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

City have found themselves to be extremely fortunate all season long. It's all going their way, from dodgy decisions to late goals, they've had it in abundance.
That's because you don't look at the whole picture. Fact is, they make so many chances and concede so few that there's an argument for them being quite unlucky to even be in the position of grinding out results in some matches. Scoring from the first half-chance is more lucky than grinding out a late winner in a match you dominate and create chances.
 
That's because you don't look at the whole picture. Fact is, they make so many chances and concede so few that there's an argument for them being quite unlucky to even be in the position of grinding out results in some matches. Scoring from the first half-chance is more lucky than grinding out a late winner in a match you dominate and create chances.

Did you read the whole post? The point you are making here is the very same point I was alluding to in the previous post.

But yeah, you really do create your own luck. We can't wait for Lady Luck to abandon them because she won't be doing that. In order to peg them back, we have to start creating our own luck starting with the derby this weekend.
 
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Did you read the whole post? The point you are making here is the very same point I was alluding to in the previous post.

But yeah, you really do create your own luck. We can't wait for Lady Luck to leave abandon because she won't be doing that. In order to peg them back, we have to start creating our own luck starting with the derby this weekend.
I think that total football approach has something inherently fragile about it. On the other hand, reactive teams are relatively more efficient for the reasons that aren't really quantifiable. They're simply better at making use of the momentum, or even sheer luck.
 
I don't buy the argument that City have been fortunate. They have been successfully breaking teams down. They deserve the credit for it as much as they deserve criticism if eventually teams are able to take points from them by scoring jammy goals.

The concentration required to play in Pep's system is quite incredible and it remains to be seen if this bunch of City players can handle the mental exhaustion as much as physical one for an entire season.
 
Cant wait for the banter...
This is the biggest game of the season, why have a sideshow as part of the build-up?
 
To be fair, the blues don't have anyone else of note to call upon to represent them.

Never used to see him at City until they won the lottery. Now he's fecking on the pitch when they win a trophy.

And how could you forget Curly Watts or Les Battersby. Iconic City fans
 
Summerbee provided one of my favourite Derby moments to be fair.

Laughing at him after winning the derby as he made a fool of himself, it was hilarious.

Sorry, I was only joking. To be fair to Mike though I think, on that very same occasion, he predicted City would soon come back to Old Trafford and win comfortably..
 
what about this evening? pep wearing the superhero mask or just a meaningless training game? they are expecting a favour in naples after all the weasel & the drivel for sarri and his beatiful game
 
Sorry, I was only joking. To be fair to Mike though I think, on that very same occasion, he predicted City would soon come back to Old Trafford and win comfortably..

He did and the very next derby at OT was the 6-1 so the "old fool" was right ;)
 
what about this evening? pep wearing the superhero mask or just a meaningless training game? they are expecting a favour in naples after all the weasel & the drivel for sarri and his beatiful game

Draw at best, most probably a loss for City. Shaktar are pretty good. Will create problems for their next opponent in the last 16.
 
To be fair, the blues don't have anyone else of note to call upon to represent them.


Johnny Marr
Billy Duffy
Ian Curtis (unavailable for bookings)
Reni
Mark E Smith (almost unavailable for bookings)

Just a few musical types who are blues..
 
At least today we've learned Yaya is absolutely finished at any kind of competent level and shouldn't play a single game that matters for us again.

Questions over Gundo this half too, he's very poor when we don't have possession, easily pushed off the ball and lacking fight (hopefully thats just because of the night thats in it.).
Mangala quite poor and it looks like Bernardo still hasn't adapted to our style of play (might have to wait till next season to see anything from him).

At least Foden's looked ok. Tosin still not ready by the looks of things (imagine this is his last season before he's shipped off, if he doesn't make the step soon.)
 
At least today we've learned Yaya is absolutely finished at any kind of competent level and shouldn't play a single game that matters for us again.

Questions over Gundo this half too, he's very poor when we don't have possession, easily pushed off the ball and lacking fight (hopefully thats just because of the night thats in it.).
Mangala quite poor and it looks like Bernardo still hasn't adapted to our style of play (might have to wait till next season to see anything from him).

At least Foden's looked ok. Tosin still not ready by the looks of things (imagine this is his last season before he's shipped off, if he doesn't make the step soon.)
Tosin isn’t good enough. Clumsy on the ball, weak off it, and no positional sense. Glad he’s been given the chance to prove it again though.
 
