The Title Race - 2023/24

[Brendan110_0]

Yep, bang at points. Especially this bit:

'And perhaps it would have been different had John Stones been fit to glide between the lines and add another dimension. His bit-part role this season is a reason why they have often lacked the chemistry they exhibited last spring. The absence of Kevin De Bruyne for the first half of the season was another. The departure of Ilkay Gundogan is a third: the former captain feels like the solution to every problem, whether as a metronome, creator, scorer, or big-game talisman. Yet the loss of Riyad Mahrez, who was directly involved in 28 goals last season, stripped them of another match-winner. Between them, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic have either scored or assisted just 24 this year.'

Let's just forget that this is our transitional season then. Of course we're not as good, still on target for a treble.

 

[Millennium]

Don't agree with all of that, but not the worst read.

Man City spent £200m to get worse - but they can still win the title

Key departures haven’t been replaced and City’s record against the top sides is unimpressive this year

www.independent.co.uk

But the best now? City have four points from a possible 18 against their closest challengers, the rest of the top five. They have not beaten any of them. Last season, they took 16 points out of 24 against the five highest finishers. This proof that we are not as good as we used to be.

 

[Roachy]

Yep, bang at points. Especially this bit:

'And perhaps it would have been different had John Stones been fit to glide between the lines and add another dimension. His bit-part role this season is a reason why they have often lacked the chemistry they exhibited last spring. The absence of Kevin De Bruyne for the first half of the season was another. The departure of Ilkay Gundogan is a third: the former captain feels like the solution to every problem, whether as a metronome, creator, scorer, or big-game talisman. Yet the loss of Riyad Mahrez, who was directly involved in 28 goals last season, stripped them of another match-winner. Between them, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic have either scored or assisted just 24 this year.'

For one reason or another the new arrivals just haven't picked up the slack.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

Don't agree with all of that, but not the worst read.

Man City spent £200m to get worse - but they can still win the title

Key departures haven’t been replaced and City’s record against the top sides is unimpressive this year

www.independent.co.uk

The headline is disingenuous and once again comparing City's gross spend with our rivals net spend.

However there is a sense that City won the Treble with a team that was less fluid, potent, and attractive than the previous teams from 2017-2022, but maybe just benefited from those little moments of necessary good fortune that guaranteed the ultimate prize.

Realistically this was always going to be a transitional season, especially after losing Gundogan and Mahrez, the endless speculation over Bernardo's future, and De Bruyne's early injury, which restricted the rotation options.

Regardless, we're now in April, but it feels as though we're still waiting for 2-3 players to kick start their season

 

[Coatigan]

But the best now? City have four points from a possible 18 against their closest challengers, the rest of the top five. They have not beaten any of them. Last season, they took 16 points out of 24 against the five highest finishers. This proof that we are not as good as we used to be.

Yet we are still in contention for the title. Such is our quality. Is the overarching point.

 

[Gone for a Burton]

3 teams.
3 points twixt em.
27 games to play.
81 points.

Dippers primary target is PL.

Arse's PL or CL.

City's the Treble.

Twists & turns aplenty.

If you can't stand the heat fuck off from the kitchen, this is the time for steel balls on & orf the pitch.

 

[jollylescott]

In the first 20 minutes at Copenhagen, we played with a swagger and purpose that was irresistible but which, alas, has been all too fleetingly seen this season. In the coming weeks, we’re going to have to field that starting eleven (-/+ Gvardiol) and strut our stuff if we’re to win the title.

I have a problem whereby games tend to blur and merge into one so I had to go back and look at our lineup for that game. The back four were Kyle, Stonesy, Ruben and Ake. The midfield was Rodri, Kev, Bernie and we had Phil and Jack either side of the Viking.

Rewatching that game Kev and Phil were on fire. Apart from that Bernie was roaming effectively all over the park. Jack went off injured very early and was replaced by Doku, who played well. Our players were moving into space off the ball and opening up Copenhagen at will

It’s not rocket science that our keys are Phil and Kev. If they are on song we look a completely different team. Against the tarquins they both looked flat and the team played accordingly.

I’m not sure whether Kev is carrying a slight injury, but he’s not the same player who returned from injury looking streets ahead of every other player in the world. If he and Phil can somehow rediscover their form, we’re still in the race.

 

[blueparrot]

I have a problem whereby games tend to blur and merge into one so I had to go back and look at our lineup for that game. The back four were Kyle, Stonesy, Ruben and Ake. The midfield was Rodri, Kev, Bernie and we had Phil and Jack either side of the Viking.

Rewatching that game Kev and Phil were on fire. Apart from that Bernie was roaming effectively all over the park. Jack went off injured very early and was replaced by Doku, who played well. Our players were moving into space off the ball and opening up Copenhagen at will

It’s not rocket science that our keys are Phil and Kev. If they are on song we look a completely different team. Against the tarquins they both looked flat and the team played accordingly.

I’m not sure whether Kev is carrying a slight injury, but he’s not the same player who returned from injury looking streets ahead of every other player in the world. If he and Phil can somehow rediscover their form, we’re still in the race.

