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Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Wed 13 Jan 07:09
The Battle at the top of the Premiership looks like being the closest for a number of years, with several clubs in contention. On another thread, our own Paralex is trumpeting the claims of Man U, currently 3 pts clear, in spite of some spectacular home defeats earlier in the season.
The bookies are seldom wrong, as we all know and they have Man City as odds on favourites, followed by Liverpool and Man U, with Spurs as an outside bet and Leicester as a very long shot. It would be a major shock if the title went to a club outside of this group.
Of course, the reason the leading clubs are so closely bunched is because none of them have been able to put together a consistent run of form and results, like Liverpool did last season. Man City look like the club best equipped to put a good run together in the second half of the season, although the odds being offered are extremely mean. Liverpool have been unlucky with injuries, principally to Virgil and Klopp is showing signs of strain. No such signs from Ole, but his side are not playing football of the same quality as their city neighbours and were outclassed in the recent derby. Spurs are still a work in progress and they'll probably be happy with a CL spot, as will Leicester.
Not your average Sunday League player.
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Topic Originator: Buspasspar
Date: Wed 13 Jan 09:10
That sums it up perfectly G.G. for me Man City look the team to beat right now
Big game Liverpool v Man U Sunday
I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others of whom I made the most careful and particular enquiry.
Thucydides.
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Topic Originator: shrek par
Date: Wed 13 Jan 09:54
Quite taken by spurs this year. What a player Son is, a joy to watch. If they can get Bale on the boil, they might not be outsiders. Generating a lot of good PR and goodwill too with how they are conducting themselves as a club.
Admin.
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Topic Originator: Raymie the Legend
Date: Wed 13 Jan 10:21
City are favourites and rightly so.
They are within touching distance, despite having no strikers for a number of weeks, and recently, have clicked into top gear, with KDB pulling the strings.
When you consider who they have to call on or who have not been used recently - Aguero, Jesus, Laporte, Ederson, Walker, Ake, Fernandinho, Silva, Torres and Mendy, they are going to take some stopping.
It's bloody tough being a legend
Ron Atkinson - 1983
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Topic Originator: Jbob
Date: Wed 13 Jan 11:08
Not a betting man but I think spurs might have a chance
Bobs of the world unite
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Topic Originator: MDCCCLXXXV
Date: Wed 13 Jan 12:00
I have little to no time for Man U but can't see anyone else winning the league
Jbob I would love to see spurs win the title
 East End Park is a symbol of all that is DAFC.
Post Edited (Wed 13 Jan 12:03)
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Topic Originator: kozmasrightfoot
Date: Wed 13 Jan 15:13
I don`t like man u but I like Ole so best of luck to them. I can`t see them winning the title. For me it`s man City, Liverpool with the mourhino effect making spurs my third favourite.
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Topic Originator: parathletic
Date: Thu 14 Jan 01:42
City are a shadow of the team they had a couple of years ago.Even though they have turned results around recently they no longer put teams to the sword.1-0 wins over Brighton and Southampton, a 2-0 win over Newcastle and 1 all draw with West Brom-a couple of years ago they would have been scoring 3 and 4 against these teams. Silva, Sane and Kompany have been replaced by inferior players imo(not saying they were easy to replace).Aguero is injury prone these days and they have no strength in depth up front. Bernardo Silva and Sterling aren`t performing to the standards they were previously and even KDB has been pretty quiet on the whole this season relatively speaking.All that being said I think they or Liverpool will win it albeit with a reduced margin compared to recent seasons.In the space of 5 games from 6th Feb City are away to Liverpool and Arsenal and also play Spurs, Man Utd and West Ham so that should give a good indication as to where the title will end up.
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Topic Originator: Raymie the Legend
Date: Sun 17 Jan 21:05
Ominous for the rest of the league as City cruise to a 4 goal win
It's bloody tough being a legend
Ron Atkinson - 1983
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Topic Originator: Paralex
Date: Sun 17 Jan 23:52
Have to agree with GG that Man City are now looking the part. Their early season form was well below their previous standards but they look like they`ve got that out of their system. They are the team scoring the spectacular goals just now whereas Liverpool have lost all inspiration up front. Their form could dip but when Pep has the well oiled machine running like it is now, past experience tells us that it seldom breaks down. Man Utd are doing well and have excellent individuals but they`re not quite the formidable unit that Man City seem to be. They destroyed Crystal Palace tonight.
