Obviously the English teams have suffered in Europe this season and my personal view is that the league has steadily declined in quality since 2008 when we had 2 English teams in the CL Final and 3 in the semis.

 

But both Arsenal and City can finish as our closest rivals with the same number of points - 79. 

 

Last year that would'd been good enough for 4th (funnily enough, that was Arsenal who a year on could finish on EXACTLY the same number of points....mucho improvement).

 

It would've been good enough for second in 2012-13, the last United win under Fergie which I think is widely regarded as the worst team to win the league and 2010/11 where we came second and Carlo was deservedly sacked having lost 9 games.

 

In 2008 it would've been good enough for fourth, six points behind us in second.

 

You'd have to go back to 2003/04 for it to be good enough for second...and that was us and guess what happened to our manager. Poor Claudio.

 

 

I'm not trying to diminish our achievements, but I'm just looking at our Championship in context. We've been the best team in the league over the course of a season and that's all you have to be to win the league. But how good was our competition this season? Where do they rank in the history of the league and where does this team rank?

Edited May 12, 20159 yr by Blue Daze

I think the league has been decent but we have been by far the best team. City and Arsenal have both had good periods but we've been consistent and looked like champions.

To be honest I think the competition beneath ourselves is much closer than it has been for a long. 

 

There's not much between City, United and Arsenal this season, they're all pretty close in terms of overall quality to each other. 

 

And then Spurs, Liverpool, Southampton and even Swansea have all had very good spells during the season where they've gone on runs that have seen them consistently picking up points. 

 

I think all this season lacked was a 2nd team that was close to mounting a title challenge, whereas you would have expected City to run us pretty close to the end of the season they ended up lacking a bit of quality in their midfield to probably central defense to grind out a few more wins that would have been needed. 

 

I think next season will maybe see us City and United all pushing for the title as I would expect both the Manchester teams to invest fairly heavily into key areas of their squad. 

 

I think next season will maybe see us City and United all pushing for the title as I would expect both the Manchester teams to invest fairly heavily into key areas of their squad. 

 

United yes, City I'm not sure. 

 

If they actually stick with Pellegrini then that tells me one thing - they're waiting for Pep. You can't tread water in this league and expect to remain in the same position. You need 100% commitment to the bloke in charge and they're repeating our mistake when we appointed Robbie whilst we waited for Pep to become available.

 

If Pellegrini sticks around then they may well slip out of the top four depending on Liverpool and Spurs.

I think the standard in the league has been lacking at times but there is still a huge amount of talent here.

I think though the quality of players is not what it once was in certain areas i.e. Defenders, goal scoring midfielders.

Yet it's been a pretty good season for strikers and goalkeepers.

I just think we've had it quite easy this season but I even think with an on form City we would have still won it this year.

Next season I can see the standard improving as I think we'll have a stronger United, Arsenal and City. So there should be some form of title race.

United yes, City I'm not sure. 

 

If they actually stick with Pellegrini then that tells me one thing - they're waiting for Pep. You can't tread water in this league and expect to remain in the same position. You need 100% commitment to the bloke in charge and they're repeating our mistake when we appointed Robbie whilst we waited for Pep to become available.

 

If Pellegrini sticks around then they may well slip out of the top four depending on Liverpool and Spurs.

 

They've got too much quality in their squad to slip away and even if Pellegrino stays but isn't their long term plan as manager he's still going to win a lot of matches and I think City will be looking to invest pretty heavily in central midfield and maybe looking to bring in a central defender too (Mangala hasn't lived up to the hype). 

 

The overall quality of their current squad is too far ahead of the likes of Liverpool or Spurs in my opinion. They've not got the FFP restrictions this summer so I'm expecting them to throw some money around. 

They've got too much quality in their squad to slip away and even if Pellegrino stays but isn't their long term plan as manager he's still going to win a lot of matches and I think City will be looking to invest pretty heavily in central midfield and maybe looking to bring in a central defender too (Mangala hasn't lived up to the hype). 

 

The overall quality of their current squad is too far ahead of the likes of Liverpool or Spurs in my opinion. They've not got the FFP restrictions this summer so I'm expecting them to throw some money around. 

