Man City vs Spurs: Match Thread

[coys200]

We've been linked with quite a few CB ,pretty sure we will sign one and sell wimmer.if one of Toby or Jan get injured ,I'm seriously panicking.we also need to start thinking about a long term successor to jan.If we could pick up a left footed CB around 22/23 would be ideal.
On another note,looking forward to city/West Ham on Friday.In all honesty they should have had at least 7 against us.Would be great to see West Ham take a real spanking with season 1 week away. They'd be throwing hart under the bus before season starts.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I only saw brief highlights of this match and I read Poch's post match comments.

From what Poch said it seems that he put the team through a intense training session the day before the match, so no wonder we looked so heavy-legged and lethargic. I'm not really sure why there is so much panic in this thread when our bad performance can be explained so easily.

 

[coys200]

Yup knowing pep he'd be focusing on tactics much more than pure fitness.I don't think in 2 years I've ever seen our defence overrun like that.So there must be some logical explanation and doubt it's just walker.Fact is we could have lost 7 or 8 ,and when you think we only conceded more than 2 goals once last season it was totally out of character and heavy double sessions would seem a logical explanation.

 

[StartingPrice]

Yes getting off to a good start at Wembley is vital for confidence I believe but additions I wouldn't hold your breath.

I agree with the first part.

Second part, I'm not holding my breath. I believe we will improve far more that many of you realise in the ways I have already listed. And I believe we will make signings

 

[StartingPrice]

Fair enough. I predicted 4th last season so what do I know.

Dunno...I predicted we could fight for the title again last summer but everyone said our rivals had strengthened and we would be lucky to finish fourth (or was it seventh ), so what would I know

The strength in depth at Chelsea, Manu and City is intimidating.

Which is something that was repeated constantly last summer, too

Liverpool also has a better squad than us imo. Not a better first XI I should add, neither do I think Manu has either.

I don't believe Liverpool have a better squad than us. In fact I plain refute it. We had serious injury problems last season and they didn't have any European football, and they still finished well behind us...in every way. We scored more, conceded less, had a better goal difference (+24 over them), finished two places and ten points ahead of them. If their squad was such a better squad than ours wouldn't it have shown by now?

I just think that as usual, Levy mucking about with the transfer window

Some reports suggest this, others refute this. My answer is the same every window. I don't care how much or how little we spend on players, how early or how late they arrive isn't the biggest issue to me - I care that the squad improves, and if buying players is part of that, I care that we get the right players. Everything else is background noise.

and multiplying that with the Wembley factor will slow us down.

Wembley isn't a factor yet, it is an unknown. There are many factors that are different between this year and last. Poch has talked about it in depth. For a start, we won't just be playing a few stray games there and then going back to our real home for most of our games. It will be our home stadium for the whole season, league games and cup ties. It follows that we will get far more accustomed to the size of the pitch. Poch has already said that we will be modifying part of the training centre to match the size of the Wembley pitch, and mimic the conditions as much as possible. As said above, it could become a factor if we have a poor start there. But get off to a good start, it might swing the other way. We just don't know just now. But there is no reason to assume it automatically will have the same effect as last season. It might have, but that is just one possibility among several ATM

I don't rate N'Koudo at all nor Sissoko. I prefer Josh out of those 3 tbh but who would realistically want him from the top 5 teams? I have hopes for him though. If Janssen comes good that will be a bonus. He's young enough and for me he has a decent technique. Unlike N'Koudo.

Who knows? Apart from Sissoko...not sure anyone actually rates him (might be a typo ). All I have said is I believe they will contribute more - and it would be hard for them to contribute less I did think Janssen looked leaner as soon as he returned to training. He could be one of those players who has a really powerful psychological make-up and so could succeed despite his limitations. That's what he did in the Netherlands, and there are signs it could happen here - lean, hungry and already looking more potent (even if only in friendlies). But, as said, my main point is I believe they will contribute more solely because they could hardly contribute less

Klopp isn't an idiot manager. He will have learnt.

