Manchester City under Pep Guardiola | Pep on City v Liverpool ref: "He likes to be special"

Fanbase does seem unusual but I don't really know much about Manchester or the history there much less why one person would choose to support one club or the other, apart from the history. Perhaps I'm wrong but City appears to have attracted quite a number of American fans too

Nevertheless, some interesting early signs of Pep's work already taking root - curious when he gets a complete squad
 
Raees said:
Pathetic in the sense they don't really have a fan base not the individual fans they have.

I feel sorry for the club as it seems well run but it does seem there is only one proper football club in Manchester.
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When I made my choice to support City over United in 1968 I wasn't fussed about aligning myself to a massive worldwide fanbase and a glorious history but if that's what floats your boat then OK.
Don't feel sorry for us, we'll be just fine and I'll resist the obvious crack about United not playing in Manchester because it's just infantile.
 
Gentleman Jim said:
More trivial stats. Did you get that from Opta Joe or someone?
The draw for that match was made 10 days before it took place. Practical and financial factors come into it.
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Managed the math myself actually. They weren't big numbers, so simples.

I would struggle to think of any other big club in Europe that would have sold that few tickets. City returned shit loads too. Amazing how practical and financial factors affect City way more than seemingly anyone else - I hear City are the only fans that go on holiday in August too.

Snide jibes aside, it's a fairly pathetic turn out, regardless of any mitigating circumstances. Will you get 30,000 at the return leg?
 
Gentleman Jim said:
When I made my choice to support City over United in 1968 I wasn't fussed about aligning myself to a massive worldwide fanbase and a glorious history but if that's what floats your boat then OK.
Don't feel sorry for us, we'll be just fine and I'll resist the obvious crack about United not playing in Manchester because it's just infantile.
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I don't get your point. I'm not trying to say you're pathetic for supporting city - why would I say that?

Nor am I calling your club pathetic? I actually admire the way you are run. Maybe the use of the word pathetic is what is making your blood boil but my point was that for a club that aspires to be the best in the world.. The fan base you have is very small and almost non existent when compared to clubs like Araenal and Chelsea let alone United and Barca.

If a manager like Pep can't even bring new fans on board or even attract your current fans then clearly that is a demotovating factor and as an all time great manager you wouldn't be blamed for thinking gosh we have a pathetic fan base (in terms of numbers - not the fans themselves).

Apologies if I have offended you.
 
LawCharltonBest said:
I've no intention of watching City unless they're playing United, so can someone explain to me how Pep is accommodating Nolito, Silve, De Bruyn, Sterling, Sane, Aguero etc?
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Fernandino seems to be sitting the deepest in midfield, with De Bruyne and Silva in front. Then Sterling, Nolito and Aguero up top. No Sane yet; I don't believe he's fit.

It's lightweight on paper, but the fullbacks are coming central to help out, with Fernandinho almost playing in a back 3.

That's my rather uninformed take though - I only watched glimpses of the City v Sunderland game, and didn't catch the Steaua game, so apologies if I'm wrong. I'm sure our resident City fans will correct me, anyhow.
Gentleman Jim said:
When I made my choice to support City over United in 1968 I wasn't fussed about aligning myself to a massive worldwide fanbase and a glorious history but if that's what floats your boat then OK.
Don't feel sorry for us, we'll be just fine and I'll resist the obvious crack about United not playing in Manchester because it's just infantile.
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And yet there it is. Petty.
 
Pep might be a 'real student of the game' but he's such a teachers pet I couldn't give a toss. City is the perfect club for him; big money, small character. Klopp might overdo it but at least he's got an edge to him.
 
Gee Male said:
Managed the math myself actually. They weren't big numbers, so simples.
Good job Sergio missed those 2 pens and the team were not more ruthless in their finishing or it might have been an even more eye catching stat.

I would struggle to think of any other big club in Europe that would have sold that few tickets. City returned shit loads too. Amazing how practical and financial factors affect City way more than seemingly anyone else - I hear City are the only fans that go on holiday in August too.
City have a relatively small fanbase outside of our location. United, Bayern etc. tend to have a larger, more widespread and affluent set of fans so it is undeniably easier for them to attend.

