Manchester City 17/18 discussion | "If you're here for the Champions clap your hands" (#6505)

[Adisa]

Its very very hard to maintain this sort of level over multiple seasons. They're having a freak season which will normalise. See Jose's Chelsea and how they did. In any case, I dont see Pep lasting more than 3 odd years.

To be honest, I think this statement is in more of hope than expectation.
His Barca team certainly did not relax, his Bayern team, got even more consistent in the league during his tenure.
Even his Barca side that lost the league to Madrid ended up with 90+ points.
This City team even has the added advantage of spending whatever it wants.
I can't really see them dropping their level.
We're the ones that are going to have to reach it.

 

[Greek9]

The result would most likely be the opposite.

Nah it wouldn't, i favor us in a two legged tie, unless ofc referees intervene.

 

[Varun]

To be honest, I think this statement is in more of hope than expectation.
His Barca team certainly did not relax, his Bayern team, got even more consistent in the league during his tenure.
Even his Barca side that lost the league to Madrid ended up with 90+ points.
This City team even has the added advantage of spending whatever it wants.
I can't really see them dropping their level.
We're the ones that are going to have to reach it.

Their level this season has seen them win 24 out of the 28 games, losing just once. It's absolutely incredible and I don't see it being sustainable over multiple seasons. It's not just blind hope either, its just that difficult to maintain such a level least of all mentally. Something Pep himself has alluded to in the past.

 

[royboy16]

Can't wait to hear all the plaudits when we win it next year.

Wish I shared your confidence in winning the league next season.

 

[Litch]

Love what city are doing as I did with Chelsea for one simple reason, we now have to respond. It's Chelsea that kicked us on again, and now it's city. I'd argue without their dominance, we might not have payed the money for the likes of Pogs, Rom, Sanchez....Given what they'll done this season, we'll have to significantly improve by buying some players in certain positions because Jose knows he can't trust them. The bar is raised and Utd know they have to respond. I fully expect another 3 world class players to arrive in the Summer.

 

[Thisistheone]

Which 5 are better? I often find that things get better with age where football memory is concerned. In 10 years time if this season leaves City with the highest goals scored, and highest points ever in PL history, they’ll be cited as one of the best sides ever in PL history (certainly top 5). Yet nothing will have changed other than the passing of time.

Utd double winners '94
Utd Treble winners '99
Arsenal '04
Chelsea '05
Utd '08

City could break into that list of course, once they've won back to back championships or doubles or a treble or gone the whole season unbeaten.

You need a portfolio of work. They're playing amazing football, but thats not enough, yet. I fully expect them to make the top 5 list in a year or two the way Pep has them playing and the money being pumped into them from a country.

Its a perferct storm for Pep & City, as Strachan said last night. The Utd side of 1994 was superb. They could mix it as well as they could play. On muddy pitches, with filthy tackles. Now City go away to any Prem side or even Wigan away in the cup and the pitch is nice and the tackles are nowhere near as reckless as 20 years ago.

 

[royboy16]

Yeah, it's difficult to see anyone else winning the league and CL for next 10 years except them tbf. They will probably win the next World Cup too.

10 years is a bit extreme,5 years is possible though.

 

[Adisa]

Their level this season has seen them win 24 out of the 28 games, losing just once. It's absolutely incredible and I don't see it being sustainable over multiple seasons. It's not just blind hope either, its just that difficult to maintain such a level least of all mentally. Something Pep himself has alluded to in the past.

I'll reply in the other thread, so we don't keep moving about.

 

[Thisistheone]

Top 5 is plausible... but you can surely see why United fans would be miffed (even a tad annoyed) by any talk of GOATness at this point? Considering we’ve won three back to back titles, twice, since the turn of the century. Both whilst also winning the Champions League. Not to mention the two back to back titles and two doubles we won in the decade before.

So if football does indeed get better with age, and remember the good as great, and the great as imperious...Then how are those achievements even debatably comparable with this 2/3rds of a City season? That won’t be invincible, can’t be a Treble, and hasn’t even matched our largest leadership gap yet? *

You can see why that opinion would seem super weird & short sighted to any Utd fan over about 12, yeah? Especially to those of us who remember Mourinho’s Chelsea side breaking the points record being seen as irrefutable evidence that the very idea of competition in football was over for at least the next twenty years. And how that went.