He isn't an idiot manager. By the same token, Poch learned almost immediately, how to cope with expectations, different playing styles in the Prem, increased competitiveness from the lower downs, both at Southampton and at the Lane. Klopp, on the other hand, has had from October in his first season, and a complete second season, to learn exactly the same things. Liverpool make more in revenues, spend more and pay more - but they still lost games totally out of the blue against the lower downs at the end of his second season that they were losing at the start of his first. As a consequence they finished comfortably behind us. If the league was done just on games against the rest of the top six they would win the league. But it isn't. So what is your evidence that he has learned? Were they winning games against the lower downs in the second half of his second season that they were losing at the start of his first? That would be evidence, wouldn't it? But there isn't any. He may do fantastically well this season, I don't know. But, as things stand, I can't see any evidence that they will. On the contrary, they have a heavier workload this season due to European football, and haven't strengthened that much.

Pep has the resources. Conte has the recourses and Mourihno has both the experience and the money.

Again, all things that were said last summer. Chelsea have European football, have swapped tested players in the Prem for unproven, and already have worse injury problems just by Hazard being out at the start of the season. Mourinho is on thin ice, really. The fans can't stand his style of football. He's swapped Ibrahimovic for Lukaku, and they even more ground to make up than Liverpool. And everyone is losing their shit about them City have strengthened, without a doubt. But as I have said several times already, what I saw the other night was a defence who was still doing the things that ourselves and others punished last season, it was just that our lot didn't expose them due to not playing with the intensity and coordinated closing down we usually do. Their attack was always good. I don't believe we will really know if their defence is so much better until it is tested in competitive games. And what is it with Pep - why doesn everyone refer to him like he is their favourite uncle? Unless they are neck and neck out front for the whole season, any of those three who is significantly off the pace is going to come under immense pressure.

So yes. Realistically you have to see us as 5th favourites as it stands.

I don't think it is realistic at all. The bookies have made us fourth favourites and, TBH, I can understand why - because folk are measuring the tangibles, as you list, and the additions so far. Whereas we could prospectively improve from intangibles, and we will do business. And that is why I believe the odds on the team that has finished second and third in the last two years, who I feel will improve due to a number of intangibles, are a little generous. But that's fine. I'm happy to take those odds and I'm happy for us to still be slipping in slightly under the radar. Remember, we don't have to improve more than our rivals - they are behind us. We just need to improve enough to still be a bit better. But, whatever. Call us fourth favourites if you like, the bookies do.

But it's the fifth favourites thing, the whole Liverpool thing, that does my napper in. Eight seasons ago, when I said we would finish above Liverpool and in the top four, I got dogs abuse. Every subsequent season when I said we were better than them I got dogs abuse. And this, it is just like the return of that old Liverpool are just automatically somehow better than us in some undefined way syndrome. Why? We have finished above them in seven of the last eight seasons. I have referenced the gap between us last year. The only time they have finished above us in the last eight seasons was when they didn't have European football and we lost Bale, tried to fit seven first team players into our team, AVB lost interest and Sherwood happened. Other than that, including last season, there is zero evidence that they are better than us. In fact, if you look at it objectively, the previous time they didn't have European football they finished second and we finished sixth; this time we finished second and well ahead of them, and they finished fourth. So even having no European football didn't help them finish above us - that actually suggests we are further ahead of them, not about to be overtaken. And, as above, I don't think there is any evidence that Klopp has actually learned to win the games that were his Achilles Heel in his first season - they still are. So, TBH honest, its all about opinions and you are entitled to yours - but I just can't see it as realistic to think that Liverpool are favourites to finish above us - and neither do the bookies. Doesn't mean they won't, just that I can't see it as realistic to see them as favourites to do so

 

[Mustard]

Dunno...I predicted we could fight for the title again last summer but everyone said our rivals had strengthened and we would be lucky to finish fourth (or was it seventh ), so what would I know



Which is something that was repeated constantly last summer, too



I don't believe Liverpool have a better squad than us. In fact I plain refute it. We had serious injury problems last season and they didn't have any European football, and they still finished well behind us...in every way. We scored more, conceded less, had a better goal difference (+24 over them), finished two places and ten points ahead of them. If their squad was such a better squad than ours wouldn't it have shown by now?



