They are the most at risk of the current top 4.
Top 4 race 2016/17
- Thread starter Yorkeontop
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It's never been like this before though. There are five other clubs who are at least as good as Arsenal and I don't think you've been playing that well since the 3-0 win against Chelsea.
wonder how you get on today....doesn't matter though, someone is dropping points.
Always wondered how you spell that!
a draw between city and liverpool would be ideal, or at least a city win. Despite our two-wins-in-11 run, this is still very much on.
Of course, it's gonna be tight so i can't preduct anything!
So, am I happy about the Pool / City result? I'm confused as to who'd be the easiest team to overtake out of the current 2-4 spots.
Liverpool don't have any European games so City is the easier of the two theoretically. Depends how they do in January with City bringing in Jesus and Liverpool losing Mané to AFCON
We should be happy that City got an easy CL draw, I want them to go deep. The more focus they pay on CL the better. Ideally we want them to go out in grueling semi final with OT and penalties in the 2nd match or something.
That's disgusting.
Why? The more distraction in CL/tough matches they have the better. Just being practical. Don't want them to win it obviously, just want to increase our chances of overtaking them. It might happen regardless, I think Pep underestimated PL and that his aging squad will have even more problems as season goes on. Gabriel Jesus being mini Neymar might lift them up tho...
A draw would have been been better imo, as it would have dragged Liverpool into the mix at the expense of only giving City an extra point. The gap to us would have been five points and anything can happen when the pressure is on.
Also, although it's unlikely that Liverpool fall out of the top 4, dragging them back into a race for top 4 would ensure that they are looking for results against City, Arsenal and Spurs later in the season.
I was being crude. Just a joke.
City and Arsenal fans must be shitting it right about now watching United lately. City fans especially. Seeing your hated rival come from miles back after making fun of them all season so far to be within 3 points must be terrible.
Pep has to learn to adapt quickly or he'll suffer the extreme embarrassment of missing out on the CL after all they've spent and with how much he was talked up upon arrival.
Pep has to learn to adapt quickly or he'll suffer the extreme embarrassment of missing out on the CL after all they've spent and with how much he was talked up upon arrival.
Pains me to say it but I think we can forget about catching Liverpool, them and Chelsea are really showing the benefits of not being in European competition this season. I don't think Spurs will finish higher than 5th so its between us City and Arsenal for top 4. I think we'll do it with Arsenal missing out.
You severely over rate United and under rate city and arsenal if you think they're shirting it. Both clubs are still above you on merit. Personally with you guys having to come to city I'm confident well fend you off. Your form is good and your team does look better recently though you hardly look like world beaters
Liverpool losing Mane for AFCON might make some difference, but they still look as the second best team in the league. We should defeat them at OT in order to have a chance of catching them.
Arsenal and especially City look far more vulnerable.
Arsenal and especially City look far more vulnerable.
He's a Chelsea fan so no team in England is above them.
City have bee bad recently and United has been very good. It looked like it was game over a month ago, but now City are in a real position of dropping from top 4 with United and Spurs being quite good at winning matches.
I'm a Chelsea fan, firstly, and I don't know how you aren't worried about the team you're seeing each week. Look brilliant one moment and hopeless the next. Pep chops and changes and plays poor players constantly. After spending £150m in the summer and being lauded as the greatest manager ever who would "change English football," to finish outside of the CL places would be incredible.
On mobile so didn't see who he supports. Form is form. We and arsenal are easily as good at winning matches. And the point was I don't think either are shitting it over United or Spurs.
Maybe shitting is the wrong word, but I think that you should be worried. City has been the worst team out of top 6 after that incredible start when you won a lot of matches in the beginning (was it 8?) and United is finally getting the results (the performances were there most of the time).
Pep needs to change things or he will have the same fate as Van Gaal. He is an incredible manager IMO, but he might be more stubborn than someone should be, and that might be a concern if things don't go right?
Isn't that a little over the top. You guys are talking like we're rabbits in the headlights of those clubs. Truth be told had kdb taken his chance against you guys this convo isn't even happening but he didn't and you deservedly won. Small margins are what are costing us but no I'm not worried United and Spurs are just as capable of dropping points. United just fell over the line again in a game they should have won 5-0 for example.
I don't think it's that over the top. You guys were favorites entering the season. To be so far back at this point is shocking.
It will be a concern if it happens but imo Chelsea aside all the top 6 are dropping silly points. United aren't putting teams to bed and Liverpool are still prone to dropping clangers. We're in worse form atm but we're still fine albeit annoyingly out of the title race already just like Spurs, arsenal and united. When we won 10 in a row i said we wouldn't keep it up and didn't get over excited same as this iffy run.
favourites but not that far ahead. United and ourselves were expected to battle it out and we are (for fourth) but I don't think anyone expected us to walk it or you guys to win 13 games in a row
Watching from the outside, the realistic spot United must target atm is the 4th. In fact, I can't see Chelsea and Liverpool missing out (mainly because of them not having European football this season) and I don't believe City will collapse. Fourth place is United to lose, both Arsenal and Spurs lacking consistency. Higher than fourth, who knows, it will depend on January transfers, runs and unpredictable events such injuries, loss of confidence, etc.
