Title race 2021/22

[messymascot]

If City win against the RS at the weekend they will put down a big statement. United and Chelsea will probably win so the RS might very well regret losing them 2 points at Brentford. Looking at what is beneath I imagine they will still be big favourites for top 4. If RS win they will still have United and Chelsea breathing down their necks. A draw leaves it all finely balanced.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

No one got Super Graham Potter's magic seagulls down for doing a Leicester? No?

 

[stony]

There was something the other week that was saying City want Mbappe not Haaland which I was quite surprised at.

I'd take that with a pinch of salt. We've been in for him a couple of times and Mbappe has previously said he was no interest in coming to Manchester. He doesn't like the weather or the culture, so I would be surprised if we went in again.

 

[davek]

If City win against the RS at the weekend they will put down a big statement. United and Chelsea will probably win so the RS might very well regret losing them 2 points at Brentford. Looking at what is beneath I imagine they will still be big favourites for top 4. If RS win they will still have United and Chelsea breathing down their necks. A draw leaves it all finely balanced.

That Liverpool defence will be an issue. It'd have been even more of an issue if Guardiola had bought an attacker who can snap up a half chance.

 

[DanEFC92]

No one got Super Graham Potter's magic seagulls down for doing a Leicester? No?

I'll commit hari kari if they win the league before we do.

 

[messymascot]

No one got Super Graham Potter's magic seagulls down for doing a Leicester? No?

I can see them hanging round with us, Spurs, Arsenal, Leicester, West Ham and Villa and making it a battle for 5-11 instead of 5-10. Personally the best I can see them doing is 9th which is success for Brighton. He is the right man for that job if they keep giving him money he can them into the group between 8-12 and maybe have a good cup run every other year. There is no way he achieves more but that in my opinion is success for him and them. They would need a big investment to even be able to contemplate top 6 on more than just a fluke season.

 

[ToffeeTim]

City have by far the best squad and I expect them to pull clear over the winter once fixtures add up.

 

[messymascot]

That Liverpool defence will be an issue. It'd have been even more of an issue if Guardiola had bought an attacker who can snap up a half chance.

Neither full back can defend so they have to outgun teams. At the minute they get away with it because everything Salah hits seems to fly in. VvD whilst not garbage has slipped a level in my opinion and I'm not convinced by any of his 3 possible partners. There midfield is garbage Fabinho apart, if he picks up an injury they will fall away. Eventually luck will run out for Salah and Mane is already on the wane and Firminho is just about done. Jota looks like a goalscorer but isn't a team player like they want for '9'. There depth is slightly better but I would imagine you take 4 first choices out of there team and they will struggle as much as us. In fact if they lost Allison, VvD, Fabinho and Salah they would be distinctly average. There full backs would need to hold back again their midfield would be over run and they would have no one to dig them out.

As for City I thought they needed a ST to replace Aguerro and a new LB regardless of what happened in the summer. They did need another midfielder but perhaps they could have got one for £60 million and used the extra £40 million on Kane. I think they need to stick Jesus up front and go with it as he's the player they've got that's most like a ST

If these players are available I hope they go
Edersen
Walker Dias Laporte/Stones Cancelo
Silva Rodri DeBruyne
Foden Jesus Sterling

I expect our loveables to go

Allison
Alexander-Arnold Matip van Dijk Robertson
Jones Fabinho Henderson
Salah Jota Mane

The teams in theory are closely balanced as I call it 5 5 and 1 draw but most of Cities wins are by miles whereas the Liverpool victories are all narrow wins. However 3 unexpected injuries will be much easier for City to replace than for them.

 

[davek]

Neither full back can defend so they have to outgun teams. At the minute they get away with it because everything Salah hits seems to fly in. VvD whilst not garbage has slipped a level in my opinion and I'm not convinced by any of his 3 possible partners. There midfield is garbage Fabinho apart, if he picks up an injury they will fall away. Eventually luck will run out for Salah and Mane is already on the wane and Firminho is just about done. Jota looks like a goalscorer but isn't a team player like they want for '9'. There depth is slightly better but I would imagine you take 4 first choices out of there team and they will struggle as much as us. In fact if they lost Allison, VvD, Fabinho and Salah they would be distinctly average. There full backs would need to hold back again their midfield would be over run and they would have no one to dig them out.

As for City I thought they needed a ST to replace Aguerro and a new LB regardless of what happened in the summer. They did need another midfielder but perhaps they could have got one for £60 million and used the extra £40 million on Kane. I think they need to stick Jesus up front and go with it as he's the player they've got that's most like a ST

If these players are available I hope they go
Edersen
Walker Dias Laporte/Stones Cancelo
Silva Rodri DeBruyne
Foden Jesus Sterling

I expect our loveables to go

Allison
Alexander-Arnold Matip van Dijk Robertson
Jones Fabinho Henderson
Salah Jota Mane

The teams in theory are closely balanced as I call it 5 5 and 1 draw but most of Cities wins are by miles whereas the Liverpool victories are all narrow wins. However 3 unexpected injuries will be much easier for City to replace than for them.

