With the money City have at their disposal, they could buy every top player on the planet. Making them play as a team, and massaging all those huge egos, is another matter entirely, though. City have the personnel, but for whatever reason ( the manager?) they're not playing as a team.
good question TMT. They've been found out in the CL, so there's no reason why prem clubs won't have taken note. when injuries and poor form kick in, which happen for nearly all players, it'll be a real test for them. They are relying on their strikers too much and I personally feel they only have 1 game plan. This is why i keep banging on about how we need another striker. 1 injury or poor form to either Defoe or Ade and we're buggered. We're relying on Defoe far too much at the moment.
I'd agree but City's performances away to United and Spurs last season were as good as I've seen from any PL team.
Why? Surely you'd want WBA to win? Arsenal have a very tough January, if they fail to win these type of games they may well be out of the running (realistically) for 4th come January. I fancied Swansea to win there and I fancy WBA as well. WBA's gameplan is based entirely on scoring the first goal and then countering. The two pastings they got at Fulham and Swansea were when they fell behind. If WBA score first then Arsenal are in real trouble but they are less well equipped to go there and win so a draw is more likely.
My local Black Horse pub side could have beat Spurs that game DL, we were all over the place and hardly a benchmark.
??...I thought he was on about the Manc derby, and even if he's not, WBA with nil points is better, I'm not botherd with the Goons picking up 3 from a home game.
It's important we stay in 4th or at least in touch with 4th. If West Brom draw the worst we could be is 1 point off 4th if we lost to Everton. In the long term Arsenal are realistically more likely to be competing with us but a prolonged spell in the top 4 is needed for us now the league's starting to take shape so a draw is in our interests.
Why would the Manc Derby affect Spurs? Your not playing either of them soon I thought he meant the Ars-WBA game. The less teams involved the better. I'd go as far in saying that if Arsenal were to lose to WBA then if they could be out the hunt by end of January. No European football for Arsenal till February so their form is bound to pick up soon. Up the Baggies (and Toffees of course)
Nah, league won't take shape now until early February. Gone are the days when United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool would pretty much be guaranteed 4th by the 30th January. League is much weaker and tighter now so it's important for you guys (and everybody) that the teams with the most resources (financially) drop points now
I'm not talking about guarunteed anything. Anything but a win keeps up the pressure on Arsenal from the fans and media whilst also ensuring that we stay in the thick of things and potentially allows us to start to open a 2 point gap on 5th. The draw seems like the best of both worlds to me.
I think we're at cross purposes here! we're not playing Arsenal or WBA anytime soon either! Of all 4 teams mentioned we play United next...just for your information! but anyway, my point is we're only 7 behind City. Long shot, but I think their position might be a bit false. They've been there for the taking in a few games and somehow got something. I know you'll argue with European distractions they should pick up...but that remains to be seen for me. I'd like them to lose the Manc derby myself, who knows what could happen after that. One step at a time for us though, leap frog you lot first! The Mackems are due a good win btw!
Arsenal v West Brom. First choice West Brom win, second choice Draw. Arsenal are our real competitors for top 4, West Brom will slip away in the new year without a doubt imo.
Just seen Paul Merson's interview with SSN on Arsenal, saying that not qualifying for the Champions League next year could be the "best thing that ever happened to them", as it would give the whole club a kick up the arse.... Or in his exact words "maybe we have to take two steps back so we can take one step forward" Slightly misunderstanding that expression there Paul
Just seen Kyle Walker...that was worse! "why can't we win the league" and apparently we've only lost Luka from last year...did you not meet VdV then Kyle!
