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

[Mourinhonista]

Some bizarre statements in here.

Pep has never done it without Messi in a tough league, so discounting his time at Barca and no doubt for you his time at Bayern then he’s had ONE season for you to judge him on. You’re happy to discount an entire managerial career of success to focus on one season managing a new club in a new league? Ever just thought that was a bit of a transition and now we’ve progressed since then?

Secondly the fact that City can’t do better than the Semi of the CL. Well it’s a cup competition so it depends entirely on who we draw. In your head which sides knock us out? In mine Bayern, Barca, Madrid and PSG would all be tough draws, and any other draw we would probably be favourite, but there’s no way to know who or when we might face those teams. You could realistically get to the final without facing one, so you could be completely wrong. Equally we could draw one in the last 16 and be out.

The Bundesliga is a piss poor league, at the time Guardiola took over the reigns of the current treble winner, winning there under those circumstances isn‘t that impressive and his idea to deliberately dismantle that Schweinsteiger Martinez partnership was highly unnessecary and not beneficial at all in the long run.

At the moment City are flying, i granted that with my sentence that they‘re playing good football. But i‘ve seen that all before, 3 years in a row Guardiola‘s Bayern peaked early into the season, half way through it they got less and less exciting. Last season a similar thing happened at City. Bayern as well as City have very good players, but there‘s not one who can decide a match the way Messi can. To compensate the lack of Messi you need a very good plan and Guardiola imo has been lacking one for a very long time. Just take a look at his away goals scored in the knockout competition without Messi. Just not good enough!

Of course you can go out in the Champions-League against Real Madrid or Bayern, teams who are loaded with world class players, but in the first round against Monaco? C‘mon, you can expect better from last years semis finalist, can you?

I just think that comments such as City are winning this or that are prematurely giving the context i provided. I take the games against the Spanish top dogs during his time at Bayern into consideration, as well as his first year at City. That‘s overall more than a year and Guardiola is paid top dollar, you expect more from him, IMO.

You didn‘t make one of these (eg quadruple) but you quoted me and in my opinion let Guardioa a bit too easy off the hook considering last season‘s events.

 

[prtk0811]

The striker issue isn't as big as our midfield issue. When we lose Pogba we essentially don't have another creative midfielder. Martial and Rashford can always play up top for Lukaku, even without Ibra. Pogba gets injured and we have two holding midfielders to replace him though. Much more damaging to us

Ibrahimovic will come in to create more in final third as a 10. We have still carrick and his passing range dont forget that.

 

[padr81]

I think your only being nice since your on a Man Utd forum

We haven't went to Stamford Bridge and a tough European ground and played and won in such confident fashion that you have

Nah mate, I don't feel the need to hate United because I'm a City fan. I've been where a lot of the current board here are now. Looking at United thinking (Feckers are ruining football with their spending years ago) but now I'm content with it as we can spend more.

I quite admire United as a club and how they turned themselves around in the early 90's to become what they are and while I can't stand him as a person or his style of football I admire Jose as a manager and a man to get the job done.

I try to look at United as honestly and neutral as I can. Hence why I defended my post the last day saying United were clearly 2nd faves for the league ahead of Spurs (thankfully Jose proved me right and won the game, cheered me up no end.) If anything a lot on here would say I overrate you guys but I just think you are a good side and man for man the closest in the Premier League to ours, especially depth wise.

 

[prtk0811]

I wouldnt want sanchez in this city side. We could use a winger more.

 

[Member 90887]

The point I'm trying to make is you posted typical uneducated lies. You lied about wages, you lied about players moved on all to try and justify your argument which in fact was wrong and based on more lies, all because you're a bit salty about our start, which is crazy considering United have been excellent too.

Bravo is part of the squad, so how he's wrong is anyone's guess, in fact he just had a great game in the Carling Cup putting us through to the next round. United have never brought in a replacement for a player who didn't work out after a season eh?

You think United have gotten no transfers wrong and just spend 650m to get this squad. £65m Di Maria ring a bell? Do you genuinely think you only spent £650m? Lets see there is the already mentioned Di Maria, Schneiderlin, Depay, Chicarito, Nani, Van Persie, Kagawa, Buttner, Zaha... all bought and sold on... how many more million is that? You've spent a billion pounds on getting your 650m squad and you're crying because another club came along and spent more... despite the fact they had to start from a much lower level...

