exactly.
..and the gem of that great side was Colin Bell. rivals or not...few better footballers.
The Manchester Title Race
- Thread starter charlenefan
- Start date
exactly.
..and the gem of that great side was Colin Bell. rivals or not...few better footballers.
Fair play to City. 20 straight league wins at home. First team to do this since the Premier League started.
Wasn't sure where to put this Patrick Viera quote.
A pretty weak effort at mind games from Viera. Anyone have a young Paul Scholes on their bench? No? How many midfielder do City have in their reserves that could come in for their best midfielder? None?
A pretty weak effort at mind games from Viera. Anyone have a young Paul Scholes on their bench? No? How many midfielder do City have in their reserves that could come in for their best midfielder? None?
Remind me which club it was that's just brought Tevez back to save them? Not to mention wasn't it that same club that signed Hargreaves?
Reading this thread makes me nervous. I think either team will be able to win the title on the last day of season.
That was a huge result for them. Both sides will be feeling equally confident now. The mood in thein their camp had they lost would have fairly grim.
Rob Smyth has been banging on about City needing a Macheda moment. Just hoping that Nasri goal yesterday doesn't go down as similar
Nah. There's a massive difference between:
(a) seasoned challengers getting their noses in front to go on to equal a record-breaking title in a situation which can only be described as familiar territory
and
(b) a team full of warring mercenaries winning a game for a plastic club that they feel no affiliation for in their first ever title run in (not counting the titles two generations ago when they were pretty much a different entity entirely)
Well done to City, showed some balls last night. We're still in the driving seat. Another difficult test for them coming up this weekend away to Stoke. I laughed last night after hearing a Chelsea mate of mine say that he'd rather miss out on UCL footie than see us winning the league. He admitted he hates United more than he loves his own team. ABUs, they just never learn.
Fair play to City, they came through a test last night - no arguments, on we go, upto us to just keep piling in the wins...
Sunderland will have nothing to play for. Which could mean no pressure, but I can't see them putting up much of a fight.
Though I'm not convinced, like some, it'll be over by then. We've still got City away before the end and they've won every home game all season.
As for Fulham at home, no problem. We're starting to play and Fulham are not good away from Craven Cottage. They've won twice and scored just eight goals away all season.
...and Fergie would have won the Treble a few more times with the resources they have.
http://www.eecho.ie/news/sport/the-premier-league-title-run-in-544503.html
Manchester City closed to within one point of leaders Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premier League table with victory over Chelsea last night.
Here, we look at the matches both teams face in the title run-in.
March 24, Stoke v Man City; March 26, Man Utd v Fulham
City have the chance to put the pressure on their rivals this weekend as they play two days earlier but the Britannia Stadium is definitely not an easy trip, with the Potters taking points off United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea this season. United look to have the slightly easier task, with Fulham having won only twice on the road this campaign.
March 31, Man City v Sunderland; April 2, Blackburn v Man Utd
Both teams will be looking to make amends for results earlier this season. City were beaten by a late Ji Dong-won goal in a 1-0 defeat by Sunderland in January while Blackburn’s 3-2 victory at Old Trafford was arguably the shock result of the season.
April 8, Man Utd v QPR, Arsenal v Man City
Potentially a key weekend. United will be expected to see off struggling QPR before City’s match kicks off at the Emirates, where a resurgent Arsenal are likely to offer Roberto Mancini’s men a stern examination.
April 11, Man City v West Brom, Wigan v Man Utd
West Brom have been impressive away from home this season, winning six times, but it would be a surprise were they to take anything at the Etihad, as it would were United to slip up away at Wigan.
April 14, Norwich v Man City; April 15, Man Utd v Aston Villa
Another weekend where points dropped by either City or United would be a major surprise.
April 22, Man Utd v Everton; Wolves v Man City
Everton have proved tricky opponents for United in recent years at Goodison Park but have lost on their last five league trips to Old Trafford while City will be big favourites against strugglers Wolves.
April 30, Man City v Man Utd
The match everyone has been waiting for since it became clear the city rivals would be battling each other for the title, and it was given significant added spice by City’s stunning 6-1 win at Old Trafford in October. United have won once already at the Etihad this season in the FA Cup and a victory for either side could be decisive.
May 6, Man Utd v Swansea, Newcastle v Man City
The penultimate weekend of the season and again it is City who look to have the tougher task. Newcastle thumped United 3-0 at home earlier in the season and could well still be in the hunt for European football themselves.
May 13, Man City v QPR, Sunderland v Man Utd
If the title race is still alive then City have the marginal advantage in that they are at home, although QPR could well need points to avoid relegation while Sunderland are likely to have little to play for
Manchester City closed to within one point of leaders Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premier League table with victory over Chelsea last night.
