Our rival's squads next year - Man City

Very impressive stuff from them, although West Brom are truly woeful. As soon as I saw a midfield of Fletcher, Morrison, Maclean and Gardener I started having flashbacks to some of our dark eras, and even then, we were not as crap as that.

Still, I highly doubt that we would have produced a similar type of performance against them, and City look a million miles away from us right now, they move the ball so much better, and if Aguero had started heaven's knows what would have happened. Still, it's early days of course, although after round one they are far and away the most impressive side, and will get better with Aguero coming in, and probably De Bruyne. If they add a defender, as reports suggest they want to, they will be clear favourites.
 
City have the 'swagger' of champions. Early days, but I'll be shocked if they don't win the league this season.

Edit: think this will also be the year that they do something semi-decent in Europe too.
 
Seem to be better when they're looking to regain the title rather than retain it. Playing like they have something to prove.
 
If the sign any of pedro, KDB or otemendi they'll be pretty much unstoppable

All the players that were bad last year are bang inform this season and look like they have a point to prove.
 
Meh, just 2 games in. Wouldn't be shocked if they do not win the title because there are still 36 games to be played but this is an important win for them. The other teams outside the usual top 6 have strengthed quite alot so I'm expecting more points to be dropped in those games by the topclubs so any win against another top club might be vital.
 
I am most surprised how solid they look in the back. With them most likely making some more addition, they are huge favorite for the title if they can keep the core of Aguero, Silva, Toure and kompany fit and in form.
 
Speak said:
City have the 'swagger' of champions. Early days, but I'll be shocked if they don't win the league this season.
Click to expand...
They'll definitely have an off period or two at some point in the season, be it an Aguero injury or a Toure tantrum. Under Pellegrini City have often looked like world beaters in the odd game or two but have lacked the consistency over a longer period. If we can get clicking going forward and remain solid in midield and defence we could push them all the way.
 
Speak said:
City have the 'swagger' of champions. Early days, but I'll be shocked if they don't win the league this season.

Edit: think this will also be the year that they do something semi-decent in Europe too.
Click to expand...
Hard to look past them as favourites especially if they wrap up Otamendi and De Bruyne.Midfield of Toure and Fernandino is still a weakness though.They won't play like today every game.
 
They've looked excellent thus far. I think one of the main reasons a lot of people wrote them off was due to the assumption that players like Toure/Kompany were off the back of sub-standard seasons and seemed unlikely to be anywhere near the best, but they've been looking superb as a team over the past two weeks.

It's still really early, though. A couple of weeks ago people were saying that City looked jaded and uninspiring, with too many ageing players, while Chelsea were the favourites. Now, it's suddenly the other way around. City will still have some dips throughout the season, and they probably won't run away with it.
 
justboy68 said:
They'll definitely have an off period or two at some point in the season, be it an Aguero injury or a Toure tantrum. Under Pellegrini City have often looked like world beaters in the odd game or two but have lacked the consistency over a longer period.
Click to expand...
They'll have an off period, just like everyone else. But I still think they'll win it. Not expecting them to hit teams for three or four every week, obviously.

But I think they'll be focused, and without a strong Chelsea, they wont be challenged hugely. In my opinion, anyway.
 
They look very good but I would offer a small caveat: that West Brom are relegation contenders and Chelsea look devoid of confidence and fitness right now.

Still, I would agree that they are worth labelling 'title favourites'.
 
dannyrhinos89 said:
If the sign any of pedro, KDB or otemendi they'll be pretty much unstoppable

All the players that were bad last year are bang inform this season and look like they have a point to prove.
Click to expand...

No team is unstoppable. They look the best at the moment no doubt but they wouldn't be the first team to start a season on fire and go through dodgy patches later down the line which cost them.

For all anyone knows De Bruyne may not do it in this country (again), and all he'll do is disrupt what was already a pretty well oiled attack.

They're also only ever one Aguero injury from having to start with Bony up front.
 
pauldyson1uk said:
United and City both 6 points from first 2 games and thats all the record books will show, but thank god that we are not playing City anytime soon, we would get hammered
Click to expand...

