20 Jan 2025 03:20:48
Just a thought
Am I wrong to think City May yet be our closest rival in the title race?
Arsenal and Forest are closest to us now. Arsenal has a good team or squad, but probably not the manager nor mentality to do so. I also don't see them going on a long winning run.
Forest has no expectations on them and is in a good moment. This may persist and they do a Leicester, but they have to hope no injuries, no tiredness, and teams don't figure out how to break them down.
City whilst not full steam yet, as shown by their draw with Bournemouth recently, has restored their ability to be a flat track bully once more. And if Kevin De Bryune is fit, they are the only team then can go on a 15 game winning streak.
While I've confidence in us, I do expect us to drop a couple more points.
Never easy to win the PL even when City are not at their best, but crazy to think even with their slump, they could they be our closest rival.
20 Jan 2025 04:00:26
I don’t think we have any rivals at this point it is nailed on. We are streets
Ahead of the other 19 sides in every department.
20 Jan 2025 05:12:16
No. They themselves don’t want to be in the title race. They are preparing for the next season. No wonder the average points to secure the league falls down from 90’s and 100’s to 80’s.
20 Jan 2025 05:35:48
City need to play some better teams before we assess them; there is no point in doing so right now. They were pushed all the way by Leicester, beat a hapless West Ham and trounced an Ipswich team that instinctively went into Championship team mode and just wanted the game to end. In amongst that, they've drawn to Brentford.
City tend to do better in the second half of the season because mid-table and below teams no longer have the energy or motivation to go at them so a long winning run is possible, but I don't see it with this team.
I do expect them to catch up with Arsenal, however.
20 Jan 2025 06:36:45
12 points with a game in hand. Are you lot mental. It was only ipswich.
20 Jan 2025 06:37:14
they have an extremely soft underbelly and will drop more points.
20 Jan 2025 06:42:35
The season we finished 5th, we beat Bournemouth 9-0, Man Utd 7-0 and Rangers 7-1.
They'll do fine against the teams lower down in the league but they are struggling against the decent teams 10th upwards.
20 Jan 2025 07:19:21
Given their injuries and form, I can't see Arsenal going on a run like City typically do. I can see City going on a good run but not to their usual level. They play each other in a few weeks, too.
I'm not too worried about Forest and I wouldn't be surprised to see them drop out of the top four.
There's a long way to go and there's no point looking too far in advance because things can change in a moment.
20 Jan 2025 07:19:29
Sounds like John Snow (aka Harry) has spoken. We would be wise to take due note and deeply consider the ramifications.
20 Jan 2025 07:46:58
Imagine a season where Forest and Bournemouth qualify for CL.
20 Jan 2025 08:07:33
I’d never right City off if I’m honest or even Arsenal.
However the truth is both have to go on a hell of a run and we have to drop points in quite a few games.
Of our last 8 games we’ve won 4 and drawn 4 so dropped 8 points but so have our challengers.
If we can go on a winning run in the league now for the next 5-6, then our challengers would need to be perfect just to stay the same amount of points behind us as they are now.
20 Jan 2025 08:28:07
I think if we win our next 4 games which are all very winnable and Arsenal drop more points - ideally vs city then the league is ours. We can go to our closest rivals and afford to draw which is a massive advantage given are counter attacking ability.
20 Jan 2025 08:35:52
Wouldn't it be brilliant for Bournemouth JK.
20 Jan 2025 09:12:27
City are not expecting to win the title, their objective is to salvage this season and build for next season. Now that they're so far behind there's no pressure on them, and, their opponents are perhaps less scared of them than they still should be, I bet Ipswich were licking their lips after City threw away that lead at Brentford.
20 Jan 2025 09:21:09
I’m with JK. You should never count out City until it’s mathematically impossible for them. They’re the ones capable of going on a run of wins, and even if they do have easy games, winning becomes a habit and creates its own momentum.
20 Jan 2025 09:29:22
Well I hope City are our closest rivals given the gap.
20 Jan 2025 09:36:02
They could easily be our “closest” challengers without ever really getting close.
Only 6 points behind Arsenal and Forest.
