Topic: Chasing the Title

[stevieheighway]

City need 2.76/2.82 points per game to reach 97/98 points. They've averaged 2.38 so far this season, they averaged 2.41 in the last 17 of last season (so 2.4 over their last 38 league games); 2.63 over the whole of last season.

They averaged 2.81 over the first 21 games last season. That's the level they need to rediscover, now, to reach 97/98 points. They're not playing at that level; they haven't been, consistently, since the end of 2017.

And when push comes to shove in their hectic schedule, the owners and manager's priority is the CL.

wow, thanks for this mate, I'm more convinced than ever now

Now you gotta believe us,
We're gonna win the league...

[Mutton Geoff]

Brighton away isnt a gimme they are quite solid at home.

[Bobinhood]

Brighton away should be renamed Pulling away. Cause that is where it starts. All of our road games are now being held at Pulling, away.

[royhendohohohoho!]

City need 2.76/2.82 points per game to reach 97/98 points. They've averaged 2.38 so far this season, they averaged 2.41 in the last 17 of last season (so 2.4 over their last 38 league games); 2.63 over the whole of last season.

They averaged 2.81 over the first 21 games last season. That's the level they need to rediscover, now, to reach 97/98 points. They're not playing at that level; they haven't been, consistently, since the end of 2017.

And when push comes to shove in their hectic schedule, the owners and manager's priority is the CL.

Marcus Christenson mentioned the jump in league points per game with 4 or more days' prep (on the Football Weekly podcast on Thursday 10th).

The source was Christoffer Johansson on twitter. https://twitter.com/bojochris
Specifically this thread: https://twitter.com/bojochris/status/1082330460779364352

Our points per game (based on historical stats) jumps up 0.25 when we get 4 or more prep/rest days between games, compared with games when we get 3 or fewer.

The same pattern applied at Dortmund - the jump was 0.23.

(I won't be crying if Bayern knock us out of the CL.)

[OLD SAINT NICK'S GOT BIG SNOWY BALLS]

I think who drops points first could be crucial. If our lead falls to 2 or 1 you know there will be a lot of talk of feeling the pressure. If we can extend the lead back to 6 or 7 and City know they don’t play us again then that might feel a tall order for them, especially with all their cup commitments.

[just redk84 will do]

Brighton away isnt a gimme they are quite solid at home.

While I agree with this looking at the game in itself without any context.... every game has a potential to be a banana skin because we wanna win the thing. Us getting in our own heads/injuries affecting our play are the major problem now because I don't think there's any game on paper we are not favourites to win

Long as the players and managers are paying all due respect to each opposition and we show the fire in the belly to go and achieve this title win thats all we can hope for.

Thing I love about what i've heard from klopp in numerous interviews is that he doesn't shy away from challenges. Being in a position to win the league is something that is a scary prospect because of the "what ifs" and the burden of the wait we all carry.
But he is always re-affirming his desire to get out there and grab the points. Its that aggression which I want to see from this team from now until the end of the season, to batter the other teams into submission. They're all our points and we'll be damned if anyone wants to take them away from us

Seasons gone by we may not have seen the intensity carry through these latter months in the season....because there wasn't a title to win only a 4th place or whatever. Great, but thats not a trophy. This season is a whole new animal. Fuck the world we have a title to win

(I realise not much of this has much to do with the post I quoted but I rolled with it!)

[a treeless whopper]

All the numbers people have put out look really positive for us. Despite that I have still bulk ordered the retinol face cream because I am certain that I will age far quicker than the normal rate over the next 5 months though.

[plucking affattedgoose]

All the numbers people have put out look really positive for us. Despite that I have still bulk ordered the retinol face cream because I am certain that I will age far quicker than the normal rate over the next 5 months though.

What about foam? You use foam?

[kaesarsosei]

This is an interesting final 4 games:

April
20 – Cardiff City (A)
27 – Huddersfield Town (H)

May
4 – Newcastle United (A)
12 – Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

There's a very high chance Cardiff and Huddersfield will be relegated by then, and by extension Newcastle could be safe with nothing to play for. And its almost certain that Wolves will have nothing to play for on the final day (and may even go deep in the FA Cup). I don't think our final 4 fixtures could be any better.

