22 May 2018 09:11:18
I was reading an article a few days ago by Martin Samuel in the Daily Mail (apologies! ) . He was writing about the 25 point gap between City and Liverpool this season and outlining what Liverpool have to do to bridge that gap. He pointed out the obvious - Liverpool must not drop points against the weaker teams and must turn draws into victory etc. According to him Liverpool must win eight games and draw two more than this past season. This would take Liverpool past City. The one major flaw in his argument is the fact that he is suggesting that City have the same amount of points as this season. The task as he explains it shows that it is nigh on impossible to do. However City will probably score less points than less season. The average amount of points won by Champions since the Premier League began is just 82.65. Over 90 points has only been reached eight times. If City reach this total then Liverpool have to win an extra five matches to be level. This is distinctly possible for our present team. The main thing to remember is that we both start off level on points and Liverpool have to have a good start and stay level. Last season we were 12 points behind after 10 games, and 20 behind at the half-way stage. In the second part of the season we only lost five points to City and this was due in part to the extra commitment of the Chamions League. What we have to ensure is that we have a strong enough squad so that when players are injured we have good alternatives to step in.


1.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 09:32:02
There are two main reasons why City won't replicate this season.

1. Losing David Silva. Despite De Bruyne starring, Silva was the man that made them tick.

2. Losing their fear factor. In the first half of the season, nobody even bothered to attack them out of fear. Then Liverpool x3, Shaktar, Basel, Man Utd, and Wigan all beat them and people stopped running scared.

They are a great side and they'll still be pushing the 90 point Mark, but they won't run away with it as comprehensively.

The 25 point gap is pretty irrelevant though. Liverpool have been coasting in the last 8 League games to try and stay fresh for the Champions League. Next year, we'll have a deeper squad and that won't happen. In fact next year, we might not even go so deep into the Champions League. City have had nothing else to play for the last 2 months, with the largest squad in Europe.

It is a new season and we both start on zero, like you say. We can run City close next season. Maybe they'll win it again, but it won't all go their way. We have blown apart their feeling of invicilibility by beating them 3 times in a row. They fear us now!


2.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 09:42:35
Yeah even Bristol and Wolves gave them a good go MK. Word for word, completely agree with your post.


3.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 09:43:10
Funnily enough I've been tinkering with a post about the same subject. I think our target should be 90 points next season, that may not be enough for the title but I think it's the highest that's realistically possible.

28 wins and 6 draws would do it, we only won 21 this year so a big improvement is necessary. We were ahead in 28 games though so with a few improvements its not impossible.

I don't think City will match this season again, what they achieved was incredible but, as you say, few clubs have ever reached such highs two years in a row. If they are a bit more human then we have to be there to take advantage and 90 points would do that.


4.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 10:13:12
Is David Silva leaving?


5.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 10:14:11
Here's an interesting tidbit. The EPL champion has not made it back to the top 4 the next year, for the last 3 seasons.

I'm not saying anything beyond hold your horses a bit, when you start talking about ManC replicating and duplicating anything. We all know all about Guardiola and his players. But it's a 38 game season and anything can happen. ManC already lost their long term objective (UCL title), this season, to a team that was 25 points behind them. 😉.


6.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 10:22:38
Yea City will sit like a duck and watch their players move out lol! In Jorginho they have signed an excellent DLP. Add a winger who is in the bracket of Hazard. If aguero leaves then they will buy again. Manchester City will be the team to beat again!


7.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 10:35:18
City don't need deep lying playmakers. Silva does the same job but just in front of the opposition box. Very few players in the world can find the time to knock it around at will in that little amount of space. They will still be the team to beat but they need players who can win the ball back when the team break on them rather than setting up attacks from deep, unless they are changing tactics. I can see more teams going for it a bit more against them next year, at least at least at the beginning of the season, and if they lose a game or two other teams won't be so scared of them either. They built the momentum of fear factor last year.


8.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 10:35:24
Jorginho, Hazard, whoever they may sign will not replace Silva harry mate. He's been the heartbeat of the team constantly, without him they will struggle to fly away with the league like they did this season, have you seen the difference when Silva doesn't play? just because they spend money on high profile players doesn't mean it'll work. They're strengthening positions what don't need to be strengthened, they need to work on their defence more then anything but they're all about attacking and it seems this is a major problem of PG's, if he fails to strengthen his defence their team will cave in next season, they'll still be up there but nowhere near as much as this year. It'll be us and United going for that number one spot imo.