Here, we look at the matches both teams face in the title run-in.
March 24, Stoke v Man City; March 26, Man Utd v Fulham
City have the chance to put the pressure on their rivals this weekend as they play two days earlier but the Britannia Stadium is definitely not an easy trip, with the Potters taking points off United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea this season. United look to have the slightly easier task, with Fulham having won only twice on the road this campaign.
March 31, Man City v Sunderland; April 2, Blackburn v Man Utd
Both teams will be looking to make amends for results earlier this season. City were beaten by a late Ji Dong-won goal in a 1-0 defeat by Sunderland in January while Blackburn’s 3-2 victory at Old Trafford was arguably the shock result of the season.
April 8, Man Utd v QPR, Arsenal v Man City
Potentially a key weekend. United will be expected to see off struggling QPR before City’s match kicks off at the Emirates, where a resurgent Arsenal are likely to offer Roberto Mancini’s men a stern examination.
April 11, Man City v West Brom, Wigan v Man Utd
West Brom have been impressive away from home this season, winning six times, but it would be a surprise were they to take anything at the Etihad, as it would were United to slip up away at Wigan.
April 14, Norwich v Man City; April 15, Man Utd v Aston Villa
Another weekend where points dropped by either City or United would be a major surprise.
April 22, Man Utd v Everton; Wolves v Man City
Everton have proved tricky opponents for United in recent years at Goodison Park but have lost on their last five league trips to Old Trafford while City will be big favourites against strugglers Wolves.
April 30, Man City v Man Utd
The match everyone has been waiting for since it became clear the city rivals would be battling each other for the title, and it was given significant added spice by City’s stunning 6-1 win at Old Trafford in October. United have won once already at the Etihad this season in the FA Cup and a victory for either side could be decisive.
May 6, Man Utd v Swansea, Newcastle v Man City
The penultimate weekend of the season and again it is City who look to have the tougher task. Newcastle thumped United 3-0 at home earlier in the season and could well still be in the hunt for European football themselves.
May 13, Man City v QPR, Sunderland v Man Utd
If the title race is still alive then City have the marginal advantage in that they are at home, although QPR could well need points to avoid relegation while Sunderland are likely to have little to play for
This is the only part I don't agree with.
I wouldn't call a draw at Carrow Road a major surprise, there. I think that'll be a big test for City.
talk about stating the obvious
Nothing beats a bit of objective analysis.
City did well last night, they're excellent at home and that was a big win. If anything that game has showed us that there's still a way to go and everything to play for and we're a long way off winning it yet, so lets not get ahead of ourselves in any way.
We've got the easier fixtures, so we'll just have to hope City drop some points in their away games, which is a distinct possibility. I hope against hope we've already won it by the derby game, I really do, or that we're at least 4 points ahead by then.
Until then, one game at a time, no rash predictions.
We've got the easier fixtures, so we'll just have to hope City drop some points in their away games, which is a distinct possibility. I hope against hope we've already won it by the derby game, I really do, or that we're at least 4 points ahead by then.
Until then, one game at a time, no rash predictions.
This is how unpredictable football is. They beat Chelsea, and lose to Swansea City.
With nine games remaining, everything is possible..
With nine games remaining, everything is possible..
Before the game kicked off last night I had allowed myself to get perhaps a little too carried away with the notion that a resurgent Chelsea were going to get something, with City feeling the pressure of our recent move to the summit. As MG said above, what last night is really about it remembering not to get ahead of ourselves, which I am sure SAF would have been impressing on the players anyway.
But if you had asked me which game I had more hope for City dropping points in, out of Chelsea (h) or Arsenal (a) it would definitely have been the latter. And that isnt even the only realistic chance of them dropping points away. So there is still plenty of scope for City to go into that derby game 4 points behind us.
The bottom line is, as long as we can go into that game ahead of them, even by just a point, I am confident we can draw there. We have brought plenty of long winning (/unbeaten) runs to an end over the years, and I would back us to do it again if need be. That will be one exciting game if it does come down to that. Im quite jealous of anyone who will be there, that will be amazing.
But if you had asked me which game I had more hope for City dropping points in, out of Chelsea (h) or Arsenal (a) it would definitely have been the latter. And that isnt even the only realistic chance of them dropping points away. So there is still plenty of scope for City to go into that derby game 4 points behind us.
The bottom line is, as long as we can go into that game ahead of them, even by just a point, I am confident we can draw there. We have brought plenty of long winning (/unbeaten) runs to an end over the years, and I would back us to do it again if need be. That will be one exciting game if it does come down to that. Im quite jealous of anyone who will be there, that will be amazing.
