worst season ever? from a fan's perspective

[freshie]

Do none of you remember the 2006-2007 season? I almost didn't renew my season ticket after that shower of shit. So glad Thaksin took over at the end of the season

[Dimples]

Nigel, great title - very funny - good one.

In the bag - LCup + CL QF
Maybes - Top 4 + CL progression

Worst season ever - not even close

[edge275]

We need to sack Pellegrini asap. I'd rather be managerless than have Pellegrini for the rest of the season.

[HailNerdQueen]

In terms of not really enjoying watching them play, it's been one of the worst for me. One of the most frustrating for sure.

I don't think worst ever but I understand this point. It seems less enjoyable watching a superstar squad wander than watching average joes scrap and fall short.

More over there is just a big nothingness about a lot of our games this season. It's like the spark has dimmed well and truly. It's hard to describe but there's a vibe there. Even this place has gone really quiet at times.

Seconded, it was eerie how quiet it got. The headlines read "Making History, but at What Cost?" and that feeling has crept through supporters as well. It's hard to be a gung ho fan when nobody seems to care. And brutal to watch the injuries pile up...

[DoomMerchant]

I think some of you lot are from the bucket of thickets at times..obviously the fuckign number cruncher means "worst season" over the last few years and hes right....it's been utter shite...utter de ja vu more often than not....manager has been underwhelming managing, arguably, the best resourced football club in the world.

Fucking not so much disappointing , more fuckign embarrassing than anything....the fact that we are the second worse team in the prem for taking less points off half the league's teams seems to bypass some of you lot with a shrug of the shoulders.

Its been a fuckign disgusting season......and if we get ANY of the top 4 teams in EUROPE for the next CL game we will get steamrollered as these cunts have fuckall desire and the manager has fuckall left in the ideas department.

You saying Pellers doesn't complement this team?

I think Pellers and most of this team are a match made in heaven....they can both fuck off.

Do we sack the medical staff first

I'm hopeful they all fuck off. A lot.

Cheers

[Foreverinbluedreams]

[Nigels Tackle]

these cunts don't know what it means to pull on city shirt

[carl_feedthegoat]

CHILEAN CUNT...WORST FUCKIGN MANAGERIAL PERFORMANCE IN WORLD FOOTBALL THIS YEAR, FOR A TEAM WITH OUR RESOURCES.

HE SHOULD BE ASHAMED AND HE SHOULD BE SACKED.

[Beefymcfc]

CHILEAN CUNT...WORST FUCKIGN MANAGERIAL PERFORMANCE IN WORLD FOOTBALL THIS YEAR, FOR A TEAM WITH OUR RESOURCES.

HE SHOULD BE ASHAMED AND HE SHOULD BE SACKED.

I like the Caps, very succinct.

[Si the Lion]

Worst season ever since takeover without shadow of a doubt. I believe this is due to the piss poor manager we employed after Mancini. Pellegrini's record with resources available is at best embarrassing the title he did win in his 1st season was with an inherited team. Every player he has brought in has proved to be poor business other than De bruyne but I doubt he had much of a say in that? He cannot change a game from the bench and his decision to continually play Bony before Iheanacho is baffling. It seems he will throw everything into CL to walk away like some sort of Mesiah trouble is I fear it will cost the club/Pep CL football next season. One thing is for sure when he does finally fuck off he needs to take half his passionless squad with him, GOOD RIDDANCE.

[Ray78]

Our League have been disappointing but I am still sticking by it has been a decent season overall.

[Si the Lion]

We haven't beaten a team of any real quality?? Says it all. Won CL group but Juve beat us twice.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

Not the worst season ever, just the worst since 2013.

Nevertheless I am going into a monastery for a week.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

I said two things to my wife before the game.

If he plays Demi one of their teenagers will run at him and it will cost us.

If bony plays ahead of nacho then this season is now a joke and waste of time.

Fucking prove is all wrong you useless cunts (staff and players)

[carl_feedthegoat]

To use Peps impending arrival as an excuse for us playing shite is absolute bollocks (FYI - Bayern are 8 points ahead as they have a world class manager..and not a muppet like we do.)

Heres some fuckign facts.