 

I'm not sure I agree. Toure is off, Milner is off, Mangala, Jovetic and Bony haven't proven their worth, Zabaleta has declined, Kompany has declined and will turn 30, Demichelis will be 35 so that leaves Aguero and Silva as their two main stars who are still playing at the same level as they were when they were at their best.

 

I also think Pellegrini isn't that great a manager. I just don't think there's a team outside of us, United and Arsenal to capitalise on their downfall.

I'm not sure I agree. Toure is off, Milner is off, Mangala, Jovetic and Bony haven't proven their worth, Zabaleta has declined, Kompany has declined and will turn 30, Demichelis will be 35 so that leaves Aguero and Silva as their two main stars who are still playing at the same level as they were when they were at their best.

I also think Pellegrini isn't that great a manager. I just don't think there's a team outside of us, United and Arsenal to capitalise on their downfall.

To be fair things have been said about our squad before but they always bounced back in 2009-10 we won the double, for a long time we were supposedly due a clear out and certain players were "leaving". Again in 2012 we won the European Cup and FA Cup and we were written off that year. Yes I do think we clearly needed to rebuild at those times but it showed that teams quality doesn't disappear overnight and things can be achieved, ageing squad or not.

Also Mangala has been in the league one season, I think we should wait to judge him. Example David DeGea he was shocking when he came over and look at him now.

I think we need a play-off system....so that teams in 6th place can have a chance to become league champions

I'm not sure I agree. Toure is off, Milner is off, Mangala, Jovetic and Bony haven't proven their worth, Zabaleta has declined, Kompany has declined and will turn 30, Demichelis will be 35 so that leaves Aguero and Silva as their two main stars who are still playing at the same level as they were when they were at their best.

 

I also think Pellegrini isn't that great a manager. I just don't think there's a team outside of us, United and Arsenal to capitalise on their downfall.

 

Hart

Zabaletta

Kompany

-

Clichy

Fernandinho

-

Silva

Nasri

Aguero 

Bony 

 

That's more or less the spine they'll work with next season

 

Toure has had a bad season so I think whoever they sign will probably be an improvement.

Kompany has had a bad season but if they buy a decent partner for him I would be very surprised if his form didn't significantly improve next year. 

 

There's more than enough to work with there to mount a decent challenge. 

 

I think the most significant aspect to any title challenge next season is going to depend on how much we improve our own squad. 

Hart

Zabaletta

Kompany

-

Clichy

Fernandinho

-

Silva

Nasri

Aguero

Bony

That's more or less the spine they'll work with next season

Toure has had a bad season so I think whoever they sign will probably be an improvement.

Kompany has had a bad season but if they buy a decent partner for him I would be very surprised if his form didn't significantly improve next year.

There's more than enough to work with there to mount a decent challenge.

I think the most significant aspect to any title challenge next season is going to depend on how much we improve our own squad.

Tbh what's to say if Toure stays that he won't recapture his form next season, we've seen players do it before. Many of our players looked done at times and were bounced back.

If you go back to Arsenal aswell, look at them in the years between 1999-2001, they were poor many of their players were supposedly past it yet they bounced back and did the double in 2001-02 without many changes.

If like last season we sort out the areas we are lacking then I'd imagine it would take a huge amount of money and luck for the chasing pack to catch us.

3/4 signings and we are set IMO.

Been a bit weak overall I feel as evidenced by poor showing in Europe, but the gap has been closer between the other teams like ForeverCareFree has said. Liverpool without Suarez and a fit Sturridge meant they'v struggled badly for goals. Man utd with a poor Van Persie and a seemingly broken Falcao. City with a poor Kompany, declining Yaya Toure and an out of sorts Dzeko. Only Arsenal have got stronger in my opinion.

Hopefully, they continue to think Giroud and Wellbeck are a top strike-force.

(Incidentally, stories that City were in contact with Juventus over Pogba deal. Should be better next season with new arrivals.)

Edited May 12, 20159 yr by GhostOfDembaPast

I think the league is much stronger, when you look at it as a whole, from top to bottom.  Sure, the top teams are not as good as they were 5 - 10 years ago, but the mid-table teams and the bottom-table teams can beat anyone on any given day, especially at their home grounds.   This is very much unlike La Liga and the Bundesliga (I don't know if it is true about Serie A, but I suspect that is the case as well).

When teams like Stoke can loan Barcelona players and newly promoted Leicester can attract stars like Cambiasso it really does show the strength the league has as a whole.

