Man City vs Spurs: Match Thread

[newbie]

As it stands we won't bother City. Yes expensive signings doesn't equal success but we're heading into the season without Rose, Wanyama? Lamela, Son, Walker (sold) and question marks over the fitness of both Winks and Dembele. We cannot under any circumstances cope with these injuries and no signings. Our bench against City was woeful for an elite club.

Relax we have been in far worse situations, we still have a very strong starting 11, pre season means jack, we could have had really intense sessions last two days and the guys are playing with DOMs whilst city might have had an easier few days.

 

[Grapo2001]

Getting ready to march over a pedestrian bridge to the stadium:

Sounds like thousands of Cornishmen . Interesting.

 

[spursfan77]

Sounds like Wanyama is touch and go for Newcastle

 

[Johnny J]

Sounds like Wanyama is touch and go for Newcastle

Typical that we could well have four first team payers injured for the first game of the season. Really need more squad depth.

 

[muppetman]

Getting ready to march over a pedestrian bridge to the stadium:

I thought you were all plastics fans who don't know anything, don't care and support multiple teams?!?!?!?!?!?!?

 

[StartingPrice]

Agreed and yet some think we are going to finish above them staggering, finish above these and your champions which won't be the case.

I don't think we will finish above City...but I believe we have a good chance of it. But we see the current situation and the significance of last night's game very differently.

It may be the case that whoever finish above them will be champions, again, it is just that I believe that could be us. We have a chance. It isn't decided on who buys players the quickest or whose transfers look the most impressive on paper or who wins the most preseason games or who looks the best in preseason.

Personally, I think City's chances could well come down to just how much they have improved their defence - and as I have said, I didn't see them doing anything remarkable in that regard last night. As for ourselves, we'll have a good season if we do well in Wembley - so the Chelsea game is vital. That is when we will see what this squad, hopefully with a couple of additions, is made of IMHO.

 

[spursfast]

I don't think we will finish above City...but I believe we have a good chance of it. But we see the current situation and the significance of last night's game very differently.

It may be the case that whoever finish above them will be champions, again, it is just that I believe that could be us. We have a chance. It isn't decided on who buys players the quickest or whose transfers look the most impressive on paper or who wins the most preseason games or who looks the best in preseason.

Personally, I think City's chances could well come down to just how much they have improved their defence - and as I have said, I didn't see them doing anything remarkable in that regard last night. As for ourselves, we'll have a good season if we do well in Wembley - so the Chelsea game is vital. That is when we will see what this squad, hopefully with a couple of additions, is made of IMHO.

lets think about newcastle first ...one game at a time, and for that matter the game at wembley saturday, at home, must win this one, get there confidence in check esp at wembley against one of europe's top clubs

 

[Mustard]

I don't think we will finish above City...but I believe we have a good chance of it. But we see the current situation and the significance of last night's game very differently.

It may be the case that whoever finish above them will be champions, again, it is just that I believe that could be us. We have a chance. It isn't decided on who buys players the quickest or whose transfers look the most impressive on paper or who wins the most preseason games or who looks the best in preseason.

Personally, I think City's chances could well come down to just how much they have improved their defence - and as I have said, I didn't see them doing anything remarkable in that regard last night. As for ourselves, we'll have a good season if we do well in Wembley - so the Chelsea game is vital. That is when we will see what this squad, hopefully with a couple of additions, is made of IMHO.

I believe we will finish above Arsenal and come fifth. Our squad is just too threadbare. Clearly our best XI is capable of winning the league but it's a long season and with injuries and Wembley we have to be realistic. The lack of transfer activity also doesn't bode well.

Hope to be proven wrong.

 

[StartingPrice]

SP when you consider that they haven't stopped spending I believe they are looking for a CB probably VVD who with all their signings improves them no question.
Just look at their bench last night to ours full of kids my grandsons at 8 and 7 wouldn't look out of place on our bench, it's a scenario of the haves and have nots.
I would be surprised if we finished above them I really would unless say they got to a CL final which might distract them.

Spending obscene amounts of money gives a manager a better chance of hitting the magic formula, of course it does. But it isn't the be all and end all of it.

As said, for me it comes down to whether they have actually improved how their defence will perform in competitive BPL matches. What I saw last night, it looked to me like they were just playing exactly the same but got off lightly because our lot weren't pressing and playing with the usual intensity. Their attack was always good. Let's see how they get on - because none of us really know right now.

