Winning a title is hard. Successfully defending a title is harder. To win a title three times in row...
Only four teams have achieved this in the history of the English game: Huddersfield, Arsenal, Liverpool, and United. United being the only club to achieve this feat twice.
At the start of this season, a lot of people were saying that the title was between two clubs only - City and Liverpool. These two clubs being regarded by many as being far ahead of the rest of the pack. Yet as things stand, City are closer to the rest of the pack, while Liverpool have marched ahead. Liverpool this season have been a relentless machine. But their only realistic challengers to the title - City - have made it easier for them. We've not been able to replicate our form over the past two seasons, which is understandable given the history of the English game - hence my comment at the top of this post about the number of clubs who have achieved three successive titles being few a far between. Huddersfield in the 1920s. Arsenal in the 1930s. Liverpool in the 1980s. United in the 1990s and again in the 2000s.
City's feeble attempt this season at winning a consecutive League treble has enabled Liverpool to play without pressure. Had it been a more competitive title race, then perhaps Liverpool, playing under pressure, wouldn't have the record they currently have this season. Pressure can often result in mistakes, while a lack of pressure will often result in a growing confidence, and confidence itself plays a huge part in football. In any sport actually. It's a lot easier to play your own game knowing that it doesn't really matter if the next chance hits the net, and that lack of pressure invariably means that the next chance will hit the back of the net.
What annoys me about this season however, is that we, City, have not prepared for it well. Yes, injuries to Sane and to a greater extent Laporte have played a part, but we spent a lot of money in the summer and didn't buy wisely. Kompany - a talisman - left and was never replaced. Laporte's injury, which can't be predicted, has left us vulnerable, but then Kompany's departure, which was known about, left us vulnerable anyway.
This summer we face David Silva leaving - another constant in our successes over the past decade. Yet Silva leaving would not have as big an effect on the balance of the side as Kompany's departure has. Aguero has a few years left in him, Jesus is proving to be an able replacement for Aguero, and other options up front leave us strong in this area. Yet with such a weak defence, teams can get at us, and there is a sense of frustration on the pitch when, attacking wise, things don't go smoothly. We saw it today. dominate possession, fail to score (even from a penalty), and that vulnerability at the back led to two Spurs goals from two chances. At 0-0 I could see that happening from a mile away. And it's happened far too often this season. And despite it happening far too often, it's not been addressed. It's still happening!
Fair play to Liverpool for taking full advantage. They have been relentless this season and no one is able to live with them. Had we been more consistent, then maybe Liverpool wouldn't have found it so easy. Now we have gone from City being so far ahead of everyone else, to Liverpool catching us up, over-taking us, rubbing our noses in it, and surpassing every record that we felt so proud to break. In the space of a season or two.
Liverpool should learn from our fall from a position of perceived dominance and not let it happen to them. If they do, then it will be a while before the title heads anywhere else than Anfield.
We've made it easy for Liverpool
posted on 2/2/20
comment by RipleysCat (U1862)
posted 2 hours, 38 minutes ago
His response “ We need to be very, very close to perfection to win the Premier League”
Who would’ve foreseen how prophetic those words were going to be.
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To echo Melton's comment, you've not had to be close to perfection to win (you will win) the title this season. That you are close to perfection however is testament to the attitude that Klopp has installed in Liverpool this season. 100 points was unheard of. It looks like you're going to reach 100 points and them some with ease.
That harks back to my point in my OP. Had we pushed you harder, then, well, it would have been harder to attain.
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But the other view is that City’s struggles have come about because of our perfect run.
God knows how the City lads and Pep must feel in the dressing room when they hear that Liverpool have won again.
I think its clearly hit your squad hard. So it’s not a case of City not pushing hard enough, I just think we’ve been too good.
posted on 2/2/20
comment by gunnersaurus rex (U21846)
posted 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
comment by jlou1978 (U15376)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by jlou1978 (U15376)
posted 1 minute ago
I think the truth is, Klopp has worked hard to catch City, or at least match them over the last few years, and with a combination of astute transfers, both in and out of the club, and his ability as a coach, we have now overtaken City.
By the end of season 2017/18, we finished 25 points behind City, 2018/19 Liverpool made up that gap to 1 point, and this season, 2019/20 Liverpool look like having a similar gap as probable champions, as City had over Liverpool in 2018.
When Klopp arrived at Anfield, it was thought that he basically had one way of playing, hard press, high intensity etc etc.
He has shown he can adapt, can change the teams style when needed, and is rightfully reaping the rewards.
I'm not sure Pep possesses the same ability tactically as Klopp, which has probably cost City this season.
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That just sounds like the narrative you want it to be rather than actually watching any of our games tbh.
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Of course this is only my opinion, but to be fair, I haven't missed many Man City games this season.
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I don’t really get how you can have the opinion that Guardiola can’t adapt tactically then? Even forgetting this season, no team gets to the points level either of us got without changing how they play against certain opponents, but Guardiola does it even more often than most.
This season in isolation though, we’ve had plenty of games where we’ve had plenty more chances than the opposition, today’s game being a case in point. We’re struggling due to players performances in certain areas (and someof that can be laid at Guardiola for choosing who he has done), not tactics.
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Doesnt change tacticshasnt Pep played a different formation in the last 10 games. he even had 2 right backs in the united game for facks sakes so that they could track uniteds runners. He even mentioned it in the post match presser.
Do some fans watch football matches or they just regurgitate Talksport narratives and call them their own opinions.
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His tactics are one dimensional. It is all pass pass and when that doesn't work he has no other plan.
I have said many times if teams were smart and played for set pieces they would smash city with their midget players. The other weakness is balls over the top and in the channels between their CB'S and fullbacks.
posted on 2/2/20
That's completely wrong too though. We go long ball to the flanks all the time. We also go long to bypass the
press from both the keeper and the defence.