Some reports suggest this, others refute this. My answer is the same every window. I don't care how much or how little we spend on players, how early or how late they arrive isn't the biggest issue to me - I care that the squad improves, and if buying players is part of that, I care that we get the right players. Everything else is background noise.



Wembley isn't a factor yet, it is an unknown. There are many factors that are different between this year and last. Poch has talked about it in depth. For a start, we won't just be playing a few stray games there and then going back to our real home for most of our games. It will be our home stadium for the whole season, league games and cup ties. It follows that we will get far more accustomed to the size of the pitch. Poch has already said that we will be modifying part of the training centre to match the size of the Wembley pitch, and mimic the conditions as much as possible. As said above, it could become a factor if we have a poor start there. But get off to a good start, it might swing the other way. We just don't know just now. But there is no reason to assume it automatically will have the same effect as last season. It might have, but that is just one possibility among several ATM



Who knows? Apart from Sissoko...not sure anyone actually rates him (might be a typo ). All I have said is I believe they will contribute more - and it would be hard for them to contribute less I did think Janssen looked leaner as soon as he returned to training. He could be one of those players who has a really powerful psychological make-up and so could succeed despite his limitations. That's what he did in the Netherlands, and there are signs it could happen here - lean, hungry and already looking more potent (even if only in friendlies). But, as said, my main point is I believe they will contribute more solely because they could hardly contribute less



He isn't an idiot manager. By the same token, Poch learned almost immediately, how to cope with expectations, different playing styles in the Prem, increased competitiveness from the lower downs, both at Southampton and at the Lane. Klopp, on the other hand, has had from October in his first season, and a complete second season, to learn exactly the same things. Liverpool make more in revenues, spend more and pay more - but they still lost games totally out of the blue against the lower downs at the end of his second season that they were losing at the start of his first. As a consequence they finished comfortably behind us. If the league was done just on games against the rest of the top six they would win the league. But it isn't. So what is your evidence that he has learned? Were they winning games against the lower downs in the second half of his second season that they were losing at the start of his first? That would be evidence, wouldn't it? But there isn't any. He may do fantastically well this season, I don't know. But, as things stand, I can't see any evidence that they will. On the contrary, they have a heavier workload this season due to European football, and haven't strengthened that much.



Again, all things that were said last summer. Chelsea have European football, have swapped tested players in the Prem for unproven, and already have worse injury problems just by Hazard being out at the start of the season. Mourinho is on thin ice, really. The fans can't stand his style of football. He's swapped Ibrahimovic for Lukaku, and they even more ground to make up than Liverpool. And everyone is losing their shit about them City have strengthened, without a doubt. But as I have said several times already, what I saw the other night was a defence who was still doing the things that ourselves and others punished last season, it was just that our lot didn't expose them due to not playing with the intensity and coordinated closing down we usually do. Their attack was always good. I don't believe we will really know if their defence is so much better until it is tested in competitive games. And what is it with Pep - why doesn everyone refer to him like he is their favourite uncle? Unless they are neck and neck out front for the whole season, any of those three who is significantly off the pace is going to come under immense pressure.



I don't think it is realistic at all. The bookies have made us fourth favourites and, TBH, I can understand why - because folk are measuring the tangibles, as you list, and the additions so far. Whereas we could prospectively improve from intangibles, and we will do business. And that is why I believe the odds on the team that has finished second and third in the last two years, who I feel will improve due to a number of intangibles, are a little generous. But that's fine. I'm happy to take those odds and I'm happy for us to still be slipping in slightly under the radar. Remember, we don't have to improve more than our rivals - they are behind us. We just need to improve enough to still be a bit better. But, whatever. Call us fourth favourites if you like, the bookies do.