Manchester City have not been at their best for any period since they began the season with five straight Premier League wins. They had already lost five league games before the Guardiola announcement was made.

City won their first three away games in the Premier League but only two of the next 11 and have not won back-to-back league games in five months. The rot set in long before they started getting ready to put Guardiola's name on the manager's office door.

It is hard to believe City's players have been dwelling on the Spaniard's arrival during games and in an uncharacteristically prickly post-match media conference after the United loss, Pellegrini was at pains to deflect suggestions Guardiola was providing an unwelcome distraction.

He said: "I don't think I have lost any control. The attitude of the team was excellent. I repeat - I am happy with attitude of the players."

Guardiola's impending arrival may have focused minds on City's shortcomings - but this was a team showing signs of struggle and decline well before he was confirmed as Pellegrini's successor.

City can't beat Premier League's better sides


Manchester City have won just one game against the Premier League's current top-eight
Manchester City are only one point ahead of Manchester United and West Ham even though they still lie fourth, and 15 points behind leaders Leicester City having played a game less.

The rest of the season is not about winning the title but finishing in the top four - and embarrassing state of affairs for a club with City's aspirations and scale of ambition.

And perhaps the most tell-tale statistic of why they are where they are comes in their record against the current top eight.

City have played 11 matches against them, winning only one, drawing three and losing seven for a meagre return of six points. They also lost heavily home and away to ninth-placed Liverpool.

Their total of 51 points from 30 games is a grim reflection of their struggles throughout the season.

In 2011-12 they had 70 points at this stage of the season, the following year they had 62 points and 67 when they brought the title back to Etihad Stadium in 2013-14. Last season they had 61 points after 30 game



What will be Guardiola's priorities?

Guardiola's first priority will be to keep everything crossed that stumbling Manchester City can keep it together long enough to make sure they finish in the top four - or win the tournament of course - to ensure they are in next season's Champions League.

He inherits a squad that is guilty of under-achievement this season, even though they have won the League Cup and remain in the Champions League.

City's buying policy has been flawed to such an extent in recent years that they still rely heavily on the backbone of the side that won the club's first title in 44 years in 2012 - namely keeper Joe Hart, captain Vincent Kompany, midfield pair Yaya Toure and David Silva, as well as striker Sergio Aguero.

Around that key group others have not achieved, while there are problems even with those players. Kompany is 29 and suffering from acute calf problems, Toure is 33 in May and was sold by Guardiola at Barcelona, while even the peerless Silva is now 30 and has been troubled for many months by an ankle problem.

Guardiola will be happy with Hart in goal and will want to build around 24-year-old Kevin de Bruyne, who has been such a big miss through injury in recent months. He will also want Raheem Sterling, a £49m summer signing from Liverpool, to justify that fee.

Joe Hart
Will Joe Hart still be number one at City next season?
He may well target Everton's 21-year-old John Stones to give youth and authority to a central defence that is still holed below the waterline by Kompany's many absences, with Martin Demichelis looking every day of his 35 years and more against Manchester United and both Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala not showing a return on a combined investment of around £70m.

Wilfried Bony was signed for £28m from Swansea City as the likes of Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic were allowed to depart, but it is hard to see a striker who lacks mobility surviving under Guardiola.

In defence, Bacary Sagna is 33 and coming towards the end of his Premier League career, while Pablo Zabaleta is 31 and Aleksandar Kolarov is 30 - this is a City team that has been allowed to grow too old, with poor signings exacerbating the problem.

Jesus Navas has been poor and Samir Nasri has provided moments of magic and mediocrity.

So Guardiola's priorities will be to freshen up and introduce young blood into a stale squad, while also bringing authority to all parts of the pitch, especially in central defence and in giving attacking support to Aguero.

For all City's ability to flex their financial muscle, he will find that a lot easier to do with them in the Champions League rather than the Europa League.

Could Pellegrini finish on a high?

Manuel Pellegrini
Pellegrini, who leaves City at the end of the season, joined from Malaga in 2013
The 62-year-old Chilean has one trophy in his locker in his final season but there will be no Premier League title - he is relying on the Champions League to give the campaign a flourish because a top-four finish should be a given, not a source of celebration.

