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The 2023-2024 Football Thread
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There a lot of games left to play. But the longer this slump lasts for Man City, the more likely it is to cost them in the title race. We’ll see. I can easily see Arsenal faltering down the stretch, and / or Liverpool failing to keep pace. But then again…maybe we won’t have to endure another Man City title year.
City have some top class players to come back from injury though. Not least, KDB. His absense has been why City have struggled, relatively, so far. Liverpool are only at 80% or so; the 'refit' still needs time for Klopp to get it working at maximum efficiency. Arsenal really are at their very best right now, so any slip by them and they will suffer. They don't have another gear to go up into, like City and Liverpool can. And when fixtures get tight in cup and CL comps, key injuries will damage them greatly. Villa, on the other hand, have absolutely nothing to lose. Another Leicester in the offing?
Not sure thats an objective take when the entire narrative has been that Arsenal have not been fluid all season compared to last but still getting points.
I know Liverpool fans have a secret (not really) vested interested in City and Arsenal failing. But i don't think your squad is nowhere near fully cooked either. No number 6, and Matip has joined the injury list. But plenty of firepower.
That match on the 23rd will really expose where each team is at. Hopefully no more injuries or suspensions to either so we get a full view of the current status as neutrals.
No one can afford injuries or suspensions not even City. Rodri's absence again massively felt today.
Its a wide open race and Liverpool, City, Arsenal all have stakes. Villa, West Ham, Brighton, Spurs, and Utd will have say on where the title lands.
Villa have a shout for Europe possibly ahead of Brighton and Spurs who are decimated with injuries
For once the league isn't boring...at least so far.
Granted we're still not even half way through. All predictions right now are largely meaningless.
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Agree with @daneoni that the key absence for City is Rodri - they always struggle without him - rather than KDB.
However, delighted to see them suffer another defeat tonight.
Re Arsenal, they have some injuries, hence, I doubt that they are quite "at their best", and, I think, a key aim this season is to try to pace themselves a bit better.
Villa are showing themselves to be a serious (and, well-coached) team; plus, they have Martínez - one of the best keepers on the planet - between the sticks.
Moreover, both Liverpool and Manchester United obtained results this evening.
For now, the Premier League is a competition, - excellent - rather than a canter to a coronation - yet another coronation - for Manchester City.
However, delighted to see them suffer another defeat tonight.
Re Arsenal, they have some injuries, hence, I doubt that they are quite "at their best", and, I think, a key aim this season is to try to pace themselves a bit better.
Villa are showing themselves to be a serious (and, well-coached) team; plus, they have Martínez - one of the best keepers on the planet - between the sticks.
Moreover, both Liverpool and Manchester United obtained results this evening.
For now, the Premier League is a competition, - excellent - rather than a canter to a coronation - yet another coronation - for Manchester City.
Say it quietly Man United are only 3 points behind Man City 🤫
Regarding Man City's current slump, it has been mentioned by some that it could be due to squad injuries, especially Rodri who some are saying is a key absence for City. Therefore I have some questions. If the absence of Rodri and KDB is affecting the club so badly then isn't this a case of Pep failing as a manager to be able to plug the gaps due to their absence and thus not able to get the team to work together effectively? Or could it be a case of other clubs doing their homework on City and figuring out how to beat them?
Because it seems a bit disingenuous to all the other teams that the only probable reason why City are in a slump is because they are missing some key players.
Because it seems a bit disingenuous to all the other teams that the only probable reason why City are in a slump is because they are missing some key players.
Every United fan's head just get's bigger if they say that line lol.
What 'entire narrative'? Arsenal are performing pretty much to their limit, with the squad they have, and the manager. Last season, they enjoyed a lot of luck early on; this season they are actually better, but haven't enjoyed the same luck. Liverpool are not up to what Klopp can get out of a team, yet. Still the midfield to sort out, and defensive issues. But it's starting to come together more now. Remember that they are 'unbeaten' so far; the VAR farce v Spurs has distorted the results. Take the Liverpool of 2or 3 seasons ago; with City underperforming to this level, Liverpool would already be out of sight. If Klopp can get anywhere near that level, then Liverpool could well walk it. If City can steady the ship and recover, then they can come right back too. Arsenal just don't have that extra gear to move up into. So, they are reliant on both other teams underperforming. That's the reality.
Women’s Champions League have some interesting matches coming up next week:
I will watch Rosengård - Barcelona and Chelsea - Häcken at least ⚽️✨
I will watch Rosengård - Barcelona and Chelsea - Häcken at least ⚽️✨
Would be awesome if my local team - Brann - could get a result away at Lyon.
Thought I fear they'll get a harsh reality check about the difference between the good and the really good teams in Europe...
I don't like the way women's teams have the designation they are female teams, in the names. Chelsea FC 'Women', Barcelona 'Femeni', etc. Let's have some equality and just refer to them by their team's name. If referring to a men's match, then mention that fact. Etc.
The Norwegian star Ada Hegerberg plays in Lyon I think, so she will meet some of her buddies. So at least one 🇳🇴 will win, regardless 😉
I think Chelsea will be hard to beat this year because it is their managers last year in charge and I think they will want to go out in some style, champions league winners style I'm thinking.
Just goes to show the inconsistency pretty much every top team is slogging through this season.
Was United actually quite good yesterday, or was it more down to Chelsea still being a total mess?
The latter, unsurprisingly. Man U have only had won against lower table opposition, the kind of teams their incredibly expensively assembled squad should be beating on a routine basis anyway. Against Spurs, City, Arsenal, Brighton and Newcastle, they have lost. All teams they should be competing with. They still have to play Liverpool and Villa in this first phase of the season too. Being only 3 points behind City flatters them; rest assured the gap will inevitably be a lot larger come the end of the season. They're still 9 points off the top.
Seasons when there is plenty of inconsistency are always best.
Especially if it means the greedy six don’t end up in the top six spots!
I don’t fancy our chances against Spurs tonight. But I’ll be hoping we can get something!
Especially if it means the greedy six don’t end up in the top six spots!
I don’t fancy our chances against Spurs tonight. But I’ll be hoping we can get something!
Even with Pochettino at the helm, Chelsea are still just a mob of talented individuals. They are capable of beating the best teams but also losing to anyone. So hard to draw conclusions from their matches. But Man Utd seem lately to veer from mini-run to mini-slump.
This isn’t going to be a 100-point title season for anyone, though there are enough games left that if any team can be consistent from here on out there is still the possibility that someone runs away with the title. Let’s see what things look like in, say, February and it may be clearer.
We'll have to agree to disagree.
McTominay and Amrabat bettering combined £200m worth of midfielders is an indictment to Chelsea. Maguire put in a herculean effort. Nicholas Jackson...well...i'm not even sure Sheva or Crespo were this bad.
Meanwhile Everton currently brushing aside Newcastle at home.
As I was just saying we will turn this around!
Jarrod Bowen loves to score away from home. Just don't tell his father in law!