Will we win the Prem / Title still possible (merged)

[lasereyes]

Re: Will we win the Prem (continued)?

We may still win this and it's not over until it's over etc etc, however, I'm not convinced that the current set of players have what it takes. We have come up short at a number of key moments this season (Bayern at home, Chelsea away and home, Wigan, Barcelona home and away, Liverpool away) and I'm not convinced that we have that 'X' factor to get us over the line. Too many poor performances by key players at crucial moments throughout the season, too many injuries and too many tactical slip ups. It doesn't feel like 'our name is on it' - and before anyone says it, it didn't feel like it before yesterday either.

If it's 'just' the League Cup, we should remember where we've come from and be thankful for where we are. It will be disappointing though.

We are missing maybe 3 players (Left back, holding midfielder and backup Right back). And we have had an unreal number of injuries. Those two are quite linked btw. Fix the first, and a bit of luck with the second, I think we will win the title next year and be very strong contenders in Europe. Plus with Pellegrini well integrated into the PL, we won't have away defeats at the likes of Cardiff and Villa and fortunately we prob won't play at the Stadium of Light at all, lol.

 

[chaddblue]

Re: Will we win the Prem (continued)?

We may still win this and it's not over until it's over etc etc, however, I'm not convinced that the current set of players have what it takes. We have come up short at a number of key moments this season (Bayern at home, Chelsea away and home, Wigan, Barcelona home and away, Liverpool away) and I'm not convinced that we have that 'X' factor to get us over the line. Too many poor performances by key players at crucial moments throughout the season, too many injuries and too many tactical slip ups. It doesn't feel like 'our name is on it' - and before anyone says it, it didn't feel like it before yesterday either.

If it's 'just' the League Cup, we should remember where we've come from and be thankful for where we are. It will be disappointing though.

We are missing maybe 3 players (Left back, holding midfielder and backup Right back). And we have had an unreal number of injuries. Those two are quite linked btw. Fix the first, and a bit of luck with the second, I think we will win the title next year and be very strong contenders in Europe. Plus with Pellegrini well integrated into the PL, we won't have away defeats at the likes of Cardiff and Villa and fortunately we prob won't play at the Stadium of Light at all, lol.

Surely a top-notch centre half is top of the list?

 

[sam-caddick]

Re: Will we win the Prem (continued)?

We may still win this and it's not over until it's over etc etc, however, I'm not convinced that the current set of players have what it takes. We have come up short at a number of key moments this season (Bayern at home, Chelsea away and home, Wigan, Barcelona home and away, Liverpool away) and I'm not convinced that we have that 'X' factor to get us over the line. Too many poor performances by key players at crucial moments throughout the season, too many injuries and too many tactical slip ups. It doesn't feel like 'our name is on it' - and before anyone says it, it didn't feel like it before yesterday either.

If it's 'just' the League Cup, we should remember where we've come from and be thankful for where we are. It will be disappointing though.

We are missing maybe 3 players (Left back, holding midfielder and backup Right back). And we have had an unreal number of injuries. Those two are quite linked btw. Fix the first, and a bit of luck with the second, I think we will win the title next year and be very strong contenders in Europe. Plus with Pellegrini well integrated into the PL, we won't have away defeats at the likes of Cardiff and Villa and fortunately we prob won't play at the Stadium of Light at all, lol.

I can see us having a good season nexy years, especially in the Champions League.

I think Mourinho and Chelsea will win be big favourites for the league though when he gets a few forwards in.

If we sort our defence out we can go very far in all competitions in my opinion.

 

[lasereyes]

Re: Will we win the Prem (continued)?

We may still win this and it's not over until it's over etc etc, however, I'm not convinced that the current set of players have what it takes. We have come up short at a number of key moments this season (Bayern at home, Chelsea away and home, Wigan, Barcelona home and away, Liverpool away) and I'm not convinced that we have that 'X' factor to get us over the line. Too many poor performances by key players at crucial moments throughout the season, too many injuries and too many tactical slip ups. It doesn't feel like 'our name is on it' - and before anyone says it, it didn't feel like it before yesterday either.

If it's 'just' the League Cup, we should remember where we've come from and be thankful for where we are. It will be disappointing though.

