The Title Race - 2024/25

[WestGorton]

It's irritating, isn't it? You can count on that bugger to get the winning goal round about the 70th minute, or later. And he's been doing it for seasons, now. And somehow he plays every bleeding game…
Apparently, for large portions of the game today Brighton outplayed them.

The hair transplant has given him more energy

 

[Charlesfarsbar]

He has 3 goals in 10 La Liga games. If a club offers you £80m for that level of goalscoring ability, you take it.

Like we did with Palmer …

Too much focus on the bottom line versus what goes on the pitch

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Something feels different this time around though.

You said the same thing last season you daft ****.

 

[bellsouth]

I’ve just looked at our upcoming fixtures and the international break is well timed. Brighton next week is a must win as the games after that are proper tough and we could be a good few points behind Liverpool.

Nothing is must win at this stage of the season.

 

[Withnail]

Liverpool gonna win it by process of elimination it seems.

We're winning nothing without Rodri I don't think sadly.

Arsenal's form is shite and they're a good bit back already.

Liverpool following on from where they were for a stage of last season, giving up chances, getting away with it and when they score one you just know they're going to win.

Sadly they look like the most likely winners at the minute

The Dippers were lucky to win today and looked far from convincing. Obviously Rodri is a big miss and we have some problems in defence, but write City off at your own peril. Pep will find a way and ensure City are back to winning ways shortly.

 

[johnnytapia]

Nothing is must win at this stage of the season.

True. Yet, everything is must win!

 

[johnnytapia]

Many a twist and turn…

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Many a twist and turn…

Who wants a procession every fucking year?

 

[Mancity1980]

One thing is for certain: the title will not be won by a convincing team because none of them are. So, it doesn’t matter that we are not as good as before, as long as we are better than what the other two propagandists are now and we are.

 

[alexmcity]

One thing is for certain: the title will not be won by a convincing team because none of them are. So, it doesn’t matter that we are not as good as before, as long as we are better than what the other two propagandists are now and we are.

This is true. We can win it.

But the often repeated point that we have similar results every season doesn't take into account that we will be without our most fundamental player for the entire season, not just for 5 months or so. Appreciate him or not, Rodri is immense. Pep is great but he ain't a magician. The average age of Gundo, KDB, Kova and Bernardo will be close to 33 by the end of the season. And 2 of these players are in top 10 in the world for most games since 2018, while Kevin has been plagued by injuries...

Right now Pep is looking for conservative solutions, i.e., he relies on the experienced players who know the system and are supposed to keep possession by exchanging many passes. My gut feeling is that such solutions won't work, for Gundo and Bernie are not what they used to be. They can be very important but should not start every game. Pep will have to trust the younger players, starting with Nunes and Foden in midfield, with Kova behind them and supported by Lewis and Gvardiol when we attack, plus Savinho and Doku on the wings. The young players can save the season, the experienced players can help but can't start week in week out.