But it's the fifth favourites thing, the whole Liverpool thing, that does my napper in. Eight seasons ago, when I said we would finish above Liverpool and in the top four, I got dogs abuse. Every subsequent season when I said we were better than them I got dogs abuse. And this, it is just like the return of that old Liverpool are just automatically somehow better than us in some undefined way syndrome. Why? We have finished above them in seven of the last eight seasons. I have referenced the gap between us last year. The only time they have finished above us in the last eight seasons was when they didn't have European football and we lost Bale, tried to fit seven first team players into our team, AVB lost interest and Sherwood happened. Other than that, including last season, there is zero evidence that they are better than us. In fact, if you look at it objectively, the previous time they didn't have European football they finished second and we finished sixth; this time we finished second and well ahead of them, and they finished fourth. So even having no European football didn't help them finish above us - that actually suggests we are further ahead of them, not about to be overtaken. And, as above, I don't think there is any evidence that Klopp has actually learned to win the games that were his Achilles Heel in his first season - they still are. So, TBH honest, its all about opinions and you are entitled to yours - but I just can't see it as realistic to think that Liverpool are favourites to finish above us - and neither do the bookies. Doesn't mean they won't, just that I can't see it as realistic to see them as favourites to do so

Fair enough dude. And I like your outlook.

I just feel this will be a treading water season. And hopefully it ends with us treading water with our heads above water. In the sense we can retain our best players and start our new season in the new stadium with our core players intact.

We are in great shape no doubt.

 

[StartingPrice]

There's blinding optimism and there's straight up delusion...

Really? I've reread it and all I see are statements of fact and statements of opinion that I believe I can defend with clear rational argument, whether a subset of our fans disagree with them or not.

Perhaps you could break it down and show where there is clear delusion in order for me to respond more effectively. Or we could go down the route of precedence for me to show that there is actually more reason for viewing my post as realistic and the ultra-pessimists (among whose ranks I guess you are numbering yourself) are actually more appropriately labelled delusional.

this post must have been written by Daniel Levy's bastard lovechild.

But what is all this BS? Look, myself and Shelfie (to take one example) have completely opposite outlooks most of the time, but we manage to debate things reasonably, fairly and with an occasional hint of humour. I am not a Levy fanatic, I just have a clear, longsighted view of the improvement in the club and how they have been effected. If I can see reasons to criticise him I will, and have - even on points that no-one else was actually criticising him over. As far as I am concerned it is the crew who listen to every snippet from the media that slates him, without looking for the truth or question their motives, who have the problems. The ones who pointblank refuse to acknowledge any of the huge improvements at the club because they have some imaginary thing they believe he should have done that he didn't (most of which don't actually compute when analysed), or because he turned out not to be a sugar-daddy wot like they wanted as like. But you don't find myself or the majority who hold reasonably positive or sensibly neutral viewpoints constantly referring to them by some contrived derogatory pet-name, like, how about, Irving Scholars Stray Ejaculate Landing on a manky sock and mutating into an ill-conceived misshapen and far from intellectually sharp lust splash/child.

 

[StartingPrice]

If I read one more post about how our squad depth is fine because Vincent f-ing Janssen is going to improve into a worthy replacement for Kane..... based on what f-ing evidence?!?! He was a relatively low risk signing - £17m (our competitors spend more than that on their reserve left back) - but he is simply too slow, too clumsy and not skilful enough for the Premier League. Another Mido.

But let the Levy nutcases claim that somehow he is going to miraculously transform into the second coming of Clive Allen, despite ALL evidence to date being too the contrary.

Give it a f-ing break....

Has anyone actually said that? I haven't seen it.

I personally said that I believe he will contribute more if he stays, because it would be hard for him to contribute less. I've seen a few post saying they hope he improves and it looks like he might, and he might be a decent addition to the squad then. But I haven't see anyone say we have squad depth because of Janssen. Could you specify, give examples? Because I can't really see who has said anything that you are attacking, it just seems like a creation of your own for purposes of reiterating just how much you don't rate the guy (which is a fair enough opinion).

 

[StartingPrice]

City have sorted out their wing back needs, so they have improved defensively, From Zabaleta, Clichy, Kolarov options to Mendy, Walker, Danilo. They have also bought defensive pace right there that can at least help to compensate for some weaknesses they may have with their centre backs.

