If things stay on track.
- Thread starter Mystic
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Status
Let's just beat the scum first and take it from thete
I think it will just be us to win the big fucker at the Etihad, I mean we win the CL in Madrid, the city of Real Madrid, thats right it is not enough we win things but it has to be right in front of the current holders faces....fucking hell the story of this club just goes on.
This thread can except a bump or two and all
I expect City to start clawing back the points. No way either team are going to continue the PPG we've had up to this stage, which is what many are using to calculate 'winning dates'. especially once the CL starts up again. City with a deeper squad, and Laporte back, will continue winning in the PL whilst competing full strength in the CL. I think it likely we win the league by 10 points or so.
Stop being sensible!
Wolves have hit a sticky patch since beating city. Has the europa league caught up with them?
Do City have a stronger squad than us? This statement used to be a no brainer, but I'm not so sure anymore, just look how each team has coped with their relative injury crisis. I think we've all been a bit guilty of over rating their squad options, and under rating ours, and recent performances have shown that.
Would we have as many points as City had we been missing our best creative player and best central defender for as long as they have? Not sure..
But why was Thete involved in the first place?
You are certainly right when it comes to central defence - and that is a huge error on Guardiola's part that he hasn't received anywhere near enough stick for. However overall yes, their midfielders are better in depth and so are their forward options.
We could pretty much say missing VvD and Mane (as maybe most influential players this season - sorry TAA), would be we where we are ? Doubt it.
It is a brave call mate, cause we have shown the ability to cope with whatever been thrown our way. The individual top level of our fringeplayers might not match the individual level of the City squad, but our team has worked perfectly our a period of 18-20 months now. Salah and Firmino out when 3-0 down at Barca? no Prob, reserves wins us the game. Mane out start of the season? No prob, 100% perfect start. Allisson out injured? No prob, back up goalie wins us a trophy. Cb after Cb getting injured? No prob, we let in less goals. Fabinho out with fears our midfield will collapse? No prob, we look more dynamic than ever. Resting the team against Everton in PL ahead of tough prgram? No prob, back up players run riot. Resting the whole team against Everton in FA cup? No prb, ressie team wins us the game
We have shown a really fantastic ability to adjust to games based on the players we throw in there, so teamwise we beat the individuals they have in City these days.
Sorry mate but that completely undervalues the work VvD and Mane have done. You're right, we have covered well. But losing those two for half a season ? No way we would have won 20/21 and therefore arseholes would be twitching about now as City start to show their true quality.
Just want to add that it's not a like for like comparison. Yes you could compare Laporte to Van Dijk but Mane and Sane despite similar names don't have the same role in their respective teams. Sane isn't even first choice at Man C. Sterling and Silva are ahead of him.
Sadly, we don't have an attacking player who is as influential as Sane on the bench.
Man C have an amazing group of attacking players in their squad, we don't match them.
So discussion here should really be would we be as good without Van Dijk?
They are definately representing something unique. Especially VVD. He has been real good and I do believe his absent would hurt us more than anyone else. We saw it before he arrived and even if other have performed well by his side it is impossible to say now how we would do without him. But let us also praise a team so good at retaining the press that his work environment is getting the best out of him as well.
Same goes for Mane. He has taken quite a few steps since we brought him. Moves, pressing, confidence on the ball. He has developed into a monster player who deserves his 4th spot in Ballon d'Or and African player of the year award. It took him longer to settle than Salah, but he really has accelereated his development the last 24 months. But again that is done in a team where we are constantly attacking. Him playing out left is really benefitting from Robbo overlapping him time and time again. He is part of a front three were the opposition have to focus just as much on the opposite winger, hence he can find some space. He plays with a Firmino who not only scored against Spurs, but on more than a few occasions actually had some sliding interceptions deep down our half. Midfield sacrifies itself so he can focus on his attacking game for large parts of his game (but credit to him for the defensive work he does).
So while I would not undervalue them they are still part of the strongest team out there. This season we have had a lot of margins tipping our way and we would probably not have that if it was not for the stand out players like Mane and VvD, but the good thing about this team is that we give others an arena to shine when someone is out. Allison and Fabinho were two big scares, at least for me, but know it is like Fabinho haven't been missed and he really have to perform to win his place back.
Sane ? Not sure anyone even mentioned him ? I said De Bruyne & Laporte. And I said even though VvD & Mane are not exactly in the same positions they still have a similar value to their teams.
Sorry commented your post but I was speaking in general.
Did you watch our game?
All over us. They are a team with a strong "Big Game" mentality
- Status
Similar threads
-
- Locked
