The Manchester Title Race

KM said:
Newcastle(A) is not at all an easy fixture.
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That fixture all depends on how the derby the week before goes tbh. If we draw or win the derby and are subsequently leading the title race then I think it'll be a game too much for them.

If however they go into that game off the back of beating us and are top then I dont think it'll be as hard as the games they've got before the derby i.e. Chelsea (H), Stoke (A), Arsenal (A) & Norwich (A)
 
Stretch said:
Again I'll ask you, what guarantee do you have that City won't do what Utd have just done the past 7 games? There is none and thus, any football manager worth his salt will always tell that having points in the bag is better than possibly getting points since anything is possible in football. That's my point. I still think we'll take it, doesn't mean we're CURRENTLY in a better position than City since they've got the points and the lead. Then again, all of this could change by Sunday this week. I'm certainly holding thumbs for it. If for example City lose or draw and we win this weekend...well...
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The bold part just happened. :cool: :D
 
An interesting stretch of games we're going through now until the game at their stadium. The scenario of expectations has completely reversed due to the nature of respective fixtures.

When we went through our recent run of very tough games, keeping the gap the same (2 points) was a pretty great achievement. Now, given our run of relatively easier fixtures, it would be an achievement for City to keep our lead to one point (although the starting point could be taken as before yesterdays game in which they've already let it slip somewhat) by the time the two teams meet.
 
Its the expectation we now have to beat every team in our 'easy' fixtures that worries me. Although I can see City dropping off. We will both drop points.
 
Obvioiusly great results for us yesterday but the most interesting thing has been Mancini's reaction. Saying they'll fight til the end as if there are only a couple of games left and saying his players are tired, giving them an excuse to feel tired... you'd never hear Sir Alex react like that.

It's squeaky bum time and you can hear blue arses parping all over Manchester... well Stockport anyway..
 
kf said:
Obvioiusly great results for us yesterday but the most interesting thing has been Mancini's reaction. Saying they'll fight til the end as if there are only a couple of games left and saying his players are tired, giving them an excuse to feel tired... you'd never hear Sir Alex react like that.

It's squeaky bum time and you can hear blue arses parping all over Manchester... well Stockport anyway..
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Yes that does come across strangely, doesnt it. It sounds pretty defeatist, "we'll fight to the end", like they are the last vestiges of a defeated army and they would rather end it in honourable annihilation than surrender and allow the remaining men return to their families.

Man for man City have an enviable squad but this comes back to the advantage we have in the most important person at the club: the manager. You can keep your Silva and your Toure and your Aguero, we have SAF.
 
Simon Adebesi said:
Man for man City have an enviable squad but this comes back to the advantage we have in the most important person at the club: the manager. You can keep your Silva and your Toure and your Aguero, we have SAF.
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I think it's been proved that their squad is fairly thin actually. Their struggles during Kompany's four match ban, and his injury yesterday, together with Yaya Toure's absence due to the African Nations has exposed the paucity of options available to City in those areas of the team.

Had City not been remarkably fortunate with injuries this season, they might be fighting for a top four finish rather than vying for the league itself.
 
Simon Adebesi said:
Yes that does come across strangely, doesnt it. It sounds pretty defeatist, "we'll fight to the end", like they are the last vestiges of a defeated army and they would rather end it in honourable annihilation than surrender and allow the remaining men return to their families.

Man for man City have an enviable squad but this comes back to the advantage we have in the most important person at the club: the manager. You can keep your Silva and your Toure and your Aguero, we have SAF.
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This.
 
Sam said:
Idealy I think we need to be at least 4 points clear when it comes to our match against them. That way, not only do we have a cushion if we were to lose, they know they'll have to win. So at some point they're gonna have to attack us and go for it. I think that'll play right into our hands, as they'll leave themselves exposed at the back.
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We need to be 4 points clear.
 
If we go there with a four-point lead and beat them, we are the champions. At their stadium.