9.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 10:59:17
Salah
Players come and go! That’s natural. They will sign players who are closest to him! Pep is no Brendan to give up on the team once you lose your best player.


10.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 11:03:00
Lol Salah! You said they will drop to 3rd place? Ha ha ha! The scored 100 this season and will a score another 150 next season. How are we improving our defense? Trawkoswki and Butland? More than City we need to improve our defense and midfield. They don’t need any wholesale changes.
It would be Us and City for title, UTD are miles off from any title race!


11.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 11:17:04
United are miles off? come off it Harry your speaking out of your backside mate they came second, that's hardly miles off is it. They are in a very similar situation to us, a few quality additions and they will be competing for the title whether you choose to like/ believe that or not. They play dire football but they know how to get results and that's their strong point. Tell me please Harry, when was Tarkowski and Butland signed? .


12.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 11:24:10
Yes Cobra. Ed002 gave a comprehensive update on the City rumours page. Toure, Silva and Fernandinho are all expected to leave.

Harry, go and support City then?


13.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 12:12:12
Harry, they do need wholesale changes though. Silva and Fernandinho are the best at tactical fouls in the league and make up two thirds of their midfield. They are the heart of Peps entire system. Nobody tracks back at pace, they just look to break up play high up the pitch. That is why we are their kryptonite; we break with such blistering pace and power that their tactical fouls Don't work. So we always end up 3 vs 3 in their final third. Fernandinho does a good job of shielding the two centre backs because of his athleticism and aggression. Jorginho is not the right for for them at all, but Pep doesn't believe in defending. His philosophy is to be so good on the ball that you Don't concede possession. Jorginho may be better on the ball than Fernandinho, but he isn't fit to lace his boots defensively. Pep's vision is flawed and Klopp knows it. Others are starting to figure it out too.

Taking advantage of the flaw is not easy, but you have to try if you have any ambition of beating them. Jorginho makes them harder to dispossess, but even more vulnerable once you get the ball back.


14.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 12:50:35
Not really sure how any team can be written off for the title when no one knows what will be happening in regards to what teams will look like and what player's will be coming or going.


15.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 12:46:33
That’s a very good point patex and I agree but what about other team getting more points like Man U they mite get over 90. it’s just another view.


16.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 12:36:30
Can't see why City won't replicate this season or even better it . or they may collapse and struggle for top 4 (unlikely though)
Same goes for us, no guarantees we can replicate this season and I for one will be happy with another top 4 finish, last 8 in the CL, but would really like a cup even if its the milk cup (whatever they call it these days) .
Its too early to predict next season, there will be a lot of business done this summer by all clubs and we may end up loosing a player or 2, or maybe add 4 or 5 first teamer . we won't know until end August.


17.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 13:29:14
Sorry but why are we needing to improve our defense? Maybe some greater depth, particularly on the right, but for 2/ 3rds of the season its been the most solid defense in the league. Despite your 'bin everyone every year' policy, how do you improve on 'best'?


18.) 22 May 2018
22 May 2018 16:05:39
Everyone starts the new year on the same points. We don’t have any 25 point gap to close, we just need to be the better team.

Starting from that, I’m confident our front 3 holds their own. Adding another attacker to rotate is key to staying fresh as we started to run out of gas at the end. Keep Salah and we are off to the races.

Our midfield has not had the quality of Man City, especially KDB and Silva. but Hendo is as good as Fernandinho IMO and Keita is going to be very very interesting indeed. I think he could be a major game changer for us, particularly with his aggression in midfield. I’d say we’re still a bit behind City but not by much with Keita joining, and maybe if we can get someone like Fekir in we’re at least in the same zip code.

Defence I actually think we’re better. Look at how things have turned around since Robertson, VVD and Karius have settled and Trent has matured. well be another step up from that. City on the other hand can be got at.

Overall I think we’ll be competing next season, and the incredible feats of Man City this season won’t have as much bearing as people think. They’re still the team to beat, but the hunger to repeat is almost never as strong and if we start well we’ll be hard to knock off our stride with a better bench hopefully.