The Title Race - 2023/24

[ArniArason]

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.

 

[Dobsy]

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.

"At a minimum" is such an entitled statement.

No-one had heard of Rodri when we signed him.

Rodri started for Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone in the era when they were competing for the Spanish league title and the European Cup. It's like if we now went out and signed Nico Barella. It also took him years to build up to what he is now, he was not a game changer in the short term.

The reason we're as competitive as we are is that we haven't made knee jerk signings for years. That's why Phillips is a huge outlier as the only flop in years.

We have a good squad, probably as good as last season and better than any in the league. All the fundamentals that have won us 3 league titles in a row and the Treble are still in place. Some people just need to accept that no matter how good the club gets, we will not be constantly winning everything all the time.

 

[the blue panther]

We remain in a decent position to attack in the second half of the season. More of the top 5/6 teams are able to take points off each other this season than in recent previous ones.
We've had significant injuries and suspensions. At full strength, we have the best 1st 11. 2 of the games we lost were to deflected single goals - Arsenal and Villa. Another one - Wolves - we lost after conceding 2 out of 2 chances, and were on the arse end of poor reffing decisions.
In the 2nd half of the season I expect us to rise above all these issues, just as we all know we are perfectly capable of doing - especially if we can get a strong replacement for Phillips. Taking our chances would help!
Liverpool and Arsenal still don't look strong enough to me. They both struggled at Luton. We should have beaten Liverpool comfortably at home.
When all's said and done, we've only looked good against United and for just a half of a few other games so far this season - far from top gear. Let's hope we can start to bring our 'A' game back into play this weekend.

 

[Alfie Budd]

We will need 90 points - 60 points from our remaining 23 games.

With us still to play at Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham and Brighton, that’s a huge ask.

Squandering 6 points against Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham might prove costly. Champions tend to score late goals, not concede them.

I'll be shocked if 90 points are required this season. It's only ever happened twice in the PL era - our title wins in 2018-19 and 2021-22.
For the runners up to end up with 90 points, it needs to be a two horse race with third place a long way adrift. I can't see this season panning out like that at the moment.

 

[blueparrot]

I'll be shocked if 90 points are required this season. It's only ever happened twice in the PL era - our title wins in 2018-19 and 2021-22.
For the runners up to end up with 90 points, it needs to be a two horse race with third place a long way adrift. I can't see this season panning out like that at the moment.

Can’t see it being much more than 84 needed. Us Liverpool and Arsenal all capable of taking points of each other and all capable of dropping points against teams like Villa, spurs Newcastle,even united all scrapping for 4 th. Even Chelsea have shown they can give the better teams a game

 

[Newman123]

Shut up it’s getting tedious

Tedious? You won 3 in a row, the treble last season and are a few points behind us. Tedious is being 1st for 98% of the season and then losing the league. If what you guys are going through is tedious, then please give me tedious every day.

 

[MadchesterCity]

Tedious? You won 3 in a row, the treble last season and are a few points behind us. Tedious is being 1st for 98% of the season and then losing the league. If what you guys are going through is tedious, then please give me tedious every day.

No your comments and tempting of fate by bigging up City is tedious

 

[wolviedinho]

This is the start of our title tilt. Win every game now for the next month and I will believe it’s on.

Very much doable for this team. Villa result was needed imo. No more thinking we can just turn up. Time to get the sleeves rolled up and chase down every ball. Only then will we go up a notch. Defining moment coming up.

I am backing them to respond.

 

[tregyblue61]

Tedious? You won 3 in a row, the treble last season and are a few points behind us. Tedious is being 1st for 98% of the season and then losing the league. If what you guys are going through is tedious, then please give me tedious every day.

You didn't "lose the league," you lost a lead in the title race.

 

[Newman123]

You didn't "lose the league," you lost a lead in the title race.

We bottled it.

 

[Mancity1980]

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

It’s not mad it’s anti-city propaganda.