The Title Race - 2024/25

[Father Paul]

We've been in that position before and clawed it back but this season seems different for so many reasons.
I'm chill that I'm at ease with the fact we ain't getting five in a row. Would love to be proven wrong but I feel there are too many things going against us this year with poor form and injuries that it'll be a hurdle too far.
However negative i seem I'm still not throwing the towel in completely just yet as this team always surprises me but it's going to be a stressful one where we'll hit more bumps in the road.

I don't want to throw in the towel either but at about 7.15 last night I'd have snapped your hand off for 4th.
At this stage we need a strategic mid to long-term plan put in place, rather than knee jerk responses in an attempt to stave off the inevitable.
I agree with those who are calling on Pep to quickly make a statement about his future, with at least a two year extention agreed. Otherwise a new man should be handed the reins and the resources for a rebuild.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Honestly, it hurts to lose four on the bounce, no two ways about it, but oddly, I feel this morning as though I've made my peace with this season.
What will be will be.
Now I would never underestimate the ability of this manager, and this team, to surprise us. God knows they've done it over and over. But it is a fact that this season does, finally, feel different. There's no great mystery about it: KDB, Doku, Grealish, Dias, Stones, Aké, Akanji all out at various points with varying degrees of injury. Bobb, who, Pep has said repeatedly, was the one who impressed him the most in the pre-season, out for months; Rod out for the season. And all that, with those that are playing, burnt out by playing match after match after match (some of them imposed on them by UEFA and FIFA's greed).
It is also undeniable that we should have recruited someone to stand alongside, and relay, Haaland, because otherwise that guy is himself going to pick up a serious injury. He is not a cyborg, appearances to the contrary.
But my feeling today is that if we win a major honour this year (and yes, for myself, I include the F.A. Cup in that, for years after ’81 I dreamt of us merely getting to Wembley for that), it will be like getting a Christmas present that I absolutely didn't expect from a relative I'd sort of forgotten.

 

[Bez]

Reality check. Yesterday's starting line up only had 3 members of our starting line up from our victorious CL final win against Inter Milan less than 2 years ago. The 3 players are Ederson, Gundog and Haaland. That is bonkers.

I looked at Luckypoos starting line up for the last 10 games or so. They have been able to pick more or less the same GK and Defence namely Kelleher, TAA, Konate, VVD and rotating Robertson with Tsmikas at left back. We have not had that luxury.

For all the blood letting and criticism of our team, the stark reality check is that we have not had the luxury of playing the same defensive line up game after game this season and it will be the same for midfield and attack.

Essentially the core of our first team has been missing for probably more than 50% of our games and we have been playing a B team over the last several weeks.

Hopefully Luckerpool's good fortune changes. 27 games to go. All is not lost...yet.

Come on City.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

The game on the 22nd is a rather large one, will be interesting to see how Arteta sets his team up. Certainly a chance for us to lay down a marker.

I hope it's the 23rd. Because I'm flying in for it on that morning, and I don't want to be one day late.

 

[flapjack]

Reality check. Yesterday's starting line up only had 3 members of our starting line up from our victorious CL final win against Inter Milan less than 2 years ago. The 3 players are Ederson, Gundog and Haaland. That is bonkers.

I looked at Luckypoos starting line up for the last 10 games or so. They have been able to pick more or less the same GK and Defence namely Kelleher, TAA, Konate, VVD and rotating Robertson with Tsmikas at left back. We have not had that luxury.

For all the blood letting and criticism of our team, the stark reality check is that we have not had the luxury of playing the same defensive line up game after game this season and it will be the same for midfield and attack.

Essentially the core of our first team has been missing for probably more than 50% of our games and we have been playing a B team over the last several weeks.

Hopefully Luckerpool's good fortune changes. 27 games to go. All is not lost...yet.

Come on City.

Trent's done his hammy possibly so that could be the start of some problems for them...also their December looks very tough

 

[jrb]

Pep.

“We don’t have the squad”(show more)

 

[WesthoughtonJohn]

Feels like it is all going to hinge on whether Pep can come up with a tweak (and quickly).
Injuries aside, the current set-up just isn‘t working. Weak pressing, no cohesion, gaps all over the place.
Find a more compact way of playing and we‘re still in with a shot - despite the obvious (relative) weaknesses in the squad.

Agree - and it has to involve removing Gundog from that midfield I'm afraid.
Problem currently we have no clue who you put in there instead.
Yesterday's midfield was all over the shop and we had too many who weren't able to put a foot in

 

[Brendan110_0]

Pep.

“We don’t have the squad”(show more)

Well, he let Alvarez go, no one could foresee Oscar Bobb breaking a limb. Just bad luck this year.

 

[Matt Diablo]

I blame the Gallaghers. Oasis reform and we turn to shit

If it means Noel is all of a sudden "commentating" on our europe games then they can fuk right off in general

 

[IronsideKozuch]

Yes Pep, tell those bedwetters.

Taking everything into consideration Im more than happy where we stand in the table at this point.

Dias, Stones, Ake, Grealish, Doku, KDB - we lost many (not to mention Rodri and Bobb), but we still been good, created plenty of chances. Its harder to maintain fitness second halfs, because we have a limited rotation.

LFC is strong, but Im pretty sure we re going to be better when most of players come back. Their attacking game is not sustainable. I would be more worried of Arsenal, but luckily they had even worse period than us.