Of the 2 and a bit decades United have dominated this League, which titles do you remember most? Is it the ones where we ran away with the title and regularly thrashed our rivals? Like 2001, when we beat our closest competitors 6-1 and won it by 16 points? Remember that? Or maybe it was 2000? Where we won by a still held record of 18 points*? Presumably by defulat the PL’s greatest ever team by your metric, no?

Or is what you actually remember, the Treble winners? (Whose title went right down to the last day.) Or the 2008 “Roo & Ron” Double winners? (Who also went to the last day) or perhaps the 1996 “don’t win anything with kids!” Double winners? (Last day again. And after an epic, unlikely, 12 point overhaul.) Or maybe even the Cantona inspired ‘94 double winners? (An utterly dominant season of era defining sexy football, still won with only two games to spare)...

Point being, sure, City are a great side atm, no question. But football posterity remembers drama, romance and narrative more than dominance and statistics. So even if you win by 30 points in the end, it’ll still be less of a deal to most than the “Aguerooooooo!” season (especially if it’s just the one)...because that’s what really gets better with age. And a side with no competition, little youth or English connection, and no wider historical or redemptive narrative to speak of (and a manger who’ll always be more associated with his homegrown success at Barca) is not a side that I’d bet heavily on making a truly massive dent in the public consciousness, beyond a grudging concession that “yeah, that team we’re alright that year”...

And we should know, because we’ve had several dominant sides before. Sides that have won the League by even more points than you’re on course to. And the fact no one seems to remember it, speaks to just how unspectacularly history remembers those kind of seasons. Even when you’re Manchester United.

Of course, if you win the CL in a blaze of glory, that’ll start to build a legend. But anything less will leave a debatable legacy IMO. Because (and I hope this doesn’t come across as bias or bitter, because I genuinely don’t think it is) aside from KBD, and being undoubtedly very good, I can’t think of anything that’s actually very interesting about this side. Narrative wise, I mean. There’s no story there. It’s just a really good, well assembled side. Perhaps Sterling on a mild redemptive arc?

Cracking post. Agree completely.

 

[Litch]

Utd double winners '94
Utd Treble winners '99
Arsenal '04
Chelsea '05
Utd '08

City could break into that list of course, once they've won back to back championships or doubles or a treble or gone the whole season unbeaten.

You need a portfolio of work. They're playing amazing football, but thats not enough, yet. I fully expect them to make the top 5 list in a year or two the way Pep has them playing and the money being pumped into them from a country.

Its a perferct storm for Pep & City, as Strachan said last night. The Utd side of 1994 was superb. They could mix it as well as they could play. On muddy pitches, with filthy tackles. Now City go away to any Prem side or even Wigan away in the cup and the pitch is nice and the tackles are nowhere near as reckless as 20 years ago.

I absolutely agree and let's wait until the end of the season before we start comparing teams achievements. The PL is no longer the barometer of success, unless you've never won it. When you have it just becomes a number to add to a total. The ultimate test is the CL and if they don't win it, the season will look no different than previous managers irrespective of the football they are playing. The only negative in SAF tenure was he couldn't beat a Barca team to win it more.

 

[SwansonsTache]

I can see Pep sticking around for a while, if he doesn't go full emo.

Unlimited resources, the most exposed league in the world, great foundations already in place and the possibillity to take a relatively obscure team up a fair few tiers (consecutive league wins, CL etc.)

 

[NinjaFletch]

I can see Pep sticking around for a while, if he doesn't go full emo.

Unlimited resources, the most exposed league in the world, great foundations already in place and the possibillity to take a relatively obscure team up a fair few tiers (consecutive league wins, CL etc.)

Doubt it. I can't see how managing City could ever be more attractive to him than Barcelona and we all know what happened there.

 

[Sunspear17]

On the verge of signing a new deal.

