The only way other teams have a chance is if Fernandinho and Gundogan both get long term injuries. It's not out of the question since Fernandinho is getting on and Gundogan is a crock.
Liverpool are definitely not getting near them, since this Liverpool team are worse than Klopps' Dortmund team who got nowhere near the points per game required to beat a Guardiola team.
At the moment it's United or Chelsea to get near City if they get in 2 more players each. Otherwise It'll be a one horse race again.
It grieves me to write this but I think the Scousers in red will win the PL next season. Why? Because they were playing the best footy last season and had a muppet keeper. This season they have spent big time, unlike Guardiola for a change, and bought well.
City will be overcome with arrogance and will face a battle in every game next season. I can’t wait for West Ham v City with an agrieved Yaya fired up to show Guardiola a thing or two. Sterling will be in a big sulk unless the Sheik bungs him a skip full of money into a secret account to keep the other players , and UEFA, happy.
United will either just sneak the title or finish third at best depending on JM smiling or sulking. He’s sulking just now.
They’re relentless. The way City pin teams into their own half is excellent.
The fluidity of their wingers really impresses me. Yesterday, without the ball, Sterling and Mahrez were so wide making it difficult for Arsenal’s fullbacks to push on. As soon as City win it back you see how Mahrez and Sterling come inside to link with Aguero, that’s when Walker and Mendy hold the width.
I expect them to be similar to last season and blow most teams away.
Also Bernardo Silva seems to have stepped up, too. He was great for them in both of their two first competitive matches of the season.They've signed just enough players to make it competitive and people like Bernardo Silva and Mendy will be getting more game time this year (granted the latter was due to injury) to make it more competitive and ensure the squad doesn't lose its competitiveness. Will be difficult to look past them this season again.
Also Bernardo Silva seems to have stepped up, too. He was great for them in both of their two first competitive matches of the season.
Well, his assist and goal, each for the 2-0, were very important though. You're right that the rest of the stats are not the level that are expected of a starter under Pep.He was very poor yesterday aside from his goal. Only had 44 touches. 36 passes. 69% pass completion. Created 0 chances. 1 dribble. 0 tackles 0 interceptions. Pretty anonymous and poor with the ball when he had it. Nice movement and finish. But when you consider how on top of that game City were yesterday and that D Silva averaged 84 passes a game, 89% pass completion, 2 chances created each game last season, he needs to play a lot better than that if he's going to replace him long term.
He was very poor yesterday aside from his goal. Only had 44 touches. 36 passes. 69% pass completion. Created 0 chances. 1 dribble. 0 tackles 0 interceptions. Pretty anonymous and poor with the ball when he had it. Nice movement and finish. But when you consider how on top of that game City were yesterday and that D Silva averaged 84 passes a game, 89% pass completion, 2 chances created each game last season, he needs to play a lot better than that if he's going to replace him long term.
He was anonymous and did little with the ball because City weren't playing through the midfield. City were playing through the wings and their overlapping fullbacks, almost bypassing Bernardo and Gundogan at times. He switched to RW with Mahrez's substitution and became much more involved, eventually scoring.
Don't think a lot of teams have figured out how to play against them tbh. If you sit back and defend deep they're bound to score sooner or later. If you attack them, you're leaving your defense exposed and they'll rip you apart with their pace and deadly strikers.
The only way seems to be to take all your chances and hope your defense holds up.
Or... He just shared his views on City's current state.Pep's comment re: 'The CEO, the Sporting Director we go in the same path...at the end Machester City gave me a great squad, I can not complain' is surely a dig at Utd, our board, and Jose.
Don't think a lot of teams have figured out how to play against them tbh. If you sit back and defend deep they're bound to score sooner or later. If you attack them, you're leaving your defense exposed and they'll rip you apart with their pace and deadly strikers.
The only way seems to be to take all your chances and hope your defense holds up.
Arsenal outran them yesterday, though.City players look like they do drugs. They run all game on all positions, no matter if they are in possession or pressing. That's very impressive, and I really dontd see any other team with similar pace in the league.
It was the same last season and dmany predicted they will soon run out of fuel, but they didn't. Now they added one more pacy attacker and Mendy is back from injury. Tough ask for anybody to outplay them.
Arsenal outran them yesterday, though.
Being inpressed with City is like being impressed by someones team on FM after they've played around with the database.
Yeah, I reckon instead of buying Mahrez they should have bought a new CDM.Not replacing Fernandinho will hinder any major CL progression.
It's nearly impossible to press them now. I'm not sure how you beat them at full strength. Getting every first and second ball maybe and disrupting their rhythm as much as possible.
It's nearly impossible to press them now. I'm not sure how you beat them at full strength. Getting every first and second ball maybe and disrupting their rhythm as much as possible.
City were all over United in the 1st half at the Etihad. Sterling had plenty of opportunities to kill it off. 2nd half by United was great but the 1st half was hardly a decent blueprint.I think we layed out a pretty decent blueprint towards the end of last season. Soaking up a lot of pressure, accepting you will lose the battle for possession, then Being direct and using raw pace on the counter seems the only way to disrupt their unbelievable positional discipline.
City were all over United in the 1st half at the Etihad. Sterling had plenty of opportunities to kill it off. 2nd half by United was great but the 1st half was hardly a decent blueprint.
Pep's comment re: 'The CEO, the Sporting Director we go in the same path...at the end Machester City gave me a great squad, I can not complain' is surely a dig at Utd, our board, and Jose.
Its worth remembering post fergie how much money we've spent. City have just been much better at spending it.
Not replacing Fernandinho will hinder any major CL progression.
United's net spend since 2014 is vastly higher than Chelsea's though.These figures were taken from Transfermarkt.
United - £774.54million
City - £913.2million
No doubt we have spent a fortune, but the £138 million difference isn't minor. If we add Chelsea to the mix, they have spent £799.97million. So while we are spending obscene amounts of money, the two clubs who have won 4 of the 5 titles post Fergie have spent more than us. So yes, City, and even Chelsea at times have spent better than us, they have also spent more and irrespective of our spending, how often does the 3rd biggest spending side, finish top, in any league?
United's net spend since 2014 is vastly higher than Chelsea's though.
Will there be one that good, who isn’t cup tied?Think we thought Jorginho was nailed on, so we let Fred and Fabinho slip away (not saying we'd have gotten either but we didn't put up a fight), he instead plumped for Chelsea and we got caught cold on that position, I think we'll be in for one in Jan if the right one is available.