Ah, the more you have, the more you want... :)
 
I think we'll win it. For the first time this season, I'm quite confident.

Not getting the result they needed at the Liberty stadium, coupled with their dodgy away-form and games against Newcastle, Norwich, Arsenal and Stoke yet to come on the road.. I'd be amazed if they got more than 6 points from those.
 
Maciek said:
If we go there with a four-point lead and beat them, we are the champions. At their stadium.

Ah, the more you have, the more you want... :)
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If we go there with a 10pt lead, they have to give us a standing ovation... :drool:

Or is that asking too much?
 
Looking at the fixtures leading up to the derby match, I hope we've made the gap even bigger. They've some tough away fixtures, and their away form has been questionable to say the least. Plus they are facing an Arsenal side in good form with RVP in the form of his life.

I'd love to go into the derby match, and putting the icing on the cake by beating them and sealing the title.
 
Cal? said:
If we go there with a 10pt lead, they have to give us a standing ovation... :drool:

Or is that asking too much?
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You mean a guard of honour? Expecting the City fans to give us a standing ovation is probably asking too much.
 
It's good we play before City when they meet Chelsea and Arsenal (and Wolves...).

You don't expect them to get easy three points, so it's always better for us to watch those games with, hopefully, more points than we had before our game.

Will be great to watch City under the pressure and their response.

29) 18/03, 13:30 - Wolves v United
29) 21/03, 19:45 - City v Chelsea

30) 24/03, 17:30 - Stoke v City
30) 26/03, 20:00 - United v Fulham

31) 31/03, 15:00 - City v Sunderland
31) 02/04, 20:00 - Blackburn v United

32) 08/04, 13:30 - United v QPR
32) 08/04, 16:00 - Arsenal v City

33) 11/04, 19:45 - City v West Brom, Wigan v United

34) 14/04, 12:45 - Norwich v City
34) 15/04, 16:00 - United v Aston Villa

35) 22/04, 12:30 - United v Everton
35) 22/04, 16:00 - Wolves v City
 
Not looking forward to Blackburn away, we often seem to draw there in the run in.

Well atleast a couple times in recent seasons
 
Anderson's Cat said:
I can't believe we're just 13 points (and 10 goals) away from last season's finishing total. For the so-called "weakest United team in years" we've been pretty frickin' impressive.
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What I find staggering is that if you take away their win at OT, it means we have taken 4 more points than they have from everyone else.

It just doesn't feel right. It hasn't looked like, that game aside, we have been better than them. And it probably all goes down to an amazing recovery after losign two in a row.

Best signing of the season: Paul Scholes (Free Transfer)
 
Widnes said:
Not looking forward to Blackburn away, we often seem to draw there in the run in.

Well atleast a couple times in recent seasons
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The Wolves game is crucial. If we win there I can see them still 4 behind by the time they start their game against Arsenal, even with a slip-up at Blackburn. Would likely lose them that game and we should get to Eastlands at least 4 points ahead of them.
 
The Europa league could play a part, I fancy we're out but i think city will go through, should that happen won't we pretty much always play first? (for as long as they're in it)
 
Widnes said:
Not looking forward to Blackburn away, we often seem to draw there in the run in.

Well atleast a couple times in recent seasons
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No kidding, it's one reason I would love to seem them relegated, they seem to love to play their best game against us.

You just know form will go out the door and it will be an epic battle.
 
There's loads of banana skins left. I'd always rather play teams that are safely mid-table during the closing weeks of the season. Nothing left to play for and already thinking about a summer on the beach. City are probably playing Stoke, Sunderland, Norwich and WBA at the perfect time (bastards).

We have to play 5 of the bottom 6 teams in our run-in. That's really not ideal. Always tough playing teams that are staring relegation in the face. feckers usually up their game in spring.

That said, I'd still prefer our fixture list to City's. The fact that both Arsenal and City have a real battle on their hands to secure CL football is great news for us.
 
