Will we win the league this season?

Marvin. said:
One could argue that Liverpool were weak and are regularly beaten away at this time. Brentford beat them, so what if we beat them? I think the result though is significant psychologically. It will change how the fans think about City and how the players think about themselves. It also does more damage to Liverpool, and that is always a good thing.
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In the 100 point season, beating Chelsea early on who were the reigning champions was a big result too.

I still think what might let us down is performances like Villa so I won’t be getting too excited until we see how we get on at Newcastle. The potential is certainly there - we need the consistency though. If we can develop that, we’ll definitely be in with a shout.
 
Marvin. said:
One could argue that Liverpool were weak and are regularly beaten away at this time. Brentford beat them, so what if we beat them? I think the result though is significant psychologically. It will change how the fans think about City and how the players think about themselves. It also does more damage to Liverpool, and that is always a good thing.
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Their other defeats haven’t been a three goal mauling like they got yesterday. They didn’t look like they fancied it even though they had 24 hours recovery time on top of what City had.

I thought City could have scored more and we were on for a repeat of the 5-0 back in 2017. I won’t complain with that score line though.
 
Toney’s bookie said:
In the 100 point season, beating Chelsea early on who were the reigning champions was a big result too.
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Exactly this

That season it set down a marker that we were serious about a title challenge and we never looked back

The result yesterday will give the team massive belief

Multiple players have raised their game versus last season and a new team is emerging

Let everyone keep putting the pressure on Arsenal by bugging them up, they’ll crack again if we keep turning the screw
 
Cobwebcat said:
I want to know how good Arsenal really are. They look very good to me so far. I’ll have my eye on the Bayern upcoming game.
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They are very solid and have a great squad. Arteta is very good but seems to have sold his managerial soul to the devil in a desperate bid to win the title.

IMO, he errs on the side of defensive stability at the expense of creativity. This calendar year, Arsenal have scored about as many goals from open play as... Bournemouth. That's a problem.
 
I think providing at least one of Rodri and Gonzalez are fit and in form and haaland keeps scoring we will have an epic season.
 
It was a no after Bournemouth now it’s a maybe we in the fight to compete for it with Arsenal but they are still favourites for me because of they are more settled as a team and they have 2 players for every position
 
Cobwebcat said:
I want to know how good Arsenal really are. They look very good to me so far. I’ll have my eye on the Bayern upcoming game.
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There’s no doubting they’re a very good team but the big question for me is mentality and attitude. They looked likely champions much deeper into the season than this in both 2022-23 and 2023-24 but fell apart dramatically at the first hint of serious pressure.
 
It feels as though yesterday's starting XI, plus a fully fit Rodri and Stones (and possibly Ake) are rapidly improving and emerging into contenders

However we then have a drop-off and start to rely on players who either haven't quite got going or are simply not good enough, so fitness and suspensions will both be crucial

Madrid will be a free hit, but assuming we beat Leverkusen and Galatasaray then CL Top 8 will virtually be guaranteed and some of the big names won't start in Bodo
Same with the Carabao Cup. Just beat Brentford and then see who's fit and in form after Christmas.

The other slight concern is defending set pieces which we'll need to work on as even Villa's goal originated from a quickly taken corner that took us by surprise
Thankfully Liverpool's goal was disallowed but Bournemouth profited last Sunday and it can't continue
 
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IrishBlueSince92 said:
Imagine we go to Anfield with a back five of

Ederson
Nunes Dias Gvardiol Ait Nouri

It'll be a repeat of last season

If as I'm reading that thats our transfer business done, then I don't think we'll be anywhere near it this season again and that the gap in squads between ourselves and Liverpool/Arsenal has probably widened this summer.

Too many question marks in our squad.

Will Rodri get back to his best and be injury free.
Can any of Savinho/Doku or Bobb contribute a good G/A return
Will Nunes/Lewis/Khusanov or Akanji be a suitable right back
Is Dias done
Can Foden get back in form
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Hmmm, me of little faith.

As for the question marks at the bottom, the only concern now is getting Rodri back to somewhere near his best.
 
Tough trip to St James Park after the international break, Newcastle do seem like they are struggling at the moment though. After that the fixtures all look very winnable up to January 1st.

We have a ballon d’or winner to come back and be part of the team. Marmoush, Reindjeers and Ait Nouri kicking their heels on the bench. The squad is in transition but feels like there is plenty to be excited about. Feels completely different to 12 months ago when the two month meltdown was underway.
 
Hopefully teams will take notice of Sunderland moving the advertising boards closer to the pitch, takes away some threat from the Stoke of the south.
 
Cobwebcat said:
I did not know that.
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Apparently, the first game in which Dias and Gvardiol played as a CB combo was at Palace last December (2:2). We haven't lost a league game with them both at CB since then.

Pep didn't try that combo earlier due to other options (Stones, Akanji and Ake) and Gvardiol being our best option at LB. But Stones, Akanji and Ake got injured in February and Pep started to play Dias and Gvardiol at CB regularly.

Edit: it seems that only Palace have scored more than 1 goals against City with Dias/Gvardiol at CB in the PL: 2:2 in December and 5:2 City in April. In all other games we haven't conceded more than 1 goal.
 
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It's starting to look like will the serial bottle jobs bottle it or not.
All we can do is keep the pressure on them and let's enjoy the ride.
A away win at Klanfield would send the right message out and enforce loads of pressure on Arsenal. CTID
 
As a born and raised pessimistic City fan I am starting to feel quite uncomfortable with this renewed hope im starting to feel.

Fuck!! Can’t believe I have said it out loud. I’ve probably jinxed it.
 
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