Man City 2020/21 - General discussion

pratyush_utd

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Seriously hope PSG wins the tie. They are both souless club but rather PSG than City.
 

jamesjimmybyrondean

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Hating City is like hating the boy born rich that went on to start his own business and got even richer. Yes they took the shortest route to wealth and success but we are also rich and successful. Maybe welcome the competition instead of hate on it out of fear
 

RkkMan

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Hating City is like hating the boy born rich that went on to start his own business and got even richer. Yes they took the shortest route to wealth and success but we are also rich and successful. Maybe welcome the competition instead of hate on it out of fear
It's hard to welcome such competition when you know that rich person won't stop harping around your ear how they're now the new Sheriffs in town, better than you in every aspect even though his achievements are a fraction of what you gained over the years amongst other things. You can acknowledge that City now are a good team but to cheer them on is a sheer insult of everything Utd are about
 

GlasgowCeltic

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Quite admire how hes going for all technique in the front six in these big CL games rather than sacrificing for more physicality or speed on the break etc
 

The Corinthian

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Hating City is like hating the boy born rich that went on to start his own business and got even richer. Yes they took the shortest route to wealth and success but we are also rich and successful. Maybe welcome the competition instead of hate on it out of fear
Or the boy born rich that wins every competition by virtue of being richer than anyone else, thereby hiring the best, paying the best, buying the best, and laughing in the face of any financial rules whilst doing it.
 

DWelbz19

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If it was anyone other than PSG, I’d still bet on City to choke. PSG absolutely love getting dunked on in clutch knockout games.
 

SRV

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Hating City is like hating the boy born rich that went on to start his own business and got even richer. Yes they took the shortest route to wealth and success but we are also rich and successful. Maybe welcome the competition instead of hate on it out of fear
The thing with City is that they are a whole new dimension of rich. They basically have no limit to their spending. I expect the PL and even Europe (well.. I guess PSG can keep up with them) to become a one horse race just like the Bundesliga in the long run if no other new owners come in that can match Citys financial power (like the Saudis).
 
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jamesjimmybyrondean

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Or the boy born rich that wins every competition by virtue of being richer than anyone else, thereby hiring the best, paying the best, buying the best, and laughing in the face of any financial rules whilst doing it.
We wouldn't be playing in the Europa league of all it takes to be successful or maintain success is the virtue of being richer than everybody else
 

jamesjimmybyrondean

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The thing with City is that they are a whole new dimension of rich. The basically have no limit to their spending. I expect the PL and even Europe (well.. I guess PSG can keep up with them) to become a one horse race just like the Bundesliga in the long run if no other new owners come in that can match Citys financial power (like the Saudis).
Good point. It's kind of happening now which is a worry. I guess I should look at it as people are hating on City out of fear they could monopolize the most competitive league. Which is a very valid reason to be afraid. I do think City's dominance right now has more to do with Guardiola than any other thing
 

Pep's Suit

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When Pep leaves City will drop a level. Just like Chelsea after Mourinho (1st time). Of course, if they can spend (just like Chelsea) they will win titles but maybe something like 1 in 4 or 5 or 6. On another hand, Pep's family no longer lives in Manchester with him but he seems ok and even signed extension so wouldn't surprise me if he stays for 10 years and then retires.
 

dbs235

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The thing with City is that they are a whole new dimension of rich. The basically have no limit to their spending. I expect the PL and even Europe (well.. I guess PSG can keep up with them) to become a one horse race just like the Bundesliga in the long run if no other new owners come in that can match Citys financial power (like the Saudis).
I really don't see that ever happening. This year looks like it could finally be their year, but I doubt they'll retain it next year. Bayern aren't going away any time soon, Liverpool with VDV back next year, Chelsea under Tuchel, United.... Who knows what will happen with the La Liga clubs, Barca seem to have recovered their season now and could be a force next year again.
 

