I wouldn't take a point now, I think we'll beat them there.... AGAIN!
The Manchester Title Race
- Thread starter charlenefan
- Start date
Given the fact they have a 100% home record in the league, a draw would be a good result for us there, and obviously if we're still only a point or few away from them at the top.
The Europa League final is four days before the last game in the league.
Don't worry everyone, I've filled in the BBC Predictor and we're winning the league with 89 points, one more than City.
4 points from the next two games and we're in fantastic position.
We shouldn't be underestimating Norwich. A win there would be a very good result - their form over the last 8 games is at top 6 level.
How many City fans does it take to change a light bulb?
None Their all happy living in United's shadow.
None Their all happy living in United's shadow.
Whilst many wont see it that way if consequently City are 4 points ahead of us it will be slightly refreshing to know that the only 'big' game we'll have left is the derby itself while City still have Arsenal, Stoke & Newcastle away & Chelsea at home
One game at a time though and the next one at Norwich is going to be a bloody tough one
we need 6 really because city will beat blackburn and bolton at home.
It won't be the end of the world by any means, but if City win their next two matches (and they will, because they're both at home), then that'll mean we're 4 points behind them.
Like I say, not the end of the world, but then we'd really need a few teams to do us a favour before we play City in April.
6 points from our next two matches would be dream land.
So?
There's every chance we can make up points on City over the next 8 fixtures after that, and if we're within a couple of points going into the derby, we are where we need to be.
The derby will be must win, pretty much whatever happens.
Interesting that they have only scored 4 and conceded 3 in their last 4 home matches, while scoring 7 and conceding 7 in their last 4 on the road. They have worked out how to play sensibel football at home, as evidenced in the 0-0 with Chelsea.
I don't think they will come at us all guns blazing, as their reputation would suggest, but it may well be tricky to break them down...
Yes, but the next 4 games for us and them are fairly even, I think there's a good chance we take the same amount of points from the next 4, Swansea away is very tough this year.
Norwich v United
City v Blackburn
Spurs v United
City v Bolton
United v WBA
Swansea v City
Wolves v United
City v Chelsea
It's not fairly even. Swansea away is as tough as Norwich at worst, Chelsea at home is far easier than Tottenham away which is where the real difference lies. Wolves away won't be a walkover for us, remaining two home games will be a piece of cake for City. I think they'll win all 4 and we will lose at Spurs.
They'll have Arsenal away in April and I expect some points to be dropped there though as well as in some other games. Hopefully we won't be more than three points behind when we play them.
Massive win for us today, in fact one of those wins you look back on at the end of the season and see it as title defining. Almost allows us to only draw with Spurs next week and still be well within touching distance of City who after next weeks guaranteed 3 points have some very tricky looking games themselves
We need Bolton and the Chavs to take some points off them and ourselves remain totally focussed and to our jobs. feck the Europa League, Im not at all interested.
This league is there very much for the taking. Put simply, if we win all our remaining games, we win the title. Of course we won't, but the point I make is that winning no 20 is still very much in our own hands.
Thank God finally we have most players coming back from that horrendous spell of injuries in every single department. Hopefully SAF can now build a rhythm in the PL first XI, have a solid spine to the team (DDG, Evra, Rio, Evans, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Rooney) that does not change and the side just requires freshening and tweaking according to the needs of who the opposition is. As long as Carrick keeps fit and we ca rotate Giggs, Schloes and hopefully Anderson finds some form, our midfield issues are solved in the short term, as that combo is good enough to win us the PL.
City seem to have gotten over their dodgy spell, But I think they will have another spell of about 3/4 games when they will lose rhythm; thats where our experience of having been in this position, this time of year, every year, for the past 20 years, has to come into effect. Keep calm like we did today vs Norwich: believe in our skill, competence and abilities and deep pockets of reserve and belief and that will make all the difference.
This league is there very much for the taking. Put simply, if we win all our remaining games, we win the title. Of course we won't, but the point I make is that winning no 20 is still very much in our own hands.