Pellegrini has brought Manchester City to the last eight of the Champions League and the draw has been relatively kind as they avoided the big three of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to be paired with Chelsea's conquerors Paris St-Germain.

It is a tough task - one a City squad firing on all cylinders might just fancy - but right now they are seriously underpowered.

Pellegrini has been dogged by those injuries to Kompany, De Bruyne and Silva and matters got worse on a bad day against Manchester United as Sterling and keeper Hart suffered injuries that mean they may miss the PSG games.

Hart's calf injury looked a serious problem as he was taken off on a stretcher after rescuing Demichelis from a dreadful back pass.

Sympathy will be in short supply if City cite injuries given their resources - but they are facing real problems.

City will be in dreamland if they can get into the Champions League's last four but it is hard to see them, in their current state, troubling the trio of superpowers in this competition.

It may well be that the League Cup and a place in the top four will have to suffice before Pellegrini takes his leave.

[Spurge]

To use Peps impending arrival as an excuse for us playing shite is absolute bollocks (FYI - Bayern are 8 points ahead as they have a world class manager..and not a muppet like we do.)

Heres some fuckign facts.


Manchester City have not been at their best for any period since they began the season with five straight Premier League wins. They had already lost five league games before the Guardiola announcement was made.

City won their first three away games in the Premier League but only two of the next 11 and have not won back-to-back league games in five months. The rot set in long before they started getting ready to put Guardiola's name on the manager's office door.

It is hard to believe City's players have been dwelling on the Spaniard's arrival during games and in an uncharacteristically prickly post-match media conference after the United loss, Pellegrini was at pains to deflect suggestions Guardiola was providing an unwelcome distraction.

He said: "I don't think I have lost any control. The attitude of the team was excellent. I repeat - I am happy with attitude of the players."

Guardiola's impending arrival may have focused minds on City's shortcomings - but this was a team showing signs of struggle and decline well before he was confirmed as Pellegrini's successor.

City can't beat Premier League's better sides


Manchester City have won just one game against the Premier League's current top-eight
Manchester City are only one point ahead of Manchester United and West Ham even though they still lie fourth, and 15 points behind leaders Leicester City having played a game less.

The rest of the season is not about winning the title but finishing in the top four - and embarrassing state of affairs for a club with City's aspirations and scale of ambition.

And perhaps the most tell-tale statistic of why they are where they are comes in their record against the current top eight.

City have played 11 matches against them, winning only one, drawing three and losing seven for a meagre return of six points. They also lost heavily home and away to ninth-placed Liverpool.

Their total of 51 points from 30 games is a grim reflection of their struggles throughout the season.

In 2011-12 they had 70 points at this stage of the season, the following year they had 62 points and 67 when they brought the title back to Etihad Stadium in 2013-14. Last season they had 61 points after 30 game



What will be Guardiola's priorities?

Guardiola's first priority will be to keep everything crossed that stumbling Manchester City can keep it together long enough to make sure they finish in the top four - or win the tournament of course - to ensure they are in next season's Champions League.

He inherits a squad that is guilty of under-achievement this season, even though they have won the League Cup and remain in the Champions League.

City's buying policy has been flawed to such an extent in recent years that they still rely heavily on the backbone of the side that won the club's first title in 44 years in 2012 - namely keeper Joe Hart, captain Vincent Kompany, midfield pair Yaya Toure and David Silva, as well as striker Sergio Aguero.

Around that key group others have not achieved, while there are problems even with those players. Kompany is 29 and suffering from acute calf problems, Toure is 33 in May and was sold by Guardiola at Barcelona, while even the peerless Silva is now 30 and has been troubled for many months by an ankle problem.

Guardiola will be happy with Hart in goal and will want to build around 24-year-old Kevin de Bruyne, who has been such a big miss through injury in recent months. He will also want Raheem Sterling, a £49m summer signing from Liverpool, to justify that fee.

Joe Hart
Will Joe Hart still be number one at City next season?
He may well target Everton's 21-year-old John Stones to give youth and authority to a central defence that is still holed below the waterline by Kompany's many absences, with Martin Demichelis looking every day of his 35 years and more against Manchester United and both Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala not showing a return on a combined investment of around £70m.