Interesting. Why do you think he would do that? He must feel like he can dominate further. Then again he has the financial backing by city so god knows how long he could reign.

 

[Thisistheone]

I absolutely agree and let's wait until the end of the season before we start comparing teams achievements. The PL is no longer the barometer of success, unless you've never won it. When you have it just becomes a number to add to a total. The ultimate test is the CL and if they don't win it, the season will look no different than previous managers irrespective of the football they are playing. The only negative in SAF tenure was he couldn't beat a Barca team to win it more.

Yeah. And its why I'd have the '99 and '08 Utd sides at number 1 and 2 because they're the only sides in PL history to win the league and CL together as well as being part of three league wins in a row.

 

[Litch]

Top 5 is plausible... but you can surely see why United fans would be miffed (even a tad annoyed) by any talk of GOATness at this point? Considering we’ve won three back to back titles, twice, since the turn of the century. Both whilst also winning the Champions League. Not to mention the two back to back titles and two doubles we won in the decade before.

So if football does indeed get better with age, and remember the good as great, and the great as imperious...Then how are those achievements even debatably comparable with this 2/3rds of a City season? That won’t be invincible, can’t be a Treble, and hasn’t even matched our largest leadership gap yet? *

You can see why that opinion would seem super weird & short sighted to any Utd fan over about 12, yeah? Especially to those of us who remember Mourinho’s Chelsea side breaking the points record being seen as irrefutable evidence that the very idea of competition in football was over for at least the next twenty years. And how that went.

Of the 2 and a bit decades United have dominated this League, which titles do you remember most? Is it the ones where we ran away with the title and regularly thrashed our rivals? Like 2001, when we beat our closest competitors 6-1 and won it by 16 points? Remember that? Or maybe it was 2000? Where we won by a still held record of 18 points*? Presumably by defulat the PL’s greatest ever team by your metric, no?

Or is what you actually remember, the Treble winners? (Whose title went right down to the last day.) Or the 2008 “Roo & Ron” Double winners? (Who also went to the last day) or perhaps the 1996 “don’t win anything with kids!” Double winners? (Last day again. And after an epic, unlikely, 12 point overhaul.) Or maybe even the Cantona inspired ‘94 double winners? (An utterly dominant season of era defining sexy football, still won with only two games to spare)...

Point being, sure, City are a great side atm, no question. But football posterity remembers drama, romance and narrative more than dominance and statistics. So even if you win by 30 points in the end, it’ll still be less of a deal to most than the “Aguerooooooo!” season (especially if it’s just the one)...because that’s what really gets better with age. And a side with no competition, little youth or English connection, and no wider historical or redemptive narrative to speak of (and a manger who’ll always be more associated with his homegrown success at Barca) is not a side that I’d bet heavily on making a truly massive dent in the public consciousness, beyond a grudging concession that “yeah, that team we’re alright that year”...

And we should know, because we’ve had several dominant sides before. Sides that have won the League by even more points than you’re on course to. And the fact no one seems to remember it, speaks to just how unspectacularly history remembers those kind of seasons. Even when you’re Manchester United.

Of course, if you win the CL in a blaze of glory, that’ll start to build a legend. But anything less will leave a debatable legacy IMO. Because (and I hope this doesn’t come across as bias or bitter, because I genuinely don’t think it is) aside from KBD, and being undoubtedly very good, I can’t think of anything that’s actually very interesting about this side. Narrative wise, I mean. There’s no story there. It’s just a really good, well assembled side. Perhaps Sterling on a mild redemptive arc?

Best post I've read this year.....

 

[Adisa]

Interesting. Why do you think he would do that? He must feel like he can dominate further. Then again he has the financial backing by city so god knows how long he could reign.

I think one of the main reasons he left both Barca and Bayern was politics.
Something he doesn't have to face at City, so he's naturally more comfortable.
He's also at a club not weighed down by history.
At Barca, the Madrid rivalry would have drained him. At Bayern, the constant pressure from club legends who can't keep their mouth shut or the pressure of winning the CL would have been draining as well.
He doesn't face anywhere near the same pressure at City.

