect the City players will be hoping for an Arsenal slip up this weekend and feeling like they'd like a bit of margin for error going to Spurs. And similarly, Arsenal's players will be hoping we slip up somewhere and probably have the Spurs game in their heads as the one. If we can pile the goals in on Saturday it puts a bit of added pressure on Arsenal going into the last game, because we could draw and then still win it which isn't currently an option.

Anything that deflates them, or forces them to play slightly differently could be important.

But saying all that doesn't mean I don't respect the fact Fulham away is a difficult game and they don't concede very many at home at all.

 

[Blue Maverick]

I am remaining quite calm about the next 3 games,belief in the modern City way is finally beginning to hit home to me as a fan since early 1970s,would absolutely love to get the 4 in a row however also realise whatever the outcome we are the best team of this age by far,and cannot win everything.

Good for you I’m shitting bricks, there’s zero room for error, I still fucking hate us passing around our area, even though we’ve done it for 7 years and are brilliant at it!

 

[Alfie Budd]

Oh our players absolutely believe we can win, we've just got the slight issue of Man City also going for the title!

I think both sides will win all their games and we go again next season with both teams strengthening over the summer. Irony is Villa have been absolute dogshit of late apart from that 2-0 win at the Emirates, now they couldn't buy a win!

So true about Villa. They’ve been shocking for weeks now other than the game at the Emirates including when they came to our place (though Watkins was missing that night). The contrast from earlier in the season is astonishing - they outplayed us comprehensively at Villa Park, as much as any team has since 2017 except perhaps peak Klopp Liverpool at Anfield once or twice.
Hopefully they’ll hang on to fourth place but that will be more due to the ineptitude of the chasing pack than their own form.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I believe the players are much like us fans at this time of the year. Both sets will be focussed on the game ahead, but I would expect the City players will be hoping for an Arsenal slip up this weekend and feeling like they'd like a bit of margin for error going to Spurs. And similarly, Arsenal's players will be hoping we slip up somewhere and probably have the Spurs game in their heads as the one. If we can pile the goals in on Saturday it puts a bit of added pressure on Arsenal going into the last game, because we could draw and then still win it which isn't currently an option.

Anything that deflates them, or forces them to play slightly differently could be important.

But saying all that doesn't mean I don't respect the fact Fulham away is a difficult game and they don't concede very many at home at all.

If we go away to Fulham 10 times I'd expect us to win 8, draw 1 and lose 1.

Every season there are a few games where we absolutely batter the opposition and through pure luck don't win. Real home was the last one. I have total belief in the players and their ability to do the job, and that is bolstered by our full squad and current form, but this is my fear. A devastating freak result.

On the flip side it could happen to Arsenal too of course.

 

[Coatigan]

I believe the players are much like us fans at this time of the year. Both sets will be focussed on the game ahead, but I would expect the City players will be hoping for an Arsenal slip up this weekend and feeling like they'd like a bit of margin for error going to Spurs. And similarly, Arsenal's players will be hoping we slip up somewhere and probably have the Spurs game in their heads as the one. If we can pile the goals in on Saturday it puts a bit of added pressure on Arsenal going into the last game, because we could draw and then still win it which isn't currently an option.

Anything that deflates them, or forces them to play slightly differently could be important.

But saying all that doesn't mean I don't respect the fact Fulham away is a difficult game and they don't concede very many at home at all.

Winning it by winning all our games, with Arsenal winning all theirs, would imo feel much better than them slipping up.

Bur would I happily take them slipping up, to not endure the suspense? Absolutely. If they don't, the ride is there to be enjoyed. First stop, Fulham away.

 

[Kippax77]

Just hope to God Pep doesn't have to do a Mourinho tomorrow and wait for Taylor on the car park after the game

 

[supercity88]

If we go away to Fulham 10 times I'd expect us to win 8, draw 1 and lose 1.

