PL 2021/22 Season

[Buzzo]

I keep feeling like going full Kevin Keegan on city.

Though it didnt work out for Kev, he must have felt so much better for saying it.

[Buzzo]

We are right at the sharp end now. What a season.

The team face history or, the potential of just finishing the season with the League Cup (in this context - oblivion). On some level they must be massively motivated by not letting themselves and us down.

It's been a mad, mad month, relentless. Teams training for a week to take us on and we seem to swat them aside. We dont have the squad depth of City, we dont have the likes of Gundogan and Grealish on the bench. We need stronger midfield re-inforcements - thats where City have pushed football to - basically 2 full top quality, top strength XI's.

And we have a massive two and a half weeks to go. At the end of this the squad will potentially be adding one, two or three trophies to there collective resumes. Add another big one (League or cup) and they are cemented as legends.

(Deep breath) YNWA

[Scratch]

I don't think City will lose any of their last three games, but I hold out hope that 2 draws may occur....they have a couple of tricky away games coming up against teams that could, on their day, be obstinate in defence, one draw in those 2 games and then Stevie can try to do us a favour on the final game of the season.

Provided of course that we win our next match league game.

[Fosterbloke]

IF City lose then our remaining games will be hell for leather score for fun type affairs.

[Buzzo]

[ame]https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1524094527694417921[/ame]

[Buzzo]

Guardiola’s jibe at Liverpool is testament to the juggernaut that Klopp has created

Guardiola’s jibe at Liverpool is testament to the juggernaut that Klopp has created
By James Pearce
May 10, 2022

As a grin spread across Jurgen Klopp’s face, it was clear that he wasn’t about to return fire towards the Etihad. He laughed off Pep Guardiola’s pointed suggestion that “everyone in this country” wants Liverpool to be crowned Premier League champions.

“I live in Liverpool and even here it’s probably only 50 per cent,” he smiled.

Klopp cut Guardiola some slack. He spoke about how emotions are still running high when managers conduct their media duties shortly after matches, especially when a title is on the line. He regretted being so outspoken himself about Antonio Conte’s defensive approach in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Anfield.

“We all feel the tension, we cannot say we don’t feel it,” Klopp said. “But before you can deal with your emotions, you have already faced 20 cameras. Whatever I said in the last press conference, or whatever anybody else said, Pep probably thought he had to make this point. You know much better than I do that what he said is not the case. It’s all fine.”

Yet there was something intriguing about what Guardiola said, his timing and choice of words, following Manchester City’s 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle United on Sunday. Liverpool, who have pushed City all the way in the title race and dumped them out of the FA Cup, have clearly got under his skin.

His claim that an entire nation had united behind Klopp’s men in their pursuit of Premier League glory is quite clearly nonsense. Liverpool have so much history that rivalries run deep. You only had to witness the glee expressed online when Tottenham held on for a point. You only have to experience the atmosphere generated at away grounds when Mohamed Salah and co turn up.

Good luck trying to find a single Manchester United or Everton fan wanting to see Liverpool upset the odds and win what would be their 20th top-flight title. On top of that, for many supporters of other clubs, the prospect of City triumphing is much easier to stomach because it’s so routinely expected. It would be quickly brushed off.

Bankrolled by the riches of Abu Dhabi, City have greater resources than anyone else. They have the most expensively assembled squad. Data from the CIES Football Observatory on European clubs’ spending on transfers since the summer of 2012 shows that City have splashed out nearly £1.5 billion on signings with a net spend of £842 million. Over the same 10-year period, Liverpool have spent £965 million but the net spend is just £297 million.

Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group has shown that a self-sustaining business model can yield the biggest prizes if you get the structure right, spend wisely and develop talent. The club’s success has shone a light on the expensive mistakes made elsewhere and that’s uncomfortable for some.

Guardiola’s talk of there being a media agenda against City that somehow favours Liverpool also doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. It smacked of playing to the galleries. City have been showered with praise, and rightly so — they are a magnificent team. However, it’s hardly a plucky underdog story.

