Added to that, Pep doesn't have the pressure that Jose does at United. He also has complete control at City where he is more important than any of their players i.e. he can play and drop who he wants with the total backing of the club. He's therefore in a better position to implement his ideas, as the players know they either buy into his way of doing things or they're out.
2016/2017 Title race
- Thread starter Adisa
- Start date
Yes, I don't think Chelsea are a better team as such - but they seem more organised. They don't shoe horn players into positions they're no good at. We are doing this and hurting ourselves in the process. Therefore, imo it doesn't matter how talented a team is, if all the right elements aren't there, then the team is unlikely to win. This is where I believe Chelsea has the edge over us. That might change but it all depends on what decisions Jose takes. Until I see him make some hard decisions, I haven't got the confidence that we'll be ahead of City and Chelsea - as much as it pains me to admit it.
Also don't forget, Leicester last season were certainly not better than a host of teams - but they still won. They were organised, hard working and everyone knew wha they needed to do, and most importantly, the players played in their best positions to maximise their output. We are not doing this so far.
Between City and Chelsea for me. Our past 3 years have been awful, and it will take a while for Mourinho to properly get them going. It's really weird because even the likes of West Ham and Watford yesterday attacked with purpose and movement and creativity for their goals. When they passed the ball the players moved and challenged people. We've seen glimpses but we're not there yet. Next year is our year.
The thing is, while players like Fellaini, Blind, Valencia, Rooney and Lingard are decent players who can look impressive against some sides, they're not top level and fall well short in the biggest games. Yeah they might do some decent things, but they won't have a huge effect on games like this.
We need to keep this type to the squad at best when we've finished building. None of them would be in a City starting 11 and done wouldn't even make the bench.
You could say the same about our side from 12/13, but they won easily.
True, but the league has changed and the fear we used to enjoy from other clubs has lessened.
Can't believe anyone is writing our team off for the title, 4 games into the season, after one loss and 3 wins. We had one bad game so far. City will have some too. We are 3 points off the lead. Can we not wait until November at least before getting all negative?
Glad we got the defeat out the way. I have no concern that we won't be top two come the end of the season. The team and formation will develop as the season goes on and a lot of players are yet to hit real form. I expect as usual for Carrick to be a key starter by the turn of the year and like some have mentioned your City's and Chelsea's we go through a bad patch as expected.. This isn't the bundesliga.
What the hell is going on in here?
HAHA this is brilliant, so City will go unbeaten all season and win it at a canter? not a chance. NOT A CHANCE. Soon enough they will slip up. I love how there is this bizarre arrogance that us city and chelsea are so far ahead that its inconceivable that anyone else wins the league.
What about Arsenal, on their day they can beat anyone and convincingly, Aesene has beaten Guardiola many times and sometimes with huge scores, Arsenal 3- Bayern 0 last season springs to mind. Then we have Liverpool also incredibly strong and when they click are almost unstoppable as Wenger found out. Then you have the extremely strong teams who are beggining to click, Saints seem to have sorted themselves out, Spurs look to be continuing their gameplan under Poch.
Beggars belief that you would think the title is decided in one game, 4 games into the season. Now the test comes, how will the rest of Peps squad do now that depth is needed, because let me tell you in that second half they looked ragged, Sane offered next to nothing and De Bruyne was almost dead. You cant play like that in the prem not consistently and certainly not when your opposition has had far more recovery. Liverpool will destroy them with the Gengenpress if they play like that again.
This coming weekend, we have a big game that could level out another rival with us, provided we win, Liverpool Vs Chelsea. A huge game that could dent a rival.
In two weeks City play Spurs away after playing Celtic away Spurs are a high tempo tough team to beat, that will be their first test in terms of a tough away game after being away at Celtic. Points will be lost and they could be sooner than we think.
The title race is wide open and hasnt even started, first blood to City, but this is a marathon, not a sprint. We have Pogba, Miki and others to find form before we really begin to click. I am optimistic.
HAHA this is brilliant, so City will go unbeaten all season and win it at a canter? not a chance. NOT A CHANCE. Soon enough they will slip up. I love how there is this bizarre arrogance that us city and chelsea are so far ahead that its inconceivable that anyone else wins the league.
What about Arsenal, on their day they can beat anyone and convincingly, Aesene has beaten Guardiola many times and sometimes with huge scores, Arsenal 3- Bayern 0 last season springs to mind. Then we have Liverpool also incredibly strong and when they click are almost unstoppable as Wenger found out. Then you have the extremely strong teams who are beggining to click, Saints seem to have sorted themselves out, Spurs look to be continuing their gameplan under Poch.