We wouldn't. I don't think any team will hammer us with van Gaal as manager, last season proved that when anyone said we will be hammered against "insert top team in good form."
City played fine, but Chelsea looks also pretty shit so far. I have no doubt that every team with a proper tactical plan or the ability to press can make City look bang average again. You will see it in Europe and they won't play like that every week in the PL too. Silva and Aguero are quality though, let's see if they add further quality to their team.
 
Mali_Zeus said:
We were hearing that kind of stuff last year and what happened..?
Click to expand...
Did people really think we were going to get hammered when we played City last year? I remember us being confident considering we had just beaten Liverpool and Spurs with our best performances of the season and City were looking a bit shit at the time
 
Didnt see the game but beating a Jose team 3-0 is a big statement to say the least.

At least we dont have to play them for 2 months.

How did Sterling play?
 
The problem with City are that they're an aging side. I can't see them keeping this up for 2/3 of the season ala Chelsea last year to really hammer it home
 
cyberman said:
The problem with City are that they're an aging side. I can't see them keeping this up for 2/3 of the season ala Chelsea last year to really hammer it home
Click to expand...

Pretty much, Yaya will be dragging his foot along the pitch as soon as the new year arrives.
 
thegregster said:
Didnt see the game but beating a Jose team 3-0 is a big statement to say the least.

At least we dont have to play them for 2 months.

How did Sterling play?
Click to expand...
Sterling was average and when he got subbed you could see he was disappointed with his own performance. Still early days to write him off obviously.
 
thegregster said:
Didnt see the game but beating a Jose team 3-0 is a big statement to say the least.

At least we dont have to play them for 2 months.

How did Sterling play?
Click to expand...

Bah west brom did it last season when they were on top.
 
dannyrhinos89 said:
If the sign any of pedro, KDB or otemendi they'll be pretty much unstoppable

All the players that were bad last year are bang inform this season and look like they have a point to prove.
Click to expand...
You can tell all this after two games. If they continue to play like this till Christmas then fair enough but this is so premature.
 
Scary good. Playing football the way it is supposed to be played.

No need to worry though, I have been told by a couple of reliable sources that this happens only 7 or 8 times a year, so only 5-6 times more, rest of the games will be shit.
 
They're looking good at the moment, but you don't win the title in August. Will be interesting to see how they react when Toure loses interest and Kompany/Aguero get their annual injuries.

If they get KDB and Otamendi, they'll have a side that should win the title and be able to go deep in Europe.
 
Looking unstoppable like Chelsea at the beginning of last season. They have to be favourites to win the league.
 
They've got some piss easy games coming up now, can see them doing a 2014/15 Chelsea by steam-rolling every single one of them.
 
VanGaalEra said:
They're looking good at the moment, but you don't win the title in August. Will be interesting to see how they react when Toure loses interest and Kompany/Aguero get their annual injuries.

If they get KDB and Otamendi, they'll have a side that should win the title and be able to go deep in Europe.
Click to expand...

I doubt they'll go deep in Europe with that midfield. It gets shown up everytime when pressed well.

They would be fine in the league and would definitely finish in the top 3. Title? Too early to call.
 
How likely is the De Bruyne deal anyway? I that is what will have the greatest impact on the title
 
duffer said:
Everton, Arsenal and Palace in our next 4 games. None of those are "piss easy".

Maybe Arsenal actually.
Click to expand...
Think he was saying City have some piss easy games coming up so can build a lead like Chelsea did last season

That defeat has rattled you
 
duffer said:
Everton, Arsenal and Palace in our next 4 games. None of those are "piss easy".

Maybe Arsenal actually.
Click to expand...
Good thing I was talking about City then! (though they do have Everton away and Palace away in their next 4 games)
 
They should really look for an upgrade on Navas and Nasri. Sterling will surely come good and Silva and Aguero are brilliant. If they sorted out their right side, their attack will be outstanding. Left back is still a problem for them as Kolarov and Clichy really aren't good enough. If Toure and Fernandinho pick up their 13/14 form, they should be ok in that department but could probably do with one more centre mid.

Edit: Forgot they bought Delph.
 
Attila said:
I hope you're right

Is that what the papers are saying or just your opinion?
Click to expand...

It's just the impression you get here in Germany and it's sounds far more likely than what the English press are reporting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.