TheReligion

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I'm not sure that research extended to Jesus winning a stupid penalty for United in the first minutes mind... But City are definitely riding their luck a bit in the CL this season, which makes for a nice change.
The research extended to me watching a game in which we comfortably beat you. Unless you disagree?
 

duffer

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They’ll win it. Madrid & Chelsea have nothing for them.

Such a depressing time to be a United fan.
Chelsea pretty comfortably beat them a week or so ago.

Not saying Chelsea are better of course but we certainly "have something" for them.

Same with Real Madrid in a Champions League final, they'll generally find a way to win.
 

Schmeichel's Cartwheel

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Chelsea pretty comfortably beat them a week or so ago.

Not saying Chelsea are better of course but we certainly "have something" for them.

Same with Real Madrid in a Champions League final, they'll generally find a way to win.
I hope you’re right. I can’t believe we’re in a position where I’ll be happy to see Chelsea win the CL, yet here we are.
 

SqualorVictoria

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Chelsea pretty comfortably beat them a week or so ago.

Not saying Chelsea are better of course but we certainly "have something" for them.

Same with Real Madrid in a Champions League final, they'll generally find a way to win.
Chelsea did it great and would have a huge chance to beat City if that would be the final, but that was a very different City side compared to the would that Guardiola would play in a semi. And even that contest changed a bit once Gundogan and Foden were on the pitch.

But would City proceed, I'd definitely prefer Real Madrid over Chelsea.
 

adexkola

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Chelsea pretty comfortably beat them a week or so ago.

Not saying Chelsea are better of course but we certainly "have something" for them.

Same with Real Madrid in a Champions League final, they'll generally find a way to win.
City got flack for the amount of rotation they did in the FA Cup.

I think the upcoming PL tie will be stronger proof of where both teams lie respective to one another.
 

Offside!

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Chelsea pretty comfortably beat them a week or so ago.

Not saying Chelsea are better of course but we certainly "have something" for them.

Same with Real Madrid in a Champions League final, they'll generally find a way to win.
Chelsea beat a team with, I think 8 changes, from the team that had played Dortmund on the previous Wednesday. Only 3 of the team that played last night started against Chelsea. Despite the accepted wisdom that City have 2 players of similar quality for every position the truth is somewhat different and there is a significant drop off in my opinion. Or perhaps more accurately there are players in City's squad who play Guardiola's system better than others. I haven't checked the Leeds lineup but I suspect that was a similar team.

If City and Chelsea reach the final, which is still very much in the balance, I don't think the FA Cup Semi game will have much relevance.

Be great to see 2 English teams in the final and would bode well for the upcoming Euros with quite a few England players involved.
 

duffer

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City got flack for the amount of rotation they did in the FA Cup.

I think the upcoming PL tie will be stronger proof of where both teams lie respective to one another.
The team that played against Chelsea cost most than £450 million and Pep's been rotating the likes of Jesus and Torres all season, if he got flak is was because they got beat. Only the goalie was a real "reserve" player (we started Kepa so that was in their favour!).

As for the PL tie, Man City's league season is over and that game is a few days after both side's Champions League 2nd leg. I expect both teams to be knackered and even more rotation.
 
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SqualorVictoria

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Man City's league season is over and that game is a few days after both side's Champions League 2nd leg.

I expect both teams to be knackered and even more rotation.
I think it will be a strong side from Guardiola as he can rest pretty much everyone against Palace on Sunday and will do so, and then the CL is on Tuesday for them this time.
 

tomaldinho1

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I have to admit, that second half performance was the best I have seen from a football team since peak Pep’s Barcelona. Wow. Whatever he said at half time is phenomenal - PSG had something like 5% possession in that second half.
You need to watch a hell of a lot more football.