We are missing maybe 3 players (Left back, holding midfielder and backup Right back). And we have had an unreal number of injuries. Those two are quite linked btw. Fix the first, and a bit of luck with the second, I think we will win the title next year and be very strong contenders in Europe. Plus with Pellegrini well integrated into the PL, we won't have away defeats at the likes of Cardiff and Villa and fortunately we prob won't play at the Stadium of Light at all, lol.

Surely a top-notch centre half is top of the list?

Sorry, you're spot on. So it's 4 players with 2 starters (Left back, Centre back) and 2 back-ups (holding midfielder and right back). That's not that big a shopping list.<br /><br />-- Mon Apr 14, 2014 5:03 pm --<br /><br />

We may still win this and it's not over until it's over etc etc, however, I'm not convinced that the current set of players have what it takes. We have come up short at a number of key moments this season (Bayern at home, Chelsea away and home, Wigan, Barcelona home and away, Liverpool away) and I'm not convinced that we have that 'X' factor to get us over the line. Too many poor performances by key players at crucial moments throughout the season, too many injuries and too many tactical slip ups. It doesn't feel like 'our name is on it' - and before anyone says it, it didn't feel like it before yesterday either.

If it's 'just' the League Cup, we should remember where we've come from and be thankful for where we are. It will be disappointing though.

We are missing maybe 3 players (Left back, holding midfielder and backup Right back). And we have had an unreal number of injuries. Those two are quite linked btw. Fix the first, and a bit of luck with the second, I think we will win the title next year and be very strong contenders in Europe. Plus with Pellegrini well integrated into the PL, we won't have away defeats at the likes of Cardiff and Villa and fortunately we prob won't play at the Stadium of Light at all, lol.

I can see us having a good season nexy years, especially in the Champions League.

I think Mourinho and Chelsea will win be big favourites for the league though when he gets a few forwards in.

If we sort our defence out we can go very far in all competitions in my opinion.

Not a given. Probably the most difficult thing to call - whether a forward will be as prolific in the PL as they have in another league. Soldado a perfect example.

 

[Damanino]

Re: Will we win the Prem (continued)?

Thats my prediction too that there is good chance Pool will draw at least one game of their 4, but I am even more sure we wont win all 6. I thought this before the Pool game as well, and thy why I wanted a win, to get us the chance to win the league even if we dont win the last 6.

Thats why that 1-0 at Arsenal and finish it 1-1 with an awful second half wasnt a good point, it was a huge chance missed. Just like coming back 2-2 vs Pool and gifting them probably the league.

If we just beat Arsenal from 1-0 up, with a decent second half, beat Soton what we did, and hold on to the draw vs Pool, now we actually could do it maybe with 4 win, 2 draws in two tough away games. Or even 5 wins, 1 loss.

All these things say to me we arent good enough to win the league and its sad, beause we absolutely have the squad for it, but its not being played at their top of potential. Awful defensive problems, players go hiding, etc. We are not far, but we have to be be ruthless in the summer with the squad, and get it right finally.

I look at Henderson, sterling, Coutinho, Sturridge, they are no better players than ours. But this year their mentality, desire is lot much better than some of our players'. Also they play ina formation/tactics that is able to get the best out of them.
Our formation is not like this, it isnt getting the best out of our defenders, it makes make unreal mistakes. We have a big problem with a Yaya-Fernandinho duo, too open as one of them is not 100% tactically disciplined this leaves Fernandinho in extremely tough spot many times.
While Nasri, Silva duo works well 50% of the time, other times Silva plays unreal but Nasri is the one we carry and on top of that he nowhere near has the desire, mentality like a Sterling or even Henderson.

It would be not much consolation if we finish second with 88 points (win last 6), but pretty sure we wont, its about 84, 85 points at best, and thats not enough even if Pool drops a game.

But we should go for it, try to win 6 games, but there is something why we simply cant fucking beat Pool away, Sunderland away, Everton away every time. Most of the times for me its really the desire on the day. Maybe they always go into cup final mode vs us, why dont we do the same then?

