Which game was the turning point

[cyan]

Whatever happened behind the scenes after Villa away.

We were struggling - three draws against Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham and then not just the loss at Villa, but the manner of it. they out fought, out ran us - and no one usually does that.

After that it began to pick up - shaky win at Luton, scary draw v Palace, when it looked as if there had been no improvement - but then 3-1 at Everton away, and 3-2 at Newcastle away all began to build momentum and there was no looking back. I suspect that whatever Pep and his backroom team did in that period led to the title.

 

[youngbob]

Villa away, the 1-0 defeat.

I didn't want to say it too loudly at the time but I had a little feeling it was going to be our last defeat of the season. So many times during Pep's tenure we've had a really bad loss, or a properly rough performance, that's ended up being the huge catalyst for a period dominance afterwards.

In 16/17 it was the 4-0 loss at Everton. We lost just one of the next 39 Premier League games after that day, eventually winning a PL/LC double in the Centurions 2017/18 season.

In 18/19 it was the double-whammy of losing at home to Palace and then away at Leicester around Christmas. We won 18 of the next 19 games in the league and won a domestic treble.

In 20/21 it was the 2-0 defeat at Spurs which left us 13th after nine games. We went on a 28-game unbeaten run in all competitions after that and won the PL/LC double once again, reaching the Champions League final too.

In 21/22 it was the 2-0 home defeat to Palace. We lost just one more game all season after that point (2-3 at home to Spurs, a crazy game) and eventually won the title on 93 points.

In 22/23 it was a combination of losing the derby at Old Trafford, losing at Spurs, then the 115 PL charges being slapped down on us. Pep ripped it up and started again with that 3-2-4-1 formation that won us the treble.

In terms of games we won, it absolutely has to be the second half away at Everton over the Christmas period. 1-0 down at half-time, we needed something BIG and Foden stepped up with that 25-yard daisy cutter. That game and De Bruyne's return a couple of weeks later definitely changed the mood.

 

[Gremlin]

Funnily enough, I think the FA Cup semi final against Chelsea. After the disappointment in the CL they could have folded, been out of the FA Cup as well and then who knows what that would have meant to the motivation. But they got straight back on the horse and went on the winning run that took us where we all know. That takes character.

 

[Roachy]

Arsenal Villa match
No doubt.
Martinez save off Trossard the key moment.

I've considered a few matches and my mind keeps coming back to this one. A game involving City is a bit trickier for me though.

 

[Rhapsody in Blue]

Considering the way Palace finished the season, the 4-2 win there was monumental. Even Villa at home.

 

[bugsyblue]

Totally that Newcastle match.

 

[Dzeko's Right Boot]

I actually think the Club World Cup games. We were properly rocking at that point, maybe just after the Palace and Villa games? To have a few games to just relax, find our rhythm, build some confidence was so lucky.

Put it this way - if we were playing 2 tough prem games instead of the Japanese and Brazilian teams straight after being battered by Villa, would we have got the momentum to not lose for the rest of the season?

We didn't look back after that point.

 

[BlueRockape]

I said before KO against Newcastle away win this we win the league.
Oh how my mates laughed.


Now I am known as a big head. ;)

 

[Inter Me Nan]

Taking the turning point as the lowest point I'd have to say Villa away, an utterly toothless performance with barely a shot on goal. The only way was up from that point.

Was about to post exactly the same thing.

 

[jrb]

Palace winning at Liverpool. Villa winning at Arsenal. What a weekend it was for City.