[planned-a-tenner-per-gift-cos-I'm-cheap-like]

All the numbers people have put out look really positive for us. Despite that I have still bulk ordered the retinol face cream because I am certain that I will age far quicker than the normal rate over the next 5 months though.

delopenz likes this

[Sharado]

I think who drops points first could be crucial. If our lead falls to 2 or 1 you know there will be a lot of talk of feeling the pressure. If we can extend the lead back to 6 or 7 and City know they don’t play us again then that might feel a tall order for them, especially with all their cup commitments.

It's why a win at brighton is potentially massive. Win there and it's straight back up to 7 points. Last time we played well in advance of city, they stumbled and I wouldn't be surprised if it happened again.

[Sharado]

This is an interesting final 4 games:

April
20 – Cardiff City (A)
27 – Huddersfield Town (H)

May
4 – Newcastle United (A)
12 – Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

There's a very high chance Cardiff and Huddersfield will be relegated by then, and by extension Newcastle could be safe with nothing to play for. And its almost certain that Wolves will have nothing to play for on the final day (and may even go deep in the FA Cup). I don't think our final 4 fixtures could be any better.

If newcastle are safe Rafa will play ant and dec up front and cheryl cole in goal.

[OLD SAINT NICK'S GOT BIG SNOWY BALLS]

It's why a win at brighton is potentially massive. Win there and it's straight back up to 7 points. Last time we played well in advance of city, they stumbled and I wouldn't be surprised if it happened again.

That was the time before. We went 10 clear when we beat Arsenal but they won away at Southampton the next day which was annoying because was hoping zings would do us a favour but didn’t even come on.

[88_RED]

This is an interesting final 4 games:

April
20 – Cardiff City (A)
27 – Huddersfield Town (H)

May
4 – Newcastle United (A)
12 – Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

There's a very high chance Cardiff and Huddersfield will be relegated by then, and by extension Newcastle could be safe with nothing to play for. And its almost certain that Wolves will have nothing to play for on the final day (and may even go deep in the FA Cup). I don't think our final 4 fixtures could be any better.

The relegated teams with nothing to play for tend to play without any pressure and can sometimes cause a shock or two..
It's the mid table teams who are safe and have nothing to play for that are usually on a beach already..

So we'll need to be ruthless whatever scenario we find ourselves in and just continue to grind out results..

Or maybe we win it by then and City implode in early April.. here's hoping at least.. 

[Paullfc95]

I think who drops points first could be crucial. If our lead falls to 2 or 1 you know there will be a lot of talk of feeling the pressure. If we can extend the lead back to 6 or 7 and City know they don’t play us again then that might feel a tall order for them, especially with all their cup commitments.

This

[Malaysian Kopite]

What about foam? You use foam?

How often do you cream yourself?

[robbed 1966 yorkies from kids' selection boxes]

Finished all me jobs at 3-30 today so sat off for an hour in me Corpy van in Everton Valley and made my predictions for us and City..  We will win the league by 4pts...

Late one then? 

[Roady]

This is an interesting final 4 games:

April
20 – Cardiff City (A)
27 – Huddersfield Town (H)

May
4 – Newcastle United (A)
12 – Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

There's a very high chance Cardiff and Huddersfield will be relegated by then, and by extension Newcastle could be safe with nothing to play for. And its almost certain that Wolves will have nothing to play for on the final day (and may even go deep in the FA Cup). I don't think our final 4 fixtures could be any better.

I’d argue quite the opposite. Teams are a nightmare to play against when they have nothing to play for

[PhaseOfPlay]

I’d argue quite the opposite. Teams are a nightmare to play against when they have nothing to play for

Exactly - look at Everton every season.

[Cormack Snr]

For the club and the supporters, winning the league, for some of the players I'd say that winning the European cup is just as significant.

Years ago , probably mid 80's, probably Maxwell's. I remember a few of us talking about FA Cup v League Winners. Quite a few preferred the FA Cup for the glory on the day because we quite often had the league sewn up with games to go..

