The Title Race - 2024/25

[Bluewonder]

I think we'd have run away with it if Rodri had stayed fit, but I'm still confident we're the best team over 38 games.

 

[alexmcity]

I expect us to be around 3/4 points off top by end of Jan with our injuries, that puts us in a great position going into the last 4 months and business end of the season. If we come up short then so be it but anyone writing this team off after 6 games needs some serious help.

I don't see many writing the team off. At the same time, to go by what happened in other seasons as if Rodri was absent then and as if Walker, KDB and Gundo are still in their prime might be naive.

The truth is, we are less likely to win this season than in previous seasons. Football is a game of probabilities. Last season, we were clear favourites to win even when we were below Liverpool and Arsenal. Now, we are not favourites with the bookies for a reason.

People should accept reality and hope for the best, e.g. that Foden and Haaland will improve further and that the other young players will surprise the league. The likes of Doku, Savinho, Bobb, Lewis, Nunes, McAtee will have to step up. For that purpose, Pep may have to take risks and trust them to deliver.

 

[alexmcity]

It’s a coping mechanism for some. There’s no other rational explanation. It certainly isn’t based on reason and experience.

Also, it's a coping mechanism to underestimate the significance of Rodri's injury and the age of Walker, KDB, Gundo, Kova, Bernie, etc., as if they don't get older and as if everything is the same as in previous seasons.

 

[Father Paul]

Also, it's a coping mechanism to underestimate the significance of Rodri's injury and the age of Walker, KDB, Gundo, Kova, Bernie, etc., as if they don't get older and as if everything is the same as in previous seasons.

I fear the combination of the injury and our aging squad members may do us in this season. But for me the biggest match this year is off the pitch and we must hope Pannick gets the better of Lewis.

 

[the talisman]

Fair comment

I can’t see Arsenal dropping any more points. Or Liverpool.

What about when they play each other. Twice?

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

I understand that this is a forum and the sports tv and radio need to fill air time, but this madness, season in season out of trying to hand out the title before May baffles me. It was only a couple of weeks ago, driving away from the Brentford game that some blue was on Talkshite claiming we’ll go undefeated this season. Same bloke is probably on here claiming it’s all over. Football is so nuanced and literally anything can happen. The only thing I’ll confidently predict is we’ll be there in the argument come the final knockings. In the grand scheme of things that’s good enough for me.

 

[manimanc]

After we won the treble I thought the next season we'd have a bit of a drop off, reflect on what we'd achieved and take it all in, recharge and go the season after.
We ended up getting 4 in a row.
This season we're unbeaten and a point off the top, which is unusual for us as we're nearly in October and usually we're a few points behind everyone, I'm surprised how well we've started but yesterday we looked a bit flat and not our usual selves but nearly nicked it in the end.
I'll say this season could be the transition season where we maybe don't hit our levels, I'd take top 4 and a cup and go again next season with maybe a few additions but then again I've said the same for the last couple of years and this team has always proved me wrong.

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

Fair comment

I can’t see Arsenal dropping any more points. Or Liverpool.

Arsenal and Liverpool won’t drop anymore points? Really? Remortgage the house and clean out Sky Bet.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Also, it's a coping mechanism to underestimate the significance of Rodri's injury and the age of Walker, KDB, Gundo, Kova, Bernie, etc., as if they don't get older and as if everything is the same as in previous seasons.

I think that’s a worthwhile point, but I would counter it with the fact that people always attribute ‘this’ season’s rationale to us falling short to a specific event, or events. Frequently a particular injury. More frequently some nebulous gut feeling that things are different this season. Players are always ageing. We also have some incredible youngsters coming through.

I accept the stats aren’t encouraging in terms of Rodri’s contribution, but there’s a difference between a tactical and strategic approach to his absence, and we will certainly have to adopt the latter, but to suggest it’s completely beyond this team and management to achieve that is preposterous.

The other factor that people seem to discount is the fact that Pep Guardiola is our manager. He is, quite simply, the greatest club manger in the history of the game, and to discount that, when we are unbeaten after six games, with the fit players that remain, is both absurd and disrespectful.

It will be a challenge without Rodri, but one I am confident we are likely to meet. If we don’t, then I can certainly live with that, but I’m certainly not throwing the towel in before September is at an end, and thankfully this group of players won’t either.

 

[jimharri]

Fair comment

I can’t see Arsenal dropping any more points. Or Liverpool.

Ignoring the fact that they still have to play each other, do you really think that they'll both win all of their remaining 32 games?