Its a maximum of 4 league games and that for players that reach the semi finals. If their country gets knocked out of the group stage, they will only miss 1 game, Round of 16 is 2 games and quarter final 3 games.I’m enjoying match by match and as much as I’d love us to keep up there and be in the title race, I think it’s going to be between City, Liverpool and Arsenal and we will drop off to 4th with Newcastle 5th.
Reason being, even though we don’t have Europe, we have Son & Bissouma at AFCON & Asia games missing 4-5 games in Jan and we don’t have the required quality to fill in for them for that many matches to keep up title winning form, same situation if Romero or VDV or Vicario etc get injured, the drop offs in a lot of positions is too big.
If we had a Leicester style season with injury luck etc and made 2-3 signings in January then maybe but I can’t see it.
But who cares let’s dare to dream anyway and let’s just bloody enjoy week to week the fantastic football E are playing and results we are getting.
City are off the pace a bit which is very usual the season after a treble but Arsenal and Liverpool do look good, just have to hope that once Europe comes around again it really stretches their squads.
And caffeinewe need a Leicester-esque season to win. health and momentum both.
Apparently :
So you're saying we'll likely finish 7thApparently :
13 teams have has 23+ points after 9 games.
1 team failed to finish top 4 (Newcastle 94/95 finished 6th),.
1 team finished 3rd.
4 teams 2nd.
7 teams finished 1st.
Apparently :
13 teams have has 23+ points after 9 games.
1 team failed to finish top 4 (Newcastle 94/95 finished 6th),.
1 team finished 3rd.
4 teams 2nd.
7 teams finished 1st.
I do wonder if they let too much experience go last summer in Gundogan, Mahrez, Laporte? I know De Bruyne has barely played this season, but that's a regular occurrence for him. We'd need to stay lucky with injuries and for them to get a couple of serious ones, but I just feel they have more players whose form could be up and down.The league has City in it though and they're regularly putting up 90 points
Its a maximum of 4 league games and that for players that reach the semi finals. If their country gets knocked out of the group stage, they will only miss 1 game, Round of 16 is 2 games and quarter final 3 games.
In the last 4 AFCONs Mali (Bissouma's National Team) haven't made it past the round of 16. Senegal (Sarr's National Team) have made the final of the last 2, so will likely miss all 4 games. South Korea were knocked out of the 1/4 finals last Asian Cup.
Yeah and Johnson I think. If they both can start scoring we’ll be ok.So basically we'll probably lose Sarr for the four and Bentacur is hopefully got himself up to speed by then...and Biss only a game or two.
Its losing Son thats more damaging imo.
But if Richy can contribute more goals by then it wouldnt be so bad.
A lot depends on Richarlison for me.
7th it is thenApparently :
13 teams have has 23+ points after 9 games.
1 team failed to finish top 4 (Newcastle 94/95 finished 6th),.
1 team finished 3rd.
4 teams 2nd.
7 teams finished 1st.
So basically we'll probably lose Sarr for the four and Bentacur is hopefully got himself up to speed by then...and Biss only a game or two.
Its losing Son thats more damaging imo.
But if Richy can contribute more goals by then it wouldnt be so bad.
A lot depends on Richarlison for me.
To be fair if we stayed up there and got into a 2-3 horse race we’d surely be the neutral’s favourites like Leicester were.we need a Leicester-esque season to win. health and momentum both.
Given Klinsmann's coaching skills, there's every chance Sonny could be back early....Agree the AFCON doesn't concern me much. I think we have sufficient cover.
it's the Asia cup which could derail us. We will need someone to step up in Son's absence and at this moment I'm not too sure who that will be.
Yep. Depends on two things : (i) key players staying fit and/or significant business in January and (ii) City not going on an insane run. But the main thing is, unlike purple patches under Jose and Conte, this feels sustainable.I’m getting ahead of myself but if the stars align, we’re in a title challenge.
The neutral’s favourites ?! That’s a good one!To be fair if we stayed up there and got into a 2-3 horse race we’d surely be the neutral’s favourites like Leicester were.
Leicester also had no europe that season and got very lucky with so few injuries, we would need the same and likely 2 signings in Jan to be in with any sort of chance, but as Ange says, let the fans dream, why not