Title Race | This vs Last Season

[failsworthblue]

Whilst there is a long way to go we need to win at Everton,Sunderland and Swansea and match the remaining results to get near to 89 points.

The title was won against our results to the scum and after today that is not looking good.

[Moonchesteri]

Whilst there is a long way to go we need to win at Everton,Sunderland and Swansea and match the remaining results to get near to 89 points.

The title was won against our results to the scum and after today that is not looking good.

And at Arsenal. and at the swamp. And we also need to match results like win away to Newcastle etc.
as you said, after today it's not looking good.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

We will not get within fifteen points of last season's total

[feedthegreek]

were playing nowhere near as well as last season imo, the goals for tells us that, yaya is playing far too deep for me, no de jong to protect the defence when he does go forward, 16 million on garcia waste of money all the summer buys were uninspiring and cant get near the first team on a regular basis. i think we need a top class defensive mid in january, to allow yaya to surge forward when we need too.

[AG7]

You keep looking, keep looking at this table and things stare back at you ... here's another such observation ... We have played 9 home games so far vs 7 away while Scum have played 9 away and 7 home ... hmmm, also they have been to Chelsea away and won, Newcastle away and won, Liverpool away and won, and now us too, they have come away and won ... where as we have only managed draws away to Chelsea and Liverpool and still have to go to Newcastle and them ... oh and let's not forget Arsenal ... not looking all that bright to me anymore.

[Tokyo Blue]

You keep looking, keep looking at this table and things stare back at you ... here's another such observation ... We have played 9 home games so far vs 7 away while Scum have played 9 away and 7 home ... hmmm, also they have been to Chelsea away and won, Newcastle away and won, Liverpool away and won, and now us too, they have come away and won ... where as we have only managed draws away to Chelsea and Liverpool and still have to go to Newcastle and them ... oh and let's not forget Arsenal ... not looking all that bright to me anymore.

If you are looking for negatives, you'll always find them.

I prefer to find positives, such as we beat tottenham at home, who they lost to.

There is a long way to go and both teams will lose points to teams you would not expect.

[Socrates]

Each of the last 2 seasons we finished very strongly. No coincidence as we have the strongest squad. As long as we remain in touch I will be confident. We made up 8 points in 6 games last season, making up 6 points in 22 games should not scare us...

[AG7]

We are supposed/expected to win from Spurs at home ... they weren't expected to go and get away wins at Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and at the home of Champions, the fortress Etihad ... yes they have gone and lost to Nowrich too ...

My point was that overall they so far have done much better than what was expected of them while we are constantly lagging behind what's expected of us ... I know it's a long season and these fortunes could reverse for both clubs ... I just hope it happens sooner rather than later ...

Oh, and that 8 points reversal over 6 games don't happen every year, and mark my words, won't happen this time if required ... They have come to play too and will do whatever to make sure they hold on to their lead. Just wait and see how long it takes us overhauling this current 6 point gap ...

[Original Dub]

We are supposed/expected to win from Spurs at home ... they weren't expected to go and get away wins at Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and at the home of Champions, the fortress Etihad ... yes they have gone and lost to Nowrich too ...

My point was that overall they so far have done much better than what was expected of them while we are constantly lagging behind what's expected of us ... I know it's a long season and these fortunes could reverse for both clubs ... I just hope it happens sooner rather than later ...

Oh, and that 8 points reversal over 6 games don't happen every year, and mark my words, won't happen this time if required ... They have come to play too and will do whatever to make sure they hold on to their lead. Just wait and see how long it takes us overhauling this current 6 point gap ...

You got praised for this thread because it highlightes how we were doing with respect to last season against the same opposition.

Don't ruin it by trying to predict what's going to happen. Nobody can do that unfortunately.

[AG7]

Lol, it's rather easy to predict how long it will take us to overhaul these 6 points ... just look at the upcoming fixtures for both clubs side by side and you'll see ;) Never said we won't overcome, cuz that we will ...

[Dameerto]

The only predictable thing I would bet on is unpredictability - there is time for some screwed up things still to happen that no one is expecting. (I'm asking santa for a RVP injury for Christmas, I think I've been a good enough boy this year).

[Socrates]

We are supposed/expected to win from Spurs at home ... they weren't expected to go and get away wins at Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and at the home of Champions, the fortress Etihad ... yes they have gone and lost to Nowrich too ...

My point was that overall they so far have done much better than what was expected of them while we are constantly lagging behind what's expected of us ... I know it's a long season and these fortunes could reverse for both clubs ... I just hope it happens sooner rather than later ...

Oh, and that 8 points reversal over 6 games don't happen every year, and mark my words, won't happen this time if required ... They have come to play too and will do whatever to make sure they hold on to their lead. Just wait and see how long it takes us overhauling this current 6 point gap ...

Who said anything about needing to do the same again? We might be clear leaders ourselves by then, we just unluckily lost our first league game in over 20 games get the fuck over it and stop being so negative.

