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

Taking digs at United is ok, it is all part of the rivalry and I suppose they are entitled to it on account of their current success.

But taking digs at the abilities of individual players is crass. Especially targeting a guy who has received constant criticism from our own fans and yet had the mental fortitude to rise above it. I am betting that Sane, despite being a superior footballer, would have wilted had he ever been under the pressure Fellaini was in.

Indeed. This is such a classless act. Things like that tend to get punished though.
 
As it stands, the PL right now is fairly weak, Chelsea are under strength as are Arse, and compared to previous seasons so are Liverpool and Spuds.

The PL is the strongest it’s ever been and has I’ve representatives in the last 16 of the CL for the first time ever. There’s also six ‘big clubs’ competing now compared with the two or three in the 90’s and 00’s.

The PL is weak right now, that's not City's fault, you can only beat who's in front of you, but seriously, other than United (who are still not full strength), all the other bigger sides are weak.

Again see above, that’s patently not true.

Most importantly that Barca team backed it up like all great teams do. Not just a good six months. They had 5 year dominance on world football.

So the it’s too early to make that. You could say ‘they’ll need more years of winning things to be comparable’ which would be fine, but all periods of dominance from any club started with a first six months.

Don't think the 'PL is weak' argument holds much strength. For starters there is more competition for top four and every club has some financial clout to build on more than ever before.

But more-so because the argument sounds a tad sour. In 99/00 Utd won the league by 18 points. The following season by 10 points. Those margins of dominance suggests a weak competition but no Utd fan gave a shit.

Great post and totally agree.
 
Just as fwiw, the 2005/06 City team beat that Chelsea team 1-0.

Pedantic I know but it was the 2004-05 season that we beat them 1-0. Chelsea's only league loss that season and we somehow managed a 0-0 draw at their gaff
 
Pedantic I know but it was the 2004-05 season that we beat them 1-0. Chelsea's only league loss that season and we somehow managed a 0-0 draw at their gaff
Imagine then what this current City side could do to them.

White text indeed.
 
Don't think the 'PL is weak' argument holds much strength. For starters there is more competition for top four and every club has some financial clout to build on more than ever before.

But more-so because the argument sounds a tad sour. In 99/00 Utd won the league by 18 points. The following season by 10 points. Those margins of dominance suggests a weak competition but no Utd fan gave a shit. My memory blends those two seasons into one as looking back it was a stroll and there wasn't much in way of changes to the team over the two seasons. But the team played really fun football during that period so at the time I just wanted to enjoy the football I was watching rather than get bored of the lack of edge to the competition. It's only when you're seeing it from the outsider perspective do you bemoan the competition.
Just like no Man City fans currently gives a shit but it doesn't make it less true. Just look at all the teams in the bottom half and how they're struggling to see that this is a very poor league season so far.
 
Just like no Man City fans currently gives a shit but it doesn't make it less true. Just look at all the teams in the bottom half and how they're struggling to see that this is a very poor league season so far.
Weren't mid and low table PL teams always that shit? I always thought that, it's just that the top 6 or whatever are now more effective with their resources.
 
Weren't mid and low table PL teams always that shit? I always thought that, it's just that the top 6 or whatever are now more effective with their resources.
I just look at the clubs who have been struggling this season, teams you'd expect to be a little better if not a lot. The PL isn't strong overall tbh. The top teams have improved for sure but some of the football played is a nightmare in terms of viewing.
 
I just look at the clubs who have been struggling this season, teams you'd expect to be a little better if not a lot. The PL isn't strong overall tbh. The top teams have improved for sure but some of the football played is a nightmare in terms of viewing.
I absolutely agree with this statement. I just don't think it has changed, i.e. the poor level of most teams in any way for the past... many years. :)
 
Bobby Madley, City should mentally prepare to being screwed by him anytime he's listed for their fixture. Rubbish referee

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Buddy you should just change your profile name to FCcity or Fcpep.
 
16 weeks behind bars is a bit of a joke tbh. That guy sounds like a right scumbag.

Especially when you consider he has a charge sheet as long as his arm. Then again, that woman with 60-odd convictions only got 5 years recently for killing a bloke at Victoria Station after shoving him under a tram.

Edit: As it was common assault, it's at the lower end of the spectrum. Sentencing guidelines aren't particularly severe, and it could be the racial element that has resulted in the custodial sentence.
 
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But right now he is a manager of man city. So if in CL its barca v. city; who will you cheer for?