 

[Treble]

Their level this season has seen them win 24 out of the 28 games, losing just once. It's absolutely incredible and I don't see it being sustainable over multiple seasons. It's not just blind hope either, its just that difficult to maintain such a level least of all mentally. Something Pep himself has alluded to in the past.

The age of their squad means that they may get even better. And I expect them to be better next season and avoid cheap upsets like Wigan. The centre forward of Brazil is just 20 y.o. and is yet to become a proper player for them. Sane has turned 22 several weeks ago. He is not in his prime yet. The same applies to Ederson, Laporte, Stones, Sterling, Bernardo. Mendy will be back. KDB is just entering his prime. Toure will be replaced and they will buy a replacement for Fernandinho too. Thus the depth of their squad will be much better than this season. And, finally, Guardiola's sides are incredibly consistent. When he lost the title to Jose in 2012, Barca won 91 pts - more than they won in 2009 (87 pts) for his first title with Barca. Whereas Jose's machines had a clear peak (2nd season) and then things went wrong, it was different with Barca/Bayern. They maintained a very consistent level of performances throughout Guardiola's stints there.

 

[Rado_N]

Top 5 is plausible... but you can surely see why United fans would be miffed (even a tad annoyed) by any talk of GOATness at this point? Considering we’ve won three back to back titles, twice, since the turn of the century. Both whilst also winning the Champions League. Not to mention the two back to back titles and two doubles we won in the decade before.

So if football does indeed get better with age, and remember the good as great, and the great as imperious...Then how are those achievements even debatably comparable with this 2/3rds of a City season? That won’t be invincible, can’t be a Treble, and hasn’t even matched our largest leadership gap yet? *

You can see why that opinion would seem super weird & short sighted to any Utd fan over about 12, yeah? Especially to those of us who remember Mourinho’s Chelsea side breaking the points record being seen as irrefutable evidence that the very idea of competition in football was over for at least the next twenty years. And how that went.

Of the 2 and a bit decades United have dominated this League, which titles do you remember most? Is it the ones where we ran away with the title and regularly thrashed our rivals? Like 2001, when we beat our closest competitors 6-1 and won it by 16 points? Remember that? Or maybe it was 2000? Where we won by a still held record of 18 points*? Presumably by defulat the PL’s greatest ever team by your metric, no?

Or is what you actually remember, the Treble winners? (Whose title went right down to the last day.) Or the 2008 “Roo & Ron” Double winners? (Who also went to the last day) or perhaps the 1996 “don’t win anything with kids!” Double winners? (Last day again. And after an epic, unlikely, 12 point overhaul.) Or maybe even the Cantona inspired ‘94 double winners? (An utterly dominant season of era defining sexy football, still won with only two games to spare)...

Point being, sure, City are a great side atm, no question. But football posterity remembers drama, romance and narrative more than dominance and statistics. So even if you win by 30 points in the end, it’ll still be less of a deal to most than the “Aguerooooooo!” season (especially if it’s just the one)...because that’s what really gets better with age. And a side with no competition, little youth or English connection, and no wider historical or redemptive narrative to speak of (and a manger who’ll always be more associated with his homegrown success at Barca) is not a side that I’d bet heavily on making a truly massive dent in the public consciousness, beyond a grudging concession that “yeah, that team we’re alright that year”...

And we should know, because we’ve had several dominant sides before. Sides that have won the League by even more points than you’re on course to. And the fact no one seems to remember it, speaks to just how unspectacularly history remembers those kind of seasons. Even when you’re Manchester United.

Of course, if you win the CL in a blaze of glory, that’ll start to build a legend. But anything less will leave a debatable legacy IMO. Because (and I hope this doesn’t come across as bias or bitter, because I genuinely don’t think it is) aside from KBD, and being undoubtedly very good, I can’t think of anything that’s actually very interesting about this side. Narrative wise, I mean. There’s no story there. It’s just a really good, well assembled side. Perhaps Sterling on a mild redemptive arc?

Well said.