I think City's midfield is fine. They looked like losing Silva at one point but that never happened and he continues to be a massive asset. The City MF is head and shoulders above Liverpool's and should be the difference on the day. Also, Alexander-Arnold looks a doubt - and though he is useless defending he can get forward to good effect and provide service.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Chelsea
RS
Man City
Man U

 

[messymascot]

I think City's midfield is fine. They looked like losing Silva at one point but that never happened and he continues to be a massive asset. The City MF is head and shoulders above Liverpool's and should be the difference on the day. Also, Alexander-Arnold looks a doubt - and though he is useless defending he can get forward to good effect and provide service.

Is TAA misses out that's another attack stream gone for them just make sure Foden causes enough problems that Robertson stays back. He will still not stop him but closes another attack stream. They will only have a quick counter as a way in and I think Cities defence is best set up to cope with this. I haven't even picked Grealish so he can come on to add more danger. They will also have Mahrez and Torres champing at the bit to come on. If TAA is injured that means Gomez RB. There only game changers are Fabinho, who we've already discussed, Origi and Miniminho who will hardly have them quaking in their boots. Midfield wise Milner and Keita who aren't starting because they aren't as good as Jones and Henderson. This is a real chance for them to be punished.

 

[Blues Harp]

No wonder Pep seems a bit on edge, he got a massive gaping hole in his squad and the window is shut, no one will be selling a top striker in January, so Pep has to make do with what he has upfront.

Wasted the whole summer trying to buy a Striker from a chairman who's one of the most difficult to prise players from who loves a bit of brinkmanship selling at the last minute, they could have gone early on Lakaku and Ronaldo and got him snapped up before United an Chelsea did, Lautaro Martinez and Andre Silva were available or could have even broke the bank for Haaland.

Just a bizarre situation this summer from them.

I'm counting City out of this race, doesn't seem a happy club right now and have a testing week with 3 tough games where they could end up 9 points behind and a bit of a injury crisis to boot.

Laughable that lad.....Pep got his tactics spot on vs Chelsea while your lot failed to close the gaping hole known as Trent Alexander Arnold ("Trent" to sky and the bbc) and to a lesser extent St Virgil.
Toss up between city and Chelsea with the former slight favourites atm. ?????

 

[davek]

Is TAA misses out that's another attack stream gone for them just make sure Foden causes enough problems that Robertson stays back. He will still not stop him but closes another attack stream. They will only have a quick counter as a way in and I think Cities defence is best set up to cope with this. I haven't even picked Grealish so he can come on to add more danger. They will also have Mahrez and Torres champing at the bit to come on. If TAA is injured that means Gomez RB. There only game changers are Fabinho, who we've already discussed, Origi and Miniminho who will hardly have them quaking in their boots. Midfield wise Milner and Keita who aren't starting because they aren't as good as Jones and Henderson. This is a real chance for them to be punished.

Maybe Milner at RB if Alexander-Arnold is out.

City hardly ever turn up at Anfield, but I like their chances against that Liverpool MF and defence.

 

[messymascot]

Maybe Milner at RB if Alexander-Arnold is out.

City hardly ever turn up at Anfield, but I like their chances against that Liverpool MF and defence.

They destroyed them 4-1 last year and I think its more important this year so they will be more determined. Milner at RB Sterling must be licking his lips. He will be worn out by 65 minutes. Hopefully then Torres gets a run at him. I'll go 3-1 this time. A draw does not suit them as that will probably put them behind United and Chelsea and only a point ahead of City. United have had easiest fixtures so far but RS 2nd on that list. Both Chelsea and City will have been Anfield and played each other. If only we had a better squad we could capitalise but I still think they get 4th.

 

[davek]

They destroyed them 4-1 last year and I think its more important this year so they will be more determined. Milner at RB Sterling must be licking his lips. He will be worn out by 65 minutes. Hopefully then Torres gets a run at him. I'll go 3-1 this time. A draw does not suit them as that will probably put them behind United and Chelsea and only a point ahead of City. United have had easiest fixtures so far but RS 2nd on that list. Both Chelsea and City will have been Anfield and played each other. If only we had a better squad we could capitalise but I still think they get 4th.

I'd always hesitate to predict a City win at Anfield. They just dont do it too often.

I actually think even another draw will really put the skids under Liverpool. They had a series of draws in the league a few seasons back and hardly lost and it destroyed their confidence to be title contenders.