[Dameerto]

I think he makes a fair point about them winning their 'tough' games to be honest, there's a bit of doom and gloom in there but we just lost a derby. Extrapolating can only get you so far though, and there's a long time left.

[AG7]

The table has been updated after Gameweek 17
Doesn't change much for either side really as the results reflect last year's ...

Title Race at 17 - By Same Fixtures.JPG

I have created a second table now, which compares the seasons as per Gameweek, so we can see where we stand in terms of no. of games played (without comparing it to who it's played against). This I guess is useful to see the overall League form for us and them vs. last year.

The color bands will help you see the dips (as draws and losses are highlighted a shade darker), rest is pretty straight forward.

We are 8 points worse off than after 17 games last season (36 now v 44 last year). They are at exactly the same no. of points (42).

You can also look at the upcoming games for both clubs at a glance in this ... hope this adds a dimension and gives us an even better understanding of how our season progresses.

Needless to say this second table will also be updated (within this thread) as we go along.

Title Race at 17 - By Gameweek.JPG

Looking at the future fixtures side-by-side in the second table, where do you guys see us gaining the 6 points on them? I am hoping they lose at Swansea ...

[City64]

Interesting stats . I am keen on stats myself .
The only thing that is predictable in football is that the unpredicable does happen week in week out as far as results are concerned at every level . Stretford undoutably get decisions and situations in there favour both on and off the field , this situation is probably worth 8 points a season to them . HOWEVER Stretford once won the title with just 80 points not too long ago with a far superior squad to the one they have now . They cant handle the pressure at the buisness end of the season like they used to for me , last season is an example of that . Again however the point made that City HAVE to win a good percentage of the BIG games including Stretford away is very valid imho and very important if we are to win the title this season no matter what the points total needed is going to be whether it is 80 points or more likely 86 ish . As long as we are in touch come march that is all that matters imho.

There is also the hope RVP gets injured or shrek gets caught in a brothel aswell :)

[Ted Hughes]

Interesting stats . I am keen on stats myself .
The only thing that is predictable in football is that the unpredicable does happen week in week out as far as results are concerned at every level . Stretford undoutably get decisions and situations in there favour both on and off the field , this situation is probably worth 8 points a season to them . HOWEVER Stretford once won the title with just 80 points not too long ago with a far superior squad to the one they have now . They cant handle the pressure at the buisness end of the season like they used to for me , last season is an example of that . Again however the point made that City HAVE to win a good percentage of the BIG games including Stretford away is very valid imho and very important if we are to win the title this season no matter what the points total needed is going to be whether it is 80 points or more likely 86 ish . As long as we are in touch come march that is all that matters imho.

There is also the hope RVP gets injured or shrek gets caught in a brothel aswell :)

The thing is, our 1st half attacking performance will beat just about anybody in the Premier League on any day but that isn't how we've been playing, we have barely scored 1st half v anyone & today was a breath of fresh air. Today, we could have had 6 first half. Also though, on the downside, that kind of defending will lose us games, but we would expect to be better with VK back.

Basically though, it's upto us, to play with that kind of pass & move football intelligence (& Bob to pick the players who do it). If we do, we will win it again, as I'm sure you are right; rags will slip up here & there when it gets tough, as they are not that good. If we play as we've been playing for most of this season though, we will also slip up, & those 6 points will be all they need, as even if we get then back, we'll drop them again. It's entirely up to us; we have shown today that we can still do it.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

The thing is the Rags are far more clinical than us. Always seems like we need more chances to score. Last week for example we wasted numerous chances, they get two break aways and score. Today in the first half for example we could and should have scored more.

[Swales4ever]

The thing is the Rags are far more clinical than us. Always seems like we need more chances to score. Last week for example we wasted numerous chances, they get two break aways and score. Today in the first half for example we could and should have scored more.

Absolutely THIS!
I think I should have said it a few times along the last 2 seasons: WHEN City will become clinical, NO sides might stop the Almighty Blues... meanwhile also finding a second Silva would much help to trouble Opponents' managers.

To be fair we also must consider that our strikers are fairly younger than the most clinical of the Games, coolness often comes with much experience.

[AG7]

My question to you all remain: looking at the next fixtures side by side (table 2), when do you think we'll overcome the 6 point deficit ... or around when will it get worse for us to 9 (or dare I say more) points?

[john68]

The thing is the Rags are far more clinical than us. Always seems like we need more chances to score. Last week for example we wasted numerous chances, they get two break aways and score. Today in the first half for example we could and should have scored more.

...and that young Bridge's is also part of the answer to another conundrum. Our form.
On your original point, the rags haven't been that great for quite a number of years and I for one fully expected them to slowly dissolve and disappear from the top. They got away with being a poor team over much of the Taggart years by having the secret of chances to goals ratio efficient.
Playing badly and being bailed out, time and time again by the Trannie, then the following seasons by Shrek etc and now Van Penis. Losses into draws and draws into wins...extra undeserved points that didn't reflect the poorer quality of their play.

It is a lesson we have yet to learn. IMHO, it is also the answer to our form. Failing to capitalise makes us look worse than we are.