Of course we're lucky to be where we are and loving every second of that. I'd rather be honest and lucky then salty and plain wrong. Because you know, other clubs have never caught a break in there history.

Lies? The numbers are all from transfermakt. It looks like you have been triggered.

I've only said that you spent a lot to get where you are. How is that a lie? It is a fact.

I don't genuinely think our net spend was 650M, I know it is, because it is a fact haha, I don't understand your way of thinking.

It's also a fact that sir Alex didn't spend in his last years, I would argue that it is one of the reasons that we're rebuilding now, the numbers confirm that.

Why would I be bitter? City are playing better than us, that's a fact. Développement wise, city are further than us. That's another fact. To get there, city spent more than us. That's a fact. How is it a lie?

You keep saying how many more millions and you keep citing transfers for both teams. I'm talking about a 7/8 years period. Both teams had misses, I'm not saying the contrary. I'm arguing that city had more misses since it's spent 600 millions more than us in this period. They could afford those misses during this period.

If you can't argue while staying objective. I would suggest not arguing at all.

Saying I'm lying without pointing the lies with facts, when I'm giving you numbers from reputable websites isn't a good way to have discussion. I'm presenting facts. I'm not creating the numbers.

I'll stop right here. You are a little bit agressive for my taste for a discussion about football teams on a football forum. Have a good night sir .

 

[Davie Moyes]

Could City go unbeaten this season in the league like the invincibles? I remember back to the Arsenal team, it was when they reached the half way point in the season unbeaten that's when I really started worrying they could do it.

 

[BlueMoonOutcast]

Could City go unbeaten this season in the league like the invincibles? I remember back to the Arsenal team, it was when they reached the half way point in the season unbeaten that's when I really started worrying they could do it.

No. Just won't happen. Even if we don't lose to Arsenal this weekend, we'll unexpectedly lose to some random team sooner or later this season.

 

[RooneyLegend]

We're not way ahead of United, we're probably marginally ahead. United looked amazing too till Pogba's injury. When he's back you'll be back. It's like taking KDB out of the current City team.

Guess you missed our Stoke match. We've only looked amazing for the end of matches against really poor sides, the gap is pretty sizable.

 

[Hamadovich86]

feck me I hate saying this but Citeh are so ahead. They were already ahead before Pep and Jose arrived but man they feel unstoppable. Best team in the CL so far imo and obviously the best team in England at the moment.

 

[Maradona10]

Pep is a cheque book manager who needs special players to win things. That criticism will go with him . I do think though, he has created a monster in city, They will be first Pl team to get 100 points, do not see them losing all season either. They have already beaten chelsea/Liverpool away. Will destroy arsenal on the weekend. The only team i think that they will be worried about for going unbeaten would be Tottenham.
Think we could see Abu dabhi vs qatar in the champions league final this year.

 

[Nash27]

Pep is a cheque book manager who needs special players to win things. That criticism will go with him . I do think though, he has created a monster in city, They will be first Pl team to get 100 points, do not see them losing all season either. They have already beaten chelsea/Liverpool away. Will destroy arsenal on the weekend. The only team i think that they will be worried about for going unbeaten would be Tottenham.
Think we could see Abu dabhi vs qatar in the champions league final this year.

They beat liverpool at home with a man advantage. Yes, they look unstoppable now but I believe if there is a team that can stop them it is united.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

PSG vs City would be one hell of a CL Final.

 

[finndt]

Pep is a cheque book manager who needs special players to win things. That criticism will go with him . I do think though, he has created a monster in city, They will be first Pl team to get 100 points, do not see them losing all season either. They have already beaten chelsea/Liverpool away. Will destroy arsenal on the weekend. The only team i think that they will be worried about for going unbeaten would be Tottenham.
Think we could see Abu dabhi vs qatar in the champions league final this year.

Don't believe they'll get 100. And yes, they play some good football atm and compared to others in the PL they seem to have a complete squad and every part of it seem to have a crystal clear role in it. But still, it's way to early to declare they're somehow unbeatable and will continue this run of theirs through the whole season.