Wilfried Bony was signed for £28m from Swansea City as the likes of Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic were allowed to depart, but it is hard to see a striker who lacks mobility surviving under Guardiola.

In defence, Bacary Sagna is 33 and coming towards the end of his Premier League career, while Pablo Zabaleta is 31 and Aleksandar Kolarov is 30 - this is a City team that has been allowed to grow too old, with poor signings exacerbating the problem.

Jesus Navas has been poor and Samir Nasri has provided moments of magic and mediocrity.

So Guardiola's priorities will be to freshen up and introduce young blood into a stale squad, while also bringing authority to all parts of the pitch, especially in central defence and in giving attacking support to Aguero.

For all City's ability to flex their financial muscle, he will find that a lot easier to do with them in the Champions League rather than the Europa League.

Could Pellegrini finish on a high?

Manuel Pellegrini
Pellegrini, who leaves City at the end of the season, joined from Malaga in 2013
The 62-year-old Chilean has one trophy in his locker in his final season but there will be no Premier League title - he is relying on the Champions League to give the campaign a flourish because a top-four finish should be a given, not a source of celebration.

Pellegrini has brought Manchester City to the last eight of the Champions League and the draw has been relatively kind as they avoided the big three of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to be paired with Chelsea's conquerors Paris St-Germain.

It is a tough task - one a City squad firing on all cylinders might just fancy - but right now they are seriously underpowered.

Pellegrini has been dogged by those injuries to Kompany, De Bruyne and Silva and matters got worse on a bad day against Manchester United as Sterling and keeper Hart suffered injuries that mean they may miss the PSG games.

Hart's calf injury looked a serious problem as he was taken off on a stretcher after rescuing Demichelis from a dreadful back pass.

Sympathy will be in short supply if City cite injuries given their resources - but they are facing real problems.

City will be in dreamland if they can get into the Champions League's last four but it is hard to see them, in their current state, troubling the trio of superpowers in this competition.

It may well be that the League Cup and a place in the top four will have to suffice before Pellegrini takes his leave.

A nicely put together post - you could become a journo. Whilst the more sceptical amongst us may feel that the omission of words such as 'fucking' and 'cunts' would suggest it wasn't all your own work, I would simply say they must be jealous bastards.

[Nigels Tackle]

To use Peps impending arrival as an excuse for us playing shite is absolute bollocks (FYI - Bayern are 8 points ahead as they have a world class manager..and not a muppet like we do.)

Heres some fuckign facts.


Manchester City have not been at their best for any period since they began the season with five straight Premier League wins. They had already lost five league games before the Guardiola announcement was made.

City won their first three away games in the Premier League but only two of the next 11 and have not won back-to-back league games in five months. The rot set in long before they started getting ready to put Guardiola's name on the manager's office door.

It is hard to believe City's players have been dwelling on the Spaniard's arrival during games and in an uncharacteristically prickly post-match media conference after the United loss, Pellegrini was at pains to deflect suggestions Guardiola was providing an unwelcome distraction.

He said: "I don't think I have lost any control. The attitude of the team was excellent. I repeat - I am happy with attitude of the players."

Guardiola's impending arrival may have focused minds on City's shortcomings - but this was a team showing signs of struggle and decline well before he was confirmed as Pellegrini's successor.

City can't beat Premier League's better sides


Manchester City have won just one game against the Premier League's current top-eight
Manchester City are only one point ahead of Manchester United and West Ham even though they still lie fourth, and 15 points behind leaders Leicester City having played a game less.

The rest of the season is not about winning the title but finishing in the top four - and embarrassing state of affairs for a club with City's aspirations and scale of ambition.

And perhaps the most tell-tale statistic of why they are where they are comes in their record against the current top eight.

City have played 11 matches against them, winning only one, drawing three and losing seven for a meagre return of six points. They also lost heavily home and away to ninth-placed Liverpool.

Their total of 51 points from 30 games is a grim reflection of their struggles throughout the season.

In 2011-12 they had 70 points at this stage of the season, the following year they had 62 points and 67 when they brought the title back to Etihad Stadium in 2013-14. Last season they had 61 points after 30 game



What will be Guardiola's priorities?

