Our rival's squads next year - Man City

Rooney in Paris said:
There's a difference between 'writing them off' (who is doing that here) and saying it's premature to crown them champions after 5 games. They've been brilliant so far, but it's a long season and many things could disrupt it. No one is writing them off, they're the biggest challenge this year and may well win the league, but let's not go overboard just yet.
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I'm talking about the talk previously when some were even wondering whether they would even make it to the top 4..I dont think their are champions after 5 games, its just that looking at the league now in terms of the teams and comparing it to past champions , City look like the most balanced to achieve that.

People keep on harping about when they reach a difficult point in the season, however we and Arsenal with our famous injury troubles are likely to hit that too..so at this point they are the best placed team in the league..Will they be champions? I hope not , but they certainly look the best team now and have actually improved their squad through their summer acquisitions so they are better than last season compared to a Chelsea for example.
 
K2K said:
The biggest difference to now and last season is Yaya Toure..if he is on form, then City are deadly..its not like we havent found that out plenty of times in the past...Last season he looked finished, but he seems to have gotten the swagger back..

They are very good, not Barca or Madrid good..but no team in the premiership is.
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Yeh Yaya is on form he's one of the best around but I have serious doubts that he can
A- do that all year and
B- can he perform in a midfield 2 against the very best midfielders around, last season he showed he couldn't and was overrun on many occasions when under pressure. It's that very reason that makes me think Utd would beat them and the reason they I'll go nowhere in Europe.

Overall I would definitely have city down as favourites for the title purely based on attacking power but I still think people are going overboard and any other half decent team would compete for the title this season. I still have hopes regardless of what others say that if Utd can find form we can be that challenger.
 
K2K said:
I'm talking about the talk previously when some were even wondering whether they would even make it to the top 4..I dont think their are champions after 5 games, its just that looking at the league now in terms of the teams and comparing it to past champions , City look like the most balanced to achieve that.

People keep on harping about when they reach a difficult point in the season, however we and Arsenal with our famous injury troubles are likely to hit that too..so at this point they are the best placed team in the league..Will they be champions? I hope not , but they certainly look the best team now and have actually improved their squad through their summer acquisitions so they are better than last season compared to a Chelsea for example.
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So how do you not know that this isn't the difficult period for Utd? We maybe be playing the worst football we will play all year and at the end of the day we are only 5 points behind. We may end up picking up form quickly and suddenly we are competing for the title and honestly with the quality in our squad that wouldn't surprise me. The title is not won in September and so it's stupid to jump to such rapid conclusions about a team which is what people did with this Chelsea team and look at them now.
 
It's still very early into season but what has been most fear inducting from City is how consistent they have been. In their first 4 games they didn't look like dropping points much at all and yesterday they managed a victory at a very tough ground with a late winner, something you absolutely need to be capable of if you want to win the league. It's a shame we couldn't beat Newcastle when we should have because 3 points would look much better now (I have no complaints about Swansea as we deserved nothing from that game).
 
TrustInJanuzai said:
Yeh Yaya is on form he's one of the best around but I have serious doubts that he can
A- do that all year and
B- can he perform in a midfield 2 against the very best midfielders around, last season he showed he couldn't and was overrun on many occasions when under pressure. It's that very reason that makes me think Utd would beat them and the reason they I'll go nowhere in Europe.

Overall I would definitely have city down as favourites for the title purely based on attacking power but I still think people are going overboard and any other half decent team would compete for the title this season. I still have hopes regardless of what others say that if Utd can find form we can be that challenger.
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They have enough talent in their team to beat the cannon fodder in the league especially at home, so they can manage his games..In Europe yes, but no premiership team is either and has done for a while now.

One thing that makes them so much likelier to win the league is their brilliant away record, while United have really struggled away from home..I think its only 6 away wins in LVG's tenure..I dont think we are league winning material just yet..We will get there..This feels more like a 2006 for me.

And its not just their attack either, they have improved their defense with the purchaser of Otamendi and Hart is in great form. I feel like all the criticism of City is cliche'd and people want to downplay them so much..They are a very good side, and as we and Chelsea have proven in recent seasons, a good start to a league season goes a long way in helping you win the title..It doesnt guarantee it, but it doesnt hinder it at all.
 
