I'd actually prefer a City win on Saturday because Chelsea have had some harder fixtures to start with like Spurs away and arsenal home already. A win over City puts them in a very strong position with easier fixtures to come. Its better they drop points and we stay level with City to create a gap to third. This is especially because we have some tough games after the international break and having a buffer to the teams below us will help.
The Title Race 2017/18 | Done and dusted.
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Cracking game to watch whatever the result. I hope I'm thoroughly disappointed now with the most tumescent 0-0s in recent times. 
Well done. Now please give reasons why City should fall apart after 1 defeat.
I reckon a draw's ideal.
Throw in a handful of missed drug tests whilst we are at it.
If that’s true then City win, we don’t need them to fall apart in September, falling apart later is fine.
It wasn't even a controversial opinion amongst fans. He was horrible the season before last, than had a great start to last season before dropping back down to decent. He just hasn't been a major player for a while now for us.
22? Not sure they're playing at Emptihad
Stats aren't the be all end all (and there are obvious sample size issues) but it's notable that Bakayoko is already averaging more defensive actions per 90 than Matic did even during his best season. On top of that though the difference in dynamism between him and the Matic we saw over the last two years is night and day.
I'll hold up my hands and say that I didn't expect Matic to look as good as he has; the move has seemed to rejuvenate him. Mourinho deserves credit as well for letting him sit deeper, whereas Conte demands his central midfielders press high more often and that was a case of a square peg in a round hole.
Surprised Mourinho never played a 4-3-3 with his Oscar, Matic, Cesc trio as he does now with United.
---Matic---
---Cesc---Oscar
Seems like this would have been more solid than persisting with a pivot.
Yeah I'm not sure why Oscar was never moved deeper personally-he was always pretty decent defensively, especially in terms of tenacity and workrate. I suppose if you moved him deeper Costa might have been more isolated but presumably Hazard would have been freed up from some of his defensive responsibilities with a more solid midfield behind him. It does seem a worthwhile experiment in retrospect.
That's wrong. Matic averaged 4.6 tackles per game, Bakayoko averages 3 tackles per game.
Also Herrera averages more defensive actions and passes per 90 mins than Kante and Bakayoko.
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More midfield stability last season probably meant Kante saw less action compared to United who were considerably weaker requiring Herrera to do more work
I'm not sure if Bakayoko is any better than Matic right now, I don't think stats like tackling is a really good way to assess players -- but one thing for sure is that he is far more dynamic and mobile than Matic, he also seems to have a higher potential.
I'm talking about Herrera this season.
Yeah Bakayoko is more dynamic player and Matic is more controlling type player.
I think City have always failed to win the Bridge recently.
Herrera made more tackles in 30 minutes than anyone else in the PL this weekend
GOATHerrera made more tackles in 30 minutes than anyone else in the PL this weekend
Check whoscored.com
Edit: yeah I looked it wrong.
But like I said, Herrera beats everyone including Kante when it comes to per 90 mins stats.
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won 2, drawn 1, lost 4, last 7 season. Generally tight games as we've only lost by more than 1 once. I'd snap your hands off for a draw right now though
Pretty poor record, tbh. Considering it, yeah, a draw would be great for you.
No worries mate, think a lot of that was down to him being a bit isolated as the sole defensive midfielder. I'd be interested to see how he got on in a pairing.
Chelsea surprised me last night. They are still the team to beat. Conte is great.
It appears many people were doing Conte and Chelsea a disservice at the start of the season. Whether they win the league or not they do look a quality team and like champions of England.
Surely a draw is ideal. If you've got tough games coming you need to be top of the pile. City have a reasonable run after Chelsea for a handful of games. Anyway, I'd take a draw now to keep the gap from Chelsea, and if we win I'll get excited.
Way better than United and Arsenal's record at the Bridge for sure!
Ahahah! So true
I'm pretty impressed by Chelsea, Conte seems a hell of a manager. Looks it might be a three horse run, with City, United and them, although it's too early to say Tottenham won't challenge.
Why do people want anything other than a City defeat. They are our rivals and top of the table. Only team I would want them to draw with is Liverpool.
I'm surprised so many are so eager to claim it's a three horse race already. I guess time will tell, but it's only September.
Because City and Chelsea are our title rivals and both of them dropping points is the best result for us.
We might be in a complicated position for a next couple of games. Mourinho said that he doesn't expect Carrick, Pogba, Fellaini, Valencia or Jones to be ready to play and he doesn't know what the situation of Martial is. Kinda makes me nervous even though we're playing Crystal Palace might be a hard game. Next is Liverpool and we have to be 100 % ready on this one ...
Hate the City games, the last few years they've felt like the ones that will define our seasons. Feeling better about it after the Atletico game, but that's still a massive amount of firepower to be facing up against.
Then again Aguero will probably lose his shit and foul Luiz again like he always does, so at least we might only have to play against 10 of the cnuts.
*edit* Just remembered Luiz is suspended still. FML..
Then again Aguero will probably lose his shit and foul Luiz again like he always does, so at least we might only have to play against 10 of the cnuts.
*edit* Just remembered Luiz is suspended still. FML..
Chelsea will fancy their chances now given the long term injuries to Pogba, Mendy and Aguero
I had tomorrow as a draw, think City will lose now, and their record there is quite shit. Id like to see them lose because the sheer arrogance and cockyness on bluemoon is nauseating. People actually suggesting 4-0 and 5-0 results, and they arent joking ffs.
A draw would be nice. Would put us two points ahead of City and five ahead of Chelsea - if we beat Palace..
4-0 away to Chelsea?
Under no circumstances should we hope for either City or Chelsea to win. Both are fast gaining momentum, with City on a goal scoring rampage and Chelsea getting that morale boosting win over Atletico.
Draw is the best result for us. Even without Aguero and Mendy, City's attack will still be potent as they have lots of options up front.
Definitely.
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