It is easy to look at our bench last night and see it as weak, but it's not really that simple IMHO. For a start, our very talented youngsters are gaining valuable experience by taking part in these games. Secondly, Wanyama, Lamela, Son and Sissoko (for what he's worth) were not even on our bench last night. That is three of our four most expensive signings missing. Our bench would have looked much stronger if they were all fit. Indeed, the fact that Sissoko and Soldier Bob are two of our three highest signings should be cautionary enough to stop anyone from fixating on how much City are spending - in the long run some of them might be money wasted. Thirdly, Winks and Dembélé are recovering from injury, and Dele had to be taken off because the City players appeared to be targeting him and he was getting wound up. Fourthly, we will sign some players. Fifthly, we will improve in a number our ways that are unrelated to signings. You are reading way too much into one friendly where they were clearly worked up and we were clearly knackered from a grueling training schedule. Poch's team rarely impresses in pre-season friendlies. It is when the season starts that it matters.

In the grand scheme of things, we are the haves, City are the have mores, and it is just up to Poch (or whoever our manager is) to find ways to bridge that gap.

 

[StartingPrice]

lets think about newcastle first ...one game at a time, and for that matter the game at wembley saturday, at home, must win this one, get there confidence in check esp at wembley against one of europe's top clubs

As a rule I agree. One game at a time.

Of course. It is just in this instance, I am trying to warm the fatalistic mind of some of our co-supporters. And a significant component of that fatalism is the notion that we will inherently fail at Wembley

 

[StartingPrice]

I believe we will finish above Arsenal and come fifth. Our squad is just too threadbare. Clearly our best XI is capable of winning the league but it's a long season and with injuries and Wembley we have to be realistic. The lack of transfer activity also doesn't bode well.

Hope to be proven wrong.

Have to be honest, I don't agree

Seriously, though, at the start of last season virtually everyone was saying it would be United, City and Chelsea in any order. When City were coming to the Lane, on the back of ten straight wins in all competitions, folk were totally ignoring the fact that we were unbeaten in the league as well as at home, and declaring that City would win the league without losing a game. Every single season there is a group who claims we will be lucky to finish seventh - and every season it is only being realistic. it is like writing our chances off is congenital. It's just not how I see it. And I especially don't get why you are presumably chalking Liverpool in for fourth over us. They finished a good way off us last season and they didn't even have any European competition to contend with. Honestly, it baffles me. I'm not saying Liverpool have no chance of finishing above us - of course they do and we don't know how it will all pan out. But they have finished above us once in the last eight seasons.

Our squad isn't threadbare. Janssen and N'Koudou are showing signs of contributing far more this season (who knows, maybe Sissoko too, if he stays). Winks and Dembélé are still recovering from injury. And last night we had Wanyama, Lamela, Son and Sissoko missing - add them to the bench and you have three of our four highest signings sitting on the bench. That is hardly threadbare.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

Been saying this for a time myself, that we appear to have no answers against teams who press more effectively than we do. I dread games against Liverpool for this reason and now City too given Pep appears to have figured things out. I'd really like for Poch to change up his approach a bit for these rare type of opponents (i.e. accept we're going to have to get men behind the ball and focus on breaking) and/or his personnel. It sounded slightly outlandish at the time but prior to our game at Anfield last season I was for dropping one of the big boys (to come off the bench when 'Pool's energy levels dissipate) in favour of N'Koudou. Not that he warranted it on merit but we desperately lacked that pacy option to scare them in behind. In order to give the likes of City and 'Pool food for thought we need at least one player who can provide us a kind of a Mane/Sane/Sterling/Salah presence on the field (preferably at a higher level than GKN).

Without any real pace in the side, we have no over the top, or through the middle threat when teams press high against us. At Wembley we need to fond someone who can provide that.

 

[Mustard]

Have to be honest, I don't agree

Seriously, though, at the start of last season virtually everyone was saying it would be United, City and Chelsea in any order. When City were coming to the Lane, on the back of ten straight wins in all competitions, folk were totally ignoring the fact that we were unbeaten in the league as well as at home, and declaring that City would win the league without losing a game. Every single season there is a group who claims we will be lucky to finish seventh - and every season it is only being realistic. it is like writing our chances off is congenital. It's just not how I see it. And I especially don't get why you are presumably chalking Liverpool in for fourth over us. They finished a good way off us last season and they didn't even have any European competition to contend with. Honestly, it baffles me. I'm not saying Liverpool have no chance of finishing above us - of course they do and we don't know how it will all pan out. But they have finished above us once in the last eight seasons.

