Manchester City 17/18 discussion | "If you're here for the Champions clap your hands" (#6505)

[Thunderhead]

On what basis of fact?


Again just hope not fact.


Yeah so weak, they almost beat Everton with 10 men, came back against Bournemouth, beat Chelsea after star striker had a car crash, beat a resolute Burnley, beat a determined wolves on penalties.


Perhaps you should read the factual analysis on the BBC about height having no effect whatsoever, or just stick with your flights of fantasy.

Just ignore him, life is far too short for a wummer

 

[Manchester Dan]

Would be very surprised if Pep extends, especially if you don't win the PL/CL this season. You also only have a short window with some of your players. If the likes of Sane, Jesus, turn out to be top players they are going to want to join bigger clubs.

I’m almost certain he’ll extend, and almost certain Sane and Jesus will be here at least as long as he is. Just my view though.

 

[RooneyLegend]

Reckon today will be a huge test for them, Napoli really had them figured in the second half of their first match against them. Reckon it could also point a few coaches in the league on how to approach matches vs them.

 

[Thunderhead]

Reckon today will be a huge test for them, Napoli really had them figured in the second half of their first match against them. Reckon it could also point a few coaches in the league on how to approach matches vs them.

that may be true but how many teams in the prem can play like Napoli? I think City stepped off the gas a bit in the last game when they went 2-0 up, even at 2-1 I can't recall that many clear cut chances that Napoli had.

 

[Manchester Dan]

Reckon today will be a huge test for them, Napoli really had them figured in the second half of their first match against them. Reckon it could also point a few coaches in the league on how to approach matches vs them.

Napoli play expansive football, the very hardest to replicate. I agree though tonight will be a tough game and potentially our first defeat of the season. I’d take a draw right now.

 

[FCBarca]

Napoli play expansive football, the very hardest to replicate. I agree though tonight will be a tough game and potentially our first defeat of the season. I’d take a draw right now.

That's what I miss about Pep, they will be out there to win it and as a football fan that's what I want to see from my team everytime they go out onto the pitch

 

[prtk0811]

Would be a open game tonight end to end. One who takes more chances will win it.

 

[Treble]

Their current form is unsustainable for the simple reason that it would have them on 106 pts at the end of the season. Which is impossible to achieve.

Form is bound to dip. Their style requires a lot of concentration and may lead to mental fatigue at some point. How long will the expected dip continue is anyone's guess though. You can't predict injuries, suspentions, freak results, January signings, etc. Last season City were slightly more consistent in the second half of the season. Thus, physical fatigue may not be a big problem. Basically, it's very tough to predict.

 

[SCP]

That's what I miss about Pep, they will be out there to win it and as a football fan that's what I want to see from my team everytime they go out onto the pitch

Fair to say Valverde is a bit boring?

 

[FCBarca]

Fair to say Valverde is a bit boring?

That was clear long before he took over Barcelona

 

[prtk0811]

Their current form is unsustainable for the simple reason that it would have them on 106 pts at the end of the season. Which is impossible to achieve.

Form is bound to dip. Their style requires a lot of concentration and may lead to mental fatigue at some point. How long will the expected dip continue is anyone's guess though. You can't predict injuries, suspentions, freak results, January signings, etc. Last season City were slightly more consistent in the second half of the season. Thus, physical fatigue may not be a big problem. Basically, it's very tough to predict.

The dip will be more down to team defending deep in front of them and scoring direct on the counter , They have conceeded 4 goals like that against stoke and brom but scored more, one who defends resolutely with physical presence have a chance to get points off them.

 

[SCP]

That was clear long before he took over Barcelona

Yup but at Bilbao they had good moments, strange because he actually is making Barça more organized than Enrique, maybe they need Dembele to recover, not so sure Coutinho is the solution, time to return to basics and bring the most talented players from the youth teams.

 

[prtk0811]

That's what I miss about Pep, they will be out there to win it and as a football fan that's what I want to see from my team everytime they go out onto the pitch

Do You see him comming back to barca one day?

 

[FCBarca]

Yup but at Bilbao they had good moments, strange because he actually is making Barça more organized than Enrique, maybe they need Dembele to recover, not so sure Coutinho is the solution, time to return to basics and bring the most talented players from the youth teams.

I think that's down to the style of Basque teams though more than Valverde

4-4-2 is not a bad read but terrible to watch for a Barcelona fan

 

[FCBarca]

Do You see him comming back to barca one day?

To head up La Masia or coach a youth team, yes. To coach the first team? No

 

[prtk0811]

To head up La Masia or coach a youth team, yes. To coach the first team? No

So Psg then.

 

[FCBarca]

So Psg then.

Unlikely. I think it'll be City and then a NT - from there, back home

 

[prtk0811]

Unlikely. I think it'll be City and then a NT - from there, back home

He's too young for that with enough career left, Psg will need a manager soon to fullfill their ambitions with the project they have got.

 

[FCBarca]

He's too young for that with enough career left, Psg will need a manager soon to fullfill their ambitions with the project they have got.