They have. But Guardiola uses them like Poch, offensively as much as defensively. I think the criticism still stands. We didn't really put them under pressure with the intensity and organised press we usually would. We will only see once they start playing competitive league games and particularly the of the type that gave them problems in his first season.

We really didn't get a look in along the flanks once the game settled yesterday. And they are a scary outfit going forward, which they'll do even more now they have the pace and defensive security on their flanks. Think Pep's done well with their oil money.

The thing is, you are looking at a totally different aspect of defence to me. Maybe we didn't get a look in down the flanks because they were really good. But maybe it was just because we lacked intensity, momentum and just possibly personnel. But it wasn't my observation at all. I didn't mention down the flanks. what I observed was the number of times they played risky balls across their own area, hit Hail Mary balls at one another, gave and received the ball with their face to the ball, and just plain mis-controlled it (but got away with it because our lot kinda just milled about until the City players decided that one of them should retrieve it). These are exactly the things they were doing under Guardiola last season - the only difference was, we barely even attempted to expose it the other day. We totally lacked commitment, intensity and the systematic, organised and highly disciplined press we play as standard. As has been suggested, there may be reasons, such as double training sessions, to explain our uncharacteristic lethargy. I don't believe that defeat really says much about us for the coming season, and for reasons stated I don't think it proves anything about their defensive habits,

I agree about their attack, but it was pretty good last season, too.

With us...imo, RB, AM and a pacy, creative, second string forward are the areas in which we're lacking. Whether that can come from within the squad we already have or new signings, I'm not sure. I liked the look of KWP in the games he's played, and Marcus Edwards has bags of potential. Still, a lot of pressure to put on young kids. Let's see what we choose to do!

I mostly agree.

 

[shelfboy68]

Dunno...I predicted we could fight for the title again last summer but everyone said our rivals had strengthened and we would be lucky to finish fourth (or was it seventh ), so what would I know



Which is something that was repeated constantly last summer, too



I don't believe Liverpool have a better squad than us. In fact I plain refute it. We had serious injury problems last season and they didn't have any European football, and they still finished well behind us...in every way. We scored more, conceded less, had a better goal difference (+24 over them), finished two places and ten points ahead of them. If their squad was such a better squad than ours wouldn't it have shown by now?



Some reports suggest this, others refute this. My answer is the same every window. I don't care how much or how little we spend on players, how early or how late they arrive isn't the biggest issue to me - I care that the squad improves, and if buying players is part of that, I care that we get the right players. Everything else is background noise.



Wembley isn't a factor yet, it is an unknown. There are many factors that are different between this year and last. Poch has talked about it in depth. For a start, we won't just be playing a few stray games there and then going back to our real home for most of our games. It will be our home stadium for the whole season, league games and cup ties. It follows that we will get far more accustomed to the size of the pitch. Poch has already said that we will be modifying part of the training centre to match the size of the Wembley pitch, and mimic the conditions as much as possible. As said above, it could become a factor if we have a poor start there. But get off to a good start, it might swing the other way. We just don't know just now. But there is no reason to assume it automatically will have the same effect as last season. It might have, but that is just one possibility among several ATM



Who knows? Apart from Sissoko...not sure anyone actually rates him (might be a typo ). All I have said is I believe they will contribute more - and it would be hard for them to contribute less I did think Janssen looked leaner as soon as he returned to training. He could be one of those players who has a really powerful psychological make-up and so could succeed despite his limitations. That's what he did in the Netherlands, and there are signs it could happen here - lean, hungry and already looking more potent (even if only in friendlies). But, as said, my main point is I believe they will contribute more solely because they could hardly contribute less



He isn't an idiot manager. By the same token, Poch learned almost immediately, how to cope with expectations, different playing styles in the Prem, increased competitiveness from the lower downs, both at Southampton and at the Lane. Klopp, on the other hand, has had from October in his first season, and a complete second season, to learn exactly the same things. Liverpool make more in revenues, spend more and pay more - but they still lost games totally out of the blue against the lower downs at the end of his second season that they were losing at the start of his first. As a consequence they finished comfortably behind us. If the league was done just on games against the rest of the top six they would win the league. But it isn't. So what is your evidence that he has learned? Were they winning games against the lower downs in the second half of his second season that they were losing at the start of his first? That would be evidence, wouldn't it? But there isn't any. He may do fantastically well this season, I don't know. But, as things stand, I can't see any evidence that they will. On the contrary, they have a heavier workload this season due to European football, and haven't strengthened that much.