TrustInJanuzai said:
So how do you not know that this isn't the difficult period for Utd? We maybe be playing the worst football we will play all year and at the end of the day we are only 5 points behind. We may end up picking up form quickly and suddenly we are competing for the title and honestly with the quality in our squad that wouldn't surprise me. The title is not won in September and so it's stupid to jump to such rapid conclusions about a team which is what people did with this Chelsea team and look at them now.
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I dont ..but neither do we know when City's tough period will be either or how significant it will be either..Chelsea went through a tough period in the second half of the season last year but were still grinding out wins..Very few people are declaring them champions, rather we are saying that the omens are good for them seeing as they are winning games even when not playing well which is the hallmark of great champion teams of the past..The fact that they have a very favourable fixture list till October doesnt hurt them at either..that isnt a declaration of anything, and I dont understand why some people find it so offensive.
 
mani35 said:
And you call us bitters? If it'd happened to utd we'd be getting 'that's the sign of champions' headlines rammed down our throat. We do it and we're lucky. Sometimes you have to give a team credit for fighting to the end. We did that yesterday.
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This is a good point.

Personally I was pleased to see Iheanacho doing well. Was also pleased to see Man Utd Garcia on the bench - City have a lot of talented youngsters and it is a shame that Pellegrini hasnt really been prepared to give them a chance yet (Denayer being an obvious example).
 
K2K said:
They have enough talent in their team to beat the cannon fodder in the league especially at home, so they can manage his games..In Europe yes, but no premiership team is either and has done for a while now.

One thing that makes them so much likelier to win the league is their brilliant away record, while United have really struggled away from home..I think its only 6 away wins in LVG's tenure..I dont think we are league winning material just yet..We will get there..This feels more like a 2006 for me.

And its not just their attack either, they have improved their defense with the purchaser of Otamendi and Hart is in great form. I feel like all the criticism of City is cliche'd and people want to downplay them so much..They are a very good side, and as we and Chelsea have proven in recent seasons, a good start to a league season goes a long way in helping you win the title..It doesnt guarantee it, but it doesnt hinder it at all.
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Yeh I actually do agree with most of what you say but there are certainly some posters on here that would give the title to city right at this moment and that's not how football works. Like I said I do still think they are favourites and it will be their attack that gets them this. Yes they have strengthened at the back and have started well but I would expect Utd to have a better defensive record by the end of the season tbh.

The one point I really do thou rally agree with is that this Utd team certainly feels like the period of 2006-7 where we had a lot of players that hadn't quite got to their peaks combined with some good youngsters. I feel we are now in a similar situation and if they develop as planned then we will go from having very few world class players to a lot in a short period and that's probably the time over the next few years when we will be really going for the title.

However, I still feel Utd are dark horses this year and if we can find form(granted we do need big improvements in certain elements) I think we could at the very least push city and perhaps be there to pounce if they slip up (which is till think they might)
 
K2K said:
I'm talking about the talk previously when some were even wondering whether they would even make it to the top 4..I dont think their are champions after 5 games, its just that looking at the league now in terms of the teams and comparing it to past champions , City look like the most balanced to achieve that.
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I agree with you, and I think a lot of people on here do too.
 
TrustInJanuzai said:
Yeh I actually do agree with most of what you say but there are certainly some posters on here that would give the title to city right at this moment and that's not how football works. Like I said I do still think they are favourites and it will be their attack that gets them this. Yes they have strengthened at the back and have started well but I would expect Utd to have a better defensive record by the end of the season tbh.

The one point I really do thou rally agree with is that this Utd team certainly feels like the period of 2006-7 where we had a lot of players that hadn't quite got to their peaks combined with some good youngsters. I feel we are now in a similar situation and if they develop as planned then we will go from having very few world class players to a lot in a short period and that's probably the time over the next few years when we will be really going for the title.

However, I still feel Utd are dark horses this year and if we can find form(granted we do need big improvements in certain elements) I think we could at the very least push city and perhaps be there to pounce if they slip up (which is till think they might)
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Believe me, after what happened to us in 2012 especially after I celebrated like the title was won after City lost against Arsenal, I know there is still a long way yet. What I was saying rather is that at present , they are certainly playing like the best team in the league and have that confidence about them. Obviously it would be great if they stumble , but they are putting points on the board, and for the rest to catch them, they will need to go on long winning runs which certainly isnt easy.