Clearly, Guardiola has been irked by all the focus and attention on their closest rivals of late but that has to be viewed in the context of Liverpool’s sustained challenge on all fronts. No team has ever gone into May still dreaming of the quadruple. It’s little wonder that’s dominated the news agenda.

Liverpool have created the drama. Without their breathtaking consistency, there would be no title race. The gap was 14 points at one stage in January. It looked like being a procession. In fact, without Liverpool, the top end of the Premier League would have been pretty dull for the past five seasons. Think Bayern Munich and the Bundesliga.

Guardiola recently hailed Klopp’s Liverpool as the toughest opponent he’s ever faced in his managerial career. He has previously eulogised the unique atmosphere at Anfield. “There’s something about it that you will find in no other stadium in the world,” he said.

The respect and admiration are clear, but at times it seems to border on jealousy. What a contrast at the FA Cup semi-final between the clubs last month when Liverpool fans took over Wembley and inspired Klopp’s players to victory. There were giant City banners covering swathes of empty seats.

That’s not a criticism, it simply illustrates the size of the two fanbases. Liverpool are a powerhouse with a huge global following. Fourteen years after Sheikh Mansour bought City, they are still playing catch-up.

After City pipped Liverpool to the title three years ago with victory at Brighton on the final day, their players were filmed mocking their rivals as they passed the Premier League trophy around on the plane flying them home.

To the tune of the Kop anthem “Allez Allez Allez”, they sang a derogatory version that includes the words: “All the way to Kyiv, to end up in defeat, crying in the stands and battered on the streets, Kompany injured Salah, victims of it all, Sterling won the double, the Scousers won **** all.”

Apart from the offence caused, it was a strange sight. The idea that Liverpool would beat City to the title and sing about them is unthinkable.

Three weeks later Liverpool beat Tottenham in the Champions League final. Now they are just 90 minutes from securing a seventh European crown when they face Real Madrid in Paris.

That clearly grates on Guardiola, who still hasn’t delivered the one trophy that he and his City bosses crave more than any other. The Champions League is the ultimate prize in European club football. It’s a glaring omission from his Etihad reign. It’s what elevates a club into the real elite.


Maybe the heartache caused by Real Madrid’s stunning late fightback in the Bernabeu last week was why Guardiola came out swinging on Sunday night. “Liverpool has an incredible history in Europe, not in the Premier League, because they’ve only won one in 30 years, but it’s not a problem at all,” he said.

It was a strange dig at a strange time. Guardiola had Liverpool on his mind and that’s a compliment. It’s a testament to the juggernaut Klopp has created and the buzz that surrounds it.

[ChesterDave]

https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1524094527694417921

We have no Ruth whatsoever!

[Fredo]

Imagine if we finish on same points total, same goal difference and same number of goals scored. We'd have to have a head to head play off against City, to be played possibly 3 days before the CL final.

[Buzzo]

Just realising that the only fundamental change is that we are now hoping City lose rather than draw. It's not all that much of a change. It can still happen.

Need a team to at least get some sort of lead against them. Could do with a good old hostile environment also.

[ChesterDave]

Connor Coady 35 yard screamer in the 90th minute. Wolves 2-1 Citeh

[RedReet]

Just realising that the only fundamental change is that we are now hoping City lose rather than draw. It's not all that much of a change. It can still happen.

Need a team to at least get some sort of lead against them. Could do with a good old hostile environment also.

But a loss or draw for them before meant we overtook them, providing we won. That's not the case now unfortunately, even if they lose.

That being said, City have lost more than they drew for the past 3 seasons, meaning they are surely on course to lose their last 3 games this season.

[dizzycat]

Just in case anyone wants to guarantee the outcome

https://zanzibarpowerfulspells.com/

[Shaggy]

[ame]https://twitter.com/ManCity/status/1524453057026834432[/ame]

[danperkins]

It's such a strong midfield and attacking line. Abundance of talent the cunts. The defence though you could certainly get at.... if you can get the ball that is.

[BootRoom]

We need a manc sending off and a few injuries.

Mount already warming up for the final and a Fab-less midfield with an early opener.