Will we win the league this season?

[kingn6]

I like Doku but no way is he the best winger in the league. Cherki has a lot of talent but where's the output on a consistent basis? Donnarumma is the best shot stopper but also has braindead moments. Agree with the rest - I'd add Gvardiol can be the best LCB/LB if he knuckles down a bit more - couple of seasons ago he was awesome and chipped in with some absolute bangers as well. O'Reilly arguably is the best LB in the league but he is young so will be inconsistent - a fabulous talent though.

Cherki’s output is already good considering he has hardly played. I had my doubts about him but I can really see what the fuzz is about.

I would not swap Doku for any winger in the league. Who would you prefer to him? Not arguing just want to hear your opinion of the top winnger.

Love O’Reilly yes has been inconsistent but that is natural. Will be one of the best players in the league for many years. It could be midfield or lb

Nico G has developed a lot this season and looks a solid player.

Arsenal for me are just a very good functional team. Like a worse version of a Mourinho Chelsea team. Rice and the defenders are great but they lack the real elite attacking players.


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[.db.]

I like Doku but no way is he the best winger in the league. Cherki has a lot of talent but where's the output on a consistent basis? Donnarumma is the best shot stopper but also has braindead moments. Agree with the rest - I'd add Gvardiol can be the best LCB/LB if he knuckles down a bit more - couple of seasons ago he was awesome and chipped in with some absolute bangers as well. O'Reilly arguably is the best LB in the league but he is young so will be inconsistent - a fabulous talent though.

There aren’t any 31 goal 16 assist wingers like Salah and Sterling at their best anymore in this country. You could throw a blanket over loads of them now as I don’t think any few standout as clearly the best.

However, Doku has created the joint most big chances in the PL this season (7, same as Gakpo).
And Cherki, in just four PL starts and a few sub appearances and over a month out with injury, has created the third most big chances in the league this season (6).

 

[bridgeno1]

Cherki’s output is already good considering he has hardly played. I had my doubts about him but I can really see what the fuzz is about.

I would not swap Doku for any winger in the league. Who would you prefer to him? Not arguing just want to hear your opinion of the top winnger.

Love O’Reilly yes has been inconsistent but that is natural. Will be one of the best players in the league for many years. It could be midfield or lb

Nico G has developed a lot this season and looks a solid player.

Arsenal for me are just a very good functional team. Like a worse version of a Mourinho Chelsea team. Rice and the defenders are great but they lack the real elite attacking players.


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Personal opinion is I'd take Gakpo, Palmer, Neto and Saka over Doku. But opinions are like arseholes as we all know!

 

[Fat Larrys Band]

18th of April 2026...You heard it here.

 

[Marvin.]

Doku has created the 2nd most chances in the Premier League. Saka is 14th.

 

[Pablo ZZZ Peroni]

I like Doku but no way is he the best winger in the league. Cherki has a lot of talent but where's the output on a consistent basis? Donnarumma is the best shot stopper but also has braindead moments. Agree with the rest - I'd add Gvardiol can be the best LCB/LB if he knuckles down a bit more - couple of seasons ago he was awesome and chipped in with some absolute bangers as well. O'Reilly arguably is the best LB in the league but he is young so will be inconsistent - a fabulous talent though.

"Best" is subjective but one thing for sure his creative stats are the best in the league for any position and not just winger.

Frankly, they are sensational and have not only escaped the wider football community but probably on here as well. He is growing into a top, top player and if he continues with these numbers he'll get into world class territory.



1st - xAG Expected Assists
1st - Assists p90 ( from 7 players who have 4 or 5 assists)
1st - Key Passes p90 (doku 2nd in absolute terms to Fernandes but smashes everyone in top 10 p90)
1st - Passes into Penalty Area p90 (Doku 2nd in absolute terms to Salah, but smashes everyone in top 10 p90)
1st - Shot Creating Actions p90 ( Doku 5th in absolute but smashes everyone in top 10 p90)
1st - Touches in Opposition penalty area p90 ( Doku 5th in absolute but smashes everyone in top 10 p90)
1st - Big Chances Created
1st - Succesful Take ons (ie dribbles) in absolute terms
1st - Progressive Carries ( Doku with 93 beats 2nd place Grealish by a mile who has 67)
1st - Carries into Penalty Area ( 2nd in absolute to Minteh but smashes everyone in top 10 p90

*Source fbref with exception of big chances.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

We've got some intangibles on the horizon, with the FA Cup Third Round and also the latter stages of the Carabao Cup.

City could lose to Brentford and then get a ridiculously easy home draw in the FA Cup

We might also have two legs of Arsenal and Chelsea kicking lumps out of each other and both clubs facing difficult FA Cup fixtures.

It could also be the other way round.

 

[bridgeno1]

We've got some intangibles on the horizon, with the FA Cup Third Round and also the latter stages of the Carabao Cup.

City could lose to Brentford and then get a ridiculously easy home draw in the FA Cup

We might also have two legs of Arsenal and Chelsea kicking lumps out of each other and both clubs facing difficult FA Cup fixtures.

It could also be the other way round.

Arsenal won't worry about matches with Chelsea. It's Newcastle that takes the biggest physical toll on Arsenal. Sunderland away was brutal.

Naturally would prefer to avoid City most of all, but I imagine that's mutual.

 

[bridgeno1]

Re Chelsea a stat I learned is that they have a 23% win rate when Caicedo is not in the team. He's still banned for another 2 matches.