Guardiola's first priority will be to keep everything crossed that stumbling Manchester City can keep it together long enough to make sure they finish in the top four - or win the tournament of course - to ensure they are in next season's Champions League.

He inherits a squad that is guilty of under-achievement this season, even though they have won the League Cup and remain in the Champions League.

City's buying policy has been flawed to such an extent in recent years that they still rely heavily on the backbone of the side that won the club's first title in 44 years in 2012 - namely keeper Joe Hart, captain Vincent Kompany, midfield pair Yaya Toure and David Silva, as well as striker Sergio Aguero.

Around that key group others have not achieved, while there are problems even with those players. Kompany is 29 and suffering from acute calf problems, Toure is 33 in May and was sold by Guardiola at Barcelona, while even the peerless Silva is now 30 and has been troubled for many months by an ankle problem.

Guardiola will be happy with Hart in goal and will want to build around 24-year-old Kevin de Bruyne, who has been such a big miss through injury in recent months. He will also want Raheem Sterling, a £49m summer signing from Liverpool, to justify that fee.

Joe Hart
Will Joe Hart still be number one at City next season?
He may well target Everton's 21-year-old John Stones to give youth and authority to a central defence that is still holed below the waterline by Kompany's many absences, with Martin Demichelis looking every day of his 35 years and more against Manchester United and both Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala not showing a return on a combined investment of around £70m.

Wilfried Bony was signed for £28m from Swansea City as the likes of Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic were allowed to depart, but it is hard to see a striker who lacks mobility surviving under Guardiola.

In defence, Bacary Sagna is 33 and coming towards the end of his Premier League career, while Pablo Zabaleta is 31 and Aleksandar Kolarov is 30 - this is a City team that has been allowed to grow too old, with poor signings exacerbating the problem.

Jesus Navas has been poor and Samir Nasri has provided moments of magic and mediocrity.

So Guardiola's priorities will be to freshen up and introduce young blood into a stale squad, while also bringing authority to all parts of the pitch, especially in central defence and in giving attacking support to Aguero.

For all City's ability to flex their financial muscle, he will find that a lot easier to do with them in the Champions League rather than the Europa League.

Could Pellegrini finish on a high?

Manuel Pellegrini
Pellegrini, who leaves City at the end of the season, joined from Malaga in 2013
The 62-year-old Chilean has one trophy in his locker in his final season but there will be no Premier League title - he is relying on the Champions League to give the campaign a flourish because a top-four finish should be a given, not a source of celebration.

Pellegrini has brought Manchester City to the last eight of the Champions League and the draw has been relatively kind as they avoided the big three of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to be paired with Chelsea's conquerors Paris St-Germain.

It is a tough task - one a City squad firing on all cylinders might just fancy - but right now they are seriously underpowered.

Pellegrini has been dogged by those injuries to Kompany, De Bruyne and Silva and matters got worse on a bad day against Manchester United as Sterling and keeper Hart suffered injuries that mean they may miss the PSG games.

Hart's calf injury looked a serious problem as he was taken off on a stretcher after rescuing Demichelis from a dreadful back pass.

Sympathy will be in short supply if City cite injuries given their resources - but they are facing real problems.

City will be in dreamland if they can get into the Champions League's last four but it is hard to see them, in their current state, troubling the trio of superpowers in this competition.

It may well be that the League Cup and a place in the top four will have to suffice before Pellegrini takes his leave.

A nicely put together post - you could become a journo. Whilst the more sceptical amongst us may feel that the omission of words such as 'fucking' and 'cunts' would suggest it wasn't all your own work, I would simply say they must be jealous bastards.

is that because you are a fucking cunt?

[Sparklehorse]

Unless I'm going senile..I see we have 7 games in 22 days in April..jesus !!!

[carl_feedthegoat]

To use Peps impending arrival as an excuse for us playing shite is absolute bollocks (FYI - Bayern are 8 points ahead as they have a world class manager..and not a muppet like we do.)

Heres some fuckign facts.


Manchester City have not been at their best for any period since they began the season with five straight Premier League wins. They had already lost five league games before the Guardiola announcement was made.