 

[Righteous Steps]

The age of their squad means that they may get even better. And I expect them to be better next season and avoid cheap upsets like Wigan. The centre forward of Brazil is just 20 y.o. and is yet to become a proper player for them. Sane has turned 22 several weeks ago. He is not in his prime yet. The same applies to Ederson, Laporte, Stones, Sterling, Bernardo. Mendy will be back. KDB is just entering his prime. Toure will be replaced and they will buy a replacement for Fernandinho too. Thus the depth of their squad will be much better than this season. And, finally, Guardiola's sides are incredibly consistent. When he lost the title to Jose in 2012, Barca won 91 pts - more than they won in 2009 (87 pts) for his first title with Barca. Whereas Jose's machines had a clear peak (2nd season) and then things went wrong, it was different with Barca/Bayern. They maintained a very consistent level of performances throughout Guardiola's stints there.

Everybody else will get better too...

 

[jontheblue]

Legacy will always be tainted by the way this City team has been assembled. Just my opinion before you spit your dummy out like usual.

There's an absolutely cracking post from the last page or two which others have rightly praised, talking about the need for narrative/romance to be truly remembered after a passage of time. That's why people remember the Keegan 'I would love it' season with Newcastle so well, despite them not winning the title

So yes, stats alone aren't normally enough to be remembered in history as a truly great side, unless perhaps the stats are so ridiculously sensational (for instance Arsenal's invincibles).

That is why on one hand I fully understand why so many neutrals & commentators get swept away in the moment (we are playing some breathtaking football after all) by our current side and on the other, I fully agree that without trophies, a period of domination and ideally some European success, our team won't be remembered as a great

But I simply don't see how your 'tainted legacy' angle will even be a feature in terms of how history will look at this city side. Not even remotely. We will either be remembered as a great side because we win a lot and/or have some other narrative or we won't dominate and won't be remembered as a great. There will be other sides who have even richer owners who spend even more money in the future. This romantic idea that to the wider public, history will view city differently because of the money they have/the way the owners earned their money is, again in my opinion, unrealistic

 

[Vialli_92]

I have a feeling City want to keep Guardiola there as long as possible, they will do everything to keep him happy there

They have hit the jackpot with Guardiola and know it so he will have everything he needs there to build a dynasty

 

[Random Task]

Top 5 is plausible... but you can surely see why United fans would be miffed (even a tad annoyed) by any talk of GOATness at this point? Considering we’ve won three back to back titles, twice, since the turn of the century. Both whilst also winning the Champions League. Not to mention the two back to back titles and two doubles we won in the decade before.

So if football does indeed get better with age, and remember the good as great, and the great as imperious...Then how are those achievements even debatably comparable with this 2/3rds of a City season? That won’t be invincible, can’t be a Treble, and hasn’t even matched our largest leadership gap yet? *

You can see why that opinion would seem super weird & short sighted to any Utd fan over about 12, yeah? Especially to those of us who remember Mourinho’s Chelsea side breaking the points record being seen as irrefutable evidence that the very idea of competition in football was over for at least the next twenty years. And how that went.

Of the 2 and a bit decades United have dominated this League, which titles do you remember most? Is it the ones where we ran away with the title and regularly thrashed our rivals? Like 2001, when we beat our closest competitors 6-1 and won it by 16 points? Remember that? Or maybe it was 2000? Where we won by a still held record of 18 points*? Presumably by defulat the PL’s greatest ever team by your metric, no?

Or is what you actually remember, the Treble winners? (Whose title went right down to the last day.) Or the 2008 “Roo & Ron” Double winners? (Who also went to the last day) or perhaps the 1996 “don’t win anything with kids!” Double winners? (Last day again. And after an epic, unlikely, 12 point overhaul.) Or maybe even the Cantona inspired ‘94 double winners? (An utterly dominant season of era defining sexy football, still won with only two games to spare)...

Point being, sure, City are a great side atm, no question. But football posterity remembers drama, romance and narrative more than dominance and statistics. So even if you win by 30 points in the end, it’ll still be less of a deal to most than the “Aguerooooooo!” season (especially if it’s just the one)...because that’s what really gets better with age. And a side with no competition, little youth or English connection, and no wider historical or redemptive narrative to speak of (and a manger who’ll always be more associated with his homegrown success at Barca) is not a side that I’d bet heavily on making a truly massive dent in the public consciousness, beyond a grudging concession that “yeah, that team we’re alright that year”...

