[Surrey Blue]

I can’t quite match your longevity of watching City, Brian, because I started in the mid 1950s so I’m but a youngster. To follow City for such a time means that we’ve probably HAD to do so for the game – a few of us probably still can’t quite get used to events of recent years!

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[Surrey Blue]

Brian – I don’t disagree with what you (and others above)are saying. Life is about the probability of events occurring and managing associated risks so I’m merely suggesting that Liverpool is, on balance, likely to win the league again, and possibly extend that run. Obviously, it’s not a given and much depends on the response from others (including City)but, given current knowledge,that’s where I’m pitching my view!

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[Surrey Blue]

There may be a proper title race next season but I’d be pleasantly surprised if it involved City. There’s every chance that Liverpool will dominate for at least another two seasons so completing three PL titles. I think that’s a more likely (but obviously not certain) outcome than City overtaking Liverpool next year as I think the inevitable changes will take a while to come through – assuming Pep stays to rebuild. In the near term, it’s likely to be ground hog day for City in the league but there might be enough to hold onto a top 4 place and maybe win a ‘domestic’ Cup.

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[Surrey Blue]

It’s fairly pointless discussing Liverpool’s probability of winning the league as it’s been apparent for quite a while now. As for City , I’m glad others are at last beginning to see that there’s more than getting injuries cleared up/making a couple of defensive signings before the Club can continue with ‘the project’. We’ll doubtless still see some good football from this squad during the rest of this season but it’s likely to end up as an also ran.

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[Surrey Blue]

For obvious reasons, it was always unlikely that City would win the league again this season. Indeed, unless luck intervenes big time, it seems probable that this current City squad will not win anything of substance (EPL/CL) and one or two new faces won’t do the trick. So it’s all down to whether or not Pep wants to stay (or is allowed to stay) for the inevitable rebuild over the next two or maybe three seasons. It means plenty of head scratching from the men in kandura and ghutra – who are now in a tricky situation given that throwing pots of cash around might not provide a solution – as to how their project moves forward.

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[Surrey Blue]

Long way to go so anybody’s game at OT.
Quickly back to City as I thought that team was really good yesterday. I may be wrong but I doubt if any other EPL side could have changed formation to such good effect against that level of opposition as was the case with City in that game. Such flexibility, or an inability to achieve it, might be an important factor later on this season….

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[Surrey Blue]

Body language appears to point at Sane having left City…..

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[Surrey Blue]

Given the recent issues at City, I didn’t think we had enough to hurt Liverpool but that was a well deserved result. Still, it doesn’t have to play City again in the League this season and so it’s difficult to see who can now lay a glove on this Liverpool team.

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[Surrey Blue]

It was always going to be mighty difficult to win another title this season, and there’s been too much hype around City so let’s congratulate Liverpool – which has strong momentum – and Spurs for both showing real intent. City will probably come good again but probably not this season in the league as the problems seem to be mounting with limited availability of short term fixes. Maybe Pep will do a runner if OGS ends up with more points!!

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[Surrey Blue]

Adlab – you make a good point about City at home on Boxing Day. I’ll give you one: 1963 in Div 2 when we beat Scunthorpe 8-1. I think I was in the open end on that day; Matt Gray, Derek Kevan and Jimmy Murray scored with hat tricks from Gray and Murray. I remember we scored about 20 goals during that month so we need a bit more of that this season!

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[Surrey Blue]

Nine nine nine – yes City should get better with more to choose from but I’m not sure It will keep pace with Liverpool which is improving significantly in the league this year.
Srd79 – not convinced on City’s depth of squad either – who will it look to to improve its defence? Pep’s certainly going to earn his money now….

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[Surrey Blue]

I mentioned the other week on here that I thought Liverpool might embarrass City at the Etihad shortly and today’s performance makes it difficult to change that view. The Palace result is totally unsurprising as City hasn’t really been at it for a little while now. Obviously a long way to go but City seem that bit off the pace and may well struggle to do much damage to Liverpool, certainly in the near term.

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[Surrey Blue]

I actually thought City were a tad unlucky yesterday but should have made possession count and won the game in the first half. Still, there have been signs of late that the team is that bit off the pace so no real surprise with the final outcome. It’s in a relatively flat spell/blip and Everton will be very difficult – anything less than a win might start to hit confidence. However, notwithstanding what happens against Everton, I have an gut feeling that Liverpool could embarrass City in early Jan.

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[Surrey Blue]

City sign Mahrez. Am I missing something but why?

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[Surrey Blue]

My final thought on this current England situation means that I have to (unfortunately) borrow from and slightly twist the words of a Tory politician – Southgate polished a t@rd brilliantly and got to within 80 odd minutes of a World Cup Final. Not bad really.

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[Surrey Blue]

Yes I didn’t see a bench of game changers on the bench because England doesn’t have them ( few sides do). The reality is Croatia has a very experienced side and a clever midfield which largely came good in the second half – it was painful to watch the game being taken away from England but we came short up against a better side.

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[Surrey Blue]

We need something different full stop. This team seems unlikely to beat Sweden in 120 minutes so – if we avoid defeat – another lottery beckoning.

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[Surrey Blue]

It could be that we’ve seen 4 losses on the trot by the end of this Saturday before we move on (surely) to get the points needed to win the league. This may be a bit anticlimactic after the United game, possibly made worse if Liverpool finish the job on Tuesday but City has been way ahead of any side in the EPL over this season. Looking ahead, will this current wayward patch have a material effect effect on game management/player recruitment (more emphasis on ‘control’ with more 1 or 2 goal winning margins rather than 4 or 5 goal games) or will Pep carry on regardless, intensifying that which we’ve seen this season and shaping the team to suit? I suspect more of the same approach with even better players but you may have your doubts….

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[Surrey Blue]

Seconded.

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[Surrey Blue]

We didn’t have any luck but maybe it wasn’t deserved and it beggars belief that City weren’t prepared that bit better last night. However, perhaps Pep might think that Utd isn’t the most important game as there will be other chances to win the league. He could just want the final roll of the dice against Liverpool but it’s difficult to see how any current City side can conjure up a net 4 goal win. Having said that, City is arguably the only side in the EPL that could possibly do just that.

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