Yes,but arsenal are about 100 times better defensively and more organised than Copenhagen, that was as much the reason we drew as us being flat.

 

[Phil1]

Call me a bottler but we ain’t going to win the title this season unfortunately…….

you’re not a bottler, just a very miserable, pessimistic blue.

 

[alexmcity]

Yep, bang at points. Especially this bit:

'And perhaps it would have been different had John Stones been fit to glide between the lines and add another dimension. His bit-part role this season is a reason why they have often lacked the chemistry they exhibited last spring. The absence of Kevin De Bruyne for the first half of the season was another. The departure of Ilkay Gundogan is a third: the former captain feels like the solution to every problem, whether as a metronome, creator, scorer, or big-game talisman. Yet the loss of Riyad Mahrez, who was directly involved in 28 goals last season, stripped them of another match-winner. Between them, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic have either scored or assisted just 24 this year.'

The main difference with last season are KDB and Haaland. KDB missed most of the season and hasn't been in top form in the big games: Chelsea, United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Haaland's form has dipped and he missed chances in most big games.

If those two were in the form from last season, we'd have been top of the league again.

 

[Coatigan]

The main difference with last season are KDB and Haaland. KDB missed most of the season and hasn't been in top form in the big games: Chelsea, United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Haaland's form has dipped and he missed chances in most big games.

If those two were in the form from last season, we'd have been top of the league again.

A couple bawhairs the right side of the post and even one decision not going against us and we'd be sitting top of the league regardless of their form.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

The headline is disingenuous and once again comparing City's gross spend with our rivals net spend.

However there is a sense that City won the Treble with a team that was less fluid, potent, and attractive than the previous teams from 2017-2022, but maybe just benefited from those little moments of necessary good fortune that guaranteed the ultimate prize.

Realistically this was always going to be a transitional season, especially after losing Gundogan and Mahrez, the endless speculation over Bernardo's future, and De Bruyne's early injury, which restricted the rotation options.

Regardless, we're now in April, but it feels as though we're still waiting for 2-3 players to kick start their season.

Indeed. One of the reasons that it's almost impossible to win four in a row is that you ultimately need to replace one third of the team over the four years and realistically reinvent the style of play potentially twice. There are so many moving parts: nearly every signing has to be perfect and to hit the ground running almost immediately and the rest of the team needs to be lucky with injuries and absences and the tactical reinventions need to work. The fact we could still do it is a remarkable achievement in itself.

 

[bluenova]

Indeed. One of the reasons that it's almost impossible to win four in a row is that you ultimately need to replace one third of the team over the four years and realistically reinvent the style of play potentially twice. There are so many moving parts: nearly every signing has to be perfect and to hit the ground running almost immediately and the rest of the team needs to be lucky with injuries and absences and the tactical reinventions need to work. The fact we could still do it is a remarkable achievement in itself.

Nearer to two-thirds.

The squad for the title in 20/21 had Sterling, Mahrez, Gundogan, Cancelo, Jesus, Zinchenko, Laporte Fernandinho, Torres, Mendy, Stefen, Garcia and Aguero amongst our most used 22 players.

While the two players who make up most of that "£200m to get worse" were 21 at the start of this season. Doku is no Mahrez, but then at 21, Mahrez was playing his first full season in the French second division.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Watching the documentary why oh why didn’t we keep Gundogan one more season? He was only 32, such an influential player.

 

[Gone for a Burton]

QUESTION -:
Four PLs in a row for imortality but losses to rags an arse in FA Cup & CL Finals or....

Beat rags and arse in finals and lose out to dippers in PL.

One word answers only !!

 

[117 M34]

QUESTION -:
Four PLs in a row for imortality but losses to rags an arse in FA Cup & CL Finals or....

Beat rags and arse in finals and lose out to dippers in PL.

One word answers only !!

We can't play arsenal in the final

 

[Gorbachev]

QUESTION -:
Four PLs in a row for imortality but losses to rags an arse in FA Cup & CL Finals or....

Beat rags and arse in finals and lose out to dippers in PL.

One word answers only !!

CL for me this year if we can win anything.

We will likely win another league title in the next few years, but we might never win the CL again.

Look at Juventus and their CL record. They would swap 10 titles for another CL trophy.

 

[citytill1die84]

Watching the documentary why oh why didn’t we keep Gundogan one more season? He was only 32, such an influential player.

He wanted to leave. Can't do anything if his mind is set on a move.

 

[jrb]

Spurs will decide the title looking at all the games left for each club. They play City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Win tomorrow and on Saturday and we have come through a difficult March and early April quite well. We really only have Spurs away as a difficult game and a possible defeat. Liverpool still have to go to Arsenal.

 

[blue by birth]

Spurs will decide the title looking at all the games left for each club. They play City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Win tomorrow and on Saturday and we really only have Spurs away as a difficult game and possible defeat. Liverpool still have to go to Arsenal.

Liverpool have played Arsenal twice.. unfortunately