It's really lazy stereotyping that I'd understand from people that don't watch and just read cliches on the internet. Let's not go that low on a dedicated football forum though, surely.
posted on 3/2/20
comment by The Mane Man - WORLD CHAMPIONS-"Sadio, I’ll get him back don’t worry.” (U19731)
posted 5 hours, 37 minutes ago
comment by gunnersaurus rex (U21846)
posted 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
comment by jlou1978 (U15376)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by jlou1978 (U15376)
posted 1 minute ago
I think the truth is, Klopp has worked hard to catch City, or at least match them over the last few years, and with a combination of astute transfers, both in and out of the club, and his ability as a coach, we have now overtaken City.
By the end of season 2017/18, we finished 25 points behind City, 2018/19 Liverpool made up that gap to 1 point, and this season, 2019/20 Liverpool look like having a similar gap as probable champions, as City had over Liverpool in 2018.
When Klopp arrived at Anfield, it was thought that he basically had one way of playing, hard press, high intensity etc etc.
He has shown he can adapt, can change the teams style when needed, and is rightfully reaping the rewards.
I'm not sure Pep possesses the same ability tactically as Klopp, which has probably cost City this season.
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That just sounds like the narrative you want it to be rather than actually watching any of our games tbh.
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Of course this is only my opinion, but to be fair, I haven't missed many Man City games this season.
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I don’t really get how you can have the opinion that Guardiola can’t adapt tactically then? Even forgetting this season, no team gets to the points level either of us got without changing how they play against certain opponents, but Guardiola does it even more often than most.
This season in isolation though, we’ve had plenty of games where we’ve had plenty more chances than the opposition, today’s game being a case in point. We’re struggling due to players performances in certain areas (and someof that can be laid at Guardiola for choosing who he has done), not tactics.
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Doesnt change tacticshasnt Pep played a different formation in the last 10 games. he even had 2 right backs in the united game for facks sakes so that they could track uniteds runners. He even mentioned it in the post match presser.
Do some fans watch football matches or they just regurgitate Talksport narratives and call them their own opinions.
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His tactics are one dimensional. It is all pass pass and when that doesn't work he has no other plan.
I have said many times if teams were smart and played for set pieces they would smash city with their midget players. The other weakness is balls over the top and in the channels between their CB'S and fullbacks.
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10 years , 29 trophies and you still wonder why opponents haven’t figured out if they play the high ball and setpieces they can beat Peps teams
I often wonder why managers call Pep the best manager in the world and so called clever fans think the opposite because of an imagined theory that if teams tried the long ball and set pieces they could all get 100 points I guess.
The Freedom to express nonsense is a draw back in today’s society.
You an absolute moron
posted on 3/2/20
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 5 hours, 37 minutes ago
That's completely wrong too though. We go long ball to the flanks all the time. We also go long to bypass the
press from both the keeper and the defence.
It's really lazy stereotyping that I'd understand from people that don't watch and just read cliches on the internet. Let's not go that low on a dedicated football forum though, surely.
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A football forum. This is a place for banter, and some of these childish fans have no clue about football.
No team exploits The high ball more than man united who actually have the one of the best records against Top 6 teams despite missing Pogba, Rashford and Martial for most of the season but no manager can train his team to play that way consistently and expect to win trophies.
You can’t train to not have the ball all the time. You will never win anything. Managers rightly train players to play possession football because in the long run you will win more points and are likely to stay in the league than long ball teams.
Long ball football as a long term strategy is moronic. No chairman should accept it.
But this scouse lady boy wonders why it’s not a widely used tactic.
It’s annoying to see brain dead fans
posted on 3/2/20
Speaking of playing without pressure, that seems to be the case for Jesus imo. Not sure about him filling the void when Sergio leaves.
Obviously the amount of goals we are conceding compared to chances conceded is the biggest problem though. Odd how many chances we need to convert with a world class attack vs our opponents who often aren’t of the same quality. And something to address in the summer for sure.
I agree RE the impact of David Silva leaving, we have players ready to step up in and around that area. Out wide Sane can’t return quick enough though, even if he only plays in blue for a few months there are three cup competitions still to compete in, and Sterling’s form at the moment is wretched.
posted on 3/2/20
Sterling is not a player that City can build upon, he was ineffective against Spurs and has been poor all season. City need to get rid of him and cut their losses.
posted on 3/2/20
Im not sure Sterling gas been poor all season given how many goals and assists he has. In fact first three mobths of the season he was one of the best players in Europe and at 25 years of age theyd be mad to let him go.
posted on 3/2/20
comment by Globaled (U7198)
posted 2 minutes ago
Sterling is not a player that City can build upon, he was ineffective against Spurs and has been poor all season. City need to get rid of him and cut their losses.
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He hasn’t. He’s been poor since the Gomes incident. He was great the first few months.
posted on 6/2/20
Liverpool ran away with it on their own merit. Not because there was 'no pressure'. This is a pityful excuse.
Pep making mistakes by not investing wisely is a valid point. But you have to consider the mindset of Klopp. He was very close last year and it would be in line with his coaching to tunnelvision their way to glory - with or without pressure.
To reiterate: Liverpool is not doing so well because of City's poor form and mishappenings. City's demise is their own doing. Liverpool prospering is of their own making so there is no advantage to be taken. If you disagree then you heavily underestimate the mentality of Liverpools squad which includes a hint of wrath, hence why they're relentless and want to avoid a repeat of last year.
Still don't get it? If Laporte and Sané would be fit, if Kompany didn't leave, Liverpool would likely have the same amount of points. Like Klopp says: we dont look at the opposition, we look at ourselves.