Thank God finally we have most players coming back from that horrendous spell of injuries in every single department. Hopefully SAF can now build a rhythm in the PL first XI, have a solid spine to the team (DDG, Evra, Rio, Evans, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Rooney) that does not change and the side just requires freshening and tweaking according to the needs of who the opposition is. As long as Carrick keeps fit and we ca rotate Giggs, Schloes and hopefully Anderson finds some form, our midfield issues are solved in the short term, as that combo is good enough to win us the PL.
City seem to have gotten over their dodgy spell, But I think they will have another spell of about 3/4 games when they will lose rhythm; thats where our experience of having been in this position, this time of year, every year, for the past 20 years, has to come into effect. Keep calm like we did today vs Norwich: believe in our skill, competence and abilities and deep pockets of reserve and belief and that will make all the difference.
If we're getting something from the Spurs game then we're in a great position..........because to be honest City away is the only tough game for us for the rest of the season (Sunderland away will be tough too no doubt about that but if we're needing 3 points there for the title then we'll win there).
City are having a lot of tough games - Chelsea home, Arsenal away, Newcastle away, Stoke away, Norwich away and Swansea away.
City are having a lot of tough games - Chelsea home, Arsenal away, Newcastle away, Stoke away, Norwich away and Swansea away.
Yes, I can see them dropping at least 6 points in all those games.
City are actually completely useless away at teams currently placed 4th to 14th, and five of their remaining six away games are against teams from this group.
The title is ours.
The title is ours.
City are actually completely useless away at teams currently placed 4th to 14th, and five of their remaining six away games are against teams from this group.
The title is ours.
... for the taking. We must do our job, but its there for us to win, as opposed to Shitty throwing it away (unlike last year when we were 'mocked' for winning because the league was full of shite teams). We just must not let them ever get beyond a 2 point gap so they feel that pressure.
It will be the first time ever for 90% of their squad to deal with such pressure, and much like we did in 1991, I can easily see them buckle under the weight of such pressure or the prospect of such huge delights.
If we can win it this year, its up there with 1992 and 2006 as one of SAFs most significant managerial achievements .... winning the PL with a completely new side fully in the throes of 'transition'.
I think it is City's title to lose, i am more worried about Wolves away than Spurs away for us. I honestly think that for all Spurs attacking prowess, as proven yesterday- there defence has a lot to answer for, if we excert the correct amount of pressure, at the correct times in the game, there is no reason with a near on fully fit team- why we cannot put 2 or 3 past them on Sunday.
The midfield battle will be key, i imagine Sandro will be a straight swap for Parker, and although Sandro is the more elegant footballer, Parker will be a big miss for them, he would be the one covering Giggs/Scholes runs from deep, it has yet to be seen if Sandro has the mental aptitude to do this for a full 90 minutes, and as proven yesterday, with Giggs and Scholes about- you have to be aware for that full 90 minutes - any lapse and you will be punished.
I just hope we do not pay them to much respect, obviously Bale, Modric, Lennon and Adebayor are all too be worried about- but there defence can be got at- and although i dont want to see a gung ho aproach that leaves us wanting at the back, attack will be the best form of defence in this game.
The midfield battle will be key, i imagine Sandro will be a straight swap for Parker, and although Sandro is the more elegant footballer, Parker will be a big miss for them, he would be the one covering Giggs/Scholes runs from deep, it has yet to be seen if Sandro has the mental aptitude to do this for a full 90 minutes, and as proven yesterday, with Giggs and Scholes about- you have to be aware for that full 90 minutes - any lapse and you will be punished.
I just hope we do not pay them to much respect, obviously Bale, Modric, Lennon and Adebayor are all too be worried about- but there defence can be got at- and although i dont want to see a gung ho aproach that leaves us wanting at the back, attack will be the best form of defence in this game.
Why? Complacency?
Yes that and the fact that Wolves always play that game like there life depended on it. Purely based on ability i should have no worries. But football does not work that way.
I on the other hand think we can beat city away where as its going to be tough against spurs(away). Don't know why but I just feel that way.
After yesterdays result Spurs will be nervously looking over their shoulder now. That as well as Scott Parker being suspended. We are playing them at a perfect time
The City away will be as tough as it gets due to their squad size/strength. But yes of course we can win there. We showed that in the FA Cup
I think we can beat City away, whether we will is another matter. They have had all the luck needed this year that you need to win a title and i do not see that changing (when i say luck i mean lack of injuries). I have accepted they will win it so anything else is a bonus for me. I am prepared for the City fans on Facebook and Twitter to appear in droves as they have done since the Sheikh took over. If they do win it we will be back next season there or there abouts again.
