Title Race 22/23

[GoonerInPeace]

We are past half way stage, so every week that goes by now where the lead isnt cut down is a great week for us. 5 points and a game in hand, cant really wish for a better position. Especially in the erratic form city are in, and we got Jesus to come back like a new signing, all the signs are very positive right now.

True. The Everton result was a real disappointment. I knew the reaction would be sensational. But then Man City go and lose and our lead at the top remains unchanged. Supposedly this Man City team is super human, but reality is they are vulnerable, and you could argue are going through an unplanned transition, like Liverpool albeit on a much smaller scale. If this was the Man City of last year or even a few seasons ago, and they were chasing Liverpool. no way do they lose in the same game week Liverpool does. Cancelo leaving midyear, Pep press conferences getting more bizarre, unusual team selections, ignoring Laporte, blooding in an 18 year old youngster mid season (good for football, but all youngsters have a steep learning curve and they will make mistakes along the way, good on him and City for giving him a chance though). City are not

It is not such a controversial take, though? So many tight endurance competitions (like football leagues) are decided in the very last sectors (games) and it is a common recurrence to have the brilliant, less used-to-win, leading competitor (team) finding their difficulties at that exact stage with the pressure, the expectations and the defending champions on the hunt.

United are in the race as well because being on the hunt is however easier than being in the lead, especially when you are still an underdog. I mean, crossing the line and actually winning titles is not just playing better, it also requires a lot of management when you are approaching the line. All teams involved also have their own European campaigns, this adding even more fatigue.

Every team would rather be in the lead. Some say if Arsenal have a bad month the lead could be wiped out, and this sis true. But its cuts both ways, if City/United hve a bad month, then we could be looking at a 10+ points lead.

We have a margin for error, we dont want to use this margin, and the idea is to extend the margin, but we have it. United are in the title race, however there is pretty much no margin for error for United.

 

[2 man midfield]

Those late goals against palace and arsenal really fecked us. If we get that penalty on McTominay then we’re in a title race. I know people mock the thin margins brigade but it’s true in this case.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

It is not such a controversial take, though? So many tight endurance competitions (like football leagues) are decided in the very last sectors (games) and it is a common recurrence to have the brilliant, less used-to-win, leading competitor (team) finding their difficulties at that exact stage with the pressure, the expectations and the defending champions on the hunt.

United are in the race as well because being on the hunt is however easier than being in the lead, especially when you are still an underdog. I mean, crossing the line and actually winning titles is not just playing better, it also requires a lot of management when you are approaching the line. All teams involved also have their own European campaigns, this adding even more fatigue.

It is. It’s fine if you believe City will win it although I feel that it’s based more on the past than the present. But it can’t be City’s to lose when they’re lagging well behind.

 

[Looptheloop16]

Its on...

 

[Slevs]

Brentford can beat Arsenal, they are unbeaten in 9 games and don’t see them slipping yet…

No chance, absolutely 0 chance Brentford take anything from Arsenal.
I said the same for the Everton game and was wrong only by a miracle.

 

[Marzo]

No chance, absolutely 0 chance Brentford take anything from Arsenal.
I said the same for the Everton game and was wrong only by a miracle.

So…there is a chance ? Barring a miracle that is ?

 

[Buxton]

This news today wont help city. Perfect timing for us. 9 days before we play them, the pressure is on them big time now.

 

[Lynty]

I'm a believer now.

 

[Josh 76]

If Utd win all their games, they will be Champions.
that’s the only way.
Arsenal will definitely drop at least 12 points.

 

[Buxton]

If Utd win all their games, they will be Champions.
that’s the only way.
Arsenal will definitely drop at least 12 points.

in fairness even if United were 20 points behind now. You’ll still find people doing permutations that will have them challenging for the title. And anyone questioning whether United were ever in the title race would get dismissed.
United were never in the title race. Their battle is to stay in the top 4.

 

[Anustart89]

Just when I thought I was in, they pull me back out

 

[AshRK]

We still have too many average players to compete for the title. Our striker is a burnley reject and martial who cannot stay fit. Midfield is too thin. Rashford casemiro Eriksen martinez varane shaw bruno, these are the 7 players I trust to do well week in week out this season and we have one of them injured and the other one suspended. Not a season to challenge for the title. Maybe next season.

 

[Wayne's World]

We were completely out of the title race as soon as Olise put one in the top corner in the last minute at Palace.

Just need to finish in the top 4 and we'll be in a proper race next season

 

[Siorac]

We're years away from any title race

 

[Mb194dc]

City to win it probably, be stripped of it, no winner declared and relegated. Best we can hope for at Chelsea I guess.

