The Footie Thread

[Orikoru]

Id rather we won it too, but we simply will not. We are not in a title race, we cannot compete with those 2 teams over the 38 game season.

Remove the hype, top 4 again would be a great achievement for us. A title race is not on the agenda for us, one loss and its a 6 point gap.

What I want is silverware, I really want to get our hands on the Europa League, big ask but possible!

You've done it for nearly half a season. Granted, your next three are against Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal. But if you're still in touching distance after those games, then you are well and truly in the hunt. Especially if you get another result against Arsenal in there.

 

[4LEX]

Ignore stats. Ignore awards. Fans vote with their eyes. And there are many, here and elsewhere, who have found City’s possession based brand of football, where they pass teams into submission, unutterably boring.

I’ve said it times here. I’d rather see my team lose 1-0 whilst playing fluid, attacking football on the front foot, than watch them win 4-0 playing filth. The hardest thing for me as a United fan, during the last dozen years, hasn’t been the lack of competitiveness in the Premier League and Champion’s League. It’s been the turgid, boring filth they have produced for much of that time.

So, yes. I’ll take last night’s 4-4 draw all day long. Despite the disappointment I was entertained for almost every one of the 90 plus minutes. Which is what it’s all about, at the end of the day. Entertainment first and foremost. The odd trophy is merely an added bonus.

And, sorry to say this, but to hear it dismissed as League 2 football just comes across as breathtakingly arrogant.

City have been occasionally boring (Treble season especially) but for the majority of the time under Pep they have been excellent to watch and gone after teams even when the game has been over. To call them boring is crazy. Press from the front, use wide forwards, quick short passing and scored a lot of goals. Since Haaland came in they've been more negative and often tried to time waste and see games out with minimal effort, but that has changed this season as Haaland has improved and Pep is trying to rebuild.

 

[Swango1980]

Id rather we won it too, but we simply will not. We are not in a title race, we cannot compete with those 2 teams over the 38 game season.

Remove the hype, top 4 again would be a great achievement for us. A title race is not on the agenda for us, one loss and its a 6 point gap.

What I want is silverware, I really want to get our hands on the Europa League, big ask but possible!

Leicester fans may have said tge sane thing

How many games left would there need to be, with Villa within touching distance of top team, would you concede that you are in a title race?

Not saying you are favourites or second favourites. But you've put yourself in a nice position

In another 3 games, half the games will have been played. If you are still up there, maybe that is when the "title race" can truly be said to have started

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Id rather we won it too, but we simply will not. We are not in a title race, we cannot compete with those 2 teams over the 38 game season.

Remove the hype, top 4 again would be a great achievement for us. A title race is not on the agenda for us, one loss and its a 6 point gap.

What I want is silverware, I really want to get our hands on the Europa League, big ask but possible!

I reckon Leicester fans said the same when they won

 

[4LEX]

Leicester fans may have said tge sane thing

How many games left would there need to be, with Villa within touching distance of top team, would you concede that you are in a title race?

Not saying you are favourites or second favourites. But you've put yourself in a nice position

In another 3 games, half the games will have been played. If you are still up there, maybe that is when the "title race" can truly be said to have started

The year Leicester won it the standard was poor and they only managed 81 points. Arsenal even with some poor results/loads of injuries are on course to get 85.

Would love Villa to win it but can't see it, they look a good side in top form but will probably be 15+ behind the Champions in May.

 

[Don Barzini]

I saw on Twitter earlier one of those “projected tables”. This particular one was based on form over the last x number of games.

It had Villa to be title winners on something like 97 points!

I know form is temporary and all that, but hey, why not? Would be nice to see someone who isn’t one of the usual suspects for a change.

(And I particularly liked that table because it had Forest to finish 7th! That probably just serves to debunk the whole thing though!!!)

 

[Swango1980]

The year Leicester won it the standard was poor and they only managed 81 points. Arsenal even with some poor results/loads of injuries are on course to get 85.

Would love Villa to win it but can't see it, they look a good side in top form but will probably be 15+ behind the Champions in May.