Snide jibes aside, it's a fairly pathetic turn out, regardless of any mitigating circumstances. Will you get 30,000 at the return leg?
Just about, although the margin of victory has done nothing to help that. It's a dead rubber and Pep is likely to put out a scratch team but ticket prices are fair so I predict 30-35k
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Harrisamo said:
Pep might be a 'real student of the game' but he's such a teachers pet I couldn't give a toss. City is the perfect club for him; big money, small character. Klopp might overdo it but at least he's got an edge to him.
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Who are the Teachers mate? Do you mean the press? If so, then those jackals will turn on him in an instant just like they did (twice) with Mourinho when the wheels came off at Chelsea.
Build em up, knock em down. It's how they work.
Remember 12 months ago when the rumours about Pep to City became loud?
Dozens on here and elsewhere said that he would never go because of the lack of tradition and prestige at City but United had it in spades so they would be a perfect match.
Now that he's in situe at City how the tune has changed. Mourinho is not averse to taking jobs at clubs with loadsamoney all of it new (Chelsea) or dubiously acquired (Real).
 
So after one game against a poor opposition lots of conclusions are already being made.
 
Raees said:
I don't get your point. I'm not trying to say you're pathetic for supporting city - why would I say that?
I realise that it's nothing personal on your part but you did label City's fanbase pathetic. I am part of that fanbase. BTW you did not answer my question about attendance of City or United games.

Nor am I calling your club pathetic? I actually admire the way you are run. Maybe the use of the word pathetic is what is making your blood boil but my point was that for a club that aspires to be the best in the world..
Is it wrong to have high aspirations? Let's get real, City will never catch up United, Bayern, Barca or Real in terms of fans or honours in my lifetime and probably not yours but should we just know our place and bow down and pay homage to those clubs when we have the resources and personnel in place to join them at present?
The fan base you have is very small and almost non existent when compared to clubs like Araenal and Chelsea let alone United and Barca.
Agreed, but we're doing our best to bridge that gap.

If a manager like Pep can't even bring new fans on board or even attract your current fans then clearly that is a demotovating factor and as an all time great manager you wouldn't be blamed for thinking gosh we have a pathetic fan base (in terms of numbers - not the fans themselves).
A bit early in Pep's tenure to be making judgements about what effect he can have, no?
As I said earlier there are mitigating factors in last night's small City contingent.

Apologies if I have offended you.
Not offended in the least. I'm here to discuss.
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Gentleman Jim said:
When I made my choice to support City over United in 1968 I wasn't fussed about aligning myself to a massive worldwide fanbase and a glorious history but if that's what floats your boat then OK.
Don't feel sorry for us, we'll be just fine and I'll resist the obvious crack about United not playing in Manchester because it's just infantile.
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Except you haven't have you?

Gentleman Jim said:
City have a relatively small fanbase outside of our location. United, Bayern etc. tend to have a larger, more widespread and affluent set of fans so it is undeniably easier for them to attend.
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Incorrect. United's travelling support is pretty much 100% local and longstanding. As such it has a well deserved reputation for turning up, no matter the location, and giving it plenty. Committed fans who have been going year in year and there has been plenty of travelling to be done. You get feck all tourists in the United end at European aways and I can tell you that from experience. Same goes for the Premier League.

And what is this about United fans being more "affluent"? A link please to any research, anything, that has identified United fans (or any other) as having more money. Or are you another City fan trying to peddle this myth that your lot are humble working class whilst the rest of football is watched by the well off?

People take the piss out of the "Ikle City" attitude because a lot of the time City fans such as yourself propogate it when it suits. "Oh there's only a few of us and we're a bit skint". fecking give over with the excuses and you'll get taken a bit more seriously.
 
Gentleman Jim said:
Who are the Teachers mate? Do you mean the press? If so, then those jackals will turn on him in an instant just like they did (twice) with Mourinho when the wheels came off at Chelsea.
Build em up, knock em down. It's how they work.
Remember 12 months ago when the rumours about Pep to City became loud?
Dozens on here and elsewhere said that he would never go because of the lack of tradition and prestige at City but United had it in spades so they would be a perfect match.
Now that he's in situe at City how the tune has changed. Mourinho is not averse to taking jobs at clubs with loadsamoney all of it new (Chelsea) or dubiously acquired (Real).
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It was a figure of speech, meant as a general slight on Pep's character as a goody two-shoes.

For what it's worth I don't think United and Pep are a perfect match. Our profiles just aren't a fit. Also, the fact he is fawned over by every man, woman and child simply would not do at United who we know are unanimously hated!
 