Pretty much this; why I prefer a Liverpool win today. We are fighting Arsenal, Spurs and maybe City, the only way Liverpool drop out is a total meltdown; Chelsea are beyond us.
That's exactly why you should be shitting it. The fact that we've lost points despite playing well is the only reason that you're ahead of us. A game like today, that shows we can take all points despite some extremely disappointing calls from the referee as well as going behind late, hints at the fact that we've found the character and mentality that's been missing from our team since Fergie called it a day. That's not something you've shown much of this season after the going got a little tough.
A Watford win, and a tactical master stroke from Big Sam to secure a point for Crystal Palace tomorrow will do nicely.
I stand by my newfound cocksure-ness, and believe we'll stroll to fourth from here. The fact that managed to turn it around today made me even more sure of it. We've finally gotten our best players going, and we're simply a better team than those around us. It's annoying that Liverpool don't look like letting off anytime soon, because they are the team I would most like us to pass on the table. Unfortunately I think we'll end up third, behind Liverpool and Chelsea, but beating them at Old Trafford in a couple of weeks will put us within touching distance. And I have a feeling that the Sunderland game might be more of a banana peel for them than one might think!
You talk about fine margins with that KDB chance and I can talk about our games against Stoke/WHU/Burnley/Arsenal and Everton.
Also, a game we should have won 5-0 is the same fixture you drew 1-1.
I watched the game today and you should have won 5-0 (not Boro are a team you should be beating 5-0) is what I'm saying. You weren't clinical enough, just like us when we played them actually. And you made my point for me just like you guys against Stoke, WHU etc... I said the same thing about you guys, pretty sure you even quoted me on one of those topics. You weren't as bad as your run made you out to be, neither are we. You go 11 games unbeaten, we won 8 in a row. We're capable of doing it again so are you. You guys had a bad run, we're having patchy form atm and just like that it could be reversed again. You've got a poor record against the big teams so have we, So yeah football is decided by fine margins and it can swing here and there.
United have improved game on game. We have finally integrated Mkhi into the side and Martial is showing signs of getting back to where he was last season. Thats a lot of goals across our front 3 while we have finally built the midfield around Pogba and are now getting the best from him.
You are simply a mess. Aguero didn't touch the ball once in Liverpools half today while your defence is still as horrendous as it's always been. You now have to play Yaya fecking Toure in your midfield, the same Yaya who lost his legs a few years ago.
Your great start has masked your actual output.
All your stats and league position are still hinged on that same start so when that begins to even out so will your league position.
I predicted Citys downfall last season and got mocked by BobbyManc et all. I was the lone voice on this forum, to the point I thought I would be labelled a troll, arguing against their summer transfer policy and I predicted you wouldn't make top 4.
Right now I'll predict you will end up closer to Everton than us and Pep will not see out two seasons at City. He will blame not taking a break between jobs and off he goes.
You guys keep saying that but you fumbled over the line again today. Better though you are. We're so shit and terrible in all your posts and you guys so much better but we are still ahead of you. Our great start masked our output but your current run hasn't. Thats bull plain and simple, we won those games on merit. We've both played 19 games, we have more points and simply to this stage of the season have been better.
As for your prediction I'll tell you what. We'll bet account names (if its allowed on this forum), if City finsih above United you change your username to Pep is great than Jose for a season and if United finish above us I'll change mine to vice versa if you wish. Your hatred and bashing of City and red tinted glasses are just that. I can at least give a fair and honest opinion about you guys, praise what you've got right and not let my club allegiance get in the way. You can offer nothing only criticising a team who are still above you in the league in the hope it comes true.
You're offering no counter to the argument though. You seem to be relying on us dominating opponents every week while failing to score for you to stay above us.
We have 1 defeat in 15. We have won the last 6 with only last min equaliers stopping that from being 9 or 10 wins. Surely those last min equaliers are bigger outliers than having 32 shots on target and having legit goals and stonewall pens ruled out?
City on the other hand struggled last season with an aging squad that showed they couldn't handle the pace of a full season. You now have to rely on that same side who are a year older and jaded. There is a reason why your two big results have been one half v Barca and one half v Arsenal and not over the entire 90 mins. You simply can't do it.
Where are these shoots of recovery? Nolito has fallen off a cliff, Sane look to be a prospect for next season and you have 4 clean sheets in 20.
I won't bet my account name because I think its juvenile ( and I like my name! ) but how can it be argued this side is any better than last years?
