Manchester City H Build up Sun 13th 13.37 Sky Sports 1

[Fosterbloke]

I wish we'd have beaten WBA. We'd only need a draw then.

I guess every team can point to moments like that though.

[Patricks_Berger]

You can't control it. We are still not expected to win itso just sit back and enjoy the ride. If we get to needing to beat Palace and Newcastle to win the league then we can panic. Right now its all gravy and a fun ride

It's amazing

2009 we were always playing catch-up but this time is different. I was in 5 in 1990 so this is all new to me.

[Darkon]

I'm so nervous/excited/intrigued/impatient and a whole lot of other things mixed in there. I have just been hoping and saying that I just want us to stay in competition for the City and Chelsea games so we can get two monsters of games.

Now we are there it's almost to exciting, can't wait for it. Long week at work this is. I have a strange confidence that this is a team we can really beat. They are set up well for us in the way we attack, so we can defo get some goals against them. Problem is that they are likely thinking the same about our defensive side of things.

I reckon we are in for a game that is just going to bounce back and forth, and there will only be about an inch of the sofa left on the butt when it's finished.

Stocking up some beers and getting ready today

Also I'd start Agger again. Other than that nothing.

[Fosterbloke]

I just want this week over and done with so I can focus on this game.

I don't know if I should feel confident or not. If I don't then it's easier to take if we do lose. But deep down I know we have a chance and not in the 'football's a funny old game' kind of way.

[dizzycat]

Tbh the pressure is on City because we already have more points on the board. The only thing that is irritating is that other teams roll over for them so easily. Even if it was just turning the heaters up a notch.....

[BigChief]

Sunday could be a mercy death for us. If we lose we effectively concede the title to City.

So to carry on the dream anything but a loss please.

[Shaggy]

This probably isn't a popular view but is Pellegrini doing any better Mancini? I'm not sure he is on current evidence. The latter was often criticised for not walking the league, but that should squad still be walking it now.

Well Mancini should've walked a weak league last season, but Chelsea have since spent over £100m and had the likes of a maturing Hazard going into a third season. So no I didn't expect them to walk it this season. Ask any City fan and they're all far happier with Pellegrini. He's transformed their style, playing much more threatening, attacking and attractive football and all while making a legitimate title challenge (which they didn't do last season), won the League Cup (which they didn't do last season) and got out of the group stages in the CL (which they didn't do last season).

[dom9]

Well Mancini should've walked a weak league last season, but Chelsea have since spent over £100m and had the likes of a maturing Hazard going into a third season. So no I didn't expect them to walk it this season. Ask any City fan and they're all far happier with Pellegrini. He's transformed their style, playing much more threatening, attacking and attractive football and all while making a legitimate title challenge (which they didn't do last season), won the League Cup (which they didn't do last season) and got out of the group stages in the CL (which they didn't do last season).

They should still be walking the league in my opinion. They've lost 5 games already. That shouldn't be happening with their resources. I'm not sure the league is stronger this year either, Ferguson aside. Which in a small part contributes to our own massive improvement. And Chelsea have basically blown their wedge in a similar fashion to Spurs, without losing their best player in the process.

[Roboklopp]

I'm somewhere in between on the judgement. It's a new league for Pullagreeny tho, so you always expect some transition time.

[dom9]

I just realised a small part of my post didn't make sense. The Ferguson bit.

[Shaggy]

Totally disagree - look how competitive the top end of the league is. It wasn't that at all last season. It was a procession led by a weak United side. Chelsea have bought relatively well - Matic, Willian and Schurrle is £70m or so well spent. Plus Mourinho back, a proven course and distance winner. Arsenal are having a better season and have more points than they did at this stage last season, and obviously we have developed into a top side and are challenging for the title when we were ****e and finished 7th last season.

It's beyond debate that Pellegrini's City have managed three things they didn't last season under Mancini - got out of their CL group, won a trophy and are mounting a proper title challenge. So there's three immediate improvements, without having mentioned their playing style and the infinite improvement in their goals scored tally. I can't see how anyone can say Pellegrini isn't doing any better when he demonstrably is. They also have more points than Mancini's City did at this stage last season.

[Roboklopp]

Are you saying Mourinho is a better manager than Rafa Shaggy?

[PTP]

i'd defo say the league is stronger.

arsenal were top most of the season until this little collapse
chelsea have been better as have city
our improvement has been staggering
everton's too
and southampton
spurs are only two points worse i think from this stage last year

it's only utd who have collapsed.


this time last year, iirc our points total would put us about 10 points clear with 5 games

[Shaggy]

Are you saying Mourinho is a better manager than Rafa Shaggy?

No, and I know you're joking but anyway Chelsea are obviously better set to challenge given the ridiculous player and fan unrest under Benitez and the "unity" under Mourinho. Not to mention the £100m+ spent.

[Shaggy]

i'd defo say the league is stronger.

arsenal were top most of the season until this little collapse
chelsea have been better as have city
our improvement has been staggering
everton's too
and southampton
spurs are only two points worse i think from this stage last year

it's only utd who have collapsed.


this time last year, iirc our points total would put us about 10 points clear with 5 games

Us, Chelsea, City, Arsenal, Spurs and Everton all have more points now than at this stage last season. So it's clearly more competitive and stronger.