I feel that if we can win a title this season, it will push us on .Even just a cup title, the euphoria of that first post Fergie title would be very good for us. Its true that we still need some improvements and that is why a good target for us would a points total, getting above 80 would signify a lot of progress, how that leaves us position wise, we will see.
 
Rooney in Paris said:
I agree with you, and I think a lot of people on here do too.
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Yes , that is what some of us are saying..Of course they are posters declaring them champions , but those are really the exception and people shouldnt get sucked into all that as some people overreact.

No one wants them to win it(I've cheered them on to one title, thats enough for a lifetime) , rather that they are the best placed. Thats all.
 
Should have lost against Palace, beaten by Juve and now lost to West Ham.

Truly believe their MF is not good enough for them to run away with the league and have a good run in the CL. Any injury/poor form/work ethic from Toure during the season and they're going to struggle.
 
I think their midfield is good enough to run away with the league. Last season Chelsea did it and even we did it with an old Giggs/Cleverley next to Carrick. In Europe though, that midfield will get found out.
 
Could have done with Dzeko as an option with Aguero not looking at his sharpest. Bony cost £27 million and has barely done anything for them.
 
They were without Silva.

It's still a great team and will win the league.
 
Surprising loss for them. I think this shows that despite their quality, they probably will have some little blips here and there throughout the season. Still overwhelming title favourites, but I don't think they're guaranteed to run away with it.
 
They're not as good as a lot of people are making them out to be.
 
VanGaalEra said:
Should have lost against Palace, beaten by Juve and now lost to West Ham.

Truly believe their MF is not good enough for them to run away with the league and have a good run in the CL. Any injury/poor form/work ethic from Toure during the season and they're going to struggle.
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Their midfield isn't that bad. In any case, I don't see an attack like that not winning the league especially when the challengers aren't that good.
 
VorZakone said:
What a weird state the PL is in now.
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Yeah. The top teams aren't as good as they used to be while the middle to lower clubs are better. For all the competitiveness in the league, it's strange to not have any genuinely top teams when it comes to their European counterparts.
 
Varun said:
Their midfield isn't that bad. In any case, I don't see an attack like that not winning the league especially when the challengers aren't that good.
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Toure/Fernandinho/Fernando/Delph. That's not a great MF.

They'll be relying on their front 4 to win them most games, which they will, but when they're not on it, team can get through that MF and at their defence.
 
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Kevin DeBryune looked like a real quality player. Nevertheless, I feel Aguero is in a terrible patch of form and this time around it looks like his teammates are the ones who are dragging him this time around.
 
Amadaeus said:
Kevin DeBryune looked like a real quality player. Nevertheless, I feel Aguero is in a terrible patch of form and this time around it looks like his teammates are the ones who are dragging him this time around.
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City are basically an Aguero injury away from punching well below their collective weight.
 
Raoul said:
City are basically an Aguero injury away from punching well below their collective weight.
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Aguero has not done much since the Chelsea games to make such a statement. If he was in form, I would agree though. I feel the lost of Silva and Kompany so far this season has been more impactful to their teams performances.
 
53500/55000 attendance today, not bad for their standards.
 
Trizy said:
53500/55000 attendance today, not bad for their standards.
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Aren't they expanding that place soon? Sausage down a hallway syndrome...

Couldn't believe how empty it was behind the goals during the Juventus game with about ten minutes to go. It's a CL game ffs, stay and watch your damn team!
 
Tommy said:
Aren't they expanding that place soon? Sausage down a hallway syndrome...

Couldn't believe how empty it was behind the goals during the Juventus game with about ten minutes to go. It's a CL game ffs, stay and watch your damn team!
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But they don't care about CL football!
 
Their also very light up front btw. Bony is in bad form, and next in line is that kid who's name I don't know how to spell.
 
VanGaalEra said:
Their also very light up front btw. Bony is in bad form, and next in line is that kid who's name I don't know how to spell.
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No idea why Dzeko & Jovetic are both out on loan.
 
Tommy said:
Aren't they expanding that place soon? Sausage down a hallway syndrome...

Couldn't believe how empty it was behind the goals during the Juventus game with about ten minutes to go. It's a CL game ffs, stay and watch your damn team!
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:lol: what?
 
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