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Topic Originator: da_no_1
Date: Sun 17 Jan 23:52
Kevin De Bruynes cross for the first goal..... unbelievable
"Some days will stay a 1000 years, some pass like the flash of a spark"
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Topic Originator: Frank Butchers LoveHandles
Date: Mon 18 Jan 00:05
Quote:
da_no_1, Sun 17 Jan 23:52
Kevin De Bruynes cross for the first goal..... unbelievable
Best player in the League by a mile.
Awight Pat!
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Topic Originator: parathletic
Date: Mon 18 Jan 00:31
Palace are honking-did they not ship 7 to Liverpool the other week? They are on an ever growing list of unwatchable teams in the EPL this season-no ambition whatsoever-even more so with no Zaha. Burnley,Newcastle,Wolves,West Brom and Sheffield United have been largely unwatchable this season with the odd exception imo.
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Topic Originator: Raymie the Legend
Date: Mon 18 Jan 01:34
Quote:
parathletic, Thu 14 Jan 01:42
City are a shadow of the team they had a couple of years ago.Even though they have turned results around recently they no longer put teams to the sword.1-0 wins over Brighton and Southampton, a 2-0 win over Newcastle and 1 all draw with West Brom-a couple of years ago they would have been scoring 3 and 4 against these teams. Silva, Sane and Kompany have been replaced by inferior players imo(not saying they were easy to replace).Aguero is injury prone these days and they have no strength in depth up front. Bernardo Silva and Sterling aren`t performing to the standards they were previously and even KDB has been pretty quiet on the whole this season relatively speaking.All that being said I think they or Liverpool will win it albeit with a reduced margin compared to recent seasons.In the space of 5 games from 6th Feb City are away to Liverpool and Arsenal and also play Spurs, Man Utd and West Ham so that should give a good indication as to where the title will end up.
A shadow of the team they were? That’s harsh.
They are not as free flowing but then they have played with no striker for pretty much all of the season. Jesus is not good enough and will surely be shipped out in the summer?
What has made the difference this season is that they don’t need to score three or four goals to win games. There is a solidity about them now which means they can grind out results if they are not completely at it.
Pep should be praised for tweaking the style of play this season and rotating sensibly.
Klopp hasn’t and his team are suffering now and have been found out, to a certain extent, especially the strike force.
Of course, Van Dyke has been a huge miss but it’s not really a leaky defence that has been the cause of their troubles
It's bloody tough being a legend
Ron Atkinson - 1983
Post Edited (Mon 18 Jan 01:35)
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Topic Originator: Buspasspar
Date: Mon 18 Jan 08:25
Spot on Raymie ...they are hitting form at the right time ...If they win their game in hand they go top and I think will stay there
I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others of whom I made the most careful and particular enquiry.
Thucydides.
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Topic Originator: Berry
Date: Mon 18 Jan 09:57
Did Man City ever lose form?
They have done fantastic handling the amount of injuries etc they’ve had to deal with, although if you could pick a club that’s best capable of handling such a scenario it would be City.
If you look at their previous results they have won the last eight, unbeaten in fifteen!
Draws included WBA, Man Utd, Porto and Liverpool.
Last loss away to Spurs in November.
Only the WBA result I would truly consider as a blip.
If that run counts as off form then Man City will stroll this league when they hit peak.
Post Edited (Mon 18 Jan 09:59)
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Topic Originator: parathletic
Date: Mon 18 Jan 12:03
It was meant more as a compliment of their team of a couple of years ago rather than a take down of their current team. I think the overall standard of the league has been poor this season imo. I look around them and not many players have reached the peak of their powers this season?-ominous for the rest of the league. Cancelo has been decent, in fairness the much lambasted Walker has been ok and the keeper has been solid too. I`ll add in Stones and Gundogan who have good runs recently but untested against top opposition as yet. KDB has a touch of class but not as influential as last couple of seasons imo. Sterling more cold than hot, Bernardo Silva looked undroppable a season or 2 ago but hasn`t done much, Jesus goes missing often in games and Aguero who has been a great servant is out of contract at end of the season and sadly injuries appear to be catching up with him.