Beggars belief that you would think the title is decided in one game, 4 games into the season. Now the test comes, how will the rest of Peps squad do now that depth is needed, because let me tell you in that second half they looked ragged, Sane offered next to nothing and De Bruyne was almost dead. You cant play like that in the prem not consistently and certainly not when your opposition has had far more recovery. Liverpool will destroy them with the Gengenpress if they play like that again.
This coming weekend, we have a big game that could level out another rival with us, provided we win, Liverpool Vs Chelsea. A huge game that could dent a rival.
In two weeks City play Spurs away after playing Celtic away Spurs are a high tempo tough team to beat, that will be their first test in terms of a tough away game after being away at Celtic. Points will be lost and they could be sooner than we think.
The title race is wide open and hasnt even started, first blood to City, but this is a marathon, not a sprint. We have Pogba, Miki and others to find form before we really begin to click. I am optimistic.
As RAWK would say!
Welcome to the wonderful world of football fans.
Liverpool outplayed Spurs at their ground, wouldn't be surprised if Citeh beats them without much problems, all the more they will have probably Kompany, Gundogan and Aguero at that point.
Early days though, most predictions are probalby groundless, including your own. It's not clear who is going to compete for the title and who for the top 4.
Call me a negative bastard, but I won't be surprised if City walk the league and get at least 90 points. Pep's style of play is well suited for league football because you won't get many chances against his team, due to the amount of possession they usually have. 90 points is for example 28 wins, 6 draws and 4 defeats, and they've already won away at Mourinho's place, which usually is the toughest place to win.
My somewhat measured assessment at this point is that we probably won't fall out of the title race because of our matches, particularly away, against teams that we should, on paper, be beating. Like we did under LvG. Mourinho, along with both Zlatan and Pogba, will bring the required mentality, stability and strength that will see us at least matching the other sides fighting for the title this season.
Given that, it stands to reason that I believe we will cement or squander our title claims in the matches against the other top sides, which are the top 6 sides by my current definition. I don't think we'll do terribly in these matches, but I have a feeling that we will actually regress a bit in these games compared to how we performed in them under LVG.
City, I think, given Guardiola's style and aspirations, will be the top team in the top 6 head-to-head league, but will also look exceptionally poor, and lose points, against lesser teams when they have and odd off day. This is because their style is very much all or nothing, and if they aren't one hundred percent up for it, they will be punished harshly.
Chelsea, I'm not sure. They'll be solid throughout, but there will be one too many point losses like the one on Sunday, and they won't do enough in the top 6 head-to-head games to compensate for it in order to finish first. Arsenal have looked less than impressive so far, but they'll probably get it together and secure top 4, but they won't be getting near the title this year.
Liverpool have the highest of highs, and the lowest lows, of course, and won't be challenging for trophies this year, and should count themselves very pleased if they are in with a chance of a top 4 spot towards the end of the season. Spurs, I think, are far more solid, and should be targeting a top 4 spot, but I think they are depending too much on a couple of players. And, while the cover may look decent on paper, I think they'll struggle if any of these key players are injured.
So to sum it up, I still think it's between us and City for the title. Chelsea won't be far off, and both Arsenal and Spurs have reasonable chances of getting involved in the title race. I have a bad feeling City will nick it in the end, but the only thing I know for certain is that this will be a very exciting season, with ups and downs for all of the teams.
Given that, it stands to reason that I believe we will cement or squander our title claims in the matches against the other top sides, which are the top 6 sides by my current definition. I don't think we'll do terribly in these matches, but I have a feeling that we will actually regress a bit in these games compared to how we performed in them under LVG.
City, I think, given Guardiola's style and aspirations, will be the top team in the top 6 head-to-head league, but will also look exceptionally poor, and lose points, against lesser teams when they have and odd off day. This is because their style is very much all or nothing, and if they aren't one hundred percent up for it, they will be punished harshly.
Chelsea, I'm not sure. They'll be solid throughout, but there will be one too many point losses like the one on Sunday, and they won't do enough in the top 6 head-to-head games to compensate for it in order to finish first. Arsenal have looked less than impressive so far, but they'll probably get it together and secure top 4, but they won't be getting near the title this year.
Liverpool have the highest of highs, and the lowest lows, of course, and won't be challenging for trophies this year, and should count themselves very pleased if they are in with a chance of a top 4 spot towards the end of the season. Spurs, I think, are far more solid, and should be targeting a top 4 spot, but I think they are depending too much on a couple of players. And, while the cover may look decent on paper, I think they'll struggle if any of these key players are injured.