And we should know, because we’ve had several dominant sides before. Sides that have won the League by even more points than you’re on course to. And the fact no one seems to remember it, speaks to just how unspectacularly history remembers those kind of seasons. Even when you’re Manchester United.

Of course, if you win the CL in a blaze of glory, that’ll start to build a legend. But anything less will leave a debatable legacy IMO. Because (and I hope this doesn’t come across as bias or bitter, because I genuinely don’t think it is) aside from KBD, and being undoubtedly very good, I can’t think of anything that’s actually very interesting about this side. Narrative wise, I mean. There’s no story there. It’s just a really good, well assembled side. Perhaps Sterling on a mild redemptive arc?

Very well said.

 

[Varun]

The age of their squad means that they may get even better. And I expect them to be better next season and avoid cheap upsets like Wigan. The centre forward of Brazil is just 20 y.o. and is yet to become a proper player for them. Sane has turned 22 several weeks ago. He is not in his prime yet. The same applies to Ederson, Laporte, Stones, Sterling, Bernardo. Mendy will be back. KDB is just entering his prime. Toure will be replaced and they will buy a replacement for Fernandinho too. Thus the depth of their squad will be much better than this season. And, finally, Guardiola's sides are incredibly consistent. When he lost the title to Jose in 2012, Barca won 91 pts - more than they won in 2009 (87 pts) for his first title with Barca. Whereas Jose's machines had a clear peak (2nd season) and then things went wrong, it was different with Barca/Bayern. They maintained a very consistent level of performances throughout Guardiola's stints there.

Can you please check my post in the Jose thread. I've ended up having the same discussion in both threads unfortunately

 

[Richard Cranium]

There's an absolutely cracking post from the last page or two which others have rightly praised, talking about the need for narrative/romance to be truly remembered after a passage of time. That's why people remember the Keegan 'I would love it' season with Newcastle so well, despite them not winning the title

So yes, stats alone aren't normally enough to be remembered in history as a truly great side, unless perhaps the stats are so ridiculously sensational (for instance Arsenal's invincibles).

That is why on one hand I fully understand why so many neutrals & commentators get swept away in the moment (we are playing some breathtaking football after all) by our current side and on the other, I fully agree that without trophies, a period of domination and ideally some European success, our team won't be remembered as a great

But I simply don't see how your 'tainted legacy' angle will even be a feature in terms of how history will look at this city side. Not even remotely. We will either be remembered as a great side because we win a lot and/or have some other narrative or we won't dominate and won't be remembered as a great. There will be other sides who have even richer owners who spend even more money in the future. This romantic idea that to the wider public, history will view city differently because of the money they have/the way the owners earned their money is, again in my opinion, unrealistic

Fair enough. I am just putting forward the view of many that any success achieved by a state sponsored team who have literally invested billions is somewhat hollow.

The crux of it, is that City have no legacy on how they reached their current level. You could have taken any team in the league in 2008 and invested £3 billion plus and expect similar results. It is this which, for me, undermines anything City achieve. You could easily be any other team achieving these results if another team had similar levels of financial doping.

As such, this means anything City do is not special as it is easily repeated. Just continue spending until you have a better team than anyone else. Simple formula really.

 

[Amar__]

10 years is a bit extreme,5 years is possible though.

Are you serious?

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Fair enough. I am just putting forward the view of many that any success achieved by a state sponsored team who have literally invested billions is somewhat hollow.

The crux of it, is that City have no legacy on how they reached their current level. You could have taken any team in the league in 2008 and invested £3 billion plus and expect similar results. It is this which, for me, undermines anything City achieve. You could easily be any other team achieving these results if another team had similar levels of financial doping.

As such, this means anything City do is not special as it is easily repeated. Just continue spending until you have a better team than anyone else. Simple formula really.

It's a very valid point as are all the points you make, but let's not get hung up on it. They are on their way to oblivion with that link up.