City won their first three away games in the Premier League but only two of the next 11 and have not won back-to-back league games in five months. The rot set in long before they started getting ready to put Guardiola's name on the manager's office door.

It is hard to believe City's players have been dwelling on the Spaniard's arrival during games and in an uncharacteristically prickly post-match media conference after the United loss, Pellegrini was at pains to deflect suggestions Guardiola was providing an unwelcome distraction.

He said: "I don't think I have lost any control. The attitude of the team was excellent. I repeat - I am happy with attitude of the players."

Guardiola's impending arrival may have focused minds on City's shortcomings - but this was a team showing signs of struggle and decline well before he was confirmed as Pellegrini's successor.

City can't beat Premier League's better sides


Manchester City have won just one game against the Premier League's current top-eight
Manchester City are only one point ahead of Manchester United and West Ham even though they still lie fourth, and 15 points behind leaders Leicester City having played a game less.

The rest of the season is not about winning the title but finishing in the top four - and embarrassing state of affairs for a club with City's aspirations and scale of ambition.

And perhaps the most tell-tale statistic of why they are where they are comes in their record against the current top eight.

City have played 11 matches against them, winning only one, drawing three and losing seven for a meagre return of six points. They also lost heavily home and away to ninth-placed Liverpool.

Their total of 51 points from 30 games is a grim reflection of their struggles throughout the season.

In 2011-12 they had 70 points at this stage of the season, the following year they had 62 points and 67 when they brought the title back to Etihad Stadium in 2013-14. Last season they had 61 points after 30 game



What will be Guardiola's priorities?

Guardiola's first priority will be to keep everything crossed that stumbling Manchester City can keep it together long enough to make sure they finish in the top four - or win the tournament of course - to ensure they are in next season's Champions League.

He inherits a squad that is guilty of under-achievement this season, even though they have won the League Cup and remain in the Champions League.

City's buying policy has been flawed to such an extent in recent years that they still rely heavily on the backbone of the side that won the club's first title in 44 years in 2012 - namely keeper Joe Hart, captain Vincent Kompany, midfield pair Yaya Toure and David Silva, as well as striker Sergio Aguero.

Around that key group others have not achieved, while there are problems even with those players. Kompany is 29 and suffering from acute calf problems, Toure is 33 in May and was sold by Guardiola at Barcelona, while even the peerless Silva is now 30 and has been troubled for many months by an ankle problem.

Guardiola will be happy with Hart in goal and will want to build around 24-year-old Kevin de Bruyne, who has been such a big miss through injury in recent months. He will also want Raheem Sterling, a £49m summer signing from Liverpool, to justify that fee.

Joe Hart
Will Joe Hart still be number one at City next season?
He may well target Everton's 21-year-old John Stones to give youth and authority to a central defence that is still holed below the waterline by Kompany's many absences, with Martin Demichelis looking every day of his 35 years and more against Manchester United and both Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala not showing a return on a combined investment of around £70m.

Wilfried Bony was signed for £28m from Swansea City as the likes of Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic were allowed to depart, but it is hard to see a striker who lacks mobility surviving under Guardiola.

In defence, Bacary Sagna is 33 and coming towards the end of his Premier League career, while Pablo Zabaleta is 31 and Aleksandar Kolarov is 30 - this is a City team that has been allowed to grow too old, with poor signings exacerbating the problem.

Jesus Navas has been poor and Samir Nasri has provided moments of magic and mediocrity.

So Guardiola's priorities will be to freshen up and introduce young blood into a stale squad, while also bringing authority to all parts of the pitch, especially in central defence and in giving attacking support to Aguero.

For all City's ability to flex their financial muscle, he will find that a lot easier to do with them in the Champions League rather than the Europa League.

Could Pellegrini finish on a high?

Manuel Pellegrini
Pellegrini, who leaves City at the end of the season, joined from Malaga in 2013
The 62-year-old Chilean has one trophy in his locker in his final season but there will be no Premier League title - he is relying on the Champions League to give the campaign a flourish because a top-four finish should be a given, not a source of celebration.

Pellegrini has brought Manchester City to the last eight of the Champions League and the draw has been relatively kind as they avoided the big three of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to be paired with Chelsea's conquerors Paris St-Germain.