Most of the London derbies are crazy so I try to not take much out of them. Last year Spurs beat gunners where as this year they couldn't beat them on both the occasion despite spurs being better than last season and arsenal being much poorer.
Spurs didn't have parker last season and we still were lucky to get a draw there.I personally wouldn't be too disappointed with a draw, although obviously I'll hope for a win.After this game we have a much easier run-in where as city have really tough next 4-5 games.
After the Spurs match our remaining tough matches of the season are probably City and Sunderland (now that they no longer have Bruce in charge) away.
Sunderland is the last match of the season.
Sunderland is the last match of the season.
Was just going through the fixture list and I think our remaining fixtures are easier that theirs (atleast on paper).
They have the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle and us to play while we have City & Spurs.
They have the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle and us to play while we have City & Spurs.
For the first time in a long while, I'd actually prefer our remaining fixtures to City's. We have a fairly straightforward looking set of home games, whereas City have Chelsea and United to play. In the aways, City's only relatively "easy" game is Wolves, whereas we have Wolves, Blackburn and Wigan.
From City's point of view, they will feel they have the advantage because they are already two points ahead and they have the benefit of being at home in the "head to head" against United. The nearer we get to the finishing line, the more that game looks pivotal.
From City's point of view, they will feel they have the advantage because they are already two points ahead and they have the benefit of being at home in the "head to head" against United. The nearer we get to the finishing line, the more that game looks pivotal.
A while back the fixture list looked in their favour, now IMO it looks tipped in ours. Whatever the reason, happy days.
If we manage to beat Spurs on Sunday we will have gotten through our hardest set of fixtures this season and only dropped 2 points (coming from 0-3 at Stamford Bridge)
And yet so many still are not satisfied.
City will be worried if we come through these games still only 2 points behind
And yet so many still are not satisfied.
City will be worried if we come through these games still only 2 points behind
I was listening intently all weekend and my bum did not squeak once.
Truth be known, I dont think it has yet this calender year.
I was pretty pissed at one point over Christmas and woke up in the morning with a can of WD40 up my arse. I think that might have something to do with it.
Truth be known, I dont think it has yet this calender year.
I was pretty pissed at one point over Christmas and woke up in the morning with a can of WD40 up my arse. I think that might have something to do with it.
To be honest, they have no better chance than we do. In fact, given that they still have to play Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, Newscstel, and a tricky fixture away at Norwich, I'd say our run in will be much smoother.
I'd fancy us if we were ahead of City going into our game with them, only needing a draw.
City have the right players to be able to smother us and dictate the game if they don't need to win it.
Its unlikely to rest solely on that result though. We have some nice fixtures coming up after the Spurs game.
City have the right players to be able to smother us and dictate the game if they don't need to win it.
Its unlikely to rest solely on that result though. We have some nice fixtures coming up after the Spurs game.
IF we beat Tottenham then we're favourites for the title.
We won't be. While City still have a points lead and a game at home with us to come, they'll rightly be favourites IMO. Things can change very quickly though.
Tottenham away is as hard as it gets. We could lose that if we play like we did in plenty of games this season. A pedestrian performance in midfield or dodgy defending, both of which we've seen all too often recently, and their attacking players will kill us. A five point gap would erode the confidence as well. One game at a time.
We haven't failed to perform in the big games this season I see no reason why that would start against Spurs of all teams. Not saying we'll win but I don't think we'll lose
I dont understand why people keep saying stuff like this. If City were playing Wolves everyone would be saying it is a nailed on 3 pointer for them, and its the same for us. We should and will beat Wolves away, anything else would be a major upset.
We are almost level with City with two thirds of the season done. Why should every match be seen as harder for us than for them? Chelsea at home is by no means an easy fixture, and Swansea are solid ay home.
If anything out of those fixtures its us who has the easier batch of games.
We survived a possible blip against Norwhich - lets hope that was one of our bogey games that we managed to salvage 3 points from and that we will go on and have some solid performances in the important upcoming fixtures.