Crustanoid said:
Wolves are exactly the type of team we're likely to slip up against
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Wolves have shot themselves in the foot by sacking McCarthy, from what I understand it wasn't the plan to replace him with Terry Connor but that's how they've ended up and if we cant beat them under Connor then we dont deserve to be top.

Blackburn away could be a tough one but we're due a result against them.
 
kf said:
Obvioiusly great results for us yesterday but the most interesting thing has been Mancini's reaction. Saying they'll fight til the end as if there are only a couple of games left and saying his players are tired, giving them an excuse to feel tired... you'd never hear Sir Alex react like that.

It's squeaky bum time and you can hear blue arses parping all over Manchester... well Stockport anyway..
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It goes to show we are more experienced (our manager is) in coping with the pressure around this time of the season, whether we are top or second. We as fans are also more experienced in situation like this than the City fans for sure.
 
Simon Adebesi said:
Yes that does come across strangely, doesnt it. It sounds pretty defeatist, "we'll fight to the end", like they are the last vestiges of a defeated army and they would rather end it in honourable annihilation than surrender and allow the remaining men return to their families.

Man for man City have an enviable squad but this comes back to the advantage we have in the most important person at the club: the manager. You can keep your Silva and your Toure and your Aguero, we have SAF.
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Well said! At the end of the day, if players are asked to fight till the end when there are still 10 games to play and 30 points to gain, wouldn't it be too tiring, and mentally strained?

Instead, focusing on the next game is still what our players would be asked to do by SAF. They will be mentally more concentrating and not letting one win or one loss affect their performance in the next game, apart from being more motivated, always.
 
Maciek said:
If we go there with a four-point lead and beat them, we are the champions. At their stadium.

Ah, the more you have, the more you want... :)
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Wow, when you say it this way, we really have more incentive to go for 4 points clear before we meet them.... That's enough motivation. Come on lads!
 
redevil2 said:
Wow, when you say it this way, we really have more incentive to go for 4 points clear before we meet them.... That's enough motivation. Come on lads!
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They would be bricking it, which would help no end.
 
I hope the surfaces at these bottom teams holds up. Sunderlands pitch was awful against Liverpool. I expect Wigan to be atrocious as usual, not sure what Wolves will be like.
 
I'm usually on the pessimistic side but our run-in looks more than decent from now on. We should really beat this Wolves side, they are probably in their worst spell in ages and look completely devoid of confidence. Fulham and QPR at home again should be three points, though we know a slip up is always on the cards. I won't worry too much about the trip to Ewood Park, they aren't very good at all and we'll keep our focus, especially as (I guess) we'll be out of the Europa League and have only the league to play for.

Which leaves Wigan away, a fixture we always seem to very comfortable with and Villa at home who will have nothing to play for. To be honest the only fixture in there I really worry about is Everton at home... they are very tough to beat, are on a fantastic run of form and always finish the season strong. It's good to see this game is still a few weeks away, so one game at the time. We will beat Wolves and the pressure will be well and truly on City to perform.
 
antohan said:
The Wolves game is crucial. If we win there I can see them still 4 behind by the time they start their game against Arsenal, even with a slip-up at Blackburn. Would likely lose them that game and we should get to Eastlands at least 4 points ahead of them.
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Absolutely. 3-points lead is not enough, especially if we lose there. They'd be ahead on GD.
 
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antohan said:
It just doesn't feel right. It hasn't looked like, that game aside, we have been better than them.
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Probably a case of them being very good on their day and struggling to get the wins on their bad days, while we have a better knack of getting the wins when we don't play great - which, apart from a few matches here and there, happened quite often.

Maybe it's just the experience of a team that already knows what it's like to win titles. City started the season at 200 mph. No one sustains that, not in the PL, anyway.
 
City havent been that impressive since the first 12 games really. The impression they made back then (which was magnificent, true) has just lingered on for a long time. They havent reached the highs they did early in the season since then, and the general impression that they have been trouncing everyone while we have struggled to get points every single week is totally wrong.
 
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