So to sum it up, I still think it's between us and City for the title. Chelsea won't be far off, and both Arsenal and Spurs have reasonable chances of getting involved in the title race. I have a bad feeling City will nick it in the end, but the only thing I know for certain is that this will be a very exciting season, with ups and downs for all of the teams.
1) City
2). Spurs
3). Arsenal
4) Chelsea
5) Liverpool
6) Leicester City
7) Manchester United
2). Spurs
3). Arsenal
4) Chelsea
5) Liverpool
6) Leicester City
7) Manchester United
Ridiculous. Spurs never finish above Arsenal
You think we'll finish that high?
I think we'll end up 10th at best.
Madness to suggest that Spurs away is our first real test when we've played Stoke and United away already. Every away game is tough in this league, that's how it's always been. Then you shrug Sane off like a nobody because of a 20 minute cameo at United but say Miki is just waiting to find form.
One thing I do agree on is that the race is wide open. Four games doesn't tell us anything other than City look like a strong side so far, two dropped points at weekend and City could suddenly not even be top. You can't be a draw away from falling off top spot and being talked up for the title. It's all far too soon.
Ridiculous. Spurs never finish above Arsenal
It's their year!
Why is this in the Manchester United forum?
I'm still not convinced we have what it takes to avoid dropping points in what should be comfortable fixtures. I think we still have issues with lack of mental strength, as was again demonstrated last night. We'll need to be consistently ruthless if we're to challenge for the title.
1. United
2. City
3. Arsenal
4. Chelsea
2. City
3. Arsenal
4. Chelsea
Anybody see Liverpool as a threat? 10 points is a great return from those 5 fixtures. Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal away all done and dusted. People obviously look at the Burnley result and say typical Liverpool, but they're capable of beating everybody on their day.
Liverpool are definitely in it. That won't be popular here though.
It is a great return. But everyone should calm down until at least 10 games are played. After the derby last weekend, only Chelsea were supposed to run City close, and now they are shit. As for Liverpool, their defence will slip up and squad depth is not good enough. The attack is good though.
Because that's where the title is coming end of the year.
Not much different from last season so far, smashing the big teams in spectacular fashion and being woeful against lesser teams.
That said - top 4 would not surprise me. Can't see them challenging for the title.
They have no European games so it may help them in the long run.
Everton have stayed off everyone's radar so far, but they'll be 2nd in their own right after this round of games...
I haven't seen a more obvious title winning candidate since United (08/09) than city now tbh. Chelsea 05/06 before that.
My predicted top 4:
1. City
2. Liverpool
3. United
4. Arsenal
My predicted top 4:
1. City
2. Liverpool
3. United
4. Arsenal
Easiest fixture list so far. They play well though.
As predicted unanimously in the media and on the caf at the beginning of the season - City look like run-away favourites. Liverpool just won a series of very difficult fixtures - in style.
1. City
2. United
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal
1. City
2. United
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal
It feels like for three or four years on the bounce everyone talks about City running away with it early on.
Pep may make the difference this year, but they always look ten times better than everyone in the first couple of months.
In Jan 14 we had their captain talking about winning the quadruple because they'd just smashed Blackburn and West Ham
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25765975
Pep may make the difference this year, but they always look ten times better than everyone in the first couple of months.
In Jan 14 we had their captain talking about winning the quadruple because they'd just smashed Blackburn and West Ham
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25765975
Bad example in the title race thread though, since we actually won it that year. I do think the opening 5 fixtures from last season were more impressive as 5/5 from this season though, just purely on paper. It's just the manner in which we are actually playing that's slightly different.
City looked like they'd walk the league last year but look how that turned out. They will go through bad patches.
This is true. And it would be a great point if Pellegrini were still there and they didn't add depth to the squad. Mind, they still may get tired or something. Injuries to KDB and Silva and...
Lol....fans mentality. We lose against city (like that's unusual even when we were decent) and we are not gonna finish in top 5....? It's not these games are my barometer, it's today's game. The games against top teams are always on the day and you need a lot of luck at times, today's we shouldn't need to rely on refs decision or last minute goals....
Mm fair enough, even though that was in large part down to Liverpool's capitulation.
Regardless, the point I was trying to make is that City always look amazing early on and people start getting a bit over-excited almost every season it feels like.
Needs a Title change.. Top 4 has to be our target..
I'd take top 4 now. We are no where near the likes of City, Liverpool and Arsenal.