It is a tough task - one a City squad firing on all cylinders might just fancy - but right now they are seriously underpowered.

Pellegrini has been dogged by those injuries to Kompany, De Bruyne and Silva and matters got worse on a bad day against Manchester United as Sterling and keeper Hart suffered injuries that mean they may miss the PSG games.

Hart's calf injury looked a serious problem as he was taken off on a stretcher after rescuing Demichelis from a dreadful back pass.

Sympathy will be in short supply if City cite injuries given their resources - but they are facing real problems.

City will be in dreamland if they can get into the Champions League's last four but it is hard to see them, in their current state, troubling the trio of superpowers in this competition.

It may well be that the League Cup and a place in the top four will have to suffice before Pellegrini takes his leave.

A nicely put together post - you could become a journo. Whilst the more sceptical amongst us may feel that the omission of words such as 'fucking' and 'cunts' would suggest it wasn't all your own work, I would simply say they must be jealous bastards.

Oh no !! Ive been rumbled ((((((

Any fuckign retard would know it wasnt my work , why you feel the need to state the fuckign obvious I dont know - Why dont you just fuckign focus on the content, its what ive been banging on and on and on about for the last few months.

[Spurge]

To use Peps impending arrival as an excuse for us playing shite is absolute bollocks (FYI - Bayern are 8 points ahead as they have a world class manager..and not a muppet like we do.)

Heres some fuckign facts.


Manchester City have not been at their best for any period since they began the season with five straight Premier League wins. They had already lost five league games before the Guardiola announcement was made.

City won their first three away games in the Premier League but only two of the next 11 and have not won back-to-back league games in five months. The rot set in long before they started getting ready to put Guardiola's name on the manager's office door.

It is hard to believe City's players have been dwelling on the Spaniard's arrival during games and in an uncharacteristically prickly post-match media conference after the United loss, Pellegrini was at pains to deflect suggestions Guardiola was providing an unwelcome distraction.

He said: "I don't think I have lost any control. The attitude of the team was excellent. I repeat - I am happy with attitude of the players."

Guardiola's impending arrival may have focused minds on City's shortcomings - but this was a team showing signs of struggle and decline well before he was confirmed as Pellegrini's successor.

City can't beat Premier League's better sides


Manchester City have won just one game against the Premier League's current top-eight
Manchester City are only one point ahead of Manchester United and West Ham even though they still lie fourth, and 15 points behind leaders Leicester City having played a game less.

The rest of the season is not about winning the title but finishing in the top four - and embarrassing state of affairs for a club with City's aspirations and scale of ambition.

And perhaps the most tell-tale statistic of why they are where they are comes in their record against the current top eight.

City have played 11 matches against them, winning only one, drawing three and losing seven for a meagre return of six points. They also lost heavily home and away to ninth-placed Liverpool.

Their total of 51 points from 30 games is a grim reflection of their struggles throughout the season.

In 2011-12 they had 70 points at this stage of the season, the following year they had 62 points and 67 when they brought the title back to Etihad Stadium in 2013-14. Last season they had 61 points after 30 game



What will be Guardiola's priorities?

Guardiola's first priority will be to keep everything crossed that stumbling Manchester City can keep it together long enough to make sure they finish in the top four - or win the tournament of course - to ensure they are in next season's Champions League.

He inherits a squad that is guilty of under-achievement this season, even though they have won the League Cup and remain in the Champions League.

City's buying policy has been flawed to such an extent in recent years that they still rely heavily on the backbone of the side that won the club's first title in 44 years in 2012 - namely keeper Joe Hart, captain Vincent Kompany, midfield pair Yaya Toure and David Silva, as well as striker Sergio Aguero.

Around that key group others have not achieved, while there are problems even with those players. Kompany is 29 and suffering from acute calf problems, Toure is 33 in May and was sold by Guardiola at Barcelona, while even the peerless Silva is now 30 and has been troubled for many months by an ankle problem.

Guardiola will be happy with Hart in goal and will want to build around 24-year-old Kevin de Bruyne, who has been such a big miss through injury in recent months. He will also want Raheem Sterling, a £49m summer signing from Liverpool, to justify that fee.

