Don't misunderestimate Man City

Magic Hat · Post by **Magic Hat** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:45 am

City will be intresting to watch, they could break into the top four or they could do a Spurs/Newcastle who always splashed the cash but mucked up. Chelsea had the experienced tinkerman in charge, he had molded a good side and he brought in excellent players when Romance came in, then came the excellent Jose, already a CL winner, from that basis Chelsea remain strong though their ageing team and managerial turmoil has seen them slip slightly since.

Man City's side struggled in away games though buys in Jan helped sort out some problems. Given a full season, I don't think anyone can rely on said side mucking up so often away next season and they will have added players. The right ones? We will, like Arsenal, have to wait till the season starts. Questions over the board, will they be patient and wise and over Hughes, can he rise up to the highest level?

I certainly would expect Uefa place but I won't make further predictions till season starts

LeftfootlegendGooner · Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:51 am

Swale_Gooner1985 wrote:
Calo wrote:i think they will be 4th next season
im willing to have a large bet with you that they dont!

me too, i think they will be top 3

Gunnersaurus · Post by **Gunnersaurus** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:46 pm

People can bang on about Chelsea being in a better position which is all well and good but then how do you explain Blackburn?

I know it was a long time ago but they were in no position, threw money at the team and then won the league.

It can happen.

Bendtners Drinking Buddy · Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:49 pm

Football is a lot different now, anyone can beat anyone in the Prem now and fitness, diet etc etc all come into play - it is about finding a level of consistency and that will be Citys Challenge.

As for Blackburn, not been that great tho since eh?

Gunnersaurus · Post by **Gunnersaurus** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:51 pm

What's that got to do with anything?

They showed what money can do, it was still 3 points for a win, the league was still funded by Sky and teams still had shirt sponsers, it wasn't in the 40's so it can't be dismissed.

Andrey's Tongue · Post by **Andrey's Tongue** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:07 pm

Its not all about money though is it, there has to be an ability to do something clever with that money. How much money did the spuds spend last season and they achieved absolutely nothing as per usual. For as many examples of teams doing well with money there are also examples of teams actually doing worse after making a big outlay.

I think Man City are too far away from us to make that jump in one season. Does Hughes have the ability to mould a side that can do the business on a regular basis? I guess we will find out relatively soon, however I have my doubts.

Gunnersaurus · Post by **Gunnersaurus** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:16 pm

A lot is made of Hughes but you need to remember that he got the job in the first place because he took a poor Blackburn side to 7th spot and pushing for Europe which is no mean feat so he has something about him.

Andrey's Tongue · Post by **Andrey's Tongue** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:20 pm

Gunnersaurus wrote:A lot is made of Hughes but you need to remember that he got the job in the first place because he took a poor Blackburn side to 7th spot and pushing for Europe which is no mean feat so he has something about him.

Fair point, although I think the gap between say 7th and 16th in the premier is alot less than the gap between a champions league place and mid table.

Magic Hat · Post by **Magic Hat** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:20 pm

I think few will deny that Hughes is an able manager but able enough is the question. There is a difference between being able and being brilliant

Bendtners Drinking Buddy · Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:59 pm

Correct Mr Tounge, you can have all the money in the world but you still have to mould a team, gel as a squad and perform under pressure.
4 teams have done that on a consistent basis - City have ticked none of those boxes and like you I cannot see them top 5 let alone top 4. Ipswich finsihed 5th the Prem once, Everton finished top 4, its the consistency that matters and that takes a lot of time, quality and Skill.

Also, as for all this "Arsenal wont be top 4" - we should consider Liverpool, wont have much money to strengthen now, may have to sell?

My point about Blackburn was the Premier League then was nowhere near the "beast" it is now, the pressure to finish in those top 4 positons didnt exist then. As Villa proved this season, its a massive massive jump and even good teams can fold under the pressure. Everton proved even if you do it once, its not easy to maintain a regular place there your point about Blackburn is valid, but confirms mine about consistency - they folded after one season.

Gunnersaurus · Post by **Gunnersaurus** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:06 pm

It's a different animal all together, you speak of Everton finishing 4th and then not maintaining it, you could bet that if City finished 4th then they would probably spend 150M for the upcoming campaign where Everton didn't spend more then 5M which is why they never repeated it.

No offence but your points are flawed and based on hope more then anything, we are not talking about your run of the mill team that competes for a season (ala Everton or Villa that you mention), we're talking about a tycoon now that can go out and flex it's finacial muscle like no other, they don't need consistancy over a number of years to finish 4th, they need to do it once (and with no European competition to distract them then they have to focus on one task and one task only) and then all hell will break loose and the real stars will go there for the money when they can play in the CL.

Bendtners Drinking Buddy · Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:09 pm

We will see eh?

You think one thing, I think another which is cool - as was said above, I dont think City will be top 4 next season - its a big jump, and I dont buy all this "nothing to distract them" thing, if your good enough you will be there no matter how many games you play.

But as I say, we will see as the months go by, but lets not write off Arsenal yet eh?

Gunnersaurus · Post by **Gunnersaurus** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:31 pm

Bendtners Drinking Buddy wrote:We will see eh?

You think one thing, I think another which is cool - as was said above, I dont think City will be top 4 next season - its a big jump, and I dont buy all this "nothing to distract them" thing, if your good enough you will be there no matter how many games you play.

But as I say, we will see as the months go by, but lets not write off Arsenal yet eh?

Yeah we'll see, don't get me wrong, I'd rather they didn't do it but looking at it with a neutralised mind, I agree with you in that if you are good enough then that's it but the distraction advantage only comes into play with regards to squad size and recovery time for injuries etc.

A top 4 team needs a big squad to compete in the CL and PL which is why we fell short if we're all honest, I think if we wasn't in the CL then we'd win the Premier League without fail due to not needing to shuffle the pack so much to keep it fresh and with their being less risk of injury (or more time to get over it) and burn out.

That's a big advantage.

Gunnersaurus · Post by **Gunnersaurus** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:32 pm

PS: I'm not writing us off anyway, it's gonna be a 3 or even 4 way battle with City, Liverpool and potentialy Everton (assuming the squad doesn't get strengthened and the injury curse continues)