Utd should be building up a team to match and with our history,fan base and spending power, we should

 

[padr81]

Zzzzz.... City fans getting more cock sure in every thread. Do you not have yellow ribbons to tie up and hand out?

The transparent smugness of fans of the team who's finally managed to buy another title. Nice to see them being spread out among the likes of Leicester and city now and then, rubbish when the big dogs always win.

You come into a thread constantly being a (mostly harmless) wum and dishing out banter (which is usually quite funny). Don't cry now over two harmless comments back. Smug me arse.

Its only football banter don't get too upset over it.

 

[padr81]

If God actually exist he will match this lot against us in the quarters, can't wait to kick this 'beautiful' team out of europe, even with the most notorious bus to ever brace this land, couldn't care less how it's done.

Are you that confident because Jose's record against pep is so good?

 

[padr81]

Nah it wouldn't, i favor us in a two legged tie, unless ofc referees intervene.

Add something to the debate, why do you favor united over two legs?

 

[ZAGREB RED]

Yeah, they do. Clearly amongst the best sides in Europe atm. Think Real are the best equipped to counter them but even Barca and Bayern will be tough as feck. Even us but that's an unpopular opinion here. To a lesser extent mind.

I'm not sure United have a realistic chance of winning the CL, obviously it's a Cup competition and anything can happen. Mourinho would need to come up with some very special plans and the team execute them perfectly for United to win the CL. I think Bailly and Rojo would need to be fully fit and available for a start. Not impossible, but a big ask. I think the CL is wide open this season, hence seeing City as realistic contenders, but, as you say, there are teams still left in it who would give City very tough games.
I am just waiting for all the "football purists" in the media to begin salivating at the though of a City-Barca final and extolling the virtues of such a game in footballing terms.

 

[Varun]

I'm not sure United have a realistic chance of winning the CL, obviously it's a Cup competition and anything can happen. Mourinho would need to come up with some very special plans and the team execute them perfectly for United to win the CL. Not impossible, but a big ask. I think the CL is wide open this season, hence seeing City as realistic contenders, but, as you say, there are teams still left in it who would give CIty very tough games.
I am just waiting for all the "football purists" in the media salivating at the though of a City-Barca final and extolling the virtues of such a game in footballing terms.

Yes, its mainly due to Mourinho's ability to plan out cup wins than the quality of our squad unlike the other teams I mentioned

 

[Shy_Coconut]

I can see Pep sticking around for a while, if he doesn't go full emo.

Unlimited resources, the most exposed league in the world, great foundations already in place and the possibillity to take a relatively obscure team up a fair few tiers (consecutive league wins, CL etc.)

It look's like he's signing a 1 year extension. He'll be off after this no matter how well they do.

Pep's ego craves recognition. He will be feted by City fans, the CFG board & embittered ABU pundits. He will get little recognition from opposing Managers & Supporters though. His success will always be attributed to his spending record. This will get his back up to a point where he'll sod off to PSG & he can restart the cycle.

 

[ZAGREB RED]

Yes, its mainly due to Mourinho's ability to plan out cup wins than the quality of our squad unlike the other teams I mentioned

He did it with Porto in 2004 and Inter in 2010, so, yes, I see exactly what you are saying. I just hope you are right, as United winning the CL this season would overshadow City winning the PL I think, although no doubt the purists in the media wouldn't see it that way.

 

[Ban]

10 years is a bit extreme,5 years is possible though.

He was joking, I hope you were too.

 

[padr81]

Utd double winners '94
Utd Treble winners '99
Arsenal '04
Chelsea '05
Utd '08

City could break into that list of course, once they've won back to back championships or doubles or a treble or gone the whole season unbeaten.

You need a portfolio of work. They're playing amazing football, but thats not enough, yet. I fully expect them to make the top 5 list in a year or two the way Pep has them playing and the money being pumped into them from a country.

Its a perferct storm for Pep & City, as Strachan said last night. The Utd side of 1994 was superb. They could mix it as well as they could play. On muddy pitches, with filthy tackles. Now City go away to any Prem side or even Wigan away in the cup and the pitch is nice and the tackles are nowhere near as reckless as 20 years ago.