The standard has been poor this year. And regardless of what Arsenal are on now, it isnt beyond the realms of possibility that they have a weaker end to the season than start.

When they need a last gasp winner at home to Wolves, it'll give other teams more hope they can take points off Arsenal.

 

[Billysboots]

City have been occasionally boring (Treble season especially) but for the majority of the time under Pep they have been excellent to watch and gone after teams even when the game has been over. To call them boring is crazy. Press from the front, use wide forwards, quick short passing and scored a lot of goals. Since Haaland came in they've been more negative and often tried to time waste and see games out with minimal effort, but that has changed this season as Haaland has improved and Pep is trying to rebuild.

You do realise that what people find boring is subjective?

 

[venger]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2001011949291889070

 

[Orikoru]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2001011949291889070

It's plain stupid not to put Cristiano Ronaldo in it, obviously just done that for clickbait.

Also, don't think much of the line-up if Zidane is the most defensive midfield player.

 

[simsini]

I saw on Twitter earlier one of those “projected tables”. This particular one was based on form over the last x number of games.

It had Villa to be title winners on something like 97 points!

I know form is temporary and all that, but hey, why not? Would be nice to see someone who isn’t one of the usual suspects for a change.

(And I particularly liked that table because it had Forest to finish 7th! That probably just serves to debunk the whole thing though!!!)

I've got Forest finishing 7th... in the Europa League table!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

As @Orikoru points out, there is no balance to that. Too many players fighting for the same space. I suppose it gets people talking......

 

[Arthur Wedge]

It’s certainly an attacking team

But would replace Di Stefano with Ronaldo

 

[Aztecs27]

Question for Spurs fans....

Any idea why Frank hates Brennan Johnson? He was your top scorer last season and scored the goal in the final of your first trophy win for a billion years...but hardly gets a look in this season? I appreciate he has his limits, but he has good composure in front of goal and can definitely do a job.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Swap Di Steffano for Rijkaard as an absolute baller of a Defensive midfielder, then drop Pele for Cristiano Ronaldo and let Messi roam in from wide left and then you have a hell of a team.

 

[Hobbit]

I thought Cruyff played the majority of his football at either left wing or centre forward.

I’ve not seen much of Di Stefano nor Lev Yashin - can’t really comment on where the fitted in the great scheme of things.

 

[Swango1980]

As @Orikoru points out, there is no balance to that. Too many players fighting for the same space. I suppose it gets people talking......

Such pointless polls are often teams that would probably get battered by a half decent well balanced side. Because people are biased towards attacking players

When teams want to score goals, they will need one or two plans to do so. And if they have a star player, they try to get the most out of that player. If Messi is in team, his team mates know he'll be the main guy to use. Same with others.

In this team, there'd be confusion as to who is going to be the main goalscoring threat, or they'd all end up trying too much on their own. Classic case of a team of individuals.

On flip side, Bobby Moore and Maldini will get a lot of practice in.

 

[PaulMdj]

I thought Cruyff played the majority of his football at either left wing or centre forward.

I’ve not seen much of Di Stefano nor Lev Yashin - can’t really comment on where the fitted in the great scheme of things.

This plus, who voted? What age range, what nationality etc

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Such pointless polls are often teams that would probably get battered by a half decent well balanced side. Because people are biased towards attacking players

When teams want to score goals, they will need one or two plans to do so. And if they have a star player, they try to get the most out of that player. If Messi is in team, his team mates know he'll be the main guy to use. Same with others.

In this team, there'd be confusion as to who is going to be the main goalscoring threat, or they'd all end up trying too much on their own. Classic case of a team of individuals.

On flip side, Bobby Moore and Maldini will get a lot of practice in.

Reminiscent of when Madrid built the Galacticos in late 90s/early 2000s they had immense attacking talent but couldn’t get over the line and ultimately the project failed.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

From my era and trying to find some level of balance

Buffon

Maldini
Cannavaro
Baresi
Cafu

Busquets
Zidane
Maradona

C Ronaldo
R9
Messi