No results are certain and of course games aren't played on paper and all that but I do think our fixtures look harder. The current 5 point gap is not enough for me to be getting too excited just yet
The good thing for us is City have to go to Spurs and United still. Their last 4 away games against the top 7 of last season have yielded just 3 points and no wins. With both sides fighting for that top four spot it could be detrimental to City's fightback. But win our next 5 games and we are champions in my opinion.
If we win our next 5 league games we are 100% champs. Those 15pts will make City more nervous and lead them to drop more points. But - I am not even 10% confident of getting 15 off 15.
The two titles City have won came from being behind in the last few games, they can handle the pressure without a doubt. The only question mark has to be on their ability this year, they seem to have aged overnight.
Moreover - the two teams they overhauled were god awful teams who just rode their luck. We are not as bad as those two teams. That gives us hope.
No mate. I don't see us favorites yet. Cup didn't change a thing. I would say 30% us & 70% city based on Pool win.
win at west ham tomorrow night and i reckon its as good as in the bag, and im usually as pessimistic as they come
Still don't know. It will put us in good stead thats for sure. We still got to go to the Emirates and have Utd and Pool at the Bridge. Both Arsenal and Pool seem to have got their groove back somewhat from last season, at least to a degree. I think we will do it though, but I wouldn't say in the bag.
in addition we have relegation faithfuls - West Brom, Hull, QPR away. Hope Lester are down by the time we play. Or else that is one more. I am more worried about these fixtures than Goons away, Pool & Manu at home. City doesn't have these many tricky fixtures. Throw in the X factors (refs, FA, thug opp players). That is the reason - I think we have 30% chance even though we have 5pts lead with a game in hand.
But it hasn't been the "tricky fixtures" that City have dropped points in to be honest. Yeah they lost at Anfield, thats tricky, but the home draws against Burnley and Hull, and the home loss to Stoke is where they have fallen short. Their home form isn't good.
Towards the business end - Home form should be shoe in for the title hopefuls. I don't see us or City goofing up there. Title will be won or lost in away games & most likely decided on the final day. So I have listed away games and the final game of the season. Chelsea Away runin & final game ------------------------------ W Ham away - Fat Sam loves doing us Hull away - Bruce will love to stick to us (relegation faithful) QPR away - Need I say more & relegation Goons Away is the easiest on paper. Lester away - Problem if in Stay up mix West Brom Away - Tony pulis (Identical fixture to Palace away last season). Sunderland Home - Need I say more. Broke our impossible home record last year. City Away runin & Final game ---------------------------- Burnley away Palace away Manure away Spuds away Swans away Soton Home - Most likely will have nothing to play for. ************************* Don't you think City has a better chance with the above and no CL fixture pile up?
West Ham and QPR away will be dodgy games for us, I am confident with the rest. As for City. Manure and Spuds away are very hard fixtures. Spurs are playing well, and United, well its the Manc Derby so anything can happen. I will concede that they have the easier games though. But with a 5 point lead AND a game in hand? We should have enough to do it. I am not by any means saying that its in the bag, but I think you are selling us a little short mate.
I don't think Koeman, Pardew and Monk are managers that wil let their players drop their level despite where the season is at. Swansea especially will not want Bony to come back and prove he was right toi leave. City's away record against the big sides is terrible this year. If they don't get six points from United and Spurs they can kiss the title goodbye.
I still think until we are into the last 7-8 fixtures (minimum) we can't yet be talking about 1 win securing the title and all that. Tonight we could be back to 2 points ahead only and then it'll be all pessimistic and tears around here tomorrow!! We're in a good position but I thought that last season and we blew it at Villa and Palace.
Last season I went long, perhaps little too long. So I am cautious and managing my expectation this time. Agreed - one game changes everything.