LawCharltonBest said:
I've no intention of watching City unless they're playing United, so can someone explain to me how Pep is accommodating Nolito, Silve, De Bruyn, Sterling, Sane, Aguero etc?
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Like this:

-----------Ferds---------
----De Bruyne Silva---
Sterling------------Nolito
-----------Aguero--------

We are very fluid in attack. Silva and De Bruyne are basically given a free number 8 role and Nolito and Sterling drop back when needed. Essentially when we attack we switch to a 2-5-3 formation, with the full backs coming into midfield, which is very exciting. Leaves us open to the counter attack mind.
 
Ban said:
So after one game against a poor opposition lots of conclusions are already being made.
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Which conclusions are they?

People are commenting after the match, naturally enough. I feel they have a long way to go to fully adapt to Pep's style and they obviously need a new keeper that can play the 'sweeper keeper' role, but the early signs are promising for them.
 
M18CTID said:
Steaua are even longer odds tonight - 13/2. Might be worth doubling up ;)

To be honest, any City fan who thought United had gone off the radar forever was living in the land of wishful thinking. The feeling amongst most that I know is that you were obviously going to get your shit together eventually and it's probably taken that little bit longer than even we expected. I thought you might struggle a bit under Moyes but when van Gaal was appointed I felt he'd get you back to being title challengers. It didn't happen but under Mourinho and with the signings he's made you'll be right back up there for sure.

City's best chance of imposing any real dominance on this league was probably after the title win in 2012 when United were our only realistic challengers but we blew it with a rather bizarre summer transfer window, and since then the dynamic of the league has changed where 6 or 8 teams have a real chance of winning it. It would be even more competitive if Arsenal could be bothered to seriously compete in the transfer market!
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Never tempted thankfully by that 13/2. Sounded like an impressive performance.

You're right of course that dominance of the league for any length of time is possibly a thing of the past. That's a good thing. This season looks wide open and, as a result, I for one am more engaged with it all than I have been.
 
MounchesterUtd said:
They are what Van Gaal's United could've been if the bids for Neymar/Bale/Muller worked out and ADM didn't bail.
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I doubt that. The way Guardiola sets his team up is much better and allows for better possession, better defence and better attacking.
 
jungledrums said:
Fernandino seems to be sitting the deepest in midfield, with De Bruyne and Silva in front. Then Sterling, Nolito and Aguero up top. No Sane yet; I don't believe he's fit.

It's lightweight on paper, but the fullbacks are coming central to help out, with Fernandinho almost playing in a back 3.

That's my rather uninformed take though - I only watched glimpses of the City v Sunderland game, and didn't catch the Steaua game, so apologies if I'm wrong. I'm sure our resident City fans will correct me, anyhow.

And yet there it is. Petty.
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Raees said:
I feel sorry for the club as it seems well run but it does seem there is only one proper football club in Manchester.
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After Raees' crack about one proper club in Manchester I think I was justified in my lighthearted reference to that.
I've never been arsed about city boundaries. City and United are both Manchester teams, end of.
Strange that I'm getting heat for my comment but nobody has objected to his.
 
notcool said:
I doubt that. The way Guardiola sets his team up is much better and allows for better possession, better defence and better attacking.
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Exactly. There is far more pressing and forward passing and they play at a much higher intensity. Pep's tactics are a very modernised version of what LvG was trying to get us to play. LvG, unfortunately refused to adapt to the times and he lost his job as a result. Our football under LvG was slow, lethargic and cumbersome.
 
I have no love of City, and it is certainly the case that our fanbase is larger, but are we genuinely suggesting here that City have a small support, who are somehow collectively "lesser" fans than ours? Sure they've picked up a lot of new fans of late due to success (so have Utd across the last 2 decades) but let's not pretend City didn't have, and don't continue to have, a good sized core fanbase.

I quote my own post from earlier in this thread:

"City have the 5th highest average attendance since the PL was created at 37971, irrespective of which league they were in, (this has, of course, increased greatly in the last decade), with Utd top at 64452, Arsenal next at 46139, Newcastle third at 45036 and Liverpool fifth at 42312. It's worth noting that ground capacity limits some of these numbers (Anfield's low capacity, Old Trafford redevelopment, Highbury, etc).