I don't cheer for City, I cheer for Barcelona - I appreciate, however, football that evokes joy and when Pep coaches a team that's what he brings

If you love football, I cannot understand how anyone cannot appreciate what is going on at City. It's annoying I realize for many United fans but there's a reason why most people tune into their matches, they are assured of being entertained
 
I don't cheer for City, I cheer for Barcelona - I appreciate, however, football that evokes joy and when Pep coaches a team that's what he brings

If you love football, I cannot understand how anyone cannot appreciate what is going on at City. It's annoying I realize for many United fans but there's a reason why most people tune into their matches, they are assured of being entertained

They don't even fill their own ground except in big games so I think you're over-stating it a bit.

I'd wager their television viewing figures when playing a run of the mill league game are vastly lower than United, Liverpool's, Arsenal's etc.

It hasn't always been entertainment assurance either. They're in a purple patch right now but often that style of football can make games dull and monotonous. Sterile domination etc.
 
I don't cheer for City, I cheer for Barcelona - I appreciate, however, football that evokes joy and when Pep coaches a team that's what he brings

If you love football, I cannot understand how anyone cannot appreciate what is going on at City. It's annoying I realize for many United fans but there's a reason why most people tune into their matches, they are assured of being entertained

See the problem with you guys is you think football is only played in one way. I Amy day would prefer to watch fast counter attacking football than possession football.

So let us not act as if this is the only way football can be exciting. I wasn't a big fan of tiki taka and if anything enjoyed jose''s real Madrid in 2011-12 more than pep''s barca but trust me this city side is not even close to the excitement level Pep''s barca produced.
 
See the problem with you guys is you think football is only played in one way. I Amy day would prefer to watch fast counter attacking football than possession football.

So let us not act as if this is the only way football can be exciting. I wasn't a big fan of tiki taka and if anything enjoyed jose''s real Madrid in 2011-12 more than pep''s barca but trust me this city side is not even close to the excitement level Pep''s barca produced.

That's interesting. I would say Pep's side have been fantastic on the counter this season.
 
That Barca team was miles better than that City team. They also had a better forward line as well as midfield in 08/09 than us. You could replace Ronaldo with Henry and that’s it. Vidic, Rio and VDS are probably the only players who’d have got in their team.

I wouldn’t swap any of our front three from back then with Citys. We had the better defenders too including fullbacks. I’d take Brown/Evra ahead of Walker/Delph. Barca had Alves and Abidal who were better than our fullbacks.

Most importantly that Barca team backed it up like all great teams do. Not just a good six months. They had 5 year dominance on world football.
I don't know what I was thinking. Our past United team regularly competed for Europe and amassed approx 90 pts in the EPL at the same time. we were pretty formidable. This was a time when the EPL teams were also proving their worth in Europe. Some might say that the top European sides have overtaken the EPL sides of the past which is kind of true, however Is till feel our United from that era would be up there
 
That's interesting. I would say Pep's side have been fantastic on the counter this season.
They have been but pep''s football is mostly possession based. Nothing wrong with that but just that I prefer swift counter attacking goals.
 
They have been but pep''s football is mostly possession based. Nothing wrong with that but just that I prefer swift counter attacking goals.

I'm not sure you got what I said.

If you prefer swift counter attacking goals, then they've done that a lot this season (the goal against Leicester comes to mind). Unless you hate any form of possession, in which case fair enough.
 
I'm not sure you got what I said.

If you prefer swift counter attacking goals, then they've done that a lot this season (the goal against Leicester comes to mind). Unless you hate any form of possession, in which case fair enough.

I get what he is saying. I myself prefer the likes of Mourinho and Simeone who organize tight defenses and wait for the opponent to make mistakes, to hit them on the counter. Obviously, it could mean boring football if you don't have proper attacking players for it (Jose's problem with us) or if you go over the top with the conservative style (Simeone in even games against lesser teams), but when done properly, it is an exciting style as it can adapt to any style of the opponents.

When Jose gets it right, it is entertaining and devastating. Fun watching opponents wilt against a rock solid defense of class players and then to see them razed on the counter. I am hoping he gets us close to his peak Real team in a couple of years as there are signs he can do it with us.
 
I get what he is saying. I myself prefer the likes of Mourinho and Simeone who organize tight defenses and wait for the opponent to make mistakes, to hit them on the counter. Obviously, it could mean boring football if you don't have proper attacking players for it (Jose's problem with us) or if you go over the top with the conservative style (Simeone in even games against lesser teams), but when done properly, it is an exciting style as it can adapt to any style of the opponents.

