11 Aug 2023 19:37:47
Manchester City do not have a strong squad. Starting 11 is excellent but besides Grealish i don't see anybody on the bench that could come in to change the game. Unless Pep conducts some business i don't see them winning the league this year. There would also be a question of hunger. Would the players be motivated after winning the treble?

1.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 23:09:47
I have had that view all along. Mentioned kdb starting to break down last year and i think he already picked up an injury, an injury to rodri or halaand and they will surprise people with their struggles.

villa vs nc and chlsea vs liverpool both very good games and a glimpse of some of the tougher teams in the league.

2.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 23:30:41
Doku and Paqeuta incoming for them I think.

3.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 00:11:43
Smacks of wishful thinking by opposition fans to me. Kovacic will do a job for them, Gvardial.

4.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 00:30:15
They do seem a bit weaker, but look what difference a quality striker makes. that's what we lack, someone who can finish those half chances.

5.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 00:57:38
Don’t have a strong squad, who are you kidding? Won the treble, lost a couple, signed a couple and have Cole Palmer coming through. Their squad is as good as last season, their season will depend on their motivation after winning the lot but Pep looks like he’s an hungry as ever. Until he leaves City will continue to dominate, we just need to be ready to challenge.

6.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 09:01:42
Yep very wishful thinking here, maybe even delusional. They’ll still likely bring a couple more in. Pep looks as Pep does last night.

KDB is not without his injuries. But he started just 75% of their games last season and they still won the treble. He’s there when it matters.

Haaland missed games last season. They have players who can step in, and they won the league two years in a row without a striker.

If City aren’t the team to beat, who is? This is similar to when everyone wrote off Usain Bolt, and he came out and did what he does best.

They’re already top and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that they stay in that position all season. For the sake of English football it would be nice to see someone else win it. I’m fairly sure nobody has ever won the PL 4 times in a row either. If they achieve that, after the treble, they have to go down as the greatest PL side ever. Pains me to say it, but it’s very possible.

7.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 09:03:33
Giggs, they brought Guardiol on a position where they were strong enough already and they brought Kovacic, who is, in my opinion, not as good as Gundogan was. And they lost Mahrez, who they haven't replaced yet. We are yet to see how good will Palmer be and how much will he play.

8.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 09:27:54
Sent reply early last night and couldn't be bothered to repost.

Its often churned out that teams lose motivation, 9 of the 10 previous treble winners in europe won their subsequent title.

Nothing about Pep strikes me as a man who rest on his laurels or demand less than total commitment from hsi players. Amd at 2-0 at half time he was clearly not a happy chap with his team.

Gvardiol is a wonderful player and he will improve that team. Kovacic will do a job. They have a number of youngsters coming throigh that get to slip into a dominant team and the have talents like Foden who have yet to cement their place.

They are also putting in bids for other players, big money bids not makeweights.

I think people are guilty of looking to find evidence of Cities demise rsther than assessing them neutrally, right now this team is head and shoulders above anyone else in Europe and come the business end of the season they will be there again. I don't see anyone challenging them in EPL, ECL like all knockout tournaments requires a bit of luck but on paper not sure anyone is at Cities level, although Real and Bayern are possibly making moves which will increase their chances at least.

9.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 10:00:12
Kovacic is no Gundogan and adding another cb to an already big crop of cb's is a bit off weird one. I think Kovacic has 5 PL goals to his name in 3 or 4 seasons.

I am sure they will bring players in but if anyone thinks its like fantasy league and you can replace a KDB, Rodri because you signed someone, good luck.

They click/ tick because if Rodri, Silva, KDB and Halaand is the beneficiary. No argument, they won the league with no striker because of those 3 guys and Gundogan. Rodri is the most influential player in that team, almost like the glue that holds everything together.

Not Wishful thinking, they finish 3rd Imo behind us. Depending on how we do the rest of the window I have us 1st or 2nd. We are a lot closer than most people are giving us credit, which i am sure suits eth and the team.

Maybe an away win at spurs and draw or win at arsenal will convince people.

I am really curious to see Chelsea and what they are like if they sign Calcedo and some of the other guys they are talking about. No European football and one game a week and 600/ 700 million spend.

10.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 10:01:41
City will have Lost some great players but due to the quality of there recruitment in previous years they have replacements. Add to that the purchases this year and they will be okay.
It will be tougher this year after the treble, everyone else improving. Haaland will just step up and score 40 in the premier league!

11.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 11:42:33
City will be absolutely fine. They played a decent side last night, played well within themselves and could have won by even more. They will bring a couple of players in and no doubt integrate them into the system.

People said they'd struggle to replace David Silva, Kompany, Aguero and they didn't. Gundogan and Mahrez are fantastic players but they're not as impactful as Silva, Kompany and Aguero were for City throughout their time there.

12.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 13:31:23
We should frame this post for next May when they’ve walked the league again.

13.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 16:28:04
Please do :) I picked us to finish third last year when most thought 5th or 6th.

Team looks fit and ready to go and has lots of goals in it. Just hoping no major injuries to key players.

We have this habit of criticizing our team and players and never good enough, Never spending enough etc etc It mainly because of our success under fergie and just one team to beat most years chelsea or arsenal.

League is so different now with the money being spent and so many teams will give you a difficult game on their day.

Westham might make 200 million pounds on two midfielders if
Paqueta goes and they barely escaped relegation last year.

We have really good players and a very good Manager so i am a believer.

14.) 12 Aug 2023
12 Aug 2023 18:42:14
Ahmad whilst i completely disagree with you and think its on a par withbhell freezing over i do hope to god you are right????.