What's new

Race for the Top 4 - 2017/18

Reado

Well-Known Member
Nov 3, 2008
1,032
1,460
And that Leicester game at the lane where we battered them all game, only for them to get a winner with that sucker punch Huth header made me realise Leicester had the gods with them that season.... and the drugs

Don't remind me of that game. Only game I went to that season and what a gutter. Kane has hit the bar shortly before that - his shot hit the underside of Schmeichel's leg and bounced up on to the bar. As for the header, if I remember correctly I think Dier and Toby collided and left Huth with a free header.

Still unsure how they won the league that season!
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
Don't remind me of that game. Only game I went to that season and what a gutter. Kane has hit the bar shortly before that - his shot hit the underside of Schmeichel's leg and bounced up on to the bar. As for the header, if I remember correctly I think Dier and Toby collided and left Huth with a free header.

Still unsure how they won the league that season!

consistency















teams not playing against their strengths, literally laying down when they played them, but fighting when they played us. annoying thing was the only team other than us that never was Arsenal. They had the whole nation behind them and their fairy tale, bar us.
 

Coyboy

The Double of 1961 is still The Double
Dec 3, 2004
15,506
5,032
consistency















teams not playing against their strengths, literally laying down when they played them, but fighting when they played us. annoying thing was the only team other than us that never was Arsenal. They had the whole nation behind them and their fairy tale, bar us.

Really? Like some form of industrial action?
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
Really? Like some form of industrial action?

might as well of. when we played the same teams they would park the bus against us, making it as difficult as possible, yet when they played Leicester they got beat with Leicester doing them on the counter. Yes they did play a few teams in the run in that had to win, draws wasn't any good for them, but they were at the top just after the New Year I believe and yet teams that were safe just played as if they were playing the usual Leicester team that fights relegation

as @shelfboy68 said we had too many draws, and we also failed big time at times when we had the chance to put extra pressure on them. losing to them at the Lane, conceding an early goal v Spam and never really threaten to even draw, conceding a late goal v 10 man goons, and then having extra pressure having to play 3 or 4 Mondays after they had already played (1 ruining my birthday present WBA).
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
When you look at city squad it’s actually tiny just 21 players.And that includes Zinchi some Russian guy and toure.They have no obvious cover for Fernandinho.3 CB discounting kompany and one of those is mangala.2 obvious full backs with mendy out for season.Im sure they will get couple in January.But 3 or 4 injuries could really affect the balance.
 

StartingPrice

Chief Sardonicus Hyperlip
Feb 13, 2004
32,568
10,280
Not having a go SP,

No, I know you aren't. I appreciate anyone who makes an effort to have a reasoned debate.


and yes we have had an injury crisis and still up there, but at the moment we are 8pts adrift.

yes Mike Dean could of given us a penalty v Swansea, but he never, just like Kane doesn't ever seem to score in August. last season we got a penalty v Swansea and went on to put 5 past them, but if your really honest, Alli dived to get that one.

when we beat City last year, and deservedly so, it was the 7th match, in a week they had also drawn to Celtic in the CL, by the time we play them in December away from home, we both would of played 17 or 18 games, so we really need someone to spoil their momentum, because whether they have had a bit of luck so far, and we haven't, we are still 8pts a drift, and no guarantees our luck will change.

we have also had a slice of luck just this weekend gone, our keeper and defence were MotM against C Palace, who had better chances and missed an open goal.

I agree with attack being the best form of defence, and also agree our defence is stronger than theirs, but theirs is stronger this season, their keeper isn't Bravo.

the 2nd goal that WBA came from a bad bit of defending, unfortunately they aren't having to defend too often.


when they played Liverpool it was just like when we played them, a pretty open game, they could of conceded but they never and were 1-0 up when Mane got sent off, and made the extra man count. Not being funny but Conte made the error of playing defensive once Morata went off, but they where on top most of the game, just like we were v Chelsea, the only trouble is we haven't won at Stamford Bridge for 28yrs, we might have to this season.