You could be right on everything but it's a long shot and we've only just reached November.

Champions league especially is a flip of a coin at the end of the day. We could see Abu dabhi vs Qatar already in the semis? To go all the way in the UCL requires a exceptionally good squad a whole lot of luck in terms of draw, avoiding injuries, timing of the best form and refereeing just to point few things. Imagine you get Barca in the semi final, referee bottles it and sends off you're player during the first leg at Camp Nou - could determine the whole tie. I'm just saying it requires a whole lot more to make it to the UCL final than a team that's playing great football in November.

I do have to agree with the majority though. They are favorites to win the league. In UCL I'd say they're among the 5-6 clubs I reckon got what it takes.

 

[RonW]

We will beat them at OT in the PL for sure. If its one thing Mou knows is that he's an excellent tactician. If we play the ball along the ground, we will probably get beaten by City 3-0 but Mou will use the long ball effectively(which is Pep's weakness) and we will have the crowd behind us. We will have the likes of Zlatan, Pogba and Fellaini hopefully back by then and these players will help us to win the second balls and I'm sure if we have Rashford/Martial we will really trouble their defense. If Citeh are the best attacking team in Europe right now, then we are the best defensive unit in Europe right now too, our defense is the best with a wall like DDG in defense and I'm sure if we play the ball long, City's weak defense won't be able to cope with it at all and will crumble as they are so used to playing along the ground. Think about it, we are yet to concede a goal at home till now and all our away goals have mostly been due to defensive errors. Yes, we are that damn good. Believe the hype!

 

[IAmAWinner]

Lots of knee-jerking in this thread. So far they have been brilliant, but every team has its slumps, and they will have one, sooner or later. Talk of going the season unbeaten is frankly ridiculous. Their wins over Napoli have been great too, but the overreaction has been a little too much. Napoli won't even probably qualify to the next round...

 

[El cangrejo]

We will beat them at OT in the PL for sure. If its one thing Mou knows is that he's an excellent tactician.

Luck is an important factor. United were a terrible Dele decision to take an easy chance with his right foot instead of left from a probable home loss to Spurs.

I can see City going to Old Trafford and dominating the way they did against Chelsea but any mistakes and United could well nick a 1-0.

 

[FCBarca]

Still buzzing from the match, if you love the game then you had to have enjoyed the spectacle on display. Both sides raised their game, responded to adversity and never gave up - it was beautiful

No question Ghoulam's injury had some impact on the match as Danilo demonstrated why he is not good enough to be a starter for Pep, just as depth. Another point why City will look better down the line when both Mendy & Walker are playing together to provide incredible attacking width

Fernandinho, Ilkay & Sterling - some really outstanding performances

 

[Sara125]

I think you guys saying that they will ‘crumble soon’ (or words to that effect) are trying to speak things into existence.

There’s nothing in their current form to suggest so, in fact I can only see them getting better due to the confidence that is probably instilled in the players.

 

[SCP]

Another point why City will look better down the line when both Mendy & Walker are playing together to provide incredible attacking width

Mendy will only be able in April I guess?

 

[FCBarca]

Mendy will only be able in April I guess?

He could always arrive even sooner I suppose but I just meant months of playing together as a team, not at the end of the season. So next season when both are presumably healthy, they will make City even more dangerous. Even Pep commented on this in the Pre-match press conference, City has much to improve still to reach the level he envisions

 

[FCBarca]

I think you guys saying that they will ‘crumble soon’ (or words to that effect) are trying to speak things into existence.

There’s nothing in their current form to suggest so, in fact I can only see them getting better due to the confidence that is probably instilled in the players.

Any team can go through a slump but the hallmark of Pep teams is how ruthlessly consistent they can be

 

[SCP]

He could always arrive even sooner I suppose but I just meant months of playing together as a team, not at the end of the season. So next season when both are presumably healthy, they will make City even more dangerous. Even Pep commented on this in the Pre-match press conference, City has much to improve still to reach the level he envisions

For me the final piece they need on the puzzle, I know it isn't popular to say, but would be the signing of Jorginho from Napoli more than Ghoulam.

