Will we win the league this season?

I have grave reservations about this defence .... they appear to lack confidence, belief, unity and organisation, and i really don't see Ait Nouri as doing much defending anyway .... so I'm just gonna sit 'on the fence' as regards a title win for the duration of this season, and hope that there's no protruding nails stickin' out of it ... and no raging Bulls near it!

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As it stands I can see us scoring goals a plenty but conceding loads as well. Our defence is nowhere near tight enough to win the league, I haven't any real faith in any of our centre halves and the right back situation needs resolving quickly
 
Fordyboy46 said:
As it stands I can see us scoring goals a plenty but conceding loads as well. Our defence is nowhere near tight enough to win the league, I haven't any real faith in any of our centre halves and the right back situation needs resolving quickly
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It does. Walker saved so many situations with his pace. If we can get a good right back, a fast one, we could be transformed. The Rodri situation is pivotal, too, of course. I am still confused why Khusanov has not been given more minutes, his pace is up there with Walker's. Just try him for a few games?
 
s1ty m said:
It does. Walker saved so many situations with his pace. If we can get a good right back, a fast one, we could be transformed. The Rodri situation is pivotal, too, of course. I am still confused why Khusanov has not been given more minutes, his pace is up there with Walker's. Just try him for a few games?
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Some may not like the publisher but the content backs you up.

talksport.com

New Man City signing rivals Bolt's record-breaking speed in stunning sprint

Footage of Manchester City’s new signing Abdukodir Khusanov sprinting at blistering speed has emerged on social media. The former Lens defender sprinted at a blistering speed of 37km/h during…
talksport.com talksport.com
 
They say the league table does not lie but it did for City in 2024/25. After 9 games we were top of the league. Then Rodri got injured, closely followed by Kovacic, and then we won 1 game in 8. In the final half of the season, we never quite recovered title-wining form, but we came close taking 40 points from the last 19 games. We finished on 71 points, 13 points behind Liverpool. Our potential at the season end without Rodri was 80 points, a close 2nd to Liverpool.

In considering 2025/26, we have to ask 2 questions:

1) what improvement is likely from the recovery of Rodri, Stones, Bobb and the signings of Reijnders, Ait-Nouri, Cherki.

2) The potential of Liverpool and Arsenal. Arsenal's potential depends on who they bring in as a striker. One signing could make a big difference for them. I was expecting Liverpool to struggle next season given the age of their 2 most important players (VVD and Salah) but they have since spent £170m (net).

I think the CWC showed that City's attack will be a lot stronger in 2025/26 but that our defensive play without Rodri and Stones is very weak. We cannot get the full benefit of Doku and Cherki if we can't go full bore. 2025/26 is going to be a continuation of the battle between City v Liverpool v Arsenal with City's form dependent on the extent to which Rodri recovers. A fit Stones will be an unlikely bonus.
 
Agueroooooooooooo said:
Some may not like the publisher but the content backs you up.

talksport.com

New Man City signing rivals Bolt's record-breaking speed in stunning sprint

Footage of Manchester City’s new signing Abdukodir Khusanov sprinting at blistering speed has emerged on social media. The former Lens defender sprinted at a blistering speed of 37km/h during…
talksport.com talksport.com
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We knew he had Walker's pace. I think his defensive game is good, but I have not seen evidence yet that he can play composed possession football.
 
Still think we will be off the pace this season.

Still too many of the older players on the decline.

Pep will persist on Bernie and Gundo getting loads of minutes, then throw in Kovacic when he's fit as well.

Zero pace at the back will expose us week in week out and the frustration with Doku and Sav will be on another level.

Newcastle could throw a spanner in the works this season. I think we will finish 3rd/4th IMO.
 
Lord Blue said:
Think this will be a season of transition. Any silverware will be a bonus.

Last season was one of realisation.
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This is defo the reality of the season to come. Lots of ups and downs i imagine and plenty of wtf's. Silverware will be a big bonus. Key is to start to see the older players phased out and the new young hungry players start to mould the future.
 
Are salah and vane dyke losing speed and even then they seem to have adapted well enough for it not too matter that much?
 
@BlueMonkey79
Our current defenders are as quick as the Treble ones or even quicker: Walker didn't play much then, our go to defence was Akanji, Stones, Dias and Ake.

One can make the case that Nunes is quicker than all of them and that Gvardiol is at least as quick as Ake or Stones, Ait-Nouri as well.

Basically, according to you, we won the Treble having zero pace at the back. Seems like a groundless complaint to me.

99% of the fans would kill to have our squad and manager.
 
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Marvin. said:
We knew he had Walker's pace. I think his defensive game is good, but I have not seen evidence yet that he can play composed possession football.
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Never been given a run in team. He seems fast enough and has a bit of bite in tackle so I’m all for it.likes of foden and co can’t tackle a rice pudding.
 
alexmcity said:
@BlueMonkey79
Our current defenders are as quick as the Treble ones or even quicker: Walker didn't play much then, our go to defence was Akanji, Stones, Dias and Ake.

One can make the case that Nunes is quicker than all of them and that Gvardiol is at least as quick as Ake or Stones, Ait-Nouri as well.

Basically, according to you, we won the Treble having zero pace at the back. Seems like a brainless complaint to me.

99% of the fans would kill to have our squad and manager.
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99% don't win the league. (Not strictly true but still)
 
If Pep sorts the counter press out then yes, we’ll win it.

If he doesn’t, and teams have the chance to string 1/2 passes or play an accurate long ball still then no, we won’t.

It’s as simple as that. We excel in every area of the pitch but have a weakness of the counter. In 2017 he introduced tactical fouls (Sterling) and he needs something else new now.
 
We can with better options defensively and proper cover for rodri. If pep persists with Gundo in midfield and jot playing zNico G...and if we sldo don't buy a proper right back then no chance...itsxa battle for top 5 again
 
Pep doesn't see the issues in his team and is quite happy to play this ridiculous high line with no pace in defence. . Sort that and we'd have a decent chance of winning the league, however the dippers were well in front last year ( forget this top of the league since. Christmas bollox )and are arguably stronger again. It's a No.
 
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