They have a favourable run of fixtures next but the acid test comes next month when in the space of 28 days they play Liverpool(a), Spurs(h), Arsenal(a), M`gladbach(a), West Ham(h), Man United (h). Of course they could win all of those games if everyone is fit but they have already dropped points to all of those teams with the exception of Arsenal who knocked them out of the cup after the resumption. They will do well to come through unscathed with one fit striker. The good news for them is nobody else looks like going on a run currently.The outcome of the league may depend on who is still in Europe come the latter stages. Chuck in the unknown of Covid and I wouldn`t be backing them at odds on although they would be my selection if pushed.
Post Edited (Mon 18 Jan 12:43)
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Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Mon 18 Jan 12:59
With so many dotnetters now tipping City for the title, I reckon mcfc and lpf will be be feeling more than a bit nauseous. 🙂
Not your average Sunday League player.
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Topic Originator: Buspasspar
Date: Mon 18 Jan 14:10
"If that run counts as off form then Man City will stroll this league when they hit peak."
13th end of October
11th end of November
8th end of December
1st end of January looks likely as the play Aston Villa, West Brom and Sheffield next 3 league games
What I did not take into account Berry was that these league positions were with 1 or 2 games less played than the teams at the top so probably they would have been in the mix
I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others of whom I made the most careful and particular enquiry.
Thucydides.
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Topic Originator: Frank Butchers LoveHandles
Date: Mon 18 Jan 14:34
Quote:
Buspasspar, Mon 18 Jan 14:10
"If that run counts as off form then Man City will stroll this league when they hit peak."
13th end of October
11th end of November
8th end of December
1st end of January looks likely as the play Aston Villa, West Brom and Sheffield next 3 league games
What I did not take into account Berry was that these league positions were with 1 or 2 games less played than the teams at the top so probably they would have been in the mix
To be fair City's fixtures into February and early March are really tough. Far from over.
Awight Pat!
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Topic Originator: londonparsfan
Date: Mon 18 Jan 17:12
Quote:
GG Riva, Mon 18 Jan 12:59
With so many dotnetters now tipping City for the title, I reckon mcfc and lpf will be be feeling more than a bit nauseous. 🙂
We can live with the pressure of .Nets expectations 😉
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Topic Originator: Paralex
Date: Thu 21 Jan 22:37
Looks like Liverpool have blown it tonight. It`s going to be a long hard struggle to make up the ground. In saying that Burnley are no pushovers but the costly dip in form could prove fatal.
Post Edited (Thu 21 Jan 22:38)
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Topic Originator: da_no_1
Date: Thu 21 Jan 22:43
Klopp making an @rse of himself yet again. T1t
"Some days will stay a 1000 years, some pass like the flash of a spark"
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Topic Originator: Paralex
Date: Thu 21 Jan 22:51
If the two Manchester teams can live up to recent promise the title race is between them with Leicester, Spurs and Liverpool with an outside chance. As things stand Man City are favourites but I have to say that my preference is United.
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Topic Originator: JTH123
Date: Thu 21 Jan 23:02
Quote:
Paralex, Thu 21 Jan 22:51I have to say that my preference is United.
Wash your mouth out!
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Topic Originator: Jeffery
Date: Thu 21 Jan 23:29
I think injuries are hugely important in any team being successful. Liverpool had a pretty fixed 11 last season. The year Leicester won it their team changed little throughout the campaign. You could almost name the 11 every week.
This year Liverpool are struggling with a number injured and out of form. Will be very surprised if they win it.
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Topic Originator: Andrew283
Date: Fri 22 Jan 00:43
Liverpool have been incredibly lucky with injuries in recent years. This year, their complete lack of squad depth is seriously showing
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Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Fri 22 Jan 07:42
I have no great affection or antipathy for any English team, although I enjoy the football played by some more than others.
Most neutrals will agree that it's not great for the same club to win their domestic league year after year, so while I was pleased for Liverpool fans to see their team deservedly win it last season, I'll be equally happy to see another team win it this time.
I still think Man City are the team to beat but the CL could be a distraction for them.
Not your average Sunday League player.
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Topic Originator: The One Who Knocks
Date: Fri 22 Jan 08:15
Yeah I think only the champions league can distract City from winning the league. Would love to be wrong but I don`t think Utd can do what they need to do in the big games. So long as it`s not Liverpool then I`ll be happy.
We all hate poverty, war, and injustice.