Mancini in his time never won at Everton, Sunderland, Pool. Thats like 10 matches for us in away games. Now this year its two losses so far, and a lot better Everton with a tactically better manager in regard of Martinez/Moyes is still waiting for us.
So in 4 years it could 12 away games vs 3 teams, mostly losses and a few draws.

It would be really sad that Pool/Chelsea drops points, leaves the outside chance open for us to win the league with 6 wins and we wont do that. As I see it now, thats a very strong possibility. Would make this season even more a lost/wasted chance.

My main problem is the Everton game, which knew before the season that in 37th round to go there with the pressure of need to win there, I knew how hard to win there, and Everton improved a lot under Martinez too.

But the Palace away game is such a tough game with Pulis, he made it really hard for us at the Etihad too with a weak squad.

 

[Marvin]

Re: Will we win the Prem (continued)?

If we beat Sunderland and WBA, and Liverpool beat Norwich as seems likely, then we reach Sunday the 27th April 4 points behind Liverpool but with a game in hand

On the 27th Liverpool play Chelsea and this is not as straightforward as I first thought because it's a Sunday Kick off and Chelsea's Champions League tie is on Tuesday the 22nd April meaning they have 4 days rest. Enough time to recover.

Throw into the equation Henderson's suspension, and a possible hamstring strain for Sturridge and it's conceivable that Liverpool will slip up in this fixture. The problem for Chelsea is that they can't just sit deep and defend as they need a win. A draw would still leave Liverpool ahead of them (assuming Liverpool beat Norwich)

If Liverpool draw, then it's back in our hands when we go to Palace later that afternoon which is not going to be an easy game.

And then we have to play Palace and Everton away.

It's possible. It would help if we can get Aguero fully fit by the time those away games come along. In 2012 we went to Newcastle and won and they had Cisse who was on fire at the time, and if we play like we did at Liverpool, but without the errors which were down to Kompany's injury, then we can do it

I'd make Liverpool favourites but not by much

 

[marco]

Re: Will we win the Prem (continued)?

If we beat Sunderland and WBA, and Liverpool beat Norwich as seems likely, then we reach Sunday the 27th April 4 points behind Liverpool but with a game in hand

On the 27th Liverpool play Chelsea and this is not as straightforward as I first thought because it's a Sunday Kick off and Chelsea's Champions League tie is on Tuesday the 22nd April meaning they have 4 days rest. Enough time to recover.

Throw into the equation Henderson's suspension, and a possible hamstring strain for Sturridge and it's conceivable that Liverpool will slip up in this fixture. The problem for Chelsea is that they can't just sit deep and defend as they need a win. A draw would still leave Liverpool ahead of them (assuming Liverpool beat Norwich)

If Liverpool draw, then it's back in our hands when we go to Palace later that afternoon which is not going to be an easy game.

And then we have to play Palace and Everton away.

It's possible. It would help if we can get Aguero fully fit by the time those away games come along. In 2012 we went to Newcastle and won and they had Cisse who was on fire at the time, and if we play like we did at Liverpool, but without the errors which were down to Kompany's injury, then we can do it

I'd make Liverpool favourites but not by much

the important thing is if we can come out of the palace game 2 points behind pool with a game in hand, thats us winning all three games and chelsea drawing, after that if we win our game in hand and simply mirror liverpools results in the other two games, and thats it we win it

 

[Marvin]

Re: Will we win the Prem (continued)?

Thats my prediction too that there is good chance Pool will draw at least one game of their 4, but I am even more sure we wont win all 6. I thought this before the Pool game as well, and thy why I wanted a win, to get us the chance to win the league even if we dont win the last 6.

Thats why that 1-0 at Arsenal and finish it 1-1 with an awful second half wasnt a good point, it was a huge chance missed. Just like coming back 2-2 vs Pool and gifting them probably the league.

If we just beat Arsenal from 1-0 up, with a decent second half, beat Soton what we did, and hold on to the draw vs Pool, now we actually could do it maybe with 4 win, 2 draws in two tough away games. Or even 5 wins, 1 loss.

All these things say to me we arent good enough to win the league and its sad, beause we absolutely have the squad for it, but its not being played at their top of potential. Awful defensive problems, players go hiding, etc. We are not far, but we have to be be ruthless in the summer with the squad, and get it right finally.

