Next Season, will it be much tougher

[john68]

Easier/harder?...It's a completely new and different season that will bring it own ups and downs and be affected by a whole new set of situations that will develop throughout the season beyond the control of many clubs.

Could we have foreseen the early season collapse of Chelski, the way that Arsenal would implode after losing Nasri and Fabregas, or the way they would come back? I fully expected the rags to suffer but they hung in there and played well above my expectations.

For City, the surprise of our early season form when we destroyed all ahead of us, then our stutter, then our fight back. The effects of losing Yaya and the Tevez saga. Too many unexpected events beyond our control that finally ended in the last few seconds of the season in that most emotional way....HOW DO YOU ASSESS THAT LOT?

The window is being opened and teams will gamble and recruit. The coming season will be what it is, full of surprises and shocks. No chance of assessing much but a chance to celebrate that we reign as Champions and have (all?) the tools to do so again.

[mooner]

City should be better as we've playrd together for a whike,however they all wanna beat the premier league champions....yeh premier champions. So bring it on cos i can't fucking wait!!!

[ecksmc]

Next season will be tough hard going and a challenge the team now no each others strength and weakness,on and off the pitch,as long as we can get a good start in the matches before the new year it will help and it really depends on how the other contenders start there season united,arsenal,chelsea are contenders,can we rule spurs out?, I guess it does come down our big matches both in premier and champions league, lets not forget how important they matches will be, all we need to be is confident on pitch and like last season play as a team a winning team a champions team keep it solid at home.

[Beefymcfc]

Every season is difficult in its own way but strangely it doesn't seem as difficult as when we were fighting off relegation or scrapping for a goal under Pearce.

Next season will probably see a more resurgent Chelsea, although I do think they'll take time to settle, and also a more experienced United team with their newer members having a season under their belts. Arsenal will somehow still be fighting it out and I think the Dippers will be very hard to beat under Rogers, even if you could get the ball off them.

However, we have the team, the manager and the confidence to go forward. Another season together and with Sergio et al having a season under their belts the team will only get better. A couple of additions to the team to mix things up and I can see us being the ones to catch, and if not, definately competing for the league. The CL is where we now need to proceed, even if it hurts us a little in the league, and I think we can do that. Through the Groups is a must and after that it's the luck of the draw. I'd be happy to make the quarters and anything more, over the moon.

[Ted Hughes]

Injuries. Likely. Signings. Needed.

Mark those 4 words.

[Swales4ever]

Injuries. Likely. Signings. Needed.

Mark those 4 words.

Hard, very hard to disagree on that.
still, once Hazard landed elsewhere, Muniain and Goetze very unlikely to move, I think that main area of improvement should need to wait till next term. I better lay my confidence on the refining of what we already have, re the cover of Dave. It's pretty foreseeable that Nasri will settle in further, and there still hope for AJ to understand what he takes to step up among the best. Also I am intrigued to see if Suarez will be more involved, starting from the pre-season camp and have some runs in the lesser games (saving the Wizard).

Where back-ups are a must is the CBs role and Yaya, and I'm still dreaming of JM: it appears the most feasable (less improbable, if You prefer) deal, so far

[Socrates]

If we get 89 points again, we win it again. Simple as that. If we get 10pts in the group stage of the Champions league again we will surely make the knockout stage this time. A central defender who is more comfortable on the ball than Lescott would be nice for the Champs League. Apart from that I am happy with what we have got and expect the group of players to improve as a team and to particularly see steps forward from a maturing Mario and a more reliable Tevez.

[Dunnylad]

Everything is easier once you've done it the first time as you know mentally you can do it - if we don't it'll be because players haven't played to the same ability levels as last season so will be moved on & we'll strengthen again; still would like to see some additions to the squad to freshen things up a bit - a right footed winger would be nice & strength in depth at centre half.

We've also got Euro Champ fatigue in Silva & Mario; Olympic fatigue for Richards (argentina aren't calling up Aguero are they?); and unless he's retired we lose YaYa for the ACoN again which we have to cope better with this year if only for everyone's sanity

[Ted Hughes]

Mancini has made it clear that we need to sign players. He left everyone in no doubt that is the case.

[AG7]

We've also got Euro Champ fatigue in Silva & Mario; Olympic fatigue for Richards (argentina aren't calling up Aguero are they?); and unless he's retired we lose YaYa for the ACoN again which we have to cope better with this year if only for everyone's sanity

Isn't ACoN every two years? Surely it's not an annual thing?? So we won't lose Toure brothers in the middle of this season ...

[mr_nool]

We've also got Euro Champ fatigue in Silva & Mario; Olympic fatigue for Richards (argentina aren't calling up Aguero are they?); and unless he's retired we lose YaYa for the ACoN again which we have to cope better with this year if only for everyone's sanity

Isn't ACoN every two years? Surely it's not an annual thing?? So we won't lose Toure brothers in the middle of this season ...

It is, but they're playing an extra year this year since they don't want their two year cycle to collide with the World Cup and Euros.

[Ted Hughes]

We've also got Euro Champ fatigue in Silva & Mario; Olympic fatigue for Richards (argentina aren't calling up Aguero are they?); and unless he's retired we lose YaYa for the ACoN again which we have to cope better with this year if only for everyone's sanity

Isn't ACoN every two years? Surely it's not an annual thing?? So we won't lose Toure brothers in the middle of this season ...

They're having another one in 2013. 19 January – 10 February

[sheikh it all about]

City should be better as we've playrd together for a whike,however they all wanna beat the premier league champions....yeh premier champions. So bring it on cos i can't fucking wait!!!

Did you say premier champions?

[sheblue]

Its hard to know what will happen. To do well we need more cover at central defense, our lack of cover there last season cost us.
Interesting season for Tevez, if he plays as he can he will add many points to league tally, Aguero should kick on from his first season and score more this one.
Silva is a worry that lad needs a month off.

[Crossie]

Di Matteo's bubble will burst before Christmas.

They also arent investing enough (so far) in the playing staff. Lampard, Terry, Cole, Czech etc are still top players, but not top enough anymore to help Chelsea challenge all season.

Rags SHOULD flap, going off their current situation

Liverpool no

Arsenal no

[ashton287]

Di Matteo's bubble will burst before Christmas.

They also arent investing enough (so far) in the playing staff. Lampard, Terry, Cole, Czech etc are still top players, but not top enough anymore to help Chelsea challenge all season.

Rags SHOULD flap, going off their current situation

Liverpool no

Arsenal no

A lot more business to be done in this window yet.

Chelsea can't be finished , wouldn't make any sense to spend so much and then stop halfway.

[sandman]

What say all you wise folk whether next season will be much tougher than last?

Last season was arguably a weak league (relatively speaking)

We won the league despite the fact that the losers who came second got the highest number of points that any second place team (1st Losers) has ever had in the premier league.

That includes back when the league lasted 42 games.

And City are improving all the time.

[chips]

I've put a bet on us winning chumps league. 6/1, 3rd favourites after barca and real.