Unlike the rest of you squares.
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Topic Originator: kechal7
Date: Fri 22 Jan 09:20
The One Who Knocks wrote:
> Yeah I think only the champions league can distract City from
> winning the league. Would love to be wrong but I don`t think
> Utd can do what they need to do in the big games. So long as
> it`s not Liverpool then I`ll be happy.
>
>
Only Liverpool have a better recent record v the "big six" so I don`t think that`ll be their downfall. I think if they can avoid their usual blips against some of the lesser teams then they stand as good a chance as any
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Topic Originator: The One Who Knocks
Date: Fri 22 Jan 09:26
I don`t know. Thinking about this season they have failed to beat City, Liverpool, Leicester and Chelsea and were beaten by Arsenal and Spurs.
We all hate poverty, war, and injustice.
Unlike the rest of you squares.
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Topic Originator: kechal7
Date: Fri 22 Jan 09:32
The two defeats were probably the worst performances of the season. But they`re finding their feet now. Will know better after the next 4/5 games
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Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Fri 22 Jan 15:21
The odds on Man City have just eased..... and with good reason.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55769661
De Bruyne must be at least as valuable to City as Virgil is to Liverpool.
Not your average Sunday League player.
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Topic Originator: Raymie the Legend
Date: Fri 22 Jan 15:49
No doubt he will me missed but they have very decent replacements
It's bloody tough being a legend
Ron Atkinson - 1983
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Topic Originator: The One Who Knocks
Date: Fri 22 Jan 15:52
Vardy out now for a spell to have a hernia operation. That will probably put paid to any ambitions Leicester may have had for a title push.
We all hate poverty, war, and injustice.
Unlike the rest of you squares.
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Topic Originator: allparone
Date: Fri 22 Jan 16:17
Quote:
GG Riva, Fri 22 Jan 15:21
The odds on Man City have just eased..... and with good reason.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55769661
De Bruyne must be at least as valuable to City as Virgil is to Liverpool.
Not by much though. City 2/5 Man Utd 11/2 Liverpool 8/1.
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Topic Originator: londonparsfan
Date: Fri 22 Jan 16:24
Bernardo Silva had the best spell of his City career when he was covering for KDB although he did seem to form an excellent relationship with David Silva so it remains to be seen if he can do the same with whoever plays.
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Topic Originator: mcfc-par
Date: Sat 23 Jan 16:02
Quote:
allparone, Fri 22 Jan 16:17
Quote:
GG Riva, Fri 22 Jan 15:21
The odds on Man City have just eased..... and with good reason.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55769661
De Bruyne must be at least as valuable to City as Virgil is to Liverpool.
Not by much though. City 2/5 Man Utd 11/2 Liverpool 8/1.
Tbh GG I don't think KdB has been at his best so far this season, he's only scored one goal from open play. Clearly there may be a drop off in creativity in his absence but Bernardo Silva is showing signs of getting back to his level of two seasons ago. Biggest problem is in front of goal, even a half fit Aguero would have put away some of the missed chances in recent games.
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Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Sun 24 Jan 10:49
Quote:
mcfc-par, Sat 23 Jan 16:02
Quote:
allparone, Fri 22 Jan 16:17
Quote:
GG Riva, Fri 22 Jan 15:21
The odds on Man City have just eased..... and with good reason.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55769661
De Bruyne must be at least as valuable to City as Virgil is to Liverpool.
Not by much though. City 2/5 Man Utd 11/2 Liverpool 8/1.
Tbh GG I don't think KdB has been at his best so far this season, he's only scored one goal from open play. Clearly there may be a drop off in creativity in his absence but Bernardo Silva is showing signs of getting back to his level of two seasons ago. Biggest problem is in front of goal, even a half fit Aguero would have put away some of the missed chances in recent games.
He may not have hit the highs of previous seasons, mcfc, but he's the player most likely to win a close game for City, with his uncanny, defence splitting passing. With him missing, Bernardo and Co will have to up their game, to ensure the team doesn't lose any ground. If Liverpool keep shooting themselves in the foot, that'll narrow the contenders down to four - City, United, Leicester and Spurs.
Eta. Allparone, when I said the odds on City would be easing, I was meaning in a metaphorical sense, not those quantified by the bookies.
Not your average Sunday League player.
Post Edited (Sun 24 Jan 10:51)
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