Will we win the league this season?

Might be another transition season, but we have to do so much better. If the same old problems persist Pep will start to feel the pressure
 
In short, we'll be lucky to make the top 4 again. We need to our new signings to hit the ground running but even if they do, the same problems as last season are still there.

Gundogan is still getting regular minutes, the more Akanji plays the more mistakes he makes. Ederson still concedes every shot he faces and if we go into the season with Nunes as our right back then there should be public executions at half time against Spurs
 
Blue Maverick said:

I think we could well end up with a season like this, the team from what I see look fired up, we have an overlapping left back to feed Haaland, two decent wingers, the centre looks fantastic and get a great right back and we will be solid. Looking at that video always gives me goosebumps at just how good we were then, even better than the treble season, the entertainment was off the charts and KDB was sublime, prime Aguero, Sane and Sterling. I think this squad could do similar.
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Bump
 
3 of our 4 wide positions need looking at. Doku and Savinho just aren’t consistent enough and those roles are vital against the low block. They don’t offer enough defensively against the counter either. If Pep is just looking for the ability to take someone on then Bobb is ahead of both. We obviously need a rb, preferably a quick one.

Ake, Dias, Akanji, Stones, Gvardiol are all too one paced if we’re persisting with a high line. Not seen enough of Reis but Khusanov has to be given a shot.
 
I’m not sure. I don’t think our squad is anywhere near as good as a few years ago.

We’ve got a lot of players with potential or new signings (not 100% sure how good they are yet), so I’m expecting a season of transition.
 
So what would be everyone's starting eleven against Wolves. I'd go: Ederson, Nunes, Ait-Nouri, Dias, Gvardiol, Reijnders, Bernardo, Cherki, Doku, Foden, Haaland
 
Fordyboy46 said:
So what would be everyone's starting eleven against Wolves. I'd go: Ederson, Nunes, Ait-Nouri, Dias, Gvardiol, Reijnders, Bernardo, Cherki, Doku, Foden, Haaland
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You're probably not far off, though there's no defensive cover in midfield. Interestingly, not one of the winter signings makes that eleven.
 
to b honest my main expectation from CWC was to see real tactical change, and it didnt happen. there are signs of more intensity albeit this is hyped bit more than what it is by social media snippets of Kolo etc shouting and asking for more intensity is 20 second long training vids.

during the games it was visible but nowhere near at the level it needs to be and not as consistently as it needs to be.

there were some changes how we use wingers, thats positive, until Pep falls back to the comfortable inverted fullbacks, wingers stick to the line, and we all of a sudden get much more easy to play against.

real negative is defending as a team, pressing and proper tracking back needs to be serious and consistent or the high line dropped. no middle ground. especially with defenders that are slow and or find it hard to defend counters. nobody finds it easy it attackers run at you with speed and others let them have that run, but doesnt feel like defenders and Ederson doing their best either.

these mistakes were punished a lot last season even by lesser sides, and not much is changing unless there is a tactical reaction to it from Pep. in CL especially this will be an issue, we will be far away from the top spots once again if we dont rectify this rather quickly. fucking up 2 of the first 3 CL games can already cost us the top8.
 
Not sure what needs sorting. Games are a recurring nightmare. Every team plays us the same way.

The one to one defending by CBs is awful at the moment. Any decent forward seems to be able to bully, out pace & hold up and link play.

We dont seem to win 50-50s in the Middle of the park on transitions. Rodri should help with this.

Do we lose possession is worse areas than previously? Looks like we intend to press more than the last 3 years but that could leave us wide open if we cant get the purring like the false nine/Pre Haaland days.
 
Not a chance.

It’s about getting CL for a few years and stabilising as a top 5 club.

We need to get rid of the older players, and unfortunately begin the more difficult task of offloading some of the recent signings.

The trend at the moment in terms of the quality in the squad is a worry.
 
Everyone kept saying that it was the injuries and the old players. Well it seems it’s the system and the tactics. We’ll score more for sure but we’ll be wide open to the counter all season long - nothing has changed. Conversion rates of shots on target to goals needs to improve at both ends of the pitch for us to compete for the time
 
The unbridled excitement of our new signings bedding in quickly and the result against Juve has been replaced by the stark reality that we are dogshit in defence.

Hit us on the break and you will score. Add that to the fact that a low block renders all our creativity as worthless and I hate to say it, but we will struggle this season....again. Can Pep even change from the tika taka which can be like watching paint dry against low blocks?

The fact that we've been poor at the back for so long and done little about it is really annoying.
 
Too much knee jerk after one game, either way.
Listened to a city podcast on Friday and turned it off midway through as they were going OTT on Ait Nouri and Reijnders performances against poor opposition

Not saying they won’t be good, but let’s just wait and see how it plays out over a few months


When do the players return to training now then?
Glad of the break for them
 
Diaz, akanji, ake, stones all weak links in defence. Ederson isn’t all he’s cracked up to be either. He’s had his best days.
 
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