Firstly, I think should clarify something. If you check the posts you are referring to, you should see that the only posters they have been directed at are the ones who keep on saying we might as well shut the thread and give City the title now. The title has never been won in November (apart from by Liverpool last season). To take an extreme example, no-one knew that the Munich Air Crash was going to happen - and God forbid it should happen to a team/club now. But anything could happen. City could have their own version of Lasagna-Gate, for instance. Or it could be revealed that devilishly handsome Sergio Aguero has been bosching all his team-mates missus'. Their form could flip, we could win 25 games on the bounce. It's November,and some folk want to close the thread and award them the title. I can't help but respond to such a negative, defeatist attitude.

Secondly, a lot of what you have said is not a million miles away from what I've said - City are a very good team, on a brilliant run of form. Even at this stage, 8 points is an intimidating gap. They are clear favourites. We will need to be brilliant from here-on in...and may still need a bit of luck to swing our way, too. I'm not disagreeing with any of that. To repeat, all I am saying is to those who say we should shut the thread and give them the title, it is not all over yet. We are not far behind them, as a team, more balanced with a better defence and our front line is none too shabby either. And how far we are behind them in points is points on the board, I know that, but it would not be too hard to envisage, with a little tweaking of the luckometre us being a couple of points better off, and them being a couple of points worse off. As a team, we are not that far behind them.

So, thirdly, my main point is not that they are pretty rubbish really. I'm not slating them. Their defence being a bit vulnerable is something I've heard/read City fans saying. I've read comments by City fans, most notably when Klopp said everyone but City has problems, saying that yes they were on brilliant form but their were still problems there, not least in defence. But more than that, what I'm actually saying is I think we are better than some are allowing. Really. I think we are that good. And improving. At the start of last season, when some folk were griping, I kept on saying that if you actually looked at it, Poch had been experimenting with tactics and we would not only improve but also benefit from his tactical experiments. By the end of the season we won 14 out of 15 games and folk on here were marveling at how tactically flexible we are. And for all City are on an amazing run of form, let's not forget, it is not so long ago it was us handing out a 6-1 beating in one match and a 7-1 beating in the next (no matter how you want to qualify that). And that is my point. As said in the first of these posts, let's just accept that they are favrouites, support the team game by game, and hope that if/when they slip up we are in a position to take advantage and do take advantage.

IMHO, we are the two stand-out teams in the division (which is probably reflected in that thing the other day saying we had the two most valuable squads in Europe). Some folk act as though they are half way down the Seven Sisters. They are over by Chick King and we are waiting on them choking on a chicken bone (not that I am suggesting any negligence on the part of Chick King...please don't sue me).


no point mentioning them conceding or giving penalties at home to Napoli, it won't make the slightest difference in the PL, and if they keep scoring 3-4-5-7 goals then conceding 2 won't hurt them. it will only hurt them if they fail to score at least 2 themselves.

But there is a point. I never said conceding two penalties to Napoli would make any difference to to BPL. The point I am making is that under no circumstances, not even when we are handing someone a proper shellacking, could you point to a run of games, in all competitions, were we have conceded 2 goals three times and two penalties in another game, in such a short space of time. It just doesn't happen. Our defence IS that good. So even if the goals dried up for us, you couldn't really envisage us getting beat much - more likely we would be squeezing one nils out like we did with Palace. City, on the other hand, if (and that is the important word, IF) the goals dry up, you could quite easily see them still conceding a couple of goals. And the goals could dry up. They did when they lost de Bruyne last season, didn't they?

no they are at the moment the best team in the league, they are breaking teams down that park the bus, they are scoring for fun. 1 week they play Aguero up front, the next they play Jesus, the week after they play both. the only position they don't have enough cover is in defence, but other than that, they have a lot of strength and depth in their front 5.

whatever luck they have had so far they have had it, but it doesn't mean it's not going to continue.

our only real hope at the moment is to do the biz ourselves, and hope that they run out of steam, though it's only a few that are not being rotated or taken off after 70 mins, and the only other hope is picking up injuries, but with their squad, it needs to hit them with their back 5 and hope teams nick something when they do actually get forwards.

however good they are though, at least we know we haven't had to rob an oilfield to do it.