Again, all things that were said last summer. Chelsea have European football, have swapped tested players in the Prem for unproven, and already have worse injury problems just by Hazard being out at the start of the season. Mourinho is on thin ice, really. The fans can't stand his style of football. He's swapped Ibrahimovic for Lukaku, and they even more ground to make up than Liverpool. And everyone is losing their shit about them City have strengthened, without a doubt. But as I have said several times already, what I saw the other night was a defence who was still doing the things that ourselves and others punished last season, it was just that our lot didn't expose them due to not playing with the intensity and coordinated closing down we usually do. Their attack was always good. I don't believe we will really know if their defence is so much better until it is tested in competitive games. And what is it with Pep - why doesn everyone refer to him like he is their favourite uncle? Unless they are neck and neck out front for the whole season, any of those three who is significantly off the pace is going to come under immense pressure.



I don't think it is realistic at all. The bookies have made us fourth favourites and, TBH, I can understand why - because folk are measuring the tangibles, as you list, and the additions so far. Whereas we could prospectively improve from intangibles, and we will do business. And that is why I believe the odds on the team that has finished second and third in the last two years, who I feel will improve due to a number of intangibles, are a little generous. But that's fine. I'm happy to take those odds and I'm happy for us to still be slipping in slightly under the radar. Remember, we don't have to improve more than our rivals - they are behind us. We just need to improve enough to still be a bit better. But, whatever. Call us fourth favourites if you like, the bookies do.

But it's the fifth favourites thing, the whole Liverpool thing, that does my napper in. Eight seasons ago, when I said we would finish above Liverpool and in the top four, I got dogs abuse. Every subsequent season when I said we were better than them I got dogs abuse. And this, it is just like the return of that old Liverpool are just automatically somehow better than us in some undefined way syndrome. Why? We have finished above them in seven of the last eight seasons. I have referenced the gap between us last year. The only time they have finished above us in the last eight seasons was when they didn't have European football and we lost Bale, tried to fit seven first team players into our team, AVB lost interest and Sherwood happened. Other than that, including last season, there is zero evidence that they are better than us. In fact, if you look at it objectively, the previous time they didn't have European football they finished second and we finished sixth; this time we finished second and well ahead of them, and they finished fourth. So even having no European football didn't help them finish above us - that actually suggests we are further ahead of them, not about to be overtaken. And, as above, I don't think there is any evidence that Klopp has actually learned to win the games that were his Achilles Heel in his first season - they still are. So, TBH honest, its all about opinions and you are entitled to yours - but I just can't see it as realistic to think that Liverpool are favourites to finish above us - and neither do the bookies. Doesn't mean they won't, just that I can't see it as realistic to see them as favourites to do so

Liverpool were good last night as city were against us so potentially if that form translates into the new season they could both hit the ground running.
However as many would say yourself included is that the games currently are just friendlies, and so it can be difficult to gauge how well anyone will do when it all kicks off.
I suspect though with Liverpool's pressing and pace that again I can see us really struggling, not a negative stance I may add I only ever look at things with realism I would like to point out.

 

[ohtottenham!]

They have. But Guardiola uses them like Poch, offensively as much as defensively. I think the criticism still stands. We didn't really put them under pressure with the intensity and organised press we usually would. We will only see once they start playing competitive league games and particularly the of the type that gave them problems in his first season.