 

[BlueSingh]

You lot are always extra on here, we are in a great form, just let it be that. Talks of quadruple’s, unbeaten season etc. is too over the top imo. We are amazingly good right now but we’re not complete still.
But I have to say the, the type of football we are playing rn, I wouldn’t change it for anything really, this is the best football i’ve ever seen in my life.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

You lot are always extra on here, we are in a great form, just let it be that. Talks of quadruple’s, unbeaten season etc. is too over the top imo. We are amazingly good right now but we’re not complete still.
But I have to say the, the type of football we are playing rn, I wouldn’t change it for anything really, this is the best football i’ve ever seen in my life.

It would be.

Some of the shite City have had to watch over the years, it's not hard

As for the first comment, be grateful you are actually allowed on here without the abuse if it were the other way round. The paranoia on your forums is hilarious.Just proves that your obsession runs incredibly deep

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Luck is an important factor. United were a terrible Dele decision to take an easy chance with his right foot instead of left from a probable home loss to Spurs.

I can see City going to Old Trafford and dominating the way they did against Chelsea but any mistakes and United could well nick a 1-0.

Jose will never play an open game against City. We tried that last year and were 2-0 down before trying to get back into it.

He'll keep it slow,patient and work to hit them on the break. It may work but I don't see an attacking fest

 

[Blue doomer]

Pep is a cheque book manager who needs special players to win things. That criticism will go with him . I do think though, he has created a monster in city, They will be first Pl team to get 100 points, do not see them losing all season either. They have already beaten chelsea/Liverpool away. Will destroy arsenal on the weekend. The only team i think that they will be worried about for going unbeaten would be Tottenham.
Think we could see Abu dabhi vs qatar in the champions league final this year.

I think to go unbeaten in a season needs a hell of a lot of luck. Arsenal had 11 or 12 draws in that season and were fortunate to not suffer a few losses. But still credit to them.

 

[Treble]

I think you guys saying that they will ‘crumble soon’ (or words to that effect) are trying to speak things into existence.

There’s nothing in their current form to suggest so, in fact I can only see them getting better due to the confidence that is probably instilled in the players.

...and due to the age of 5-6 of their players, they are 20-23 y.o. and are likely to mprove further under Guardiola. The potential is scary and they will probably add quality in January too. However, the business end of the season is still 5 months away and they are nowhere near winning a trophy yet. I expect Spurs and United to challenge them for the title. Luck, injuries, suspensions, freak goals, referee decisions, etc. may change things.

 

[Blue doomer]

It would be.

Some of the shite City have had to watch over the years, it's not hard

As for the first comment, be grateful you are actually allowed on here without the abuse if it were the other way round. The paranoia on your forums is hilarious.Just proves that your obsession runs incredibly deep

If thats directed at Bluemoon its a fair point. Fortunately it doesn't represent 99% of city fans and ive no idea why the forum has has made so many blues unhinged. I actually quite enjoy reading reds/ blues thoughts on football over here. The biggest problem over there is not allowing Utd fans any sort of opinion without hurling abuse at them.

 

[BlueSingh]

It would be.

Some of the shite City have had to watch over the years, it's not hard

As for the first comment, be grateful you are actually allowed on here without the abuse if it were the other way round. The paranoia on your forums is hilarious.Just proves that your obsession runs incredibly deep

First of all Im too young to remember the type of football that we played pre takeover and when I say that this is the best football Ive seen played, im taking all english teams into consideration and the way everyone played in recent years.

And secondly I think u failed to get my point that I actually believe that City is being overly praised on here so unless u dont want someone to be rational i don’t see the point in u having to boast about how this forum is grateful for letting me on here. Which is an absurd thing to say as it is.

 

[Maradona10]

First of all Im too young to remember the type of football that we played pre takeover and when I say that this is the best football Ive seen played, im taking all english teams into consideration and the way everyone played in recent years.

And secondly I think u failed to get my point that I actually believe that City is being overly praised on here so unless u dont want someone to be rational i don’t see the point in u having to boast about how this forum is grateful for letting me on here. Which is an absurd thing to say as it is.