I agree that they are a brilliant team. On a brilliant ruin of form. And I agree with everything else you say. I just happen to believe we are also a brilliant team. The two stand out teams in the division. Yeah, their luck could get better and ours could get worse. Sometimes football, like life, isn't fair. But all things being equal, it could also even itself out over the season. They have improved, but so have we - which is one of the factors I think a lot of folk are still missing. And I believe we will get better as the season goes on, we certainly did last season under similar circumstances. And under similar circumstances they ran out of steam a bit. There is scope for it to happen, whether it does or not. Which is all I am saying...to those who are talking about closing the thread and giving City the title now.

Look at it this way: we took four points off them last season. Without going the whole hog and saying we could take six, let's say we repeat that this season. We will gain three points on them. They have yet to visit Old Trafford where Maureen has just did what Maureen does to us. I would imagine he will try something similar against them. Let's not get hysterical and imagine them losing, let's just imagine them being held to a draw there - if we win our fixture that game day we will gain two points on them. Just over the course of three games, the gap could be reduced to three points. Of course, City could win all three fixtures. We just don't know. But, as I keep on saying, my responses have been made solely to posters who are saying we should close the thread and give City the title. There is plenty of scope to see how it could swing in our favour. Just support the team game by game and hope we are in a position to take advantage of any slip-ups or runs of bad form - and that isn't directed at you, just those who have already given up.

PS. had to answer this is the 2nd or 3rd time you have posted the same stuff, and no one is replying.

I'm glad you did. Like I said, I have only made similar posts because some folk insist on coming on here and declaring that City have won the league already and we should close the thread. I'm glad you made a response.
 
Last edited:

guiltyparty

Well-Known Member
Sep 21, 2005
9,023
13,524
Amazon has just announced that Man City The TV Series will air next year. Diary show following this season.

Come on, it would be hilarious if they don't win the league…
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
No, I know you aren't. I appreciate anyone who makes an effort to have a reasoned debate.




Firstly, I think should clarify something. If you check the posts you are referring to, you should see that the only posters they have been directed at are the ones who keep on saying we might as well shut the thread and give City the title now. The title has never been won in November (apart from by Liverpool last season). To take an extreme example, no-one knew that the Munich Air Crash was going to happen - and God forbid it should happen to a team/club now. But anything could happen. City could have their own version of Lasagna-Gate, for instance. Or it could be revealed that devilishly handsome Sergio Aguero has been bosching all his team-mates missus'. Their form could flip, we could win 25 games on the bounce. It's November,and some folk want to close the thread and award them the title. I can't help but respond to such a negative, defeatist attitude.

Secondly, a lot of what you have said is not a million miles away from what I've said - City are a very good team, on a brilliant run of form. Even at this stage, 8 points is an intimidating gap. They are clear favourites. We will need to be brilliant from here-on in...and may still need a bit of luck to swing our way, too. I'm not disagreeing with any of that. To repeat, all I am saying is to those who say we should shut the thread and give them the title, it is not all over yet. We are not far behind them, as a team, more balanced with a better defence and our front line is none too shabby either. And how far we are behind them in points is points on the board, I know that, but it would not be too hard to envisage, with a little tweaking of the luckometre us being a couple of points better off, and them being a couple of points worse off. As a team, we are not that far behind them.

So, thirdly, my main point is not that they are pretty rubbish really. I'm not slating them. Their defence being a bit vulnerable is something I've heard/read City fans saying. I've read comments by City fans, most notably when Klopp said everyone but City has problems, saying that yes they were on brilliant form but their were still problems there, not least in defence. But more than that, what I'm actually saying is I think we are better than some are allowing. Really. I think we are that good. And improving. At the start of last season, when some folk were griping, I kept on saying that if you actually looked at it, Poch had been experimenting with tactics and we would not only improve but also benefit from his tactical experiments. By the end of the season we won 14 out of 15 games and folk on here were marveling at how tactically flexible we are. And for all City are on an amazing run of form, let's not forget, it is not so long ago it was us handing out a 6-1 beating in one match and a 7-1 beating in the next (no matter how you want to qualify that). And that is my point. As said in the first of these posts, let's just accept that they are favrouites, support the team game by game, and hope that if/when they slip up we are in a position to take advantage and do take advantage.

IMHO, we are the two stand-out teams in the division (which is probably reflected in that thing the other day saying we had the two most valuable squads in Europe). Some folk act as though they are half way down the Seven Sisters. They are over by Chick King and we are waiting on them choking on a chicken bone (not that I am suggesting any negligence on the part of Chick King...please don't sue me).




