Two years ago I'd have thought to myself "how many goals will we get today? Five or six". Nowadays I see every team in the league as banana skins.
I've no idea what's happening but the club is looking like it's in for a long, hard season and I think we will be a top 4 team this year. The whole setup feels stale and unimaginative.
I know this isn't going to be an ordinary league this year but we've got to start wondering where we are going and what we're trying to do. The big elephant in the room is Pep not signing a contract. That single issue is permeating through the team. The club have to decide if they want him to stay - and at the moment we look quite a way from challenging Liverpool- or we refresh the team. I want Pep to stay but if he's not got his heart in it, he has to make way for someone else.
Injuries can be unlucky (eg Laporte last year) which can happen at any time but the number were picking up now is ludicrous. Laporte, Ake, Aguero, Jesus, Mendy, Fernandinho...it's far far too many and I'm wondering what the condition of the players is.
We have not learnt a single thing in the last 12 months. That's the really grating part. The stats show 70 per cent possession, 10 shots on goal etc...and we lose 1-0. Every team we play against has forwards who just look more deadly than ours!!!