Will we win the league this season?

[blueparrot]

Will we win the league? I hope so, we certainly have a shot.

But I think we're behind Liverpool and likely behind Arsenal. I think that we're the 3rd best team in the P/L right now.

That said, the transfer window is still open. And narray a ball has been kicked in the league. Inevitably some teams will underperform expectations while others will exceed expectations. We're in with a shout at the title - and I'm rooting for my Blues 100% - even if I think we're probably not favorite to win the league.

Said it when I saw liverpools 11 and bench before yesterdays game and was more sure after the game I think we have a better 11 and squad.

 

[Vialli98]

At the moment, I have it;

1. Liverpool
2. City
3. Arsenal
4. Chelsea

If City sign Rodrygo and nobody does any other moves, I could move City up to 1, but if Liverpool get Isak then I have them 1 regardless of what anybody else does.

I don't see a huge difference between the top 4 teams as it stands.

 

[Marvin.]

At the moment, I have it;

1. Liverpool
2. City
3. Arsenal
4. Chelsea

If City sign Rodrygo and nobody does any other moves, I could move City up to 1, but if Liverpool get Isak then I have them 1 regardless of what anybody else does.

I don't see a huge difference between the top 4 teams as it stands.

I agree with that 4. Chelsea have moved into the reckoning with their recent forward signings. My doubt over Chelsea is the experience of their players. They keep buying 18-21 year old players but you need players like Lampard, Terry and Drogba. Liverpool are overrated imo. I am hoping that they have miscalculated over Isak. At the moment, I don't think Newcastle are going to sell him.

I think City and Arsenal have the strongest squads but there's still an injury cloud hanging over City. Rodri is back in full training now, and Stones is playing again but as you know with Reece James, the form of injured players can be variable and there's no guarantee that he will get back to the player we knew.

 

[Berti No Show]

My mind changes weekly on this. We are going into the season with the pressure off us. Arsenal and Liverpool have all the pressure. Liverpool are red hot favourites, Arsenal have to win it this season and we can just sit in the background.

If we go back into the market after these sales and bring in a top quality Right Back and Winger to replace Savinho. There's no reason why we can't challenge.

With the sales, there is money to be spent. If we had a 250 million war chest, with our sales that means we are now have a net spend of +20 million or thereabouts. We have another 200-250 million to spend! *Rubs hands together*.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

Our wingers scored a grand total of 7 goals between them last season.

This is arguably our biggest

At the moment, I have it;

1. Liverpool
2. City
3. Arsenal
4. Chelsea

If City sign Rodrygo and nobody does any other moves, I could move City up to 1, but if Liverpool get Isak then I have them 1 regardless of what anybody else does.

I don't see a huge difference between the top 4 teams as it stands.

Neither do I and 1 player won't make so much difference.

 

[Blue and still suffering]

Since we won the league in 2018 I have always said that the only team that could stop City winning the league is City. After last season I think that the Gooners and Scousers have improved more than we have. We are definitely in the mix so my view is that we can rather than will win it.
Not sure if Pep knows what his best eleven is yet so we may be a bit hit and miss for the first couple of months. I think going forward we will be okay, defensively there are still some concerns. Hopefully they will be solved when Rodri is back, he also needs to play Kushanov in the Walker safety role as he has both the speed and tackling skills to cover most forwards on the break.
One last point, in his end of season review Khaldoon said he was really excited about the signing of one player. Is that player already here? Or are we expecting another wow signing before the window closes?

 

[Paul1970]

I can’t see us winning this season because for one we have a big problem down the right side as nunes for all the good he did last season will still get exposed when it matters and without Rodri atm midfield will be open which will put pressure on our defenders . Attack is good if we play to haalands strength but my worry is we play exactly what he sane way as last season and pep doesn’t learn. We have the nucleus of a really exciting team but they have to be unleashed .

 

[himalayan_blues]

Why are we squad wise inferior to liverpool or any other top teams.
Attacking trio of Haaland, marmoush, foden and cherki is not inferior to Isak (if he joins), Ekiteke, Wirtz, Salah.
Haaland > Isak, Marmoush > Etikete, foeden = salah (because foden is mush younger to uncle Salah) and yes Wirtz> Cherki.
And this attack is much better than Arsenal.
Our midfield is better than liverpool. Van dijk is getting old. If he crumbles their defence crumbles. And yes Arsenal have better defence than us but attacking wise we are better.
In Stones, Dias, Givadiol, Ake (if they stay fit), Khusanov we have the better defenders.
Pluswe have more than 24 players. Which is toooo much.

AND MOST IMP - WE HAVE THE PEP GUARDIOLA.