But there is a point. I never said conceding two penalties to Napoli would make any difference to to BPL. The point I am making is that under no circumstances, not even when we are handing someone a proper shellacking, could you point to a run of games, in all competitions, were we have conceded 2 goals three times and two penalties in another game, in such a short space of time. It just doesn't happen. Our defence IS that good. So even if the goals dried up for us, you couldn't really envisage us getting beat much - more likely we would be squeezing one nils out like we did with Palace. City, on the other hand, if (and that is the important word, IF) the goals dry up, you could quite easily see them still conceding a couple of goals. And the goals could dry up. They did when they lost de Bruyne last season, didn't they?



I agree that they are a brilliant team. On a brilliant ruin of form. And I agree with everything else you say. I just happen to believe we are also a brilliant team. The two stand out teams in the division. Yeah, their luck could get better and ours could get worse. Sometimes football, like life, isn't fair. But all things being equal, it could also even itself out over the season. They have improved, but so have we - which is one of the factors I think a lot of folk are still missing. And I believe we will get better as the season goes on, we certainly did last season under similar circumstances. And under similar circumstances they ran out of steam a bit. There is scope for it to happen, whether it does or not. Which is all I am saying...to those who are talking about closing the thread and giving City the title now.

Look at it this way: we took four points off them last season. Without going the whole hog and saying we could take six, let's say we repeat that this season. We will gain three points on them. They have yet to visit Old Trafford where Maureen has just did what Maureen does to us. I would imagine he will try something similar against them. Let's not get hysterical and imagine them losing, let's just imagine them being held to a draw there - if we win our fixture that game day we will gain two points on them. Just over the course of three games, the gap could be reduced to three points. Of course, City could win all three fixtures. We just don't know. But, as I keep on saying, my responses have been made solely to posters who are saying we should close the thread and give City the title. There is plenty of scope to see how it could swing in our favour. Just support the team game by game and hope we are in a position to take advantage of any slip-ups or runs of bad form - and that isn't directed at you, just those who have already given up.



I'm glad you did. Like I said, I have only made similar posts because some folk insist on coming on here and declaring that City have won the league already and we should close the thread. I'm glad you made a response.

I agree it's way to early to call what will happen in May, or before, but it's also scary the way Man C are playing. everyone's views will always differ on something. you posted somewhere about a few of the games City had played in the league somewhere, at the time I never had time to reply, which also meant not giving you a disagree rating.

yes Brighton had a chance or 2, but in my eyes so did City and looked a matter of time before City would score

Everton, I agree 1st half Everton took the lead in a match that City wasn't looking great, but the 2nd half in my eyes, it was just a totally different team and Everton were on the back foot for majority, and only 1 team looked liked winning it if there was to be a winner.

can't comment on Bournemouth due to work only saw the injury time finish.

saw the Liverpool match, and it was a very open game, that most probably was decided on the Mane sending off

not even seen highlights of the 2 hammerings just heard them on soccer sat. The Chelsea game I believe I listened to when I could on the radio, but felt they were the better team the whole match, though Conte obviously didn't trust Batashyui to take Morata's place.

I agree we have won matches without conceding 2 goals in the league and handing out a bashing, but in the Stoke match after going 3-0 up pretty early sometimes teams can be guilty of taking their foot off the gas especially before half time, but once Stoke got an unfortunate 2nd City went back into cruise, and scored 4. a lot of teams might of folded/struggled once that 2nd Stoke goal went in.

The Burnley game listened to via soccer sat, and Burnley parked the bus, was it a pen, when I saw it, he won the pen, but there was contact, just wasn't helped the way he went down. after that they never sounded as if they were going to lose.

can't comment on WBA other than catching a bit of bad defending in injury time.

from what I saw of the Arsenal game, when 2-0 up it was fully deserved, conceded a well worked goal that would of had any defence in trouble, and then got a fortunate 3rd but the luck with tight offside calls happens for every club, had that game been at the Emirates the crowd pressure would of most prob made the assistant give it as off.

as I said last season we were I believe their 1st tough league game when on their start, and stopped their league start. this season they have played 4 teams from last seasons top 6 and have 10pts, and are mainly brushing the other teams aside. No one knows what will happen until they do lose, but being 8pts clear and on paper having their next 4 matches very winnable, where we have a tough trip to the library before they play Man U that 8pts could be 10 or 11, to then hope that we can gain some back when they play Man U before we play them.

at the moment it's all "If's & Buts", all we do know is Man C are clear favourites and at the moment we however good we are going to need a lot of good performances to have a chance of turning it around, yep long way to go, but weird thing is, in 2 games time we will be 1/3 into the season.
 

