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Post by Dougs on Oct 3, 2022 9:07:25 GMT
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Post by cristar on Oct 3, 2022 10:21:45 GMT
Wasn't Mbappe to Real an absolute cert also? Hopefully Haaland goes when Benzema is done, as not sure Real have anyone ready to replace him, do they?
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Solid-SCB-
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Post by Solid-SCB- on Oct 3, 2022 10:24:51 GMT
It sounds like the Real deal is literally baked into his current contract though. The only thing that stopped it happening now is how much Benzema is adored over there.
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Post by muddyfunster on Oct 3, 2022 10:40:39 GMT
I did see a classic Madrid client media story about how they'd squirrelled away £400m+ transfer kitty by being thrifty.
You'd think Haaland is most of that on the open market.
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geefe
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Post by geefe on Oct 3, 2022 10:55:13 GMT
I mean, we won the league so anything is possible. Arsenal winning it is doable but they'd need to really get everything right.
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kal
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Post by kal on Oct 3, 2022 14:21:16 GMT
I did see a classic Madrid client media story about how they'd squirrelled away £400m+ transfer kitty by being thrifty. You'd think Haaland is most of that on the open market. I wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up getting Mbappe and Haaland both on frees. They’re both young enough to see out their contracts and go their bang in their prime. Probably for £1m a week each.
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Post by muddyfunster on Oct 3, 2022 14:31:50 GMT
I mean, we won the league so anything is possible. Arsenal winning it is doable but they'd need to really get everything right. Unless they have an injury crisis, history suggests 100 points will be required to finish above City (maybe 101 seeing as you aren't beating them on goal difference). Their record was W32 D4 L2 when they got 100pts a few years ago. You can't afford more than 3 losses, possibly 4 and we've already had one and still have to go to the Etihad, Anfield and another three or four stadiums where we'd typically consider a draw to be a very decent result for us. Leicester won their title with 81pts. Not diminishing that in achievement in any way, but the bar has been moved significantly higher since then. We could realistically get to mid 80s with a bit of luck and avoiding any further injuries but we'd need a few catastrophes to befall the others for that tally to win the league. At least Liverpool seem to be doing their bit, but I just don't see City being derailed to that extent, even if we got 'everything right' on our side.
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kal
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Post by kal on Oct 3, 2022 14:45:49 GMT
Leicester won the title in a year when at least four or five better teams on paper all massively underperformed. On top of that there was a narrative that become self-fulfilling, not to mention incredible luck with injuries.
That is to say it was total lightening in a bottle. City are already showing it won’t be that kind of season. And we haven’t even factored in the WC (which Haaland isn’t playing in).
Come the end imho it won’t even be close.
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Post by Dougs on Oct 3, 2022 14:48:38 GMT
Nope, 10 points+ I think
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Post by Solid-SCB- on Oct 3, 2022 14:55:38 GMT
Easily. Can't believe I'm saying it but Arsenal are probably the best hope of it even being close this season. But with a starting 11 any of the other teams in the league would have on the bench and 5 subs a game it's going to be a cakewalk. We're the farmer's league now.
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Post by muddyfunster on Oct 3, 2022 15:04:42 GMT
If we can get >75pts it would be our best performance in 10 years. If we can get >80pts that'd be the best for 15 years. If we can get to >90pts it'd be our all-time best season (in terms of points at least).
I know I've said this multiple times but it helps keep my feet on the ground. In preseason I targeted mid-70s and said we'll see what that gets us (think I predicted fifth though some years it gets you third) and it's looking a very doable total but we've not even had 10 games yet. Even being extremely optimistic we aren't getting anywhere near the points totals that City, nor Liverpool if they suddenly recapture their consistency of recent years can put up.
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Post by muddyfunster on Oct 3, 2022 15:11:55 GMT
Easily. Can't believe I'm saying it but Arsenal are probably the best hope of it even being close this season. But with a starting 11 any of the other teams in the league would have on the bench and 5 subs a game it's going to be a cakewalk. We're the farmer's league now. Essentially yes, with the caveat that this City would turn every other league in the world into a non-contest as well. I do think on current form we are the nearest challengers (the depth issue means we probably won't stay the nearest), but none of our players would get into City's starting XI with the possible exception of Saliba but even then, he's probably on the bench when everyone's fit. Jesus, Saka and Martinelli might also squeeze onto that bench but that's probably about it. It's an absolute chasm.
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Post by cristar on Oct 3, 2022 15:11:55 GMT
What is this about Pep saying Messi didn't need any other players and didn't need anybody to help him, compared to Haaland that does?
Yeah, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Silva, Henry, Alves, Puyol, Pique.... all fairly bang average and got carried by Messi.
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Post by Solid-SCB- on Oct 3, 2022 15:17:30 GMT
You know we've been Bayern Muniched when even the likes of Chelsea are accepting their cast offs.