Also Jose has managed in Italy and Spain...he concluded the EPL is the hardest to win and I'd agree.

Edited May 12, 20159 yr by Chelsbear

Hart

Zabaletta

Kompany

-

Clichy

Fernandinho

-

Silva

Nasri

Aguero 

Bony 

 

That's more or less the spine they'll work with next season

 

Toure has had a bad season so I think whoever they sign will probably be an improvement.

Kompany has had a bad season but if they buy a decent partner for him I would be very surprised if his form didn't significantly improve next year. 

 

There's more than enough to work with there to mount a decent challenge. 

 

I think the most significant aspect to any title challenge next season is going to depend on how much we improve our own squad. 

 

Nasri has been off-form, Zaba and Kompany have been off-form, Clichy hasn't been consistent and Bony has done nothing.

 

Now after that type of season the conventional wisdom would be that a change in manager would see them rejuvenated, but City aren't doing that. They're sticking with a guy they actually want to replace, because Pep apparently doesn't want to go somewhere a bit trigger-happy.

 

So whose blueprint are they using? Ferran and Txikis? Are they planning based on what Pep might want? Or are they going to build the team based on what their manager wants?

 

It's a recipe for disaster.

So you're saying because players have had a bad sesson they can't bounce back next season?

City themselves were poor in 2012-13 season yet those same players managed to bounce back on 2013-14 and win the League

Nasri has been off-form, Zaba and Kompany have been off-form, Clichy hasn't been consistent and Bony has done nothing.

 

Now after that type of season the conventional wisdom would be that a change in manager would see them rejuvenated, but City aren't doing that. They're sticking with a guy they actually want to replace, because Pep apparently doesn't want to go somewhere a bit trigger-happy.

 

So whose blueprint are they using? Ferran and Txikis? Are they planning based on what Pep might want? Or are they going to build the team based on what their manager wants?

 

It's a recipe for disaster.

 

This. 

 

I'd argue that the only players that are likely to be part of a consistent city starting XI next year would be Hart, Zaba, Kompany, Silva and Aguero. The rest have their positions under threat, particularly if the rumours of mass clear-outs and huge investment in younger players is to be believed. Only today the Guardian is reporting that several players including Toure and Nasri have been offered up to Juve as part of a possible deal for Pogba; with Ferran and Txikis positions both at risk following an arguably awful long term strategy with regards player recruitment and youth development, its safe to say that changes at city are imminent. 

 

I can see city obviously still being up there, but I'd be more concerned about a challenge from Arsenal. I f**king hate arsenal, but its hard to argue that they arent miles off being able to challenge. The last couple of seasons they have been frighteningly consistent from the new year onwards, if they can fix the obvious gaps in their squad that everyone (apart from Arsene seemingly) can see by recruiting a top class keeper (i.e. Cech), a quality centre half, a CM and a striker then I dont care what anyone says, they have to be considered as challengers. I'd still fancy us to do them though, however I do think that we ourselves need more strength in depth to allow Jose to rotate more with players that can be switched in to the starting XI against ANY opposition, and not just against relegation fodder or lower league trash in the FA cup. 

 

I think it will be between us, united and arsenal next season. 

 

Already think we will do it though. We have jose and we have hazard. Thus we are automatically one step ahead. 

Never write off players who have been and done it before.

Most of the players mentioned have won 2 league titles with City which is no fluke.

A few tweaks and additions could see them come back stronger next season plus they have the best striker in the league which now seems to guarantee them 25-30 goals a season now his injuries are behind him.

We of course have the opportunity to pull away and build on what we have so the summer will be interesting and I hope we can bring in a few players who can beef us up both in quality and depth.

Never write off players who have been and done it before.

Most of the players mentioned have won 2 league titles with City which is no fluke.

A few tweaks and additions could see them come back stronger next season plus they have the best striker in the league which now seems to guarantee them 25-30 goals a season now his injuries are behind him.

We of course have the opportunity to pull away and build on what we have so the summer will be interesting and I hope we can bring in a few players who can beef us up both in quality and depth.

As I said they did with us before and we bounced back to win the double in 09-10 and the FA Cup/European Cup in 2011-12.

As I said they did with us before and we bounced back to win the double in 09-10 and the FA Cup/European Cup in 2011-12.