When Jose gets it right, it is entertaining and devastating. Fun watching opponents wilt against a rock solid defense of class players and then to see them razed on the counter. I am hoping he gets us close to his peak Real team in a couple of years as there are signs he can do it with us.

Again there is nothing wrong with having such a strong preference. I enjoy all kinds of football done at a high level.

My question is, if the poster and you only have a preference for Jose and Someone's styles of football (I wouldn't even put Jose and Simeone under the same umbrella, Simeone's best Atletico side was very aggressive in winning the midfield battle, which is different from sitting deep and countering, but for the sake of argument let's assume they are the same), what did you think of Fergie's time here, and his preference for proactive football, bar a few games here and there?
 
I get what he is saying. I myself prefer the likes of Mourinho and Simeone who organize tight defenses and wait for the opponent to make mistakes, to hit them on the counter. Obviously, it could mean boring football if you don't have proper attacking players for it (Jose's problem with us) or if you go over the top with the conservative style (Simeone in even games against lesser teams), but when done properly, it is an exciting style as it can adapt to any style of the opponents.

When Jose gets it right, it is entertaining and devastating. Fun watching opponents wilt against a rock solid defense of class players and then to see them razed on the counter. I am hoping he gets us close to his peak Real team in a couple of years as there are signs he can do it with us.
What signs are there so far that Mourinho could get you to a Peak Madrid team? I’m not saying you can’t - just genuinely interested.
 
What signs are there so far that Mourinho could get you to a Peak Madrid team? I’m not saying you can’t - just genuinely interested.

The defense is there. That's only one part of the equation. We've only looked competent on the counter in patches this season, and the proof of the pudding will be against teams like City and elites in the CL.
 
Again there is nothing wrong with having such a strong preference. I enjoy all kinds of football done at a high level.

My question is, if the poster and you only have a preference for Jose and Someone's styles of football (I wouldn't even put Jose and Simeone under the same umbrella, Simeone's best Atletico side was very aggressive in winning the midfield battle, which is different from sitting deep and countering, but for the sake of argument let's assume they are the same), what did you think of Fergie's time here, and his preference for proactive football, bar a few games here and there?

I never said it was my only preference. I also enjoy other styles, but I feel Jose is the best manager for us as he is very flexible and can adapt to the opposition. However, its' not Jose or bust for me, though I hope he stays for a long time.

What signs are there so far that Mourinho could get you to a Peak Madrid team? I’m not saying you can’t - just genuinely interested.

All systems need the all important thing, better players. We just need an upgrade in attack and a couple of good midfielders fitting that style, assuming Jose wants to mold us into that sort of team. Easier said than done though, he does have a job on his hands.
 
I don't cheer for City, I cheer for Barcelona - I appreciate, however, football that evokes joy and when Pep coaches a team that's what he brings

If you love football, I cannot understand how anyone cannot appreciate what is going on at City. It's annoying I realize for many United fans but there's a reason why most people tune into their matches, they are assured of being entertained
Yes, it's called glory hunting. When they got relegated they got low/mid 20k's attendance and peanuts on TV.

Slightly different from some teams (cough) who even when relegated, got the highest average attendance in the country....
 
I'm not sure you got what I said.

If you prefer swift counter attacking goals, then they've done that a lot this season (the goal against Leicester comes to mind). Unless you hate any form of possession, in which case fair enough.

That is over exaggeration. Like I said they have scored counter attacking goals, the one against Napoli was brilliant. Even Barca score many counter attacking goals but the football primarily they play is possession based with pass-pass football. Again nothing wrong with that, it has its charm but for me I like managers to mix it up.

Even Jose's team in some matches have loads of possession but does that mean his philosophy is that. Before you start writing your own narratives like me hating any form of possession let me clarify Jose's football this season has not been better than Pep's. Just that I always like managers to mix it up. I enjoyed Germany in 2010 WC more than Spain. I personally found them boring. Keeping possession for the sake of it well is not my cup of tea. I blame van gaal for that.

This is why I said no one particular style is perfect. Barca fans love possession based football which is understandable but that does not mean others have to follow that or that is what everyone should automatically like. The beauty of football is the way there are different styles.
 
The prem is basically Serie A with one super club.

Not really. City are a 'super club' this season so far, but it was Chelsea last season, Leicester before that. Serie A is getting much more competitive now too, four teams battling for the title race and all capable of winning it.
 
The average strength of the PL has never been stronger.

Absolute absurd to suggest otherwise. Look at the number of internationals at even the lowliest teams.