Still 12 points and a game behind us but could easily be our closest challengers.
20 Jan 2025 09:45:46
I think pep is the problem. He left a mess at bayern and barcelona. I think he has stayed too long and lost the players with his man management. It still sits strangely that no players have followed him to the next club he’s managed.
20 Jan 2025 10:02:56
I’m thinking I’m coming from the angle that City is the only team capable of a long winning run and should never be written off
I like our lead over them and hope it enough of a cushion, but am reminded this is essentially the same team as last that lost energy in the final 2 months. Added to that, we are light in some areas, have evident weaknesses and Slot doesn’t rotate as much so fatigue could come into play
Of course I believe we are in a strong position now but there’s half a season to be played so am not counting the chickens yet
I can only hope the lessons from last season has been learnt, injuries and suspensions are kind to us, we keep churning out the results even if performances are not always great, and don’t let slip this fantastic opportunity we now have.
20 Jan 2025 10:08:07
I agree with Ron, wouldn't be surprised to see City finish second but with the leaď we have they really shouldn't be ģetting near us at all.
20 Jan 2025 10:39:39
I honour of everyone freaking out that we're 'only'6 points ahead with a game in hand, I went back and checked how many points we won the league by with the Liverpool teams I regard as our greatest (88,86,84, 77), and it goes like this
88- 9 points
86- 2 points
84- 3 points
77- 1 point
So we win our game in hand and we'll have the lead that the Liverpool team I regard as our greatest ever did. The Klopp title win was an anomaly in regards to our advantage over 2nd place. People need to chill.
20 Jan 2025 10:52:58
It puts pressure on on Arsenal being only 6 points behind them. I still think city will finish top 2. Nothing is guaranteed. How far ahead was we last season?
20 Jan 2025 10:59:46
Shoot for a 90 point total and forget about the challengers.
If we can win our homes games, we would only need to win 4 away games to get to 90 points. Bournemouth and Everton, coming up, are an opportunity to half that!
20 Jan 2025 11:09:26
It’s Bournemouth away what worries me. They’re on a good run.
If we beat Ipswich and Bournemouth, Arsenal and City meet In the league and we could open the gap again.
20 Jan 2025 11:20:28
12 points gap with a game in hand. I wouldn't write them off completely but put it this way, if we allow them to catch us up we should be given their 115 charges.
20 Jan 2025 11:31:17
No I think you’re wrong to think City are still in it, respectfully.
I think unless something drastic happens then it’s ours to lose. I can only see arsenal either keeping within 6 points (if they are lucky) or falling back a bit. I don’t see enough in them this year to make a push for it.
Forest won’t push us for the title despite having a great season.
City, Newcastle and Chelsea are too far back and don’t have what it takes either.
20 Jan 2025 11:45:59
Klopp was our problem two seasons ago, according to some. The midfield was knackered and we finished fifth.
We bought a new midfield that summer and we finished third and we know where we are, currently.
I think we a rebuild by Guardiola and City in the summer at the latest.
Man City are still going to be a threat whilst Guardiola is there, imo.
20 Jan 2025 12:32:00
Completely agree JK23.
20 Jan 2025 12:35:25
For me as long as we focus on ourselves and ONLY on ourselves, we will be in good shape regardless of what any of our rivals do.
20 Jan 2025 13:47:07
Aye JK23 it is great to see isn't it - would love to see them both make the Champions League and i am genuinely enjoying watching them both this season
Just how high can they go? Would love to see Forest get second and Bournemouth to get Europe - Champions League might be a bit too much for them but hey, who honestly knows, it's making for a great season - that and the fact Utd keep losing at home lol.
20 Jan 2025 16:24:52
It's still too close for comfort for me. Ipswich or not they're part of the league so can be an issue, any team can. 'it was only ipswich' is silly talk. I see City turning it on once again but it's ours to lose, right now we're laughing so we just need to keep it up, if we do we win the league. We will drop points, guaranteed we will but the others will as well.
Bill, agreed it's always good when it's as unpredictable as it has been and seeing some of the 'lower' sides do well, it's better then the normal we see every year. Also great to see utd so low down lol this season will be one to remember I think!