Robertson tonleave

[sydenham red]

Good points...btw im pretty certain we will win the league next season just feel it we have a few levels to rise, the second half of psg and yesterday have given me renewed hope

Jeez, im usually optimistic but with or without Slot that's a big ask to be in a season long title race after the last 10 months of tripe. Even without the freak injuries, too many are suffering repeated muscle issues. Id be looking to build a new squad as we move on from klopps era. We either build that squad around a preferred system 433, 442 etc, or we play a system which suits the players we have signed and will sign this summer.

[jozza800]

We are looking at a self sustain model and scratching our heads... and that is only because a certain mr Jurgen Klopp made it appear to work but with a huge caveat.. BOOM and BUST..

And even he only got to 90 plus points off the back of the Coutinho sale.. As the inevitable ebb of that transfer boost with Klopp ...in situ started to wane.. ..so did the points.


And here we are, in a post 115 charge league - City diluted - keeping themselves below the radar...(part of why I believe the Arse still win it) where a little over 80 points is likely to win you a title... but where we are finding it tough to make 70..

I don't think it's about signing up Robbo - who we love and would love to remain... but whose legs are not capable of playing regularly at the intensity required. The old guard are rinsed. Face it. We saw a brief passion play yesterday from 2 key men - and it was enough to win a hugely charged game.. Too many years of running through brick walls - fatigue - injury - Live Die Repeat.

I mean, needing 98pts to win a league is pretty rare... Those 3 seasons are totally anomalous. Looks like the league is now reverting back to the mean points totals.

Whoever we signed or City signed, whatever model was/is used, whoever the manager was/is neither of us were ever going to sustain THAT level.

City had their dropped off last season and responded by dropping half a billion pounds in the last few windows. Hardly going under the radar.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Pep steps down.

[Steveo]

98 or even 99pts doesn't win the league in 2018.. Also - but for the Coutinho sale it is highly likely we are still on 18 titles and 5 European cups. And this is not to do with scouting and recruitment as much as the man in the hot seat. The manager is the overwhelming driver. The Self sustain model does not work unless you have a Jurgen Klopp. Certainly wont get you close to 99 points.. One day you will come to realise this.


And going under the radar is not to do with spending - City had been spending quite low for a while after their £2 Billion squad assembly... Going under the radar means not winning major titles. I am saying that last season and this - both us and Arsenal were up against a City that wasn't giving 100%... or certainly had lost the focus required to dominate the Premier league ...YOu do realise that while they are in this convenient limbo - it is very likely that they have had threats about titles being striped put to them ...right..?

[jozza800]

Also, i'm not sure that this season can be considered a 'boom/bust' season. The only players in the current side that have any of the 'Klopp milage' are Virg, Konate and Mo.

I think only the 22/23 season can really be seen as 'busted' season. It was evident that midfield was shot and it was duely replaced the following season. The 20/21 season had obivious mitigating circumstances.

[jozza800]

98 or even 99pts doesn't win the league in 2018.. Also - but for the Coutinho sale it is highly likely we are still on 18 titles and 5 European cups. And this is not to do with scouting and recruitment as much as the man in the hot seat. The manager is the overwhelming driver. The Self sustain model does not work unless you have a Jurgen Klopp. Certainly wont get you close to 99 points.. One day you will come to realise this.


And going under the radar is not to do with spending - City had been spending quite low for a while after their £2 Billion squad assembly... Going under the radar means not winning major titles. I am saying that last season and this - both us and Arsenal were up against a City that wasn't giving 100%... or certainly had lost the focus required to dominate the Premier league ...YOu do realise that while they are in this convenient limbo - it is very likely that they have had threats about titles being striped put to them ...right..?

So what are they doing this season? Are they 'accidently' winning the title?

[jozza800]

98 or even 99pts doesn't win the league in 2018.. Also - but for the Coutinho sale it is highly likely we are still on 18 titles and 5 European cups. And this is not to do with scouting and recruitment as much as the man in the hot seat. The manager is the overwhelming driver. The Self sustain model does not work unless you have a Jurgen Klopp. Certainly wont get you close to 99 points.. One day you will come to realise this.


And going under the radar is not to do with spending - City had been spending quite low for a while after their £2 Billion squad assembly... Going under the radar means not winning major titles. I am saying that last season and this - both us and Arsenal were up against a City that wasn't giving 100%... or certainly had lost the focus required to dominate the Premier league ...YOu do realise that while they are in this convenient limbo - it is very likely that they have had threats about titles being striped put to them ...right..?

I've got no arguments about Jurgen having the main impact. You're probably right, we wouldn't have achieved what we did without him. But you can't 'dis-count' the Coutinho sale, without bringing in Virg, Ali and Fabinho with the proceeds then Jurgan has a very different legacy. It's a completely different history If we'd spent that money the way Spurs did the Gareth Bale money.

[Steveo]

So what are they doing this season? Are they 'accidently' winning the title?

They haven't won it yet.. And it has taken Arsenal to look like they are again going to drop a pair of bollox for them to get a sniff. They haven't been close to the levels they were at before the charges became the talk of the town. 85 points the most they can get.. ? 85.. And out of Europe long ago.

What is your explanation for their sudden and mahusive drop in ability to hoover up points - that just perfectly coincided with the aforementioned..?.

[jozza800]

They haven't won it yet.. And it has taken Arsenal to look like they are again going to drop a pair of bollox for them to get a sniff. They haven't been close to the levels they were at before the charges became the talk of the town. 85 points the most they can get.. ? 85.. And out of Europe long ago.

What is your explanation for their sudden and mahusive drop in ability to hoover up points - that just perfectly coincided with the aforementioned..?.

As I said no team, no matter how good they are, are going to continually rack up 95+pts every season.

Their core had started to look a bit tired. Ederson couldn't keep his place, Stones was always injured, Rodri missed most of the season and De Bruyne was starting to show his age. They were always going to have a dip at some point.

[Steveo]

As I said no team, no matter how good they are, are going to continually rack up 95+pts every season.

Their core had started to look a bit tired. Ederson couldn't keep his place, Stones was always injured, Rodri missed most of the season and De Bruyne was starting to show his age. They were always going to have a dip at some point.

I know what you have said and I don't buy it. Just as I don't buy your stance on scouting and recruitment being worthy of mention in the same breath as the manager. They aren't. . they depend almost entirely on the manager - IF a club has one.

Nobody could see signs of City starting to "look a bit tired" - this is wise after the fact imo.... not beyond it being the tiredness of a squad and manager suffering the huge stigma and constant talk of the 115 charges. The Rodri baloney was mahusively over blown. City finished last season with just 71 points to show for all comps. Good job too because with them breathing down our necks last season looks a much tougher ask.