Cant really believe i am reading "i was too young to remember time before takeover" how old are you 16?

 

[Massive Spanner]

First of all Im too young to remember the type of football that we played pre takeover and when I say that this is the best football Ive seen played, im taking all english teams into consideration and the way everyone played in recent years.

And secondly I think u failed to get my point that I actually believe that City is being overly praised on here so unless u dont want someone to be rational i don’t see the point in u having to boast about how this forum is grateful for letting me on here. Which is an absurd thing to say as it is.

Cant really believe i am reading "i was too young to remember time before takeover" how old are you 16?

Adds up.

 

[Thunderhead]

Cant really believe i am reading "i was too young to remember time before takeover" how old are you 16?

say's 22 in profile

 

[Maradona10]

say's 22 in profile

Maybe he supported chelsea after their takeover in 2003?

 

[Ban]

Any team can go through a slump but the hallmark of Pep teams is how ruthlessly consistent they can be

His Bayern time tells otherwise.

.also this thread is mental, City fans calming United fans down telling them City is not that brilliant.

 

[FCBarca]

His Bayern time tells otherwise.

.also this thread is mental, City fans calming United fans down telling them City is not that brilliant.

I'd say how Bayern have done since his departure tells something as well

I love that too, I just think City fans can't contain themselves as they are not accustomed to this sort of praise

 

[Ban]

I'd say how Bayern have done since his departure tells something as well

I love that too, I just think City fans can't contain themselves as they are not accustomed to this sort of praise

Yeah but they failed in the CL due to peaking too early in the season and they would drag themselves over the line in the league. Fail in CL I mean being convincingly beaten in the semis.

 

[DanClancy]

City superb so far but still very early days, December is going to be a crazy month for United & City where both squads will be really tested and City have to go to Russia in the week leading up the derby.

Its a shame Mourinho wasn't backed as well as Pep was in the transfer market, a couple of extra players would make a huge difference to United.

 

[GhastlyHun]

His Bayern time tells otherwise.

Yeah but they failed in the CL due to peaking too early in the season and they would drag themselves over the line in the league. Fail in CL I mean being convincingly beaten in the semis.

There's a lot wrong with those statements. Dragging over the line in the league? We just won it so early that afterwards a few sloppy performances occurred, but that was already after bagging it, due to incredible consistency before.
Concerning the CL... I don't know how often we have to rehash all of that, but the only comprehensive beating we got was by Real in Pep's first season. Against Barcelona in 14-15 we had a lot of crucial injuries, kept a clean sheet for 70 minutes at the Bernabeu, before things went south, but still won the return leg (5-3 aggregate). Atletico only beat us on away goals and better conversion from the spot, as they scored their pens and we didn't. 14-15 and 15-16 saw us going out due to bad luck more than anything else.

 

[Ban]

There's a lot wrong with those statements. Dragging over the line in the league? We just won it so early that afterwards a few sloppy performances occurred, but that was already after bagging it, due to incredible consistency before.
Concerning the CL... I don't know how often we have to rehash all of that, but the only comprehensive beating we got was by Real in Pep's first season. Against Barcelona in 14-15 we had a lot of crucial injuries, kept a clean sheet for 70 minutes at the Bernabeu, before things went south, but still won the return leg (5-3 aggregate). Atletico only beat us on away goals and better conversion from the spot, as they scored their pens and we didn't. 14-15 and 15-16 saw us going out due to bad luck more than anything else.

Bayern fan to the rescue. Ok you got beaten 3 years in a row. In Bundesliga you can afford a slump after the winter break. In PL not so much especially since there's no winter break at all.
That's what I meant with dragging over the line.

 

[FCBarca]

Yeah but they failed in the CL due to peaking too early in the season and they would drag themselves over the line in the league. Fail in CL I mean being convincingly beaten in the semis.

I think cynics would like to think that but the truth is elsewhere. Even Pep commented on this in the pre-match pressy, most of the City squad have precious little CL experience and that experience of winning and being on the biggest stage is something you don't automatically thrive in. I look at how Napoli reacted to the RM goal last season and then how they responded this year when City scored, experience makes a difference. City are getting better and with that, their confidence and composure during adversity really comes through