How many goals

[iwasthere2012]

And don't forget Navas.
I bet when he starts he won't be able to stop.

[dazby]

Nasri will play as a striker.

[iwasthere2012]

I don't know about the Cup competitions but in pre-Premier League days, I used to reckon that any side which consistently scored an average of two goals per game (i.e. 84 goals) would be in with a fair chance of winning the title at the final 'run-instage (in 1967/68, City scored 86 goals if my memory serves me correctly).

Since 1992 when, according to rag calendars, proper football started, I've often thought that a consistent average of 2.25 goals per game would mean that a team would/should be in the final mix as this would yield about 85 League goals.

I'm not sure that, given the players we have at the moment and over a long season, we could manage to score 80+ goals as there would be a big responsibility upon Aguero's shoulders to help achieve this and he always seems to be, worryingly, one tackle away from injury.

A heck of a lot of goals would have to be provided by the rest of the team in support, which is asking a lot, but, whereas in Pellegrini's squad there was Aguero, Negredo and Dzeko for starters, plus Yaya and then the defence chipping in with a few, in our current side we only have Nacho as back-up and I feel we'll fall short of the theoretical 85 goals needed to be there or thereabouts in the final stages of the season.

Statistically speaking, I feel we need another 20+ goals a season striker to ensure we have a good chance of winning the title and I don't know where he will come from, especially at this late stage in the transfer window. I know we're scoring a few at the moment but it's a long season and we can't guarantee this will continue throughout.

On that basis - and to partly answer the question posed - in the League I think we might only score roughly between 60 and 70 goals. I wouldn't want to speculate about any/all of the Cup competitions.

Apologies for the apparent pessimism and I hope I'm so very very wrong and misguided.

You think we're going to score less under Guardiola than we did under Pellegrini for the past two seasons? That doesn't just seem pessimistic mate, it seems bonkers but time will tell I guess.

I suppose I am being a bit 'bonkers' but I honestly feel the irony is that we're only a striker short of going crazy in the league and blowing away all the opposition - always provided that Aguero can also stay fit as well.

Well Mik, we are currently averaging 3 a game and we all agree we haven't hit our stride yet. We should have put a few more away.
An average of 2.5 gets us 95 doesn't it.
I genuinely think we are capable of that. A lot can happen of course, over a season, but the signs are encouraging that Nolito and Raheem will chip in double figures. God knows what Nacho is capable of. I'm optimistic that Silva will get close to 10 this year and Fern 1, Delph and KDB will chip in when he starts firing on all cylinders.
Then we have the unknown of Sane, Jesus and Gunga-din.
Hell, Bravo may even get a few.

True things could all go pear shaped, but I'm feeling quite optimistic at the moment.

I know, I know chum.

It's just me suffering my usual "we need more strikers" panic attack, coupled with my usual pessimism which always surfaces at various times.

Just ignore me (which I'm sure you will !!).

Nah. Won't ignore you Mikhail.
I'm sure we will strike out against some teams. But I think there will be a few 4's and 5's scored to make up for them. If the year goes well who knows, someone will get a thumping to remember.
If things don't go as planned I still think we would be looking at a much better functioning unit and I guess we'll get a good idea where we stand on the 10th of September.