I look at Henderson, sterling, Coutinho, Sturridge, they are no better players than ours. But this year their mentality, desire is lot much better than some of our players'. Also they play ina formation/tactics that is able to get the best out of them.
Our formation is not like this, it isnt getting the best out of our defenders, it makes make unreal mistakes. We have a big problem with a Yaya-Fernandinho duo, too open as one of them is not 100% tactically disciplined this leaves Fernandinho in extremely tough spot many times.
While Nasri, Silva duo works well 50% of the time, other times Silva plays unreal but Nasri is the one we carry and on top of that he nowhere near has the desire, mentality like a Sterling or even Henderson.

It would be not much consolation if we finish second with 88 points (win last 6), but pretty sure we wont, its about 84, 85 points at best, and thats not enough even if Pool drops a game.

But we should go for it, try to win 6 games, but there is something why we simply cant fucking beat Pool away, Sunderland away, Everton away every time. Most of the times for me its really the desire on the day. Maybe they always go into cup final mode vs us, why dont we do the same then?

Mancini in his time never won at Everton, Sunderland, Pool. Thats like 10 matches for us in away games. Now this year its two losses so far, and a lot better Everton with a tactically better manager in regard of Martinez/Moyes is still waiting for us.
So in 4 years it could 12 away games vs 3 teams, mostly losses and a few draws.

It would be really sad that Pool/Chelsea drops points, leaves the outside chance open for us to win the league with 6 wins and we wont do that. As I see it now, thats a very strong possibility. Would make this season even more a lost/wasted chance.

My main problem is the Everton game, which knew before the season that in 37th round to go there with the pressure of need to win there, I knew how hard to win there, and Everton improved a lot under Martinez too.

But the Palace away game is such a tough game with Pulis, he made it really hard for us at the Etihad too with a weak squad.

If you ignore the opening away defeats in the season, when we were settling in under Pellegrini, we have only lost 2 games in the League: Chelsea at home and Liverpool away. Both games I'd put down to injuries.

I think the difference between City and Liverpool is that Liverpool have not lost their key players to injury, and we have and this has made a difference in the key games. The loss yesterday was very unfortunate. The training ground accident led to it all in my view

 

[marco]

Re: Will we win the Prem (continued)?

chelsea may beat liverpool but if that happens we will still be in controll over both of them

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Re: Will we win the Prem (continued)?

We may still win this and it's not over until it's over etc etc, however, I'm not convinced that the current set of players have what it takes. We have come up short at a number of key moments this season (Bayern at home, Chelsea away and home, Wigan, Barcelona home and away, Liverpool away) and I'm not convinced that we have that 'X' factor to get us over the line. Too many poor performances by key players at crucial moments throughout the season, too many injuries and too many tactical slip ups. It doesn't feel like 'our name is on it' - and before anyone says it, it didn't feel like it before yesterday either.

If it's 'just' the League Cup, we should remember where we've come from and be thankful for where we are. It will be disappointing though.

We are missing maybe 3 players (Left back, holding midfielder and backup Right back). And we have had an unreal number of injuries. Those two are quite linked btw. Fix the first, and a bit of luck with the second, I think we will win the title next year and be very strong contenders in Europe. Plus with Pellegrini well integrated into the PL, we won't have away defeats at the likes of Cardiff and Villa and fortunately we prob won't play at the Stadium of Light at all, lol.

Funny, I must admit I have found myself thinking that exact same thing recently. We showed huge mental strength at Hull, (and I thought, yep, we'll definitely win it) but then have had weak moments that are a bit inexplicable. When we went a goal up at the Emirates is a case in point. You have to feel we should have gone for the jugular and buried it in that first half, when they were downright scared of us. Yesterday, for all the pride I feel about the way we battled, once we'd done all the hard work, coming back from two goals down at Anfield — and who does that? — you have to feel that we should have closed it all down to get that point. It's just little things like this in the run-in that make you wonder. I still think we've got the beating of anyone in our last six games, but it's now out of our hands. We need Liverpool to slip up against Chelsea. Still think this might go to goal difference (again!) so we've got to score a cartload against Sunderland. Because Liverpool will score a cartload against Norwich - that's as sure as the sun rising tomorrow.