Right now, they have the third highest attendance. Whilst they may not always fill their ground, and UTD's attendance dwarfs city's it is certainly true that their attendances have increased greatly and they were, even 20 years ago, hovering around the top 10 attendances in England.

Relative to us, they may seem small, but that's still a sizable support. Given the irrelevance of the cost of stadium redevelopment, and irrespective of atmosphere or whether they have exhausted their current fan base, investing in a bigger stadium makes sense from a financial and growth perspective long term."

I want to beat City on all fronts and there is much about the clubs PR management and ownership I dislike, but wild generalisations about the fanbase is a meaningful as the wild generalisations made about our fanbase that we rightly deride and dismiss.
 
Harrisamo said:
It was a figure of speech, meant as a general slight on Pep's character as a goody two-shoes.
He can be a ruthless bastard as some squad members are currently discovering. He and Jose are similar in that respect they just have different ways of displaying it.

For what it's worth I don't think United and Pep are a perfect match. Our profiles just aren't a fit. Also, the fact he is fawned over by every man, woman and child simply would not do at United who we know are unanimously hated!
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The big buoyant blue big fish, munching on minnows.:rolleyes:
Even Rooney and Depay looked like world beaters against that standard of opponent.
 
George Beast said:
Feck me, what a joyous goal. Impressive that Peps already got them playing like this after two games.

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Hardly the best defending, they won't walk around the prem like this. What is joyous is that they had 500 fans and still think they are a massive club
 
This comparison between Guardiola and LVG never ceases to amaze me. Some people seem to believe that Guardiola is just like LVG but extremely lucky in that he's had the chance to manage far better teams than LVG. And because Citeh are nothing like Barcelona and Bayern, he will be quickly found out. Smacks of wishful thinking that. Personally, I expect difficulties for Citeh this season--not because Guardiola is an overrated Vangal but because the spin of their team consists of oldish and/or injury prone players. It will take time to replace them.
 
Meh, even LvG's United looked good against a team like Club Brügge. The display against Sunderland was more telling than the game yesterday. Let's see if Pep got a proper plan b for teams that will look to hit him on the counter in the PL, or teams like us, chelsea, arse, pool, tottenham etc.
 
Treble said:
This comparison between Guardiola and LVG never ceases to amaze me. Some people seem to believe that Guardiola is just like LVG but extremely lucky in that he's had the chance to manage far better teams than LVG. And because Citeh are nothing like Barcelona and Bayern, he will be quickly found out. Smacks of wishful thinking that. Personally, I expect difficulties for Citeh this season--not because Guardiola is an overrated Vangal but because the spin of their team consists of oldish and/or injury prone players. It will take time to replace them.
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Let me get this straight because it seems like you are contradicting yourself here. First, you say that people are (incorrectly) downplaying Pep's achievements because they feel that he has benefited from managing some of the absolute top teams and players in the world, thus making his managerial ability less of a factor in the success. Then, you claim that he might have difficulties at City - not because of his managerial ability - but because of the fact that for the first time in his managerial career he doesn't have a dozen of the top 25 players in world football? Isn't your hypothesis exactly in line with the reasoning that many share with regards to Pep's success? He is a good manager who really hasn't been tested with a team that isn't stacked with premium talent in every position and now might struggle before he has the time to replace said collection of players with better players, such as those he has had available in the clubs before?

By the way, I definitely think Pep is better than LvG, but your argument seems really flawed.
 
@Gentleman Jim

I was a season ticket holder and a coach at West Brom for 6 years, so I am hardly an arm chair critic. Since work has become priority, can't travel to games anymore so I totally sympathise with your explanation as to why people can't make it to games but end of the day if the Baggies were a champions league club with the players you have and Pep was their manager, you can guarantee.. there'd be a huge fecking spike in interest - even in obscure away games in Europe. We get 25K attendance on average, now add CL and everything I mentioned above and a bigger stadium, I can easily see that hitting 40K+ at the very minimum and that is in a city where loyalties are split across a number of clubs, Villa, Blues, Wolves, Walsall.

You're getting average 50k attendances now, which is fine but I was seeing a lot of empty seats last season in big european games last year and that tells me the numbers could possibly be there, but the passion on the whole is not.

