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Race for the Top 4 - 2017/18

ohtottenham!

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2013
7,497
13,030
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.
City have pretty much handled anyone they've played in the PL and CL apart from their home draw against Everton early in the season. Includes winning away at Chelsea, handily at home against Arsenal and Liverpool, home and away against Napoli, and some silly winning margins home and away.
 

tototoner

Staying Alert
Mar 21, 2004
29,387
34,059
I just looked at my calendar again and it's still early November.

You don't win the the league in November, if City are still unbeaten in March and 10 points ahead of us then I'll concede they will probably win the league, not now.
 

ohtottenham!

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2013
7,497
13,030
I just looked at my calendar again and it's still early November.

You don't win the the league in November, if City are still unbeaten in March and 10 points ahead of us then I'll concede they will probably win the league, not now.
I agree, and think we can actually take anyone on our day, and that it's early days to call any PL, CL or any other title race. That's different to acknowledging the fact that a competitor, City right now are performing at a level that is the benchmark for the PL.

The CL's always going to be different, especially in the group stages with the big teams often just doing enough to qualify for the knockout stages. For us, this season's been a huge step up on every front, and it's just November...
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
I just looked at my calendar again and it's still early November.

You don't win the the league in November, if City are still unbeaten in March and 10 points ahead of us then I'll concede they will probably win the league, not now.
If they are 10 points ahead in January - barring a catastrophic run of injuries they will win the league - just as Chelsea did last season.

Having said that, I think the race will tighten significantly over the festive period...
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
If they are 10 points ahead in January - barring a catastrophic run of injuries they will win the league - just as Chelsea did last season.

Having said that, I think the race will tighten significantly over the festive period...

Chelsea played one game a week last season.
 

tototoner

Staying Alert
Mar 21, 2004
29,387
34,059
It's the amount of so called "experts" that are already saying City will go the season unbeaten that really wind me up. Yes Jim White I am talking about you.
 

Spurger King

can't smile without glue
Jul 22, 2008
43,881
95,147
City have pretty much handled anyone they've played in the PL and CL apart from their home draw against Everton early in the season. Includes winning away at Chelsea, handily at home against Arsenal and Liverpool, home and away against Napoli, and some silly winning margins home and away.

I’m not saying they’re not doing well. They’re clearly in great form and deserve as much credit as a bottomless pit of money can buy a tinpot club like the Sheik Mansour team, but I’m not declaring them unstoppable just yet.
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Chelsea played one game a week last season.
It's not that, City could drop points, but realistically, the chasers would drop points against each other, making it difficult to make up that ground.

Like I said though, I think it's a much smaller gap by January. Spurs will go on a run from now to January - including a win at City.
 

ohtottenham!

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2013
7,497
13,030
I’m not saying they’re not doing well. They’re clearly in great form and deserve as much credit as a bottomless pit of money can buy a tinpot club like the Sheik Mansour team, but I’m not declaring them unstoppable just yet.
Agree with all that, but I don't understand how they've had a relatively easy run so far.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,957
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.

This is it. Imagine they'd of had our injuries?

Theres no way they would be top if they had missed Fernandinho (wanyama) all season for example.
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,988
81,934
It's the amount of so called "experts" that are already saying City will go the season unbeaten that really wind me up. Yes Jim White I am talking about you.

At the beginning of last season many were saying the same about Chelsea.

It's like every year people forget how long a season is.
 

walton

Well-Known Member
Feb 28, 2006
3,162
4,963
City are strees ahead of the rest of the league just now - their attacking potency is immense and i expect them to win the league with ease, breaking goalscoring records along the way. I know it's in the DNA of some fans to be bitter towards any team doing better than us, but not sure people's beef with City. They've spent loads, but they're not alone in doing so; they actually spent very wisely in the transfer window and have a squad capable of executing their gung-ho style. Compare them with Everton, Liverpool, even us after the Bale money...money does not guarantee success.

Would certainly prefer to lose the title to them playing the kind of football they do, than to anyone else - especially the current United incarnation.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
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.

definitely possible, but as SP has said, their squad isn't fully covered for any real injuries in defence. at the moment they are having to play Delph at left back, and he has an injury history. this weekend they are short of a centre back, and their style does favour Leicester's counter attacking.

it does feel that way though, we are going to need/hope them to start struggling to score occasionally
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
definitely possible, but as SP has said, their squad isn't fully covered for any real injuries in defence. at the moment they are having to play Delph at left back, and he has an injury history. this weekend they are short of a centre back, and their style does favour Leicester's counter attacking.

it does feel that way though, we are going to need/hope them to start struggling to score occasionally
Only time will time of course but it's difficult to see beyond them right now.
 

tommo84

Proud to be loud
Aug 15, 2005
6,120
11,100
City are streets ahead of the rest of the league just now - their attacking potency is immense and i expect them to win the league with ease, breaking goalscoring records along the way. I know it's in the DNA of some fans to be bitter towards any team doing better than us, but not sure people's beef with City. They've spent loads, but they're not alone in doing so; they actually spent very wisely in the transfer window and have a squad capable of executing their gung-ho style. Compare them with Everton, Liverpool, even us after the Bale money...money does not guarantee success.