DanielCHillier

Well-Known Member
Feb 26, 2014
2,034
4,029
When you look at city squad it’s actually tiny just 21 players.And that includes Zinchi some Russian guy and toure.They have no obvious cover for Fernandinho.3 CB discounting kompany and one of those is mangala.2 obvious full backs with mendy out for season.Im sure they will get couple in January.But 3 or 4 injuries could really affect the balance.
They rely on DeBruyne as much as we rely on Kane
 

StartingPrice

Chief Sardonicus Hyperlip
Feb 13, 2004
32,568
10,280
I agree it's way to early to call what will happen in May, or before, but it's also scary the way Man C are playing. everyone's views will always differ on something. you posted somewhere about a few of the games City had played in the league somewhere, at the time I never had time to reply, which also meant not giving you a disagree rating.

yes Brighton had a chance or 2, but in my eyes so did City and looked a matter of time before City would score

Everton, I agree 1st half Everton took the lead in a match that City wasn't looking great, but the 2nd half in my eyes, it was just a totally different team and Everton were on the back foot for majority, and only 1 team looked liked winning it if there was to be a winner.

can't comment on Bournemouth due to work only saw the injury time finish.

saw the Liverpool match, and it was a very open game, that most probably was decided on the Mane sending off

not even seen highlights of the 2 hammerings just heard them on soccer sat. The Chelsea game I believe I listened to when I could on the radio, but felt they were the better team the whole match, though Conte obviously didn't trust Batashyui to take Morata's place.

I agree we have won matches without conceding 2 goals in the league and handing out a bashing, but in the Stoke match after going 3-0 up pretty early sometimes teams can be guilty of taking their foot off the gas especially before half time, but once Stoke got an unfortunate 2nd City went back into cruise, and scored 4. a lot of teams might of folded/struggled once that 2nd Stoke goal went in.

The Burnley game listened to via soccer sat, and Burnley parked the bus, was it a pen, when I saw it, he won the pen, but there was contact, just wasn't helped the way he went down. after that they never sounded as if they were going to lose.

can't comment on WBA other than catching a bit of bad defending in injury time.

from what I saw of the Arsenal game, when 2-0 up it was fully deserved, conceded a well worked goal that would of had any defence in trouble, and then got a fortunate 3rd but the luck with tight offside calls happens for every club, had that game been at the Emirates the crowd pressure would of most prob made the assistant give it as off.

as I said last season we were I believe their 1st tough league game when on their start, and stopped their league start. this season they have played 4 teams from last seasons top 6 and have 10pts, and are mainly brushing the other teams aside. No one knows what will happen until they do lose, but being 8pts clear and on paper having their next 4 matches very winnable, where we have a tough trip to the library before they play Man U that 8pts could be 10 or 11, to then hope that we can gain some back when they play Man U before we play them.

at the moment it's all "If's & Buts", all we do know is Man C are clear favourites and at the moment we however good we are going to need a lot of good performances to have a chance of turning it around, yep long way to go, but weird thing is, in 2 games time we will be 1/3 into the season.

I can only repeat, I'm not disagreeing with most of what you say. I think you are going at a bit of a cross-purpose, TBH.

I've never said anywhere that City are anything other than a formidable attacking threat. If we take the Brighton game as an example: I said that they looked vulnerable in defence, not because it somehow proves that their attack isn't that good, or because I'm trying to deny that they could have got more goals than they did. I'm saying it because my whole point is that their defence still looks vulnerable to me. It looked vulnerable in the Brighton game. So I gave it as evidence. It is a stand alone point. The only relationship it has to the City attack is that it mighty be a factor of the way Guardiola plays. And the only conclusion I draw from it is that if (and it is that vital word again IF) for any reason, their attack does go off the boil they could start to drop points because their defence looks vulnerable and is more prone to conceded more than one goal in a game than we are.