Except it is also quite predictable: City are outstanding at home and eminently beatable away.
So what's your predictions for the next round?
EDIT: You also have a lot of explaining to do about that 6-1 at Old Trafford.
Stoke 1 cITY 1
Utd 3 Fulham 0
How's about that then?
Utd 3 Fulham 0
How's about that then?
i'll be chuffed as feck if we can even get a point at the etihad,city have been nothing short of brilliant at home and if we do achieve a point when we play them i reckon that'll be the point that wins us the title!!
Indeed. The only surprise/disappointment about yesterday was that with 12 minutes remaining, City were losing and ended up winning. Even at that point though, there was time left for City to do it.
Stoke away could pose the problem at the weekend. They have a good home record and City have dropped points in exactly half of their away games this season.
Didn't someone recently come up with a load of stats proving that the "fortress Britannica" is a bit of a myth?
IIRC, their home record is no better than any of the other teams in the same part of the league table.
IIRC, their home record is no better than any of the other teams in the same part of the league table.
They havent dropped a point at home yet this season. No other team can say that can they?
What they said last night was the last time they drew at home was just over a year ago, i.e latter half of last season (Fulham?) And last time they lost at home was 2010.
So I wouldnt say it is a myth. Unless I am remembering that wrongly.
Fortress Brit....
Doh.
Its all mind games but he's hit were its sore. Our CM is weak and having to rely on a 37 yr old sucks.
City were lucky not to drop points against Chlelsea and Tottenham this year (at home). They were particularly outclassed by Tottenham, they just got lucky in the end.
Still, on paper, it will be a very tough game for us, and I'd love us to have at least a 4 point cushion before that game. Won't be easy though..
I hope you're right.
Still, on paper, it will be a very tough game for us, and I'd love us to have at least a 4 point cushion before that game. Won't be easy though..
I hope you're right.
That 37 year old has been brilliant. It doesn't matter how old you are if you're still producing the goods.
Desperation is bringing a disruptive Carlos Tevez back when your manager said he would never play for the club again.
Desperation is bringing a disruptive Carlos Tevez back when your manager said he would never play for the club again.
I still can't believe they did that after what's been said. Mancini literally backed on his word, and Tevez is now happy to play for the people he said were treating him like a dog?! Some desperation.
It's called desperation. I have no doubts he'd still be in Argentina twatting golf balls all over the show if cITY were 10 points clear. Because they're not, Mancini has made himself look a royal cnut by playing him.
Vieira needs to keep his peanut headed thoughts to himself.
Vieira needs to keep his peanut headed thoughts to himself.
He may be the second coming of the Christ and my argument would still stand. A club like United shouldnt be reduced to bringing players out of retirement.
On their part Shitty are desperate too. They lack experience and Tevez has that.
To conclude, playing mind games with SAF is an act of desperation in itself.
Both clubs ARE desperate. Desperate to win the league. Anyone would be in this situation. Its a tight as a gnat's anus so both clubs will and would do anything they could to get the advantage.
This season:
Played 14, Won 6, Draw 4, Lost 4. GD +4
Significantly better than -16 away from home, losing 8.
They've also held Chelsea and United, as well as beaten Arsenal there.
In terms of losses at home, Fulham, Norwich and Sunderland have the same number. I'd say all of those are tricky away games this season.
Whereas I've read Ewood Park as a tough place to go in here, yet Blackburn more often than not have lost at home this term.
Oh bore off.
Things aren't black and white. What are the other options?
Sign a world class centre mid - £30m? £40m? Wages? Who?
Promote from within - Done it, injured, Cleverley. Pogba not there yet.
It was inspired to bring Scholes back. He retired too early, that's the fact of it. He's still the best CM in the Premiership, he's still fit and he's had 6 months off to freshen up and get his juices flowing.
There is no better player we could have signed in the world than Paul Scholes this January. Class, thoroughbred United player who knows the club and team inside out and has done it all before.
There isn't a single hint of desperation about it. If Scholes offered his services to City in January they'd have bitten his hand off so quickly he'd barely have a shoulder left. I've no doubt Vieira is both jealous of Scholes for doing what he is doing when Vieira couldn't cut it in his brief stint at City and jealous of United for having this luxury. They were probably looking at our midfield "weakness" as the thing that would leave us behind them in the title race and here we are with Scholes performing brilliantly a point ahead of them.
I agree + both clubs have big weaknesses which can easily be identified and commented about.
SAF wouldn't have brought Tevez back in this situation, after what happened.