Will we win the league this season?

I don’t think we’ll win it, I reckon it’ll be a similar finish to last season.

I can’t see us changing our style of play too much because Pep has become extremely risk averse and that has made us increasingly vulnerable. Holding onto the ball is great when we played progressive, quick football because it worked. Holding onto the ball and ambling side to side waiting for a gap you could drive a 747 through isn’t working. I honestly don’t think the new coaches will convince him otherwise. We also do not play to the strengths of our squad.

I hope I’m wrong.

I’m also not sure what the issue is. Is it Pep ordering them to play this way? Are they scared to take a risk in fear of getting a bollocking if they lose the ball? Was Pep not being challenged or helped by his coaching staff? Has there been a fallout in the squad? Are the players not behind his tactics? Are too many of them stale after a phenomenal period. Has the poor recruitment and reliance on aging players just killed us?

We have the ability in this squad to run away with the league but unless, as a minimum we sort our defending out and/or get a shot stopper in net and take the handbrake off occasionally we’ll lose too many games.

Doku cannot be a starter. He’s too hit and miss. Use him as an impact player against tired legs.

Savinho isn’t ready yet. Maybe he will be in time, maybe he won’t.

Gundo cannot be a starter. Use him when we need to and use his experience and intelligence around the squad.

Akanji plays a lot of games but he shouldn’t be first choice.

We need to use Haaland properly or get rid. We’re not making the most of him by a long way.

Ederson is not the keeper we need playing the way we play.

Foden and Dias need to decide if they’ve had enough or if they want more. Neither has performed to their ability so they need to get their heads in the game.

Nico G and Khusanov. Either use them or ship them out and bring in players we’ll use.

That turned into a really negative post, I didn’t intend on it being that way but that is how I see it currently. In truth, I’m not that arsed if we don’t win the league, although it’s amazing when we do, I’m not here just to win trophies. I want to see us have a go and play exciting football. Cut out the needless and obvious errors and stay switched on and if we do that, we will probably win the league.
 
I’ll wait until I see the rest of the window, more importantly outgoings, before I make a decision.

Push comes to shove at this present minute, not a prayer I think we win it.
 
I always think we're going to win the league at this time of year. We've strengthened significantly so I don't see why not - we have some incredible talent in the squad. All comes down to how successfully we can address last seasons obvious problems. Decent left back a big step in that direction imo.
 
Think it all depends on outgoings. Keep playing the older players and we are treading water for two years. I am not seeing any signs yet that Pep wants to rebuild the squad. The lack of new players being integrated and bought in January are out in the cold. It’s obvious the club wants to rebuild and that’s what Viana was employed to do, so something has to give. Hope that it’s true we are looking at bringing some big name players in, too much shopping in the b-list for me. Hopefully it all comes together in the next few weeks, as we can’t afford to waste another season. Don’t think we can read too much into the CWC games at this stage.
 
I wasn't sure we would won before, but the Al Hilal game has knocked my confidence in the team.

Only one game sure, but lots of familiar problems from last season.

So it's a no for me.
 
I'm more optimistic than most on here. In the last 3rd of the season, we were pretty solid defensively. It was the Al Hillal game (which was one game) that's changed everyone's opinion. Pep isn't stupid and I'm sure he'll sort it before the season starts. Not saying we'll win the league but I think we'll be close.
 
I think we have some real talent in midfield, however the way we play with a high line, we need more speed in midfield for recovery when we lose the ball. I believe this is the only difference between us an Liverpool. When they lose the ball they are so quick on recovery. We have recruited talent but not speed. Its not the defence that's the problem, its midfield. Who in our midfield is going to make that lung busting run to help on a breakaway?
 
I suspect we’ve got too many issues or questions around the spine of the team to the win the league.

Rodri’s fitness is likely the biggest uncertainty, but if he can’t play most games while he’s getting back up to speed, then we still don’t seem to have a coherent plan to deal with it. Reijnders looks a good player but if he’s got to play as a 6 in Rodri’s absence then we’ll lose a lot of dynamism in the rest of the midfield.

Dias has been going backwards for a couple of seasons now and he just hasn’t got the pace to deal with the high line Guardiola wants to play. Presumably the centre halves will be Gvardiol plus one other, but we’re unlikely to get 20-plus games out of Stones and Khusanov doesn’t appear to be trusted.

I don’t necessarily see Ederson as a major problem like some on here do, but I still wouldn’t be surprised if we sign another keeper.

On our day and when everything lines up for us, we’ll hand out some real drubbings and beat some good teams. But I just don’t think we can defend well enough to grind out results when we’re not on it, especially away from home. We keep on letting daft goals in and we’re some level below other sides in terms of physicality and athleticism, which really matters over the course of a season.
 
chickaroon said:
I think we have some real talent in midfield, however the way we play with a high line, we need more speed in midfield for recovery when we lose the ball. I believe this is the only difference between us an Liverpool. When they lose the ball they are so quick on recovery. We have recruited talent but not speed. Its not the defence that's the problem, its midfield. Who in our midfield is going to make that lung busting run to help on a breakaway?
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We don't have to play with that high of a line. In fact it makes no sense at all if, as you say, we have no speed in midfield. My thoughts on our slow pace of attacking creating the high line have been posted in several places at varying points over the last 12-18 months. This is why football teams have managers, to work this shit out - hopefully pep does.
 
If we had a fit Rodri, I would say we had a decent chance. He is the best dm in the world for a reason and he gives us the control centrally which we desperately need.


Whilst we have plenty of creative options going forward, we are still vulnerable to the fast counter attack and we will continue to leak goals similar to last season.
 
Kamikaze Blue said:
I always think we're going to win the league at this time of year. We've strengthened significantly so I don't see why not - we have some incredible talent in the squad. All comes down to how successfully we can address last seasons obvious problems. Decent left back a big step in that direction imo.
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The base line in 2025 was 40 from 19 games. That is close but not close enough. In 2024/25 our defensive and attacking play as measured by goals conceded and scored deteriorated.

I think we can expect significant improvement in our attacking play. based on our June signings, but our ability to defend rests on the recovery of Stones and Rodri and the potential of Khusanov and Ries.

The other variables are Liverpool and Arsenal. I had thought Liverpool might regret extending VVD and Salah's contracts but I did not anticipate their transfer market activity. I think we can now expect them to be strong.

It's more difficult than usual to predict how City will perform as we are in transition.
 
Agueroooooooooooo said:
Compare to Sane, Sterling, Mahrez.
Chalk and cheese
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Remember that last season we had no Rodri and half our defence missing. We weren't fully committed to attack. We played with the handbrake on. I don't think Doku and Savinho are the finished article. Sterling and Sane developed young but some players develop later.
 
No if the defence don’t improve. Most our games will be like basketball matches. High scoring back and forth.
 
Marvin. said:
Remember that last season we had no Rodri and half our defence missing. We weren't fully committed to attack. We played with the handbrake on. I don't think Doku and Savinho are the finished article. Sterling and Sane developed young but some players develop later.
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If Rodri gets back to full fitness?
If our injury prone defenders stop being injury prone?
If we play with more attacking freedom?
If Doku and Savinho improve?

We've definitely got a chance, but after a strange season when the "flappers" and "fannies" were actually proved right, we'll need a bit more than blind faith.

City finally buying a Left Back and Foden back in the goals at the CWC is a better place to start.
 
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