The one club in Manchester wasn't intended as a jibe, just saying if Everton were in Europe and in the CL, they would not do so half heartedly. The merseyside derby is a real derby, there is a substantial fanbase for both sides, one clearly more successful than the other but Everton is a real significant football club. It isn't about who is the biggest club in the city, its about whether there is a passionate fan base there who are appreciative of what they have in front of them.. whereas you get the vibe that City fans on the whole don't have a large collective of that mad passionate fan base unless it is games involving the rags.
 
Gentleman Jim said:
When I made my choice to support City over United in 1968 I wasn't fussed about aligning myself to a massive worldwide fanbase and a glorious history but if that's what floats your boat then OK.
Don't feel sorry for us, we'll be just fine and I'll resist the obvious crack about United not playing in Manchester because it's just infantile.
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:lol: Typical small time City fan jibes. Even somehow slyly digging our history and (genuinely) massive fanbase.
 
Thiim said:
Let me get this straight because it seems like you are contradicting yourself here. First, you say that people are (incorrectly) downplaying Pep's achievements because they feel that he has benefited from managing some of the absolute top teams and players in the world, thus making his managerial ability less of a factor in the success. Then, you claim that he might have difficulties at City - not because of his managerial ability - but because of the fact that for the first time in his managerial career he doesn't have a dozen of the top 25 players in world football? Isn't your hypothesis exactly in line with the reasoning that many share with regards to Pep's success? He is a good manager who really hasn't been tested with a team that isn't stacked with premium talent in every position and now might struggle before he has the time to replace said collection of players with better players, such as those he has had available in the clubs before?

By the way, I definitely think Pep is better than LvG, but your argument seems really flawed.
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Pep is one of the very best, probably the best manager. Why? Because he created arguably the greatest club team ever. True, the squad was full with talent but they finished 3rd in La Liga before he took over. To down play his achievement because Messi, Iniesta and Xavi were there would be stupid. Messi was injury prone when he became manager there and Xavi and Iniesta weren't as consistent at club level before. Pique, Busquets, Pedro, etc. were nobodies back then.

Still, he isn't a miracle worker. Kompany is 30 and very injury prone. Clichy and Kolarov are 31, Sagna - 33. Fernandinho is 31 and Gundogan is injury prone. Silva is 30 and Aguero is injury prone. Toure is 33. The new keeper is 33 as well and has no PL experience. They are still excellent players on their day but they lack the stamina to perform over the course of an entire season. He has to replace at least Kompany and Fernnadinho and the full-backs to be able to create a truly powerful team. Still could win the PL title but much depends on how the other teams perform. I expect United, Chelsea and Liverpool to challenge for the title as well, they won't be in the CL and this could help a lot.
 
Christ some of you lot are coming off as bitter, something i'd expect from Bluemoon, we're better than that. It was a good goal, against shite opposition granted, but you can only beat who is in front of you.

I think Pep will struggle over here, not because he's a bad manager, but because teams in the Prem seem to love playing a fast, counter attacking style that has on several occasions proven an achilles heel to his total domination style.
 
Raees said:
@Gentleman Jim

I was a season ticket holder and a coach at West Brom for 6 years, so I am hardly an arm chair critic. Since work has become priority, can't travel to games anymore so I totally sympathise with your explanation as to why people can't make it to games but end of the day if the Baggies were a champions league club with the players you have and Pep was their manager, you can guarantee.. there'd be a huge fecking spike in interest - even in obscure away games in Europe. We get 25K attendance on average, now add CL and everything I mentioned above and a bigger stadium, I can easily see that hitting 40K+ at the very minimum and that is in a city where loyalties are split across a number of clubs, Villa, Blues, Wolves, Walsall.

You're getting average 50k attendances now, which is fine but I was seeing a lot of empty seats last season in big european games last year and that tells me the numbers could possibly be there, but the passion on the whole is not.

The one club in Manchester wasn't intended as a jibe, just saying if Everton were in Europe and in the CL, they would not do so half heartedly. The merseyside derby is a real derby, there is a substantial fanbase for both sides, one clearly more successful than the other but Everton is a real significant football club. It isn't about who is the biggest club in the city, its about whether there is a passionate fan base there who are appreciative of what they have in front of them.. whereas you get the vibe that City fans on the whole don't have a large collective of that mad passionate fan base unless it is games involving the rags.
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Did you ever go to Maine Rd? Or are you talking about current fan base? I go to home and a few away games every season and you see the same faces at most prem aways but really different folk in CL aways - my guess is money dictates a lot. All in all I don't know how or why a west brom fan is criticising city fans when we were getting an average of 28K in the old division 2 and 46k before the takeover.
 