 

[Blue Pete]

Why are we squad wise inferior to liverpool or any other top teams.
Attacking trio of Haaland, marmoush, foden and cherki is not inferior to Isak (if he joins), Ekiteke, Wirtz, Salah.
Haaland > Isak, Marmoush > Etikete, foeden = salah (because foden is mush younger to uncle Salah) and yes Wirtz> Cherki.
And this attack is much better than Arsenal.
Our midfield is better than liverpool. Van dijk is getting old. If he crumbles their defence crumbles. And yes Arsenal have better defence than us but attacking wise we are better.
In Stones, Dias, Givadiol, Ake (if they stay fit), Khusanov we have the better defenders.
Pluswe have more than 24 players. Which is toooo much.

AND MOST IMP - WE HAVE THE PEP GUARDIOLA.

I agree we have a better squad than the dippers. And I love Foden, but he isn't Salah. They play totally different roles in their team, and Salah is a much more important player for them than Foden is or ever has been for us (including when he won player of the year.)

 

[Marvin.]

My mind changes weekly on this. We are going into the season with the pressure off us. Arsenal and Liverpool have all the pressure. Liverpool are red hot favourites, Arsenal have to win it this season and we can just sit in the background.

If we go back into the market after these sales and bring in a top quality Right Back and Winger to replace Savinho. There's no reason why we can't challenge.

With the sales, there is money to be spent. If we had a 250 million war chest, with our sales that means we are now have a net spend of +20 million or thereabouts. We have another 200-250 million to spend! *Rubs hands together*.

The odds according to Oddschecker are:

Liverpool - 7/4. They can be considered favourites if they buy Isak. Unlikely.
Arsenal - 9/4. My favourites after they bought a striker but Gyokeres is an unknown.
Manchester City - 7/2. We have the best squad but I think it might be 2026 before Rodri is back to his best.
Chelsea - 8/1. Back in the title-mix after good forward buys but lacking experienced players, and a top class keeper.

I am very confident that City will improve on last season because we finished the season reasonably and have bought well in the Summer. Plus Rodri, and Stones are close to returning which will significantly improve us.

 

[Marvin.]

I agree we have a better squad than the dippers. And I love Foden, but he isn't Salah. They play totally different roles in their team, and Salah is a much more important player for them than Foden is or ever has been for us (including when he won player of the year.)

Salah is 33 and can't beat a player for pace any more. He's still a very good player but he's in decline. There is no question about that. Palace coped with him very easily without even double-marking him.

 

[ActonBlue]

I really hope Pep's impending divorce doesn't come into play, having been through one recently I can vouch for how emotionally devastating and time consuming they can be if they get as far as court. I just hope it's not an unhealthy distraction and rather he uses City as a release from all that shite.

 

[Blue Pete]

Salah is 33 and can't beat a player for pace any more. He's still a very good player but he's in decline. There is no question about that. Palace coped with him very easily without even double-marking him.

At 33 his career is on the way out, but I wouldn't write him off after one bad game.

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

This is either a transition season or it isn't? Dunno what the fuck were transitioning too though as all the treble solidiers are still here. So this season is a see how oscar bobb does? And let the older pros wind down their contracts.

 

[Bluescholar]

I'd be amazed,look well short for me,Are we finishing above the scouse and arsenal? Can't see it,scrap with Chelsea for 3rd and 4th is all in can see.....been wrong before tho!

 

[Barrowby Blue]

It feels a bit flat at the moment. I can't see us winning it. In fact I'm worried about finishing top four.

The good thing about that though is that I'm usually wrong about most things...

 

[Tugay One Cup]

1. Chelsea
2. Liverpool
3. City
4. Arsenal

That's my prediction as of now but let's see what it's looking like when the window shuts.

 

[PistonBlue]

I think we've got a decent chance, much of it depends on Rodri - can he stay fit, will he be the player he was pre-injury? Also, will our new signings click? Reijnders and Cherki have impressed in pre season and will give us another dimension. We pretty much know what we've bought in Ait-Nouri and he should fit right in.
Similar with the dippers, on the face of it they have bought well but again, will they click? Van dick and Salah another year older. I suspect, and I think we saw a bit of this at weekend at Wembley, that they'll face the low block a lot more this season and teams will look to hit them on the break. They're champions now and teams will look to stop them playing their natural game.
Arsenal, are still Arsenal, the only question with them is what time does the bottling process begin? Maybe that's harsh, theyre a very good side, I just don't think the players,manager, or even the fans have got the balls to see it though.
Chelsea, fuck knows to be honest. Probably over reliant on Palmer and I don't have them as serious title contenders, but thety could surprise. There's no doubt they're a quality side when they put it all together.

So, all in all, yes we can, and hopefully will win it.

 

[Marvin.]

Lineker, Shearer and Micah's predictions for all 20 clubs.

I think these 3 pundits are usually quite sharp but Linker seems old and tired. One doesn't necessarily beget the other.

 

[Axel Freed]

Another summer, another mediocre transfer window

Pep's genius has been enough in most seasons and our owners will put their faith in the single most influential protagonist in the game guiding us to glory again. That won't be easy given the deterioration in our squad season on season and the poor guy must wonder what he has to do to get the board to back him properly.

That said, there's no outstanding team in the league, we've got just as good a chance as anyone else.