Wouldn't tick the boxes for Pep, plus he's not out there to be coaching into his 70s. He's on a worldwide Cruyff Total Football tour having hit the 3 biggest leagues in Europe, and once that winds down after a NT stint the Catalan kid will return home to his club and still be involved with football but with youth

 

[SCP]

Only problem I can see for them this season is the long term injury of Mendy, Delph is doing a good job, the other option can be Danilo, but still the prospect of a fit Mendy and Walker bombing up and down could be scary for 90% of the teams in the league.

 

[Thunderhead]

The dip will be more down to team defending deep in front of them and scoring direct on the counter , They have conceeded 4 goals like that against stoke and brom but scored more, one who defends resolutely with physical presence have a chance to get points off them.

that's fair enough but I can't think of 3 teams who defend with more physical presence than West Brom, Burnley and Stoke who we've beaten quite comfortably in recent weeks, but I do think you're right it'll be a game similar to Everton which we will lose, team scores in the first half and we don't take chances, one good thing this season though is that goals are coming from all area's of the pitch and the likes of Otamendi and Fernandinho have scored more than KDB and David Silva.

I certainly don't expect us to beat all the top 5 teams but if we can top that mini table at the end of the season it'll put us close to winning the league, I reckon for both us and United's finishing position will largely depend on not dropping points against the other 14 teams which barring blips against Huddersfield and Everton both appear to be doing with no real problems at the moment.

 

[Thunderhead]

Wouldn't tick the boxes for Pep, plus he's not out there to be coaching into his 70s. He's on a worldwide Cruyff Total Football tour having hit the 3 biggest leagues in Europe, and once that winds down after a NT stint the Catalan kid will return home to his club and still be involved with football but with youth

can you not see him becoming director of football at somewhere like Girona for a lot of years, being in charge of something like scouting and developing players there and trying to get them to the next level?

 

[prtk0811]

that's fair enough but I can't think of 3 teams who defend with more physical presence than West Brom, Burnley and Stoke who we've beaten quite comfortably in recent weeks, but I do think you're right it'll be a game similar to Everton which we will lose, team scores in the first half and we don't take chances, one good thing this season though is that goals are coming from all area's of the pitch and the likes of Otamendi and Fernandinho have scored more than KDB and David Silva.

I certainly don't expect us to beat all the top 5 teams but if we can top that mini table at the end of the season it'll put us close to winning the league, I reckon for both us and United's finishing position will largely depend on not dropping points against the other 14 teams which barring blips against Huddersfield and Everton both appear to be doing with no real problems at the moment.

You can expect any team in epl to have more physical presence than city players , that's not an issue. That play is in the house of many epl teams and come december to may it becomes harder and harder to score that way as teams at the bottom are scambling for points..

It will come down to the consistancy or goal difference. Points against top 6 is a different issue.

 

[FCBarca]

can you not see him becoming director of football at somewhere like Girona for a lot of years, being in charge of something like scouting and developing players there and trying to get them to the next level?

Was he a ball boy at Girona? Did he win multiple titles as a player and coach for them? Is he a club member of Girona?

There is only one club that ticks all the boxes for the club of his life, he’ll be back as he has said before

 

[Cassady]

Their current form is unsustainable for the simple reason that it would have them on 106 pts at the end of the season. Which is impossible to achieve.

Form is bound to dip. Their style requires a lot of concentration and may lead to mental fatigue at some point. How long will the expected dip continue is anyone's guess though. You can't predict injuries, suspentions, freak results, January signings, etc. Last season City were slightly more consistent in the second half of the season. Thus, physical fatigue may not be a big problem. Basically, it's very tough to predict.

All form is unustainable . They can afford more slip ups than everybody else as they are five points clear and are playing the best football .

 

[AXVnee7]

All form is unustainable . They can afford more slip ups than everybody else as they are five points clear and are playing the best football .

Yeah I think this is a good point. Man City will slip up at some point, but that doesn't necessarily mean someone will be there to take advantage. Let's not also forget that the chasing pack will also experience their own slip ups too. As the poster you quoted mentioned, there's too many factors that can't be predicted.

 

[FCBarca]

Yeah I think this is a good point. Man City will slip up at some point, but that doesn't necessarily mean someone will be there to take advantage. Let's not also forget that the chasing pack will also experience their own slip ups too. As the poster you quoted mentioned, there's too many factors that can't be predicted.

There's another angle to this discussion that has been glossed over, City can & more than likely will play even better still

 

[prtk0811]

Yeah I think this is a good point. Man City will slip up at some point, but that doesn't necessarily mean someone will be there to take advantage. Let's not also forget that the chasing pack will also experience their own slip ups too. As the poster you quoted mentioned, there's too many factors that can't be predicted.

I think Us and tottenham will be right up there to take advantage, its only november start right now. We will be boosted on the injury front with Pogba fellani rojo Ibra soon to be fit and May be shaw too hopefully ready to be called. Mistakes vs huddesfeild were one of individual mistakes. i expect to create more and more chances where we have to improve in the final third with ibrahimovic's link up and hold up play. He is not the one who gets ignored.

Not counting out tottenham too.

