The Title Race - 2024/25

[Coatigan]

I do because other than a couple of games in August, we have looked poor consistently. It is December this week. This season suggests we are poor with our results/performances so far. That isn't to say it won't improve but nothing suggests it will. The best player in the world being injured all season in itself is a big indicator of it not improving, as we have struggled more often than not without him.

I think that is a bit revisionist. I don't think we have been that bad. We scraped a couple wins here and there, sure. We also drew and lost games we could well have won, notably Bournemouth and Newcastle. A bit of a stretch to suggest have been poor all season.

 

[thismeansfour]

I think that is a bit revisionist. I don't think we have been that bad. We scraped a couple wins here and there, sure. We also drew and lost games we could well have won, notably Bournemouth and Newcastle. A bit of a stretch to suggest have been poor all season.

Newcastle? We was crap and hanging on at the end. Bournemouth we got absolutely battered, Ederson had a quality game and it could have been a lot worse than 2-1. The games we have dropped points in we haven't been unlucky. Possibly Brighton at a push as we played well first half. Crap against Arsenal. Wolves, Fulham and Brentford were all games we won, where an argument could have been made on the other teams deserving more. Chelsea, West Ham and Ipswich being the games this season we have looked good and deservedly won. That isn't great out of 12 games. People will look at it differently, what suggests to me I am on the right path is I called a slump even whilst we was top and unbeaten, based on our performances. That has then happened

 

[Coatigan]

Newcastle? We was crap and hanging on at the end. Bournemouth we got absolutely battered, Ederson had a quality game and it could have been a lot worse than 2-1. The games we have dropped points in we haven't been unlucky. Possibly Brighton at a push as we played well first half. Crap against Arsenal. Wolves, Fulham and Brentford were all games we won, where an argument could have been made on the other teams deserving more. Chelsea, West Ham and Ipswich being the games this season we have looked good and deservedly won. That isn't great out of 12 games. People will look at it differently, what suggests to me I am on the right path is I called a slump even whilst we was top and unbeaten, based on our performances. That has then happened

Purely based on margins, and one or two clear cut chances created actually going in, I maintain we could have won those games. Therefore we weren't 'crap'.

 

[Father Paul]

They are going for our points record? After like 13 games? Did they call you to say? Weird statement to make...

They are on track. But I don't think they are a 100 point team. Also 90 or 91 will be the max needed. The dippers will be going for the treble this year and might achieve that ok.

 

[Father Paul]

I agree, even some of the games we won this season were not comfortable well managed wins in the league.

when we hosted Soton talk before the game was are we beating them by 7-8 or 10 goals given their manager said upfront he wont change tactics, he will try to play out from the back and will commit players forward rather than setting up a big bus which was what happened yet bit bit of luck they could have got a draw and we won 1-0 only.
then that Fulham game where they cut us open few times...
Brentford too.

big problems tactically partially due to injuries but also our level of play and intensity is not good enough. pressing is not good enough and that kills us as it lets opponents time to simply pass and run through our midfield which is a killer for our high line defence especially with unexperienced Lewis, Pusey etc

also our attacking setup has been found out a bit, slow which lets opponents sit back and defend a smaller area well, while we simply revert back to the ball being passed around by our least technical CBs and they are far from creative creators big time. also most of their passes are safe options to each other or out to the wingers who then choose the safe option and pass back to CB. we literally do this numerous time in every attack, and opponents love it when our winger with his back to the goal passing to our CB. but then lose the ball and panic sets in and one pass kills our entire team and we face a 1 on 1 or 3 vs 2 chance which Ederson will not save 9 of 10 times if its on target.
we became slow, age plays a role, you cant compare current Gundogan to Gundogan of 2021-2022, Grealish too looks shadow of his 22-23 self, KDB hardly fit enough and certainly aged a lot, Walker the same, lack of Rodri cover etc.
while the ones you would expect hell of a pressing and energy from like Foden, Doku, Savinho, well they are in shit form and allergic to score goals currently. but even beating a man and getting a shot or cross is rare for them these days.

we very much needed big transfer that can inject energy into the team with his play. Gundo was never gonna be that, Savinho with only his decent Girona experience is a bit lost now at this high stage. we needed some of that what Rice added to Arsenal in midfield, or Bellingham to Real last season, or Palmer last season to Chelsea. come in, deliver and overperform most of the season, be reliable.

too comfortable in the window where our main thing was to keep Ederson, KDB from Saudi offers, rather than strengthen on what we had. selling Alvarez too without anyone similar brought in, even in a younger, cheaper version. feels like we couldnt have done a worse window if we wanted to weaken City if we tried on purpose.

Palmer showed at Chelsea even one man can have huge affect on a team despite another 20 transfers they had that some flopped, some not hit the ground running, some taking longer to deliver etc but one that is a big hit makes a big difference.

Haaland was a transfer like this and we didnt win the treble in his debut season just because of him, but the mentality he came with, the goals, the momentum he gave us played a big part.

very much doubt Txiki looks back to window of 23 summer and 24 summer and thinks how great he did more like we could have done so much better.
add the Philips transfer total bombing, and Palmer turned into what he turned into once we sold him while jury very much out on Nunes, Doku, Savinho none of them is ahead of anyone in the starter of the City team that won the treble or the one we had in 2018...

It's called complacency a kind of corporate leaning on the shovel. Entirely predictable and in fairness has to be expected after the energy expended over the last 10 years. We will be back. In what capacity remains to be decided.

 

[Blue2202]

We could also find ourselves only 5 points off the top too, with two thirds of the season left to play.

I get your point on our performances, and a part of me shares your worries. But we could also click into gear as sharply as we have in past seasons, when going through an 'unrecognisable' stretch.

Very true, but I'd say that's being very optimistic having watched the last two games. We look a complete mess and I'm afraid to say the dippers look the complete opposite to us.

Nothing I've seen has suggested we are going to just click into gear like in previous seasons. I don't remember us conceding this amount of goals before apart from the odd one off game.

Dippers (A)
Forest (H)
Palace (A)
United (H)
Villa (A)

How many points can you honestly see taken from these games before Christmas?

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

I think we need to write this season off, it isn’t going to happen. Maybe Pep and the board will get some fresh players in during his remaining term, and keep the younger regulars

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

Not to be negative but I'll take a Top 4 in the league and a CL qualification out of the league stage now!

 

[hello]

Very true, but I'd say that's being very optimistic having watched the last two games. We look a complete mess and I'm afraid to say the dippers look the complete opposite to us.

Nothing I've seen has suggested we are going to just click into gear like in previous seasons. I don't remember us conceding this amount of goals before apart from the odd one off game.

Dippers (A)
Forest (H)
Palace (A)
United (H)
Villa (A)

How many points can you honestly see taken from these games before Christmas?

If we are aiming for any less than 15 then maybe pep shouldn’t have renewed. However I still have every faith 15 will be the target but genuinely fear a loss on Sunday would result in media hyperbole pigmol supporting the narrative and those twats strolling to 92+ pts

 

[Delphinho]