Every season there are a few games where we absolutely batter the opposition and through pure luck don't win. Real home was the last one. I have total belief in the players and their ability to do the job, and that is bolstered by our full squad and current form, but this is my fear. A devastating freak result.

On the flip side it could happen to Arsenal too of course.

It's the little voice in my head that's causing me issues at the moment. The one that is telling me that whilst we've won from these situations before, we won't always.

But ultimately, I'm still that kid who didn't think I'd see City lift a major trophy. I thought relegation and promotion battles were stressful, and they were, but I didn't appreciate how much this would take out of me!

I've said a few times, the fact we're still here and still fighting after all we've achieved is remarkable and something that we don't get enough credit for. I think as a fanbase we've dropped off a notch this season from the previous success, so let's just be glad we're not responsible for getting the job done.

 

[Axel Freed]

It’s not the same though. There are only two feasible ways we can win this title. Win all our games or win two and draw one. For the latter to conceivably happen we need to win big in the other two. All some posters (including me) are saying is that if we’re winning by a decent margin on Saturday after (say) an hour, then we would prefer us to try and increase that lead rather than preserve it, as a form of insurance - and to put more pressure on Arsenal. Others may disagree with that approach and they are perfectly entitled to, as it’s a perfectly logical and sensible, if somewhat cautious perspective.

On the other hand, every single poster on here (who is a blue) wants us to win all three, irrespective of how we do it. There is no sensible counterpoint to that perspective.

So there is a distinction.

If after an hour we lead Fulham by 3 goals I’d prefer us not to charge around on a hot sunny afternoon in search of more goals.

Get any five of Rodri, KDB, Bernie, Kyle, Phil, Stonesy and Erling off and rest up for the de facto title decider on Tuesday night

 

[Gremlin]

As we all know, the situation is simple - beat Fulham, Spurs and West Ham and we are Champions. And, frankly, if we cannot beat them then we don't deserve to be Champions and it will be congratulations to Arsenal, they were more consistent than we were, and on to the Cup Final and (hopefully) smash United.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

It's the little voice in my head that's causing me issues at the moment. The one that is telling me that whilst we've won from these situations before, we won't always.

But ultimately, I'm still that kid who didn't think I'd see City lift a major trophy. I thought relegation and promotion battles were stressful, and they were, but I didn't appreciate how much this would take out of me!

I've said a few times, the fact we're still here and still fighting after all we've achieved is remarkable and something that we don't get enough credit for. I think as a fanbase we've dropped off a notch this season from the previous success, so let's just be glad we're not responsible for getting the job done.

I have that exact same niggle. The narrative across the whole of football is that City always see these situations through but there will be one we will blow. You want me to be honest? I think it will be this one.

 

[Roachy]

I have that exact same niggle. The narrative across the whole of football is that City always see these situations through but there will be one we will blow. You want me to be honest? I think it will be this one.

Which fixture Dave?

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

If after an hour we lead Fulham by 3 goals I’d prefer us not to charge around on a hot sunny afternoon in search of more goals.

Get any five of Rodri, KDB, Bernie, Kyle, Phil, Stonesy and Erling off and rest up for the de facto title decider on Tuesday night

It’s a perfectly valid viewpoint.

I’m Kevin Keegan to your Stuart Pearce… :-)

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I have that exact same niggle. The narrative across the whole of football is that City always see these situations through but there will be one we will blow. You want me to be honest? I think it will be this one.

It’s bound to happen eventually and tbf it would be far easier to take than if we’d blown it in 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2022. The last one, for example, would have completely changed the narrative around our domination.

Still hope you’re wrong about this year though mate!

 

[NoCompromise]

If after an hour we lead Fulham by 3 goals I’d prefer us not to charge around on a hot sunny afternoon in search of more goals.

Get any five of Rodri, KDB, Bernie, Kyle, Phil, Stonesy and Erling off and rest up for the de facto title decider on Tuesday night

Shit or bust

 

[mexico1970]

I don't care if we win an ugly 1-0 against Fulham as long as the job gets done.