That was classic City in the CL, Pep tinkering for the sake of it and making his own team weaker but PSG are just so wasteful in front of goal they should have been 2 or 3 up, we saw it in the 2nd leg versus Bayern as well when they could kill off ties but never do. 2nd half City adjusted (I say adjusted when in reality they just stopped with Pep's self sabotage tactics) and were the better team but, let's be real here, both their goals were more than preventable. They got super lucky versus Dortmund as well - Ederson should have seen red and/or at east Dortmund would have had another goal.

I've posted about City in the CL often and it's the one thing that is as certain as day following night, Pep will always make some unnecessary change to his team which makes them weaker in a CL knock out game. Honestly, if he just setup as usual he wouldn't have been knocked out by Monaco or Lyon and they'd have more comfortably won last night.
 

gibers

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You need to watch a hell of a lot more football.

That was classic City in the CL, Pep tinkering for the sake of it and making his own team weaker but PSG are just so wasteful in front of goal they should have been 2 or 3 up, we saw it in the 2nd leg versus Bayern as well when they could kill off ties but never do. 2nd half City adjusted (I say adjusted when in reality they just stopped with Pep's self sabotage tactics) and were the better team but, let's be real here, both their goals were more than preventable. They got super lucky versus Dortmund as well - Ederson should have seen red and/or at east Dortmund would have had another goal.

I've posted about City in the CL often and it's the one thing that is as certain as day following night, Pep will always make some unnecessary change to his team which makes them weaker in a CL knock out game. Honestly, if he just setup as usual he wouldn't have been knocked out by Monaco or Lyon and they'd have more comfortably won last night.
It was the opposite. Pep actually didn't tinker which is why City went on to dominate. City play that way all the time... :lol:

The only difference is they tried being to vertical. KdB even said it in the post match interview

In all of Pep's QF knockouts, he changed the way City played completely and adjusted to the opponent. the first time he didn't do that, they win.
 

The Corinthian

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Having Money and being smart with it unlike us the past few years.
Having money from external benefactors. That's the point you're missing. The only thing stopping Accrington Stanley from dominating the PL and being one of the best teams in Europe is a few £bns.

We (United) have money, but it's money generated through years of playing well, increasing our brand globally (and a healthy dose of luck ie the formation of the Premier League and Sky). We've also for the last 14 years have had owners that have used £760m to pay interest and service the debt, as well as take money out of the club to line their own pockets.
 

tomaldinho1

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It was the opposite. Pep actually didn't tinker which is why City went on to dominate. City play that way all the time... :lol:

The only difference is they tried being to vertical. KdB even said it in the post match interview

In all of Pep's QF knockouts, he changed the way City played completely and adjusted to the opponent. the first time he didn't do that, they win.
I'll give you a clue - look at Gundogan's positioning first half versus second half. It made a massive difference and the reason they were so much better after the break. I'll also throw in that Pep paid to much respect to Mbappe/Neymar's threat on the counter first half and only when they reverted back to their normal full back system did they really start to get overloads.

City second half were playing their usual style, City first half were playing a weird mix of direct almost rushed passing, not really committing men forward and dare I say it, defensive possession football.
 

Zaphod2319

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Depressing for me will be Chelsea winning the CL. City winning the league and us going trophyless once again by losing the EL final against Arsenal
That is almost my dream situation. I really could care less about City winning the league, it seems done. Roma winning the semi so the meme about bottling semi finals continuing would be interesting. Roma beating Arsenal in the final would be lovely. :D
 

adexkola

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It was the opposite. Pep actually didn't tinker which is why City went on to dominate. City play that way all the time... :lol:

The only difference is they tried being to vertical. KdB even said it in the post match interview

In all of Pep's QF knockouts, he changed the way City played completely and adjusted to the opponent. the first time he didn't do that, they win.
Right. This take of Pep "overthinking" was as frustrating as calls to play Aguero in the thread yesterday. Like, do you know what year this is?

Every manager makes adjustments depending on the strengths of their opponents. No manager just says, "right y'all, just go out and have fun". Pep started the match a bit more conservative (while still playing his best team in the usual formation), saw things were not working at half time, and adjusted appropriately. The difference was that his defense rallied after the first goal to see things out to half time. But all managers "overthink".
 