Yeah.

Sometimes it can spur a team on because everyone has written them off like it did with us back then.

Personally I think United and Arsenal will be the bigger threats next season but to dismiss City altogether is daft IMO. They still have the bulk of their title winning sides at the club.

So you're saying because players have had a bad sesson they can't bounce back next season?

City themselves were poor in 2012-13 season yet those same players managed to bounce back on 2013-14 and win the League

 

They sacked Mancini at the end of the 2013 season.

 

If City actually made a managerial change and committed to that manager then I'd have higher hopes for them, but they're not. They're sticking with a manager who was accused of losing the dressing room a couple of months ago. Why?

 

Because they want a manager who isn't available. We should know the problems with that better than anyone.

 

This. 

 

I'd argue that the only players that are likely to be part of a consistent city starting XI next year would be Hart, Zaba, Kompany, Silva and Aguero. The rest have their positions under threat, particularly if the rumours of mass clear-outs and huge investment in younger players is to be believed. Only today the Guardian is reporting that several players including Toure and Nasri have been offered up to Juve as part of a possible deal for Pogba; with Ferran and Txikis positions both at risk following an arguably awful long term strategy with regards player recruitment and youth development, its safe to say that changes at city are imminent. 

 

I can see city obviously still being up there, but I'd be more concerned about a challenge from Arsenal. I f**king hate arsenal, but its hard to argue that they arent miles off being able to challenge. The last couple of seasons they have been frighteningly consistent from the new year onwards, if they can fix the obvious gaps in their squad that everyone (apart from Arsene seemingly) can see by recruiting a top class keeper (i.e. Cech), a quality centre half, a CM and a striker then I dont care what anyone says, they have to be considered as challengers. I'd still fancy us to do them though, however I do think that we ourselves need more strength in depth to allow Jose to rotate more with players that can be switched in to the starting XI against ANY opposition, and not just against relegation fodder or lower league trash in the FA cup. 

 

I think it will be between us, united and arsenal next season. 

 

Already think we will do it though. We have jose and we have hazard. Thus we are automatically one step ahead. 

 

Agree with all that. 

 

I think if we each named City's spine, we'd probably give about 5 different answers.

 

As I said they did with us before and we bounced back to win the double in 09-10 and the FA Cup/European Cup in 2011-12.

 

And it only took how many managerial changes?

They sacked Mancini at the end of the 2013 season.

If City actually made a managerial change and committed to that manager then I'd have higher hopes for them, but they're not. They're sticking with a manager who was accused of losing the dressing room a couple of months ago. Why?

Because they want a manager who isn't available. We should know the problems with that better than anyone.

Agree with all that.

I think if we each named City's spine, we'd probably give about 5 different answers.

And it only took how many managerial changes?

What about Arsenal in the period between 1999-2000 they came back to win the league in 2001-02. They didn't change manager and they didn't make huge signings either.

City will no doubt purchase a few and maybe even have a new manager. But even with manager changes its still the same that players who were written off as past it etc came back and won it. Pellegrini has won a double already with City, there's nothing to say with 1 or 2 additions he won't do it again.

What about Arsenal in the period between 1999-2000 they came back to win the league in 2001-02. They didn't change manager and they didn't make huge signings either.

City will no doubt purchase a few and maybe even have a new manager. But even with manager changes its still the same that players who were written off as past it etc came back and won it. Pellegrini has won a double already with City, there's nothing to say with 1 or 2 additions he won't do it again.

 

Wenger is a better manager than Pellegrini and had the full backing of the Arsenal board. Same as Fergie at United.

 

City are planning for a future with Pep, but they can't get him so they're sticking with Pellegrini for a season. You can't run a club based on that.

 

The fact is that Pellegrini deserves to be sacked. 

Wenger is a better manager than Pellegrini and had the full backing of the Arsenal board. Same as Fergie at United.

City are planning for a future with Pep, but they can't get him so they're sticking with Pellegrini for a season. You can't run a club based on that.

The fact is that Pellegrini deserves to be sacked.

You say that but Pellegrini has been in this league two seasons and won the same amount of trophies Wenger had at that point.

The fact is he doesn't deserve to be sacked, how can someone deserve to be sacked when he won a double last season? Sorry but that's pure sh*t and sounds like stuff spoiled fans say.