Sorry mate, but you’re missing the point.
It’s nothing to do with where we finished the previous season. It’s about momentum, and recognising that Pellegrini is either unwilling or unable to address our obvious weaknesses, which surfaced at QPR, West Ham, and Burnley etc last season. We might have finished the season fairly strongly, but realistically, we were out of title contention by late March.
Also the Rags won the League in 2013 but finished 7th the following year. City went backwards last season, and we need to stop kidding ourselves that everything will suddenly come good.
De Bruyne might add to our attacking options, but we were the top scorers anyway, so it was hardly our biggest issue.
I’m more concerned with the injury to Delph and the reluctance of the club to convey any information on his progress.
Kompany missed 15 games last season and 10 the previous campaign, yet I keep reading “If Kompany stays fit…”
Don’t worry, if Kompany plays every game and Zabaleta returns to his marauding best. If Yaya suddenly regains his power and motivation, and our defence learn how to defend set pieces, then I will be the first to admit I was wrong.
For the moment however, I will stick to my belief that City will finish 3rd.