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HerbT

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I'll continue disliking City, thanks. (And they can continue disliking us).
Hi Frank, Speaking as a City fan, I‘m pleased to say that I have no dislike of Utd but rather see them as a local rival that also has Manchester in it’s title (regardless of not actually being in Manchester) and therefore helps to reinforce the Manchester brand to the benefit of both clubs and the region.
In short; I think Utd are good for City and most especially when they’re doing well and getting the name ‘Manchester’ in the sports news for the right reasons.
In fact whenever we get to a final, the team I’d like to beat in that final is always Utd, so I do wish Utd the best in games where they don’t play us.
Utd’s an interesting topic of discussion with mates who support them, I like the conjecture that Utd brings by having Ole as manager (please keep him forever) and I like that the club is owned by the Glazers and the banks (no choice you’re stuck with that now).
I truly find that a lot of Utd supporters are very well versed in football facts and history and I use this forum because I find that most are very decent guys who are pragmatic and honest in their views.

And it’s not that I’m incapable of generating a bit of bile. In fact I can’t stand liverpool, due in no small part to their violent supporters killing people and getting the whole of English football banned from Europe, their support for that racist player they had who was always biting people (who’s name I won’t even mention), their ex-player pundit who spat in a child’s face and their bricking of football coaches even in this modern age etc. etc. etc.
They’re a blight on the game and ‘disliked’ is too mild a word to describe them but when it comes to Utd, well I’m glad you’re here for the rivalry and the banter my friend.
 
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Schmeichel's Cartwheel

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Depressing for me will be Chelsea winning the CL. City winning the league and us going trophyless once again by losing the EL final against Arsenal
I’d much rather Chelsea take the CL than City. Us losing the EL final to Arsenal would be unbearable. I’d rather go out to Roma in the semi than lose a final to that lot
 

amolbhatia50k

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Hating City is like hating the boy born rich that went on to start his own business and got even richer. Yes they took the shortest route to wealth and success but we are also rich and successful. Maybe welcome the competition instead of hate on it out of fear
Weird post. What's to like about a club that was shitting the bed in the big time before getting bought by oil money and the wealth of a nation, and hence winning a lot of trophies as a result. In football, money usually leads to success unless you are badly run (like us). But generally, if you inject an absurd amount of money you'll reap rewards, which is all City is doing, and why their success feels rather pointless. If Elon Musk bought Newcastle tomorrow, they'd most likely also soon be winning trophies. There's feck all to it, unless you screw up.
 

Giggsyking

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1.3 billion from the owners in 10 years. And these are just the official numbers, the reality is much more worse.
 

b20times

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Why is everyone so bitter towards Man City? We are showing ourselves up being like this.
 

Noot

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I'd agree that City weren't that good last night. We created very few chances and were incredibly shaky at the back for most of the first half. It certainly doesn't hold a candle to how we played vs Real Madrid last season, or Barca in Pep's first season- I'd even say we were better last time we beat PSG, under Pellegrini.

What it did highlight though is just how good Dias and Stones have been this season. Kept Mbappe quiet with help from Walker.
 

Noot

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That is almost my dream situation. I really could care less about City winning the league, it seems done. Roma winning the semi so the meme about bottling semi finals continuing would be interesting. Roma beating Arsenal in the final would be lovely. :D
So you do care a bit?
 

Zaphod2319

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So you do care a bit?
I'm American. I could care less how it is said over there. :)

Merriam-Webster treats the phrases couldn't care less and could care less as synonymous, both meaning "not concerned or interested at all." "Couldn't care less" is the older and more obvious phrase grammatically, but it has been confused for so long that both are now defined.
 

Noot

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I'm American. I could care less how it is said over there. :)
I know everything about American grammar.

(That means I don't know much about American grammar- those two phrases mean the same thing, right? :D )