The thing is, you are looking at a totally different aspect of defence to me. Maybe we didn't get a look in down the flanks because they were really good. But maybe it was just because we lacked intensity, momentum and just possibly personnel. But it wasn't my observation at all. I didn't mention down the flanks. what I observed was the number of times they played risky balls across their own area, hit Hail Mary balls at one another, gave and received the ball with their face to the ball, and just plain mis-controlled it (but got away with it because our lot kinda just milled about until the City players decided that one of them should retrieve it). These are exactly the things they were doing under Guardiola last season - the only difference was, we barely even attempted to expose it the other day. We totally lacked commitment, intensity and the systematic, organised and highly disciplined press we play as standard. As has been suggested, there may be reasons, such as double training sessions, to explain our uncharacteristic lethargy. I don't believe that defeat really says much about us for the coming season, and for reasons stated I don't think it proves anything about their defensive habits,

I agree about their attack, but it was pretty good last season, too.



I mostly agree.

What aspect of defense were you looking at? Everything but the flanks? Preseason game and all that we know. A high press with Davies and Trippier won't work against City...even Trippier and Davies know that!

Rose and Walker stretched the field against any PL opponent. They also had the pace and defensive abilities to work both ends of the field. That was a key component in our success, especially against the big PL teams. Now Walker's gone, that right side replacement is going to be key for us against teams who can do us for pace on that flank...maybe KWP steps up, or we get a new signing.

 

[guiltyparty]

Did United not mean business when they signed Ibrahimovic and Pogba for 90 odd million, and another 30 on the Dortmund bloke?

It was Mourinho's first season

Second seasons:
Porto - won league and UEFA cup
Chelsea - won league and community shield
Inter - won league, cup and champions league treble
Real - won league for first time in four years, 9 points clear of Barca.
Chelsea 2nd time - won league and league cup

History suggests he always wins the league in his second season. We can be flippant about it but it has a stronger legacy than us finishing in top 4

Obviously ruling us out is silly but it's just as silly to rule out the opposite

 

[Mr Pink]

It was Mourinho's first season

Second seasons:
Porto - won league and UEFA cup
Chelsea - won league and community shield
Inter - won league, cup and champions league treble
Real - won league for first time in four years, 9 points clear of Barca.
Chelsea 2nd time - won league and league cup

History suggests he always wins the league in his second season. We can be flippant about it but it has a stronger legacy than us finishing in top 4

Obviously ruling us out is silly but it's just as silly to rule out the opposite

But I don't think any those Clubs required the rebuilding that United have needed.

Secondly, Mourinho appears to have lost that charismatic arrogance. The hunger, imo, seems to have disappated.

He comes across as a grumpy old sod now.

I'm sure they'll be stronger this season but I don't think Mourinho is the force he once was. He's lost something.

 

[coys200]

It's literally 3 signings and everyone's outlook will totally change well 4 with 3rd keeper.Infact I'd prob settle for 2 outfield AM and CB which is obviously immensely doable.With some good news on injuries suddenly we'd be right back in contention.Been a long old summer but only 4 weeks of this shit left thankfully.with a full squad and 2 signings.players like Lamela would be struggling to make the bench.

 

[Cavehillspur]

It's literally 3 signings and everyone's outlook will totally change well 4 with 3rd keeper.Infact I'd prob settle for 2 outfield AM and CB which is obviously immensely doable.With some good news on injuries suddenly we'd be right back in contention.Been a long old summer but only 4 weeks of this shit left thankfully.with a full squad and 2 signings.players like Lamela would be struggling to make the bench.

10 days til the new season starts, 3 or 4 first team injuries heading into Toon game and zero signings with nothing seemingly close to be done on that front, concerning. Will be interesting to see how we do against Juve at Wembley this weekend.

 

[coys200]

10 days til the new season starts, 3 or 4 first team injuries heading into Toon game and zero signings with nothing seemingly close to be done on that front, concerning. Will be interesting to see how we do against Juve at Wembley this weekend.

Son cast is off so hopefully be ok for Newcastle .vic just a knock hopefully as well.If this imminent in itk is barkley or similar will look fine for Newcastle .Think sonny is really Big player for us now missed his energy in pre season