 

[AXVnee7]

There's another angle to this discussion that has been glossed over, City can & more than likely will play even better still

Yes you're right on both counts. I feel players like B.Silva who I think is class will only make City that more dangerous once he's fully integrated into the team.

I think Us and tottenham will be right up there to take advantage, its only november start right now. We will be boosted on the injury front with Pogba fellani rojo Ibra soon to be fit and May be shaw too hopefully ready to be called. Mistakes vs huddesfeild were one of individual mistakes. i expect to create more and more chances where we have to improve in the final third with ibrahimovic's link up and hold up play. He is not the one who gets ignored.

Not counting out tottenham too.

I hope you're right. 5 points isn't much of a gap especially at this time of a season. I think most of us just need to see City slip up just to ease our nerves, even if they don't lose but draw. Zlatan returning could the game changer for us. His influence is that big.

 

[robinamicrowave]

Only problem I can see for them this season is the long term injury of Mendy, Delph is doing a good job, the other option can be Danilo, but still the prospect of a fit Mendy and Walker bombing up and down could be scary for 90% of the teams in the league.

Depends what we do in January I guess. If we can keep Walker, Danilo and Delph fit until January 1st we'll be alright.

 

[Dept3942]

I’m almost Pep will extend, and almost certain Sane and Jesus will be here at least as long as he is. Just my view though.

If you don't win the PL this season think he'll still stay on for the final year with another big TW. If he fails again next season then he won't be offered a renewal. If you win the PL next season he may sign up for 1 year to try to win the CL. I would'nt be too confident that he's going to stay with you until you win the CL. His brief at Bayern was to win the CL. We know how that turned out.

Perhaps you should read the factual analysis on the BBC about height having no effect whatsoever, or just stick with your flights of fantasy.

If you have a team of 7ft lumps with no technical ability then it won't make a difference. We have huge players that are supremely gifted in the air & on the deck. These 2 are a lethal combination, especially against physically weak opposition.

There's another angle to this discussion that has been glossed over, City can & more than likely will play even better still

Utter nonsense. They have only dropped 2 points this season. They have had quite a bit of luck too & have had no major injury concerns apart from Mendy. They will fade as the season goes on due to injuries, form & bad breaks. Many people say they have the squad to cover. These players are not playing as they are deemed not good enough to replace who's already in the team. It's rubbish to say bringing these players in will be business as usual.

 

[SCP]

Depends what we do in January I guess. If we can keep Walker, Danilo and Delph fit until January 1st we'll be alright.

And hoping Fernandinho has a good backup by Touré or Gundogan,or curiosity to see who will play when David Silva or De Bruyne cannot play.

 

[FCBarca]

Utter nonsense. They have only dropped 2 points this season. They have had quite a bit of luck too & have had no major injury concerns apart from Mendy. They will fade as the season goes on due to injuries, form & bad breaks. Many people say they have the squad to cover. These players are not playing as they are deemed not good enough to replace who's already in the team. It's rubbish to say bringing these players in will be business as usual.

In 6 months time we’ll see but it’s nonsense if not altogether naive to think they’ve peaked under Pep in 14 months

 

[RooneyLegend]

that may be true but how many teams in the prem can play like Napoli? I think City stepped off the gas a bit in the last game when they went 2-0 up, even at 2-1 I can't recall that many clear cut chances that Napoli had.

Remember them getting quite a few chances, more importantly, holding city to very few. No one steps off the gas when they have a one goal advantage. The biggest difference was in their approach to stopping city, very aggressive front foot defending and putting a solid challenge to their philosophy. Teams in the prem seem to think sitting off city is the way to go about things and that always ends in disaster.

Napoli play expansive football, the very hardest to replicate. I agree though tonight will be a tough game and potentially our first defeat of the season. I’d take a draw right now.

I was more impressed with their work off the ball, teams in the prem treat this city team like their build up is as good as Barca during the pep years but the truth is none of these guys are that good with the ball under pressure. Obviously it's important to step off when city get controlled possession in midfield but stepping off all those guys in the back and allowing them to knock it about isn't working and i doubt it ever will. Napoli did it in the first half and City put on a clinic doubt they'd make the same mistake again.

 

[Cassady]

Yeah I think this is a good point. Man City will slip up at some point, but that doesn't necessarily mean someone will be there to take advantage. Let's not also forget that the chasing pack will also experience their own slip ups too. As the poster you quoted mentioned, there's too many factors that can't be predicted.

Yep.

It's footie and anything can happen.

 

[Yagami]

Pretty, prettttty jealous that City have Pep. I'd love to see United go to a top teams ground and actually play football.

 

[Ban]

Pretty, prettttty jealous that City have Pep. I'd love to see United go to a top teams ground and actually play football.

Agree. They're something else. We're stuck with Jose and his antifootball. Ugh.

 

[robinamicrowave]

Four goals in Napoli. Four.

 

[VorZakone]

Didn't expect them to put 4 past Napoli.

 

[Yagami]

Agree. They're something else. We're stuck with Jose and his antifootball. Ugh.

I know you're doing your usual shtick but I've never liked José's football bar that one Madrid season and I've always loved the football Pep's played. Annoying seeing him doing that at City whilst we play poorly.