I did say at the start of the season that Arsenal and City would be the top 2 (but not what order that would be). Many people were 'but Chelsea' and 'Dippers' to lose'.

 

[WesthoughtonJohn]

City could lose to Brentford

If it means a more reasonable January - I'm ok with that.
Trouble is it looks like our best chance at a trophy currently (FA Cup aside as we have no idea what the draw throws up obvs) - I base that on conceding the number of goals we are in the PL, at some point that WILL hurt us

 

[Bewar3them00n]

That’s a question to ask after this weekend.
A good win with a clean sheet, & an Arsenal loss, will point the way.
But first, Pep needs to sort out his subs, Savinho over Marmoush? that’s a head scratcher.
Reijnders & Bernardo on at the same time when we’re getting over run in the middle.
Stones should not replace Nico, he should supplement & bolster the midfield.
Hopefully during the last 2 games Pep has seen enough to sort out the recent 2nd half issues

 

[uwerosler28]

That’s a question to ask after this weekend.
A good win with a clean sheet, & an Arsenal loss, will point the way.
But first, Pep needs to sort out his subs, Savinho over Marmoush? that’s a head scratcher.
Reijnders & Bernardo on at the same time when we’re getting over run in the middle.
Stones should not replace Nico, he should supplement & bolster the midfield.
Hopefully during the last 2 games Pep has seen enough to sort out the recent 2nd half issues

Who else do we have on the bench to replace Nico?

 

[pee dubya]

Getting towards halfway and it's all about keeping the gap as small as possible at the moment, tough because Arsenal are obviously very strong.

It's very unlikely they won't go through a patch of losing a few games, we need to make sure we're not out the picture by that point (something we failed with last season).

If we get to March and we're still within 6 points or so it could get interesting.

It's interesting because we usually have a rocky period around now and then finish very strong, but I don't think that'll be the pattern this time to be honest. Hopefully wrong but I think we're in danger of overplaying our key players now.

Usually we settle on a strongest 11 towards the tail end of the season, we seem to have settled into that earlier than we usually do I suppose to try and stay in touch because the back-up players just haven't performed at all.

 

[Roachy]

Getting towards halfway and it's all about keeping the gap as small as possible at the moment, tough because Arsenal are obviously very strong.

It's very unlikely they won't go through a patch of losing a few games, we need to make sure we're not out the picture by that point (something we failed with last season).

If we get to March and we're still within 6 points or so it could get interesting.

It's interesting because we usually have a rocky period around now and then finish very strong, but I don't think that'll be the pattern this time to be honest. Hopefully wrong but I think we're in danger of overplaying our key players now.

Usually we settle on a strongest 11 towards the tail end of the season, we seem to have settled into that earlier than we usually do I suppose to try and stay in touch because the back-up players just haven't performed at all.

I've mentioned a few times that I'm confident Arse won't keep this up. If they do fair play, if they don't it depends on the extent of their "blip". It's crucial that some of our less used players come in and do a job when needed though. As you referred to, we can't become reliant on a hard core of 8-10 players to try and do the business week in week out.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

If it means a more reasonable January - I'm ok with that.
Trouble is it looks like our best chance at a trophy currently (FA Cup aside as we have no idea what the draw throws up obvs) - I base that on conceding the number of goals we are in the PL, at some point that WILL hurt us

Oh yeah don't take me literally as I definitely want to win the Carabao Cup
I was just suggesting that a couple of strange cup draws could have an impact on the title race, if only for injuries or suspensions.

Wasn't Kompany once suspended for 3 PL matches following an FA Cup red card for a challenge on Rooney?
Actually, I know damm well he was and it still annoys me

 

[Corky]

Oh yeah don't take me literally as I definitely want to win the Carabao Cup
I was just suggesting that a couple of strange cup draws could have an impact on the title race, if only for injuries or suspensions.

Wasn't Kompany once suspended for 3 PL matches following an FA Cup red card for a challenge on Rooney?
Actually, I know damm well he was and it still annoys me

Yes he wasn't as we had the league cup, and we didn't lose any points due to it in the 2 PL games.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

Yes he wasn't as we had the league cup, and we didn't lose any points due to it in the 2 PL games.

Ok, Negredo's injury was a a better example but my original point is still relevant

IF City beat Brentford we could easily be playing Arsenal over two legs in January or Arsenal could be playing Chelsea/Newcastle etc

One way or the other that Semi Final Draw might cause some hassle

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Back in our hands…

 

[MCFC1993]

Assuming we play to our best and you find your hard games tough, I'd go:

City	Arsenal
Leeds (H) - Win	Chelsea (A) - Draw
Fulham (A) - Win	Brentford (H) - Win
Sunderland (H) - Win	Villa (A) - Loss
Palace (A) - Loss	Wolves (H) - Win
West Ham (H) - Win	Everton (A) - Draw
Forest (A) - Win	Brighton (H) - Win
Sunderland (A) - Win	Villa (H) - Win

18 points City - Losing to Palace (A)
14 points Arsenal - Drawing to Chelsea (A), Everton (A) and losing to Villa (A).

I think the timeslot of the Everton game makes it tough for you.

I also think our Sunderland (A) game is a lot easier than it was for you, they have 8 or 9 at AFCON. 4 of which started against you and 2 came on.


That's my optimistic view, realistic is we get about the same points.

Make that 5/5, unfortunately not a betting man.

League is back in our hands.

 

[jrb]

I've just seen the Villa v Arsenal score.

Please don't fuck it up today City.

A win today and City go 2 points behind Arsenal.