Would certainly prefer to lose the title to them playing the kind of football they do, than to anyone else - especially the current United incarnation.

I can't disagree regarding City's style of football. As a team they look like worthy champions of not just England, but Europe also (still early days though of course).

I also can't speak for anyone else on this forum, but my own 'beef' with City this season is that after spending huge amounts of money (more than their rivals) in recent seasons and it not quite working, their solution this summer was just to spend even more, and on a bigger scale than previously attempted. I get that it has never been a level playing field and we ourselves have an advantage over about 85 teams in the English pyramid, but City's spending hasn't so much tipped the scales in their favour as it has turned the whole kitchen upside down.

"Compare them with Everton, Liverpool, THFC after the Bale money'? There is no comparison. Their spending levels in the past 12 months have been unprecedented, such that I'd argue your point about their spending being 'wise' overlooks the fact that they paid well over market value for some of those players in order to make those deals happen - something only they and PSG appear able to do. Therefore I can marvel at City's on-field performances while still rolling my eyes when some pundits and City fans ignore the huge advantage they held over the rest of us before a ball was kicked.
 

Dillspur

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2004
3,747
9,926
City are strees ahead of the rest of the league just now - their attacking potency is immense and i expect them to win the league with ease, breaking goalscoring records along the way. I know it's in the DNA of some fans to be bitter towards any team doing better than us, but not sure people's beef with City. They've spent loads, but they're not alone in doing so; they actually spent very wisely in the transfer window and have a squad capable of executing their gung-ho style. Compare them with Everton, Liverpool, even us after the Bale money...money does not guarantee success.

Would certainly prefer to lose the title to them playing the kind of football they do, than to anyone else - especially the current United incarnation.

I disagree regarding the spending. Everton, Liverpool and ourselves have all spent within our means, Liverpool pay a lot more in wages but their net spend is actually relatively low, and what did Everton actually spend above the lukaku cash 30-40m. City spent more than most on 2 fullbacks. City haven't recouped anything they've spent, they are being prompted up with the oil money.
 

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
48,105
47,061
City are strees ahead of the rest of the league just now - their attacking potency is immense and i expect them to win the league with ease, breaking goalscoring records along the way. I know it's in the DNA of some fans to be bitter towards any team doing better than us, but not sure people's beef with City. They've spent loads, but they're not alone in doing so; they actually spent very wisely in the transfer window and have a squad capable of executing their gung-ho style. Compare them with Everton, Liverpool, even us after the Bale money...money does not guarantee success.

Would certainly prefer to lose the title to them playing the kind of football they do, than to anyone else - especially the current United incarnation.

Spent wisely?

Their net spend in the last two seasons under Pep has been £300m. Ours has been about £30-35m

That's fucking ridiculous and that's why I'm bitter towards City.

Their financial doping is ridiculous, and whilst it may create a great team (and at the moment they are a great team) it ultimately makes a mockery of the sport.

So they can fuck right off as far as I'm concerned.
 

ralvy

AVB my love
Jun 26, 2012
2,505
4,603
City played like this during the summer to intimidate the rest. Would not surprise me if they run out of steam to early. No way can a team keep up that intensity and style for such a long time.

I know its a cliche, but its still true; The league is a marathon and not a sprint.

Barcelona did it a couple of times... Pep's Barcelona, that is.
 

walton

Well-Known Member
Feb 28, 2006
3,162
4,963
Spent wisely?

Their net spend in the last two seasons under Pep has been £300m. Ours has been about £30-35m

That's fucking ridiculous and that's why I'm bitter towards City.

Their financial doping is ridiculous, and whilst it may create a great team (and at the moment they are a great team) it ultimately makes a mockery of the sport.

So they can fuck right off as far as I'm concerned.

They spent wisely in the transfer window, that's undeniable. And that was my point. They didn't have the defence or GK to execute the style they wanted to play in 16/17 and have remedied that. Regardless of dolla, they've recruited wisely.

Also, the net spend thing is a red herring in my opinion, but we'll save that for another day...
 

walton

Well-Known Member
Feb 28, 2006
3,162
4,963
I can't disagree regarding City's style of football. As a team they look like worthy champions of not just England, but Europe also (still early days though of course).

I also can't speak for anyone else on this forum, but my own 'beef' with City this season is that after spending huge amounts of money (more than their rivals) in recent seasons and it not quite working, their solution this summer was just to spend even more, and on a bigger scale than previously attempted. I get that it has never been a level playing field and we ourselves have an advantage over about 85 teams in the English pyramid, but City's spending hasn't so much tipped the scales in their favour as it has turned the whole kitchen upside down.

"Compare them with Everton, Liverpool, THFC after the Bale money'? There is no comparison. Their spending levels in the past 12 months have been unprecedented, such that I'd argue your point about their spending being 'wise' overlooks the fact that they paid well over market value for some of those players in order to make those deals happen - something only they and PSG appear able to do. Therefore I can marvel at City's on-field performances while still rolling my eyes when some pundits and City fans ignore the huge advantage they held over the rest of us before a ball was kicked.

I meant 'wise' in terms of the identification and securing of targets. In previous seasons they've spent shitloads but on clearly unsuitable personnel. And that is a legitimate comparison with us, Liverpool and most certainly Everton when we've all splashed the cash.
 
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