Joe Hart
Will Joe Hart still be number one at City next season?
He may well target Everton's 21-year-old John Stones to give youth and authority to a central defence that is still holed below the waterline by Kompany's many absences, with Martin Demichelis looking every day of his 35 years and more against Manchester United and both Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala not showing a return on a combined investment of around £70m.

Wilfried Bony was signed for £28m from Swansea City as the likes of Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic were allowed to depart, but it is hard to see a striker who lacks mobility surviving under Guardiola.

In defence, Bacary Sagna is 33 and coming towards the end of his Premier League career, while Pablo Zabaleta is 31 and Aleksandar Kolarov is 30 - this is a City team that has been allowed to grow too old, with poor signings exacerbating the problem.

Jesus Navas has been poor and Samir Nasri has provided moments of magic and mediocrity.

So Guardiola's priorities will be to freshen up and introduce young blood into a stale squad, while also bringing authority to all parts of the pitch, especially in central defence and in giving attacking support to Aguero.

For all City's ability to flex their financial muscle, he will find that a lot easier to do with them in the Champions League rather than the Europa League.

Could Pellegrini finish on a high?

Manuel Pellegrini
Pellegrini, who leaves City at the end of the season, joined from Malaga in 2013
The 62-year-old Chilean has one trophy in his locker in his final season but there will be no Premier League title - he is relying on the Champions League to give the campaign a flourish because a top-four finish should be a given, not a source of celebration.

Pellegrini has brought Manchester City to the last eight of the Champions League and the draw has been relatively kind as they avoided the big three of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to be paired with Chelsea's conquerors Paris St-Germain.

It is a tough task - one a City squad firing on all cylinders might just fancy - but right now they are seriously underpowered.

Pellegrini has been dogged by those injuries to Kompany, De Bruyne and Silva and matters got worse on a bad day against Manchester United as Sterling and keeper Hart suffered injuries that mean they may miss the PSG games.

Hart's calf injury looked a serious problem as he was taken off on a stretcher after rescuing Demichelis from a dreadful back pass.

Sympathy will be in short supply if City cite injuries given their resources - but they are facing real problems.

City will be in dreamland if they can get into the Champions League's last four but it is hard to see them, in their current state, troubling the trio of superpowers in this competition.

It may well be that the League Cup and a place in the top four will have to suffice before Pellegrini takes his leave.

A nicely put together post - you could become a journo. Whilst the more sceptical amongst us may feel that the omission of words such as 'fucking' and 'cunts' would suggest it wasn't all your own work, I would simply say they must be jealous bastards.

Oh no !! Ive been rumbled ((((((

Any fuckign retard would know it wasnt my work , why you feel the need to state the fuckign obvious I dont know - Why dont you just fuckign focus on the content, its what ive been banging on and on and on about for the last few months.

I know exactly what it was, like you I'd read McNulty's article. I know what you've been banging on about I've seen all the facts in your posts and as you suggest you can't dispute facts so on that basis I accept and agree with some of the content you post.

Another fact that is that Pellegrini has won 3 domestic trophies in less than 3 full seasons (his target was 5 in 5). Whatever you think of him, however he has managed to do it he has done it that cannot be disputed. Are the team where we want them to be right now? Of course not, there are various factors behind it, and of course as the manager Pellegrini will have to accept some responsibility, but as a City fan for over 40 years much of which have been trophy-less, I'm enjoying it when we do win one of the recognised domestic cup competitions. Fuck me I got excited when we played Chelsea in the Full Members Cup final, I was still in my seat praying for a miracle 5-1 down with 3 minutes to go fully expecting Chelsea fans to launch themselves over the barrier and attack us again, when Doug Rougvie (og) and Mark Lillis (2) 'nearly' turned it around.

Maybe my cup is 'too' half full, if that makes me a 'fucking retard' as you put it I really couldn't give a flying, things aren't right but in a season where if things are as bad a you suggest then its a big thing that we have won a trophy and I'll see the positive in that in exactly the same way as I see the need to change our ageing squad whilst at the same time bringing in a new manager with a strong pedigree in which to take the club forward.