Tosin isn’t good enough. Clumsy on the ball, weak off it, and no positional sense. Glad he’s been given the chance to prove it again though.

Looks like it, though he's not being helped by Danilo being absolutely terrible so far. His marking on 2nd goal was horrid, think Ederson pulled out of that challenge too (fear of a red or maybe getting injured before the derby?)
 
what about this evening? pep wearing the superhero mask or just a meaningless training game? they are expecting a favour in naples after all the weasel & the drivel for sarri and his beatiful game

They are very reliant on KDB. I'd say even more reliant than we are on Pogba. They're extremely lucky he's managed to stay fit and injury free when he's basically been run into the ground since the season began.

I kid.
 
They are very reliant on KDB. I'd say even more reliant than we are on Pogba. They're extremely lucky he's managed to stay fit and injury free when he's basically been run into the ground since the season began.

I kid.
Blood bags.
 
Probably won’t mean a thing. But very relieved they lost tonight even though it was meaningless for them

This plus their recent close games gives me a little hope

But it’s uo to us to beat them. Then maybe cracks will really show
 
What it says to me is their sub bench seems to be strong in name only.
I wouldn't like Bernardo or Gundogan having an extended run on this form.
Yaya Toure needs to be put out to pasture
 
Nice to see they have some filth in their squad that will need addressing. Gundogan, Mangala and Yaya are the obvious ones who were extremely poor tonight then there is B.Silva who has done nothing yet (yes he's new and time is on his side to adapt).
 
They are not in good form clearly. Although they use to say that in derby games teams even in poor form the can raise the game. Hopefully we can raise it even more on the day!
 
This city side is far from great. They still have junk with them and they are 2 or 3 injuries/suspension away from a real breakdown. They have been very lucky with injuries in the sense that not losing their key player. Gundogan and B.Silva hardly look like a player they were once. If they lose Fernandinho they are badly fecked.
 
Gundo was fine, playing alongside Yaya is a chore and you're effectively playing against 13 men with him next to you

Foden and Diaz have shown they can step up if required, tosin is a funny one, terrible first half and then probably best defender second half, really needs to go out on loan
 
Meaningless game but pretty poor from City tonight, albeit with a weaker lineup. Sunday should be a good game.

Have to say, Diaz looked fantastic for the 30 minutes he was on the pitch, great prospect
 
This city side is far from great. They still have junk with them and they are 2 or 3 injuries/suspension away from a real breakdown. They have been very lucky with injuries in the sense that not losing their key player. Gundogan and B.Silva hardly look like a player they were once. If they lose Fernandinho they are badly fecked.

I'd disagree on the very lucky with injuries point. No one goes into the season expecting key players to get injured, it's just something all clubs have to deal with as and when it happens and City are no luckier than anyone else. Mendy, Stones and Kompany are all first choice yet have all been injured for at least a month during this season anyway, Gundogan has only just returned from an ACL rupture, Aguero has missed games. I'd take some bad luck after that.

I can't recall Fernandinho ever being injured in fairness although a lot of people don't seem to rate him as a player anyway. De Bruyne has the discipline to play that position if necessary.

Far from great? Depends how you measure it really as to what you consider "far" and they've won nothing yet but I'm happy with the progress so far with topping the CL group and unbeaten in the league.
 
One thing you would know watching us or football in general is that form means nothing in games like rivals playing each other.

I would not worry or take whatever form they are in too seriously. Because it won't matter.

Based on our home results, we obviously have advantage no matter what.

But, if we want to get closer to the race, we must beat them. A draw would be a tad disappointing.
 
In the midst of a season long documentary being made by amazon. Dressing room access etc. Pretty cringey stuff, desperate marketing ploy. Imagine a documentary team behind the scenes and in fergies office for a season.
 
I don't buy the argument that City have been fortunate. They have been successfully breaking teams down. They deserve the credit for it as much as they deserve criticism if eventually teams are able to take points from them by scoring jammy goals.

The concentration required to play in Pep's system is quite incredible and it remains to be seen if this bunch of City players can handle the mental exhaustion as much as physical one for an entire season.

They have had a lot of margins with them this season that I guess they didn't get last season. Although there is no doubt they have been very good so far.

Even with more normal amount of luck I think they would be a few points ahead of us, but probably they would have dropped 3-6 more points at least without a lot of lucky added time deflections, offside goals and so on. Obviously we could have dropped more points as well and other team could have gained more.