Your form over this season is like ours but in reverse. You're getting worse as the season progresses.
You are relying on us not hitting another winning run again. Like I said swings and roundabout, for all those last minute equalisers happened you we had it with Everton, MiddlesBoro, should have put Chelsea to bed. Most people will say in the prem only Spurs and Leicester deserved anything off us (and the Pool tonight). Chelsea we should have put to bed and didn't and they punished us and then deserved the win. Fine margins.
Our side is much better in many aspects. We have much better shape, as poor and all as we were even tonight we restricted the best attacking team in the league to very little. We use the ball better and have much more purpose. You are saying everything we achieved in the first 10 games should be discarded but everything you achieved in the last 15 is set in stone and thats how its going to go. Not a hope football is not like that.
We've now played at Anfield, OT and WhL arguably the 3 worst away games for us because of how their pressing style weakens us and because United are well United and look a team again. We've lost away at Barca, Leicester, Liverpool and Spurs. Only one of those did I or anyone who knows football think we would certainly win. We slipped against Chelsea at home and thats our bad results. Losses to the defending champs, the champs elect, two of the toughest away days in the prem and the hardest place to go in Europe.
Other than those we drew at home to Everton and Southampton (which are not great but not horrid results) and in the same circumstances you want to say is fine for United dropping points but not for City we dropped a late clanger at home to Middlesborough.
We have to go to Chelsea and Arsenal which are our only nightmare away fixtures left.
You guys have to travel to us, Spurs and Arsenal.
Our shambles of a defence has now conceded only 2 more than you, we've scored 10 more than you and have 3 points more. Regardless of when they were earned.
As to your point on your fantastic run you've only beaten our reserves and Spurs of note really. On our early run we only beat you guys.
Its no coincidence our form has wobbled when we've had alot of tough fixtures against the big teams and your worst run of the season was when you faced them too (Us, Liverpool, Chelsea and the Watford blip)
When either of us have had a nice run of fixtures we've had a nice run of wins when we haven't than we've struggled. Essentially only the Leicester game was a major blip for us..
So yeah just like our immense form earlier in the season yours is on a nice run of fixtures, and when we both had to play with the other big boys our runs weren't quite so impressive.
The bet was more tongue in cheek and for what its worth I like your username too, as I do our disagreements on Otamendi and Rojo. Also with regards to my original point it wasn't that we were way better than you guys, it was simply we have no reason to be shitting it about you coming over the hill when in reality we've both looked good against weaker teams but are batting about the same with the stronger . Essentially the only difference in both our seasons is us beating you guys at OT, other than that we've fared the same against the big and not so big teams. So we have no reason to be shitting it.
I'm seeing the same problems that I saw last season, you are falling off again. Forget the title you are fighting for the champions league, you will be out of the top four if Spurs and Arsenal win tomorrow. Your goalkeeper is the worst in the league, your defence is terrible, your midfield is ancient and finally your manager looks more and more a frontrunner.
We're definately not in the title race, we're competing for top four now for sure. But we're still a different team than last season and its plain to see. We work harder, play smarter and alot of the ego is gone (though Silva may need a boot in the hole). Our midfield is fine theres only been 3 games this season where our midfield has been bossed, Pool first half today, Barca and Spurs (last 30 minutes against Chelsea maybe too but I think that was more an implosion of the mental sort). Our manager only a front runner, why? Because he lost at the 2 of the toughest grounds in the prem. We'll be fine. Our form will be fine just like the teams around us, we'll win the nice games and the battles with the big boys will be 50-50 bar maybe Liverpool and Chelsea who have good records against the other top 6 members.
Man City have 3 more points, lost 1 less game and have conceded 1 more goal while scoring 2 more compared to this time last year.
Take into account the extra couple of form games that they had with the added Pep factor and they are in a slightly worse position than last year when the initial LETS TAKE ON THE WORD motivation wore off and the grind kicked in.
Again, im at a loss at how this season is any better than last.
Take into account the extra couple of form games that they had with the added Pep factor and they are in a slightly worse position than last year when the initial LETS TAKE ON THE WORD motivation wore off and the grind kicked in.
Again, im at a loss at how this season is any better than last.
Its hard to explain but last season we just let the big teams thrash us, this season though we've lost we at least showed some balls against Spurs and Chelsea and didn't bend over after going down at Arsenal. Its hard to explain, our bottom level this season has been our average level last season. Last season we were comfortably in the title race and still favourites at this stage too. It was after xmas we really really went to shit. At our current rate we'll finish with 78 points last season we finished with 66. I don't think you guys realise just how bad we were last season, We took 30 points in 19 games 2nd half of the season, scoring only 34 times. Our players strolled around the pitch every game like the first half today and put zero effort in (cept Fernandinho).
Not even worried about this in the slightest. We're fully locked in and have great momentum. Reckon its down to us and Pool in regards to who'll finish second.