Our squad isn't threadbare. Janssen and N'Koudou are showing signs of contributing far more this season (who knows, maybe Sissoko too, if he stays). Winks and Dembélé are still recovering from injury. And last night we had Wanyama, Lamela, Son and Sissoko missing - add them to the bench and you have three of our four highest signings sitting on the bench. That is hardly threadbare.

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

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

I just think that as usual, Levy mucking about with the transfer window and multiplying that with the Wembley factor will slow us down.

Klopp isn't an idiot manager. He will have learnt. Pep has the resources. Conte has the recourses and Mourihno has both the experience and the money.


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

 

[dk-yid]

Maybe I worded it badly saying "the season to come" but the fact of the matter is we just lost 3-0 to a team we should be looking to challenge and the season starts in 13 days. I can't bring myself to write that off as a nothing result. I bet, despite what is said in interviews, the team won't dismiss that game as nothing but a match fitness builder.

Fair enough. I respect your opinion and I do agree with you on the last part.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I thought you were all plastics fans who don't know anything, don't care and support multiple teams?!?!?!?!?!?!?

There was a kid - 10-12 yo, who was walking the opposite way on the bridge, wearing an Arsenal kit - all the Spurs fans boo'd him mercilessly his entire way through the crowd.

Which I suppose was a nicer reception than he would have gotten at the Lane...

 

[m*****73]

Spending obscene amounts of money gives a manager a better chance of hitting the magic formula, of course it does. But it isn't the be all and end all of it.

As said, for me it comes down to whether they have actually improved how their defence will perform in competitive BPL matches. What I saw last night, it looked to me like they were just playing exactly the same but got off lightly because our lot weren't pressing and playing with the usual intensity. Their attack was always good. Let's see how they get on - because none of us really know right now.

It is easy to look at our bench last night and see it as weak, but it's not really that simple IMHO. For a start, our very talented youngsters are gaining valuable experience by taking part in these games. Secondly, Wanyama, Lamela, Son and Sissoko (for what he's worth) were not even on our bench last night. That is three of our four most expensive signings missing. Our bench would have looked much stronger if they were all fit. Indeed, the fact that Sissoko and Soldier Bob are two of our three highest signings should be cautionary enough to stop anyone from fixating on how much City are spending - in the long run some of them might be money wasted. Thirdly, Winks and Dembélé are recovering from injury, and Dele had to be taken off because the City players appeared to be targeting him and he was getting wound up. Fourthly, we will sign some players. Fifthly, we will improve in a number our ways that are unrelated to signings. You are reading way too much into one friendly where they were clearly worked up and we were clearly knackered from a grueling training schedule. Poch's team rarely impresses in pre-season friendlies. It is when the season starts that it matters.

In the grand scheme of things, we are the haves, City are the have mores, and it is just up to Poch (or whoever our manager is) to find ways to bridge that gap.

There's blinding optimism and there's straight up delusion... this post must have been written by Daniel Levy's bastard lovechild.

 

[m*****73]

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....

 

[ohtottenham!]

I don't think we will finish above City...but I believe we have a good chance of it. But we see the current situation and the significance of last night's game very differently.

It may be the case that whoever finish above them will be champions, again, it is just that I believe that could be us. We have a chance. It isn't decided on who buys players the quickest or whose transfers look the most impressive on paper or who wins the most preseason games or who looks the best in preseason.

Personally, I think City's chances could well come down to just how much they have improved their defence - and as I have said, I didn't see them doing anything remarkable in that regard last night. As for ourselves, we'll have a good season if we do well in Wembley - so the Chelsea game is vital. That is when we will see what this squad, hopefully with a couple of additions, is made of IMHO.

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.

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.

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!

 

[mattie g]

 

[Bulletspur]

Didn't see the game but I never read too much into pre-season results.
.

You saying that shows that you have missed the point. People were not critisizing the results. Frankly I dont care about the score line. Its the lack of effort, application and a game plan that has pissed me and others off. Things that Man City seemed to have in abundance