Next year it might be wide open, without City probably, Arsenal and Utd will be favourites.

 

[TheGame]

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[Guy Incognito]

City win their next two and they are top on GD.

 

[JustinC00]

if citeh wins their next 2 matches and arsenal draws with brentford they'd both be level on points going into their match

looking like it could be on

 

[RuudTom83]

Arsenal are feeling the nerves for sure...and they are still 17 games away from the finish line.

Great game midweek...feels like a Champions League Final against City.

 

[Irwin99]

City win their next two and they are top on GD.

It'd be funny if that happened and then they got hit with a 20 point deduction for all their cheating over the years. I wonder if this will turn into a genuine hope for Arsenal fans before the season finishes? I haven't heard anything about a timescale for the investigation and punishment if found guilty.

 

[Nero]

City will be top of the league on Wednesday night.

 

[Guy Incognito]

Arsenal are feeling the nerves for sure...and they are still17 games away from the finish line.

Great game midweek...feels like a Champions League Final against City.

Yep, and title race hasn't even started.

Some tricky remaining games left for them. City x2, Leicester away, Anfield and St James Park trips. But I don't see City going on a run and the PL breach stuff will take its toll on St Pep.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Bless

Bless

 

[Sunny Jim]

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nit bad

 

[Sunny Jim]

City win their next two and they are top on GD.

i hope they lose their next two

 

[Shiva87]

The lost points against Leeds really ended this. The midweek game would have meant much more for us if we had won that game!

8 points + GD + 2 games more is too much IMO. 3rd should be comfortable for us though.

I really want us to win the next few games to see if other results go our way. Arsenal seem to have hit the point where they can let someone into this.

 

[kouroux]

The lost points against Leeds really ended this. The midweek game would have meant much more for us if we had won that game!

8 points + GD + 2 games more is too much IMO. 3rd should be comfortable for us though.

I really want us to win the next few games to see if other results go our way. Arsenal seem to have hit the point where they can let someone into this.

The Crystal Palace draw was also a bad result

 

[PoTMS]

If we had brought in João Felix instead of Weghorst, we'd be right in this. Stingy cnuts put paid to that.

 

[TrueRed79]

Arsenal are going to bottle it. Convinced of it. Hopefully we can get a decent run going. Fixture list has screwed us over though.

 

[adexkola]

Arsenal are going to bottle it. Convinced of it. Hopefully we can get a decent run going. Fixture list has screwed us over though.

*Team goes on fantastic run of form in first half of season, exceeding expectations

Fans: "If they don't maintain that all the way through, they've bottled it"

 

[TrueRed79]

*Team goes on fantastic run of form in first half of season, exceeding expectations

Fans: "If they don't maintain that all the way through, they've bottled it"

Fair point. Doesn't change my mind though. Obviously every team has a blip during a season. Reckon Arsenal are going to have theirs at a bad time.

 

[SinNombre]

Team goes on a fantastic run when they are under no pressure.

Team starts struggling and falling apart the moment the bookies finally have them as the favorites to win the league.

I wonder what this should be called.

 

[adexkola]

Team goes on a fantastic run when they are under no pressure.

Team starts struggling and falling apart the moment the bookies finally have them as the favorites to win the league.

I wonder what this should be called.

Reverting to the mean?

 

[AaronRedDevil]

Shouldn't be surprised Arsenal bottled the race. They clearly aren't there yet. You need a seriously strong team that's capable of winning a lot of matches in a row and City do that very often. 4 PL in 5 years. Fecking hell.

 

[Zlatan 7]

*Team goes on fantastic run of form in first half of season, exceeding expectations

Fans: "If they don't maintain that all the way through, they've bottled it"

Or arsenal have a good run in first half of season, their fans think that’s a given they will continue it in the second half and it doesn’t.

 

[Sparky_Hughes]

Team goes on a fantastic run when they are under no pressure.

Team starts struggling and falling apart the moment the bookies finally have them as the favorites to win the league.

I wonder what this should be called.

Doing an arsenal

 

[Slevs]

Brentford was just a blip. They will comfortably beat City.

 

[Wilt]

Brentford was just a blip. They will comfortably beat City.

forgetting losing to mighty Everton last week …which was just a fart

 

[Reapersoul20]

It's funny how Arsenal and Spurs hate each other, given that Arsenal are so spursy. Two really similar teams.

 

[ThatsGreat]

Arsenal don't have the requisite quality, simples. Having a fully fit first eleven papered over a lot of cracks in the first half of the season, that was never going to last.