Arsenal 04 didn't win back to back anything, two trophies in 3 seasons.

 

[BigFill]

I don't know many fellow City fans who are remotely bothered whether we are the best ever side. One thing we do know though is that the football being played at the moment at City hasn't ever been reproduced anywhere before in England and we're thoroughly excited watching it. It's a style that's foreign to most if not all English clubs and it's one that had many saying last season (including City fans!) that couldn't and won't work in England. How wrong was everybody? At the moment City are breaking records nearly every week and at the end of the season with at least a double or a treble in the trophy cabinet it may change a few people's views on who might be the best ever. There's no way anyone can take anything away from Utd's achievements and your great sides down the years or even Liverpool's, Chelsea's, Arsenal's etc but the style and devastating football that's being played at the moment by Pep's side is on another level and that sentiment is being expressed too by most footballing experts and professionals in the game alike. The good news for City is Pep's looking to stay at City which for all intents and purposes looks like for another three seasons we'll almost certainly dominate the domestic and European game. Our recent policy of signing younger players can stand us in good stead for another ten years without any major overhauling and City can have the luxury of shelling out big money on those one or two players who'll freshen up the squad just as Madrid and Barca have done down the years. So it's up to Utd to bridge the gap and stop that dominance happening and not just hope that this is a one season wonder at City. I think most know it's not.

 

[robinamicrowave]

I have a feeling City want to keep Guardiola there as long as possible, they will do everything to keep him happy there

They have hit the jackpot with Guardiola and know it so he will have everything he needs there to build a dynasty

Yep, we'll keep him for as long as we can hold onto him and won't get rid of him a second sooner, unless everything collapses from here, of course. I think he'll extend in the summer until 2021, and then in the summer of the 2020 we'll sit down for contract talks and see where he is. Pep's a big believer in the cyclical nature of modern football, that constant regeneration every half-decade is the best way to sustain success, so I think he'll be off before the 2022 World Cup. I'm already scared of what comes after.

 

[SwansonsTache]

Yep, we'll keep him for as long as we can hold onto him and won't get rid of him a second sooner, unless everything collapses from here, of course. I think he'll extend in the summer until 2021, and then in the summer of the 2020 we'll sit down for contract talks and see where he is. Pep's a big believer in the cyclical nature of modern football, that constant regeneration every half-decade is the best way to sustain success, so I think he'll be off before the 2022 World Cup. I'm already scared of what comes after.

Citeh would be wise to prepare the groundwork for Serri if Pep leaves before 2020, he is the closest in style to Pep.

You can't totally change a style as specific as St.Pep's with your next appointment. Look how it went for us with LvG - Mourinho.

 

[robinamicrowave]

Citeh would be wise to prepare the groundwork for Serri if Pep leaves before 2020, he is the closest in style to Pep.

You can't totally change a style as specific as St.Pep's with your next appointment. Look how it went for us with LvG - Mourinho.

Well, 2022 is still four years away, so we'll have time to watch the next crop of young managers prove themselves and emerge as potential successors. I'm not entirely sure about Sarri, in all honesty. He's got a fantastic Napoli side (only in Serie A, admittedly) but this is after years and years of doing basically feck all with a lot of clubs in Italy. He needs more time with the Napoli side he's got before we can really judge his quality and assess whether he has a future with another club - it could just be a perfect storm. There's also a chance they could win nothing this season if Juventus pip them to the scudetto.

 

[Random Task]

Yep, we'll keep him for as long as we can hold onto him and won't get rid of him a second sooner, unless everything collapses from here, of course. I think he'll extend in the summer until 2021, and then in the summer of the 2020 we'll sit down for contract talks and see where he is. Pep's a big believer in the cyclical nature of modern football, that constant regeneration every half-decade is the best way to sustain success, so I think he'll be off before the 2022 World Cup. I'm already scared of what comes after.

I think City would consider themselves fortunate were they to hold to Pep for a further 4 years, such is his stature within the game.

PSG are already sniffing around from what I hear.