And the only purpose of that is in reply to folk who are saying we should close the thread and give them the title. Anything could happen. They got off to a phenomenal start last season and then de Bruyne was injured (and before that we spanked them), and the goals and confidence went a little bit. So it really is possible. Just to repeat, to take the Brighton game, I never said that City looked toothless in it. In fact the whole point is that no matter how good their attack looks the defence still has frailties, not that their attack is toothless and their defence has frailties. If that were the case they would be relegation dodgers.

My whole argument is to the ones who think we should close the thread and handle City the title, and part of it is that no matter how good their attack looks their defence still has frailties...and not in any way that the attack looks toothless or has done so in any of the games where I have made comments about their defence.
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
City are the best team in the league and will win it probably by a bit of a gap imo and under pep it won't be long before they win the CL, could possibly even get to the final this year the way they are playing.
 

EQP

EQP
Sep 1, 2013
7,960
29,657
Amazon has just announced that Man City The TV Series will air next year. Diary show following this season.

Come on, it would be hilarious if they don't win the league


Would setup up nicely for a second season of the show if that was to happen :LOL:
 

King of Otters

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2012
10,751
36,093
City are the best team in the league and will win it probably by a bit of a gap imo and under pep it won't be long before they win the CL, could possibly even get to the final this year the way they are playing.

They’re the best team in Europe. Might not win the CL but they should be considered favourites.
 

kitchen

Well-Known Member
Nov 24, 2006
2,275
3,587
They’re the best team in Europe. Might not win the CL but they should be considered favourites.

Wow. They're very impressive but that's some statement. Let's see how they do against teams that will match them in the possession stakes and see how they adapt. There's nobody in our league that will dominate the midfield like they do but there are several teams in Europe that can.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
Wow. They're very impressive but that's some statement. Let's see how they do against teams that will match them in the possession stakes and see how they adapt. There's nobody in our league that will dominate the midfield like they do but there are several teams in Europe that can.

Only Barcelona and PSG can match them at the moment IMO,Bayern are having a down year as a Juve and Real aren't the team they were last season. Reckon we could go toe to toe with them in a one off match (not in possession stakes though) if we are at our strongest as well.
 

King of Otters

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2012
10,751
36,093
Wow. They're very impressive but that's some statement. Let's see how they do against teams that will match them in the possession stakes and see how they adapt. There's nobody in our league that will dominate the midfield like they do but there are several teams in Europe that can.

Who's better on current form? In some ways I think we're reluctant to recognise real quality when we see it in this country, assuming we're always a level below Madrid, Barca, Bayern et al. I think the money is finally beginning to tell, and we're seeing a shift in power towards the Prem on a European scale. Liverpool standing up to Barca this summer was a good example of that, and our dismantling of Madrid was another.
 

DCSPUR

Well-Known Member
Apr 15, 2005
3,918
5,415
Can see Real and Barca making some big moves next Summer
Hazard to Madrid is well worth a flutter
Barca will probably land little Phil and Veratti
 

ajspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2007
22,987
31,167
I still think it's a stretch to say they're the best team in Europe. It may very well be the case mind I'm not denying it's possible but it still has to be proven. I don't think enough has happened to claim as much just yet.

I would love to see them face someone like Bayern or Madrid, elite teams that are somewhat on a slight decline, even if just temporary. Their results against Napoli were very good and could be telling, although I didn't watch the matches. They're much better this season but I'll be convinced that they've finally fully transitioned their league form into the CL when they beat one of the 'elite' teams. If they draw Bayern, Juve or Madrid (all teams that look like finishing 2nd) in the next round and go out then questions will be asked again. This is why I'm not jumping the gun just yet.
 

Spurger King

can't smile without glue
Jul 22, 2008
43,881
95,147
Can we stop undermining our victory over Real by saying they are in decline? They’re not in great form, but any side that wins back to back CL titles is not quite ready to be categorised as in decline.

As for the Sheik Mansour team, they’re good but have had a relatively easy run so far.
 
Top