Rivals

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PhillyBlueMoon

Vital Football Legend
So, we are roughly a third of the way through the season at this point, and the table is starting to shake out nicely. It got me wondering, especially if Arsenal fail to qualify for the knockout stage, who everyone considers to be our main title rivals. I think I'm going to rule out Chelsea completely (since they need to obtain 2.2 points per game going forward to simply reach 70 points), but I'll include them anyway. I've also added in Leicester, because fluke or not, it's pretty difficult to obtain 22 points over 11 games in the Premier League.
 
Rags and Arsenal. Can see the rags grinding their way to a challenge for the title. Arsenal look good but is that soft underbelly still there?
 
We should be pissing this league.

Nobody else can match us in terms of talent, only Arsenal come even vaguely close.
 
Complacency is our biggest rival, with the sort of application shown against Seville, there is nobody who should threaten us.
But in this league , any lapse in concentration is punished, and we still have a tendency to be fragile if we go behind.
 
Arsenal appear to be the biggest threat, but they don't have quality in depth and losing key player to injury will affect them.

The Rags are an unknown quantity, they don't have as yet a quality striker in terms of an Aguero, but they manage to scrape 1-0 wins and they get you 3 points.

Liverpool can beat anyone on their day, but they don't have enough of their days to win it.

I wont write off Leicester and West Ham for a top 4 finish, but I don't think they will win it.

Don't write off Chelsea, but like us they didn't strengthen their squad, whilst others have and the lose of form to players like Hazard is a blow, while Costa is just a thug more intent on getting revenge than scoring goals

Tottingham top 7, can be brilliant at times can be Stalybridge Celtic at others.

I don't think we will get complacent but we have to remember that we are a team that others see as a scalp and is their cup final and play above themselves (eg Tottingham with the help of the linesman)

We need to put away those sides in the lower half, but often struggle to do so, if we do that and play consistent football then we may win something at the end of the season
 
Arsenal are a big threat if they work out that the season doesn't finish on Feb 1. Hopefully they qualify for the CL. That will stuff them. Too many games may be a factor against us in the run in.
 
Arsenal and our own complacency.

Be good if they end up in the Europa League with early Friday mornings spent in East European airport lounges trying to extract warm bottles of Sprite and three day old sandwiches out of vending machines whilst Wilshire stubs his toe on a metal folding chair that Petr Cech has just decanted himself into.

Rags need a hammering when they rock up at Eastlands - and we need to stop playing like we did against Norwich. And no more injuries please.

Be great if Leicester or West ham finished top 4, but not Liverpool.

 
1. Arsenal - they are better this season

2. Complacency - not playing with tempo and urgency against all sides

3. Rags - because they are like one of the undead, dragging themselves along, scrapping wins - no longer High Flyers they are Low Flyers supported by the occasional gust of wind
 
I have a feeling that Spurs are going to challenge us. They'll be buoyed by everyone talking about Chelsea's woes and if Arsenal are going to make the knockout stage, along with Liverpool under Klopp. They might strengthen during January, and could make a move.
 
'I have a feeling that Spurs are going to challenge us.' Yes - they have some decent players, and and an extremely under rated Manager.
 
This weekend will see if the spuds have any gonads. We were all over them like old spice in the first half until the "cheat now" button was pressed. Expect to put them to the sword at our place.
 
kennyclementstache - 6/11/2015 07:05

Arsenal and our own complacency.

Be good if they end up in the Europa League with early Friday mornings spent in East European airport lounges trying to extract warm bottles of Sprite and three day old sandwiches out of vending machines whilst Wilshire stubs his toe on a metal folding chair that Petr Cech has just decanted himself into.

Rags need a hammering when they rock up at Eastlands - and we need to stop playing like we did against Norwich. And no more injuries please.

Be great if Leicester or West ham finished top 4, but not Liverpool.
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Wonderful imagery Kenny. But won't happen.

If they drop to Europa the kids will be playing.

Anyway, there is no way they can fail to qualify through the group stage. They only need to win the next home game against whoever it was and then beat the other team whose name I've forgotten by 2 clear goals and they are through.

The 3 points at home to Munich saved their bacons.
 
If Olympiakos can get a point from the already qualified Munich in the next game Arsenal are toast and like Citizhun says winning by two clear goals over there will be far from easy.

I see Cambiasso is playing for Olympiakos now, surprised Leicester let him go, there's still life in the old dog yet. A player I'd have loved to have seen at City in his pomp.

Former City youth player Omar Ellabdellaoui playing for the Greeks too.
 
Arse will qualify guys. Trust me. You can put money on it.

Munich will bury Olympiacos regardless of the fact that they have qualified already.

It is then a head-to-head and Arse will run them ragged.

There group isn't as tough as ours. They are the second best team in their group by far. They were slow starting and dropped points against the lesser clubs early doors. They won't be complacent this time round.

I hope they flop naturally but just can't see it happen.

I'll go a tenner with anyone on this thread on Arse going through.
 
At the Etihad BD, where else, We have had some injuries again to some key players, not least Aguero, Kompany and Silva, and the loss of form from Yaya has been key to City not heading the table, but it is not over yet.
 
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