2023/24 Season

[Charly]

I think we need to see how we do against City as a barometer, as most of the teams we have played have not been great this season.

I think our forward line could improve its understanding a bit more. It doesnt have the same zip as Mane/Bobby/Salah... But I think we need Gakpo to knit that together.

Bringing in a DM should firm the defence up a bit too. I think we will see the consistency next season enough to win the league, as the team should be gelling to a much greater extent.

I do think we should be finishing 2nd this year though. I think we could potentially push City a bit, but I think they will pull away after Christmas

[RedReet]

I think we need to see how we do against City as a barometer, as most of the teams we have played have not been great this season.

I think our forward line could improve its understanding a bit more. It doesnt have the same zip as Mane/Bobby/Salah... But I think we need Gakpo to knit that together.

Bringing in a DM should firm the defence up a bit too. I think we will see the consistency next season enough to win the league, as the team should be gelling to a much greater extent.

I do think we should be finishing 2nd this year though. I think we could potentially push City a bit, but I think they will pull away after Christmas

City are always the benchmark as they are a completely different level to everyone else, but it's a bit harsh to say the teams we beat haven't been great. Villa are having an excellent season and have players that have destroyed us in the past, yet we completely outclassed them. Newcastle away is one of the hardest fixtures on the calendar and we won that with 10 men. Spurs are top of the table and we would have beat them if it wasn't for VAR. I was disappointed to drop points away to Chelsea and Brighton, but they were still tough fixtures and come May getting a point could be seen a decent result.

[SB]

City are always the benchmark as they are a completely different level to everyone else, but it's a bit harsh to say the teams we beat haven't been great. Villa are having an excellent season and have players that have destroyed us in the past, yet we completely outclassed them. Newcastle away is one of the hardest fixtures on the calendar and we won that with 10 men. Spurs are top of the table and we would have beat them if it wasn't for VAR. I was disappointed to drop points away to Chelsea and Brighton, but they were still tough fixtures and come May getting a point could be seen a decent result.

Totally agree. And in theory this is adaptation time for our new midfield.

[rudedog]

City have already lost 3 games this season, Arsenal, Newcastle and Wolves, all during Rodri’s suspension. Just shows how reliant they have become on him.

[SB]

City have already lost 3 games this season, Arsenal, Newcastle and Wolves, all during Rodri’s suspension. Just shows how reliant they have become on him.

And De Bruyne being out affects them too.

[Fosterbloke]

I wonder if a man marking job on Rodri would severely blunt them? Step
forward Endo!

[RedReet]

Taken from TTT. Just thought it slightly interesting after recent discussions about the quality of our opponents:

[Charly]

City have already lost 3 games this season, Arsenal, Newcastle and Wolves, all during Rodri’s suspension. Just shows how reliant they have become on him.

I think it shows how important a really top class DM is.

As good as we are now, someone of that quality in our team would take us to the next level.

[Buzzo]

Given we have overhauled our entire midfield, being three points behind City after 11 games seems an awesome return to me. In general we are moving back towards the crushing machine of old, where the expectation of a goal coming exists. Yesterday was a classic, one of those days, all of the forwards had chances where they should expect to score - only Diaz did.

We have dropped points v. Chelsea (a), Brighton (a), Spurs (a) and Luton (a). Our only defeat has involved the worst set of refereeing decisions since the implementation of VAR.

Nunez remains inconsistent but is improving. He is in the team to score and create goals, he needs to be better in clutch situations.

All the new signings are settling in well, and the one that really excites me is Gravenberch. There are signs that he too could be an excellent prospect, he seems to have the lot.

The age profile of our team is also looking much better.

[Shaggy]

The away form is starting to become a worry for me. City away could get messy. Still think for all the improvements in personnel - and results - that we haven't quite found the right balance in midfield yet.

[Buzzo]

This squad with prime Fabinho (remember him) would be quite a prospect!

[Mark79]

I’m happy so far, overall.

It’s a transition season, there’ll be teething problems. Luton was an off performance for the team, it happens. Spurs is still the result that bugs me the most, and that’s because of the officials finding multiple ways to screw us over.

We need a natural ball winner to start in midfield and to let Mac Allister be an 8.
We’re overplaying Szobozlai, I hope we rest him completely on Thursday.

[frank the tank]

The away form is starting to become a worry for me. City away could get messy. Still think for all the improvements in personnel - and results - that we haven't quite found the right balance in midfield yet.

Brentford at home next though. I think a lot of us were guilty of looking too far ahead. Need to get into the one game at a time mentality imo.

I think we have some good young prospects but our squad isn't ready to challenge just yet. Luton away. ****in hell that is a ****e result. The team thought that they only needed to rock up to get the 3 points. Watch us put 6 plus past them at anfield ffs

[Cerbie]

Given we have overhauled our entire midfield, being three points behind City after 11 games seems an awesome return to me. In general we are moving back towards the crushing machine of old, where the expectation of a goal coming exists. Yesterday was a classic, one of those days, all of the forwards had chances where they should expect to score - only Diaz did.

We have dropped points v. Chelsea (a), Brighton (a), Spurs (a) and Luton (a). Our only defeat has involved the worst set of refereeing decisions since the implementation of VAR.

Nunez remains inconsistent but is improving. He is in the team to score and create goals, he needs to be better in clutch situations.

All the new signings are settling in well, and the one that really excites me is Gravenberch. There are signs that he too could be an excellent prospect, he seems to have the lot.

The age profile of our team is also looking much better.

AKA the glass half full thread.

[Fosterbloke]

The away form is starting to become a worry for me. City away could get messy. Still think for all the improvements in personnel - and results - that we haven't quite found the right balance in midfield yet.

Diaz Nunez Salah would be pretty exciting as not many teams take the fight to their defence, but I also could also see a starting place for Gakpo as the new Firmino with Diaz and Salah either side. Salah needs to move infield more often, he was a passenger against Luton on the wing.