wpdavid
Hall of Fame Member
I also think the standard at the bottom is far from terrible this year. Even Southampton seem to be improving lately.
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**Official** English Football Season 2024/25
- Thread starter Furball
- Start date
Red_Ink_Squid
Global Moderator
Gee, those were good times.
Furball
Evil Scotsman
I can't tell whether you've included Justin Kluivert in your list or not?
Magrat Garlick
Rather Mad Witch
wpdavid
Hall of Fame Member
I didn't because, at the time, I'd forgotten that his dad played for Newcastle for a while. Then I thought I'd better check when I saw your post.
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Skipper Pup
U19 Vice-Captain
Turns out Slot was just keeping this tactic up his sleeve for the City game. What a tenacious performance from Diaz.
Szobo and Diaz together are the key to our intensity and press.
Others will rotate into the side but if you ever see us line up with Szobo 10 and Diaz 9, you know we're going to press the absolute life out of the opposition.
Molehill
Cricketer Of The Year
Title race is absolutely Liverpool's to lose now. Far too good for an abject City yesterday, but then lucky in previous weeks to lesser opposition. Are they just very good or getting away with it? I suspect at some point, Arsenal in particular will get the gap down quite appreciably (could even happen this week). But they're title favourites now no doubt, can they cope with that pressure (or a Salah injury)?
Chin Music
State Vice-Captain
Surely the old saying about battling to victory when not playing your best against the lesser teams is a pretty strong vanguard of going to a title? And lifting your game against the big guns is hardly a bad trait either.
Skipper Pup
U19 Vice-Captain
We did this last season and then fell apart in the home stretch, key difference now is obviously the manager and style of play. So far it seems more sustainable and we're not conceding the chances we were under Klopp.
I'm most concerned about injuries derailing us, but I think Arsenal are in the same boat.
We've already had periods this season without Alisson, Jota, Elliott, Chiesa, TAA, Tsimikas, Konate and Bradley. So far we've been okay but we're riding our luck and I think we'll be sacrificing cup ties soon.
Not at all worried about the pressure, we have enough leaders in this squad.
Virgil, Mo and Gravenberch are the three we can't afford to lose - could say the same for Arsenal about Odegaard, Saka and Gabriel. Although I think they'd also be in disarray without Timber or Partey for a long period.
Molehill
Cricketer Of The Year
Absolutely agree, we've already seen what happens to Arsenal without Odegaard. I still think Salah is key, he's the one that turns draws into victories when not playing well. I think you can get by without the odd centre back or midfielder, but it's the ones that unlock defences who really make the difference.
Molehill
Cricketer Of The Year
I suspect City may re-prioritize the season and go all out for the Champions League. Whether they can do that without Rodri, I'm not sure.
sledger
Spanish_Vicente
I think from this point a City resurgence (to the extent they are actually seriously in the hunt for the Premiership) is a lot less likely than it is likely. For various reasons it looks like a bridge too far, even for them. But I don't think we are at the point where we can completely rule it out just yet. If the gap widens much further (or maybe any further, actually), then yeah I think they're done.
I think the gap between Arsenal and Liverpool will close regardless though (unless Arsenal really do get wrecked by injuries). Can't see Pool's current form being sustained for an entire season.
Molehill
Cricketer Of The Year
I just don't see how City can get competitive in the Prem playing a midfield completely lacking in pace and power.
If Liverpool are still 9 points clear at Xmas I think they'll be very hard to catch. But with away games before then at Everton, Newcastle and Spurs, you'd think they'd be dropping points somewhere (Arsenal's fixtures in same period look far friendlier).
Skipper Pup
U19 Vice-Captain
How recent was that?
Furball
Evil Scotsman
Most teams don't cope well with injuries to their best players.
Skipper Pup
U19 Vice-Captain
Better question should have been 'can Arsenal cope with the pressure of trying to chase a team down (or an Odegaard injury)?'
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