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Post by RobEG on Oct 3, 2022 15:25:51 GMT
If we can get >75pts it would be our best performance in 10 years. If we can get >80pts that'd be the best for 15 years. If we can get to >90pts it'd be our all-time best season (in terms of points at least). I know I've said this multiple times but it helps keep my feet on the ground. In preseason I targeted mid-70s and said we'll see what that gets us (think I predicted fifth though some years it gets you third) and it's looking a very doable total but we've not even had 10 games yet. Even being extremely optimistic we aren't getting anywhere near the points totals that City, nor Liverpool if they suddenly recapture their consistency of recent years can put up. The group underneath should at least be interesting. You'd imagine Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, Utd and Liverpool will all be challenging and fairly close by the end of the season (assuming the latter two get their act together). Would be nice if Brighton could keep up with the pace too. I guess throw in Newcastle too. Should be a good battle for 3 spots.
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Post by jp on Oct 3, 2022 15:26:06 GMT
To be honest, City being the dominant force in English football sort of takes the pressure off the rest of the big six as they go through the various transitions from old managers/owners.
It’s a farmer league now but if Pep and Klopp are both gone in a couple of seasons, which seems likely, I think there will be a fair few teams who will be settled, looking good and ready to fight it out for that top spot.
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Post by Solid-SCB- on Oct 3, 2022 15:32:06 GMT
City are set up to dominate with or without Pep now.
There's simply no way to catch up. The only team who would sort of be able to would be us, but with owners like that lot there's no chance.
Even Newcastle are fucked and will spend years firing blanks really. The 'cheat way into baked-in advantage' route has been closed off now City have already done it and been collared over it.
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Post by Dougs on Oct 3, 2022 15:46:56 GMT
Interesting as ever from Phillippe/Josimar Football.
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Post by Solid-SCB- on Oct 3, 2022 15:51:46 GMT
Amazing how shameless they get to be about it.
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Post by mcmonkeyplc on Oct 3, 2022 15:55:36 GMT
City are set up to dominate with or without Pep now. There's simply no way to catch up. The only team who would sort of be able to would be us, but with owners like that lot there's no chance. Even Newcastle are fucked and will spend years firing blanks really. The 'cheat way into baked-in advantage' route has been closed off now City have already done it and been collared over it. Exhibit A: We've spunked more money than even City since we last won the league...
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Post by muddyfunster on Oct 3, 2022 16:09:08 GMT
City are set up to dominate with or without Pep now. There's simply no way to catch up. The only team who would sort of be able to would be us, but with owners like that lot there's no chance. Even Newcastle are fucked and will spend years firing blanks really. The 'cheat way into baked-in advantage' route has been closed off now City have already done it and been collared over it. Exhibit A: We've spunked more money than even City since we last won the league... I accept that they have a baked-in advantage which means they effectively have to make many consecutive bad decisions to suffer rather than one or two but it doesn't mean it's impossible. There are still avenues that may lead to them having some bad seasons: 1) After Pep, the wrong appointment could provoke a period of transition and a bit of culture clash with the new man. 2) Too many big egos and infighting (seems unlikely based on how they managed Yaya Toure) 3) Complacency after finally winning the CL 4) Political shift that means they have to change owners. Admittedly much more likely to hit Newcastle, but things unrelated to football can have knock-on effects. Mostly likely they get another good manager and a fallow year still gets them 90 points and a UCL QF at worst, but there is hope. Alternatively we can all just agree as fans not to recognise City any longer and celebrate second as the new Champions?
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Post by clemfandango on Oct 3, 2022 16:16:14 GMT
Alternatively we can all just agree as fans not to recognise City any longer and celebrate second as the new Champions? You jest but some Liverpool fans did that a few years ago when they came 2nd
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Post by simple on Oct 3, 2022 17:16:18 GMT
Wasn't Mbappe to Real an absolute cert also? Hopefully Haaland goes when Benzema is done, as not sure Real have anyone ready to replace him, do they? I kind of think if Benzema hadn’t been having the season of his life last year then one of Mbappe or Haaland would have been signed during the summer with the other tapped up for a season or two down the line
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Post by simple on Oct 3, 2022 17:18:54 GMT
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kal
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Post by kal on Oct 3, 2022 17:35:55 GMT
Yes.
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Post by Syrette on Oct 3, 2022 19:20:29 GMT
Late to the party but just seen the Thiago Silva handball incident. Utterly inexcusable, what is the point of VAR?
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kal
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Post by kal on Oct 4, 2022 7:02:04 GMT
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Post by geefe on Oct 4, 2022 7:44:05 GMT
On the one hand, I am annoyed I didn't go to the game because they moved it to a school night and wanted to avoid seeing us lose to Forest - as many fans thought we would.
On the other hand, four nil.
SEASON STARTS HERE E A S O N
S T A R T S
H E R E
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Post by Dougs on Oct 4, 2022 7:45:48 GMT
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Post by simple on Oct 4, 2022 8:01:52 GMT
and if they were legit its gross that multi-million/billion Western businesses leach money out of poorer Asian countries by encouraging habits like gambling . But yeah, the extent of their rule-breaking and flagrancy of it, they know no one will stop them and they’re just going to keep taking the piss harder and harder
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