Raees said:
@Gentleman Jim

I was a season ticket holder and a coach at West Brom for 6 years, so I am hardly an arm chair critic. Since work has become priority, can't travel to games anymore so I totally sympathise with your explanation as to why people can't make it to games but end of the day if the Baggies were a champions league club with the players you have and Pep was their manager, you can guarantee.. there'd be a huge fecking spike in interest - even in obscure away games in Europe. We get 25K attendance on average, now add CL and everything I mentioned above and a bigger stadium, I can easily see that hitting 40K+ at the very minimum and that is in a city where loyalties are split across a number of clubs, Villa, Blues, Wolves, Walsall.

You're getting average 50k attendances now, which is fine but I was seeing a lot of empty seats last season in big european games last year and that tells me the numbers could possibly be there, but the passion on the whole is not.

The one club in Manchester wasn't intended as a jibe, just saying if Everton were in Europe and in the CL, they would not do so half heartedly. The merseyside derby is a real derby, there is a substantial fanbase for both sides, one clearly more successful than the other but Everton is a real significant football club. It isn't about who is the biggest club in the city, its about whether there is a passionate fan base there who are appreciative of what they have in front of them.. whereas you get the vibe that City fans on the whole don't have a large collective of that mad passionate fan base unless it is games involving the rags.
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And just to add when your lot were in the 3rd tier of english football you were getting 12k.

http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attnclub/wba.htm
 
Treble said:
Pep is one of the very best, probably the best manager. Why? Because he created arguably the greatest club team ever. True, the squad was full with talent but they finished 3rd in La Liga before he took over. To down play his achievement because Messi, Iniesta and Xavi were there would be stupid. Messi was injury prone when he became manager there and Xavi and Iniesta weren't as consistent at club level before. Pique, Busquets, Pedro, etc. were nobodies back then.

Still, he isn't a miracle worker. Kompany is 30 and very injury prone. Clichy and Kolarov are 31, Sagna - 33. Fernandinho is 31 and Gundogan is injury prone. Silva is 30 and Aguero is injury prone. Toure is 33. The new keeper is 33 as well and has no PL experience. They are still excellent players on their day but they lack the stamina to perform over the course of an entire season. He has to replace at least Kompany and Fernnadinho and the full-backs to be able to create a truly powerful team. Still could win the PL title but much depends on how the other teams perform. I expect United, Chelsea and Liverpool to challenge for the title as well, they won't be in the CL and this could help a lot.
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This pretty much spot on.
 
Womp said:
Christ some of you lot are coming off as bitter, something i'd expect from Bluemoon, we're better than that. It was a good goal, against shite opposition granted, but you can only beat who is in front of you.

I think Pep will struggle over here, not because he's a bad manager, but because teams in the Prem seem to love playing a fast, counter attacking style that has on several occasions proven an achilles heel to his total domination style.
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It could be the perfect place for him to learn and adapt his style for it to be more effective. Before he could use Plan A for the entire season and watch it fail at a one off game against a team who can break his tactics down, now he'll face many teams who will be looking to exploit him on the counter attack. Might struggle first season, but he will be looking to learn as much as possible.

I personally think yesterdays performance was very impressive. Very easy on the eye.
 
Treble said:
Pep is one of the very best, probably the best manager. Why? Because he created arguably the greatest club team ever. True, the squad was full with talent but they finished 3rd in La Liga before he took over. To down play his achievement because Messi, Iniesta and Xavi were there would be stupid. Messi was injury prone when he became manager there and Xavi and Iniesta weren't as consistent at club level before. Pique, Busquets, Pedro, etc. were nobodies back then.

Still, he isn't a miracle worker. Kompany is 30 and very injury prone. Clichy and Kolarov are 31, Sagna - 33. Fernandinho is 31 and Gundogan is injury prone. Silva is 30 and Aguero is injury prone. Toure is 33. The new keeper is 33 as well and has no PL experience. They are still excellent players on their day but they lack the stamina to perform over the course of an entire season. He has to replace at least Kompany and Fernnadinho and the full-backs to be able to create a truly powerful team. Still could win the PL title but much depends on how the other teams perform. I expect United, Chelsea and Liverpool to challenge for the title as well, they won't be in the CL and this could help a lot.
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Dr. Fuentes says hi
 
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