[PoetryInMotion]

Marcus Christenson mentioned the jump in league points per game with 4 or more days' prep (on the Football Weekly podcast on Thursday 10th).

The source was Christoffer Johansson on twitter. https://twitter.com/bojochris
Specifically this thread: https://twitter.com/bojochris/status/1082330460779364352

Our points per game (based on historical stats) jumps up 0.25 when we get 4 or more prep/rest days between games, compared with games when we get 3 or fewer.

The same pattern applied at Dortmund - the jump was 0.23.

(I won't be crying if Bayern knock us out of the CL.)

I've been thinking this for a while, and thanks to you, now I don't think I've been mad to think that all this time. Last 6 games could get hectic with CL Quarters & Semis & there are no guarantees in those stages.

[CHOPPZBOT]

Hands up, who can't have children?

[Red_Irishman]

What's this about the United V City game being moved? When will it be played if so?

[kennedy81]

7 point gap again, pressure on City.

City are going to be going into a lot of games in the next few weeks, 7 or 10 points behind, albeit with a game or two in hand, if we can keep winning. That pressure has to tell at some point hopefully.

[wemmick]

Our away form may carry us a long way in the run in. City will only have 7 home matches after Wolves and 4 of them are against Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, and Leicester. Their away form will need to be very, very good.

[SerbianScouser]

You can bet your bottom dollar Pep and City had an eye on this game waiting to see how much damage they caused us.

It'll be a bit of a blow to them and as discouraging as it could be at this stage. You can't put into words how important this win was for us today. Absolutely fucking massive!

[robbed 1966 yorkies from kids' selection boxes]

Years ago , probably mid 80's, probably Maxwell's. I remember a few of us talking about FA Cup v League Winners. Quite a few preferred the FA Cup for the glory on the day because we quite often had the league sewn up with games to go..

Those were the days - amazing how spoilt we were really.

I've been thinking this for a while, and thanks to you, now I don't think I've been mad to think that all this time. Last 6 games could get hectic with CL Quarters & Semis & there are no guarantees in those stages.

I'm usually greedy, but this season I would happily give up the CL to win the league.

I think we will be OK in both though, were quite happy to sit and grind out results now, so Europe may not be a big drain on us a previously.

[andy07]

So 22 down, 16 to go of which 9 are home and 7 away.

Away we only have 2 teams in the current top 10 namely United and West Ham.  The others are Everton, Fulham, Southampton, Cardiff and Newcastle.

Every game has to be won and there are no easy rides but looks very promising.

[OLD SAINT NICK'S GOT BIG SNOWY BALLS]

Chelsea and Spurs from those home games could be tricky. Haven’t beaten Chelsea at home in years and Spurs are dogged. But we should be confident we can win them all.

But those aways look decent. United will make it tough for us, West Ham could, or they could be poor. Everton will want to hurt us. Others have to win but that could play into our hands and if we keep dispatching the lower sides I can see us getting 7 wins from that 9.

[Uncle Ronnie]

So 22 down, 16 to go of which 9 are home and 7 away.

Away we only have 2 teams in the current top 10 namely United and West Ham.  The others are Everton, Fulham, Southampton, Cardiff and Newcastle.

Every game has to be won and there are no easy rides but looks very promising.

West Ham away I think is the toughest we have over the next couple of months. And not sure what Leicester will be like as good chance they’ll have a new manager by the time we play them.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

An interesting point to remember is that because Man City will be playing in the League Cup final, we will have a game advantage over them for quite a while. If they go deep in the FA Cup that could become two games. So keep winning and we will talking about stretching the gap to 10 or 13 points, which will put huge pressure on them.

[Redondos Barber]

If newcastle are safe Rafa will play ant and dec up front and cheryl cole in goal.

No way Rafa will play two upfront, even at home.

[simesy]

An interesting point to remember is that because Man City will be playing in the League Cup final, we will have a game advantage over them for quite a while. If they go deep in the FA Cup that could become two games. So keep winning and we will talking about stretching the gap to 10 or 13 points, which will put huge pressure on them.

Im sure it was Sir Bob who used to say he preferred having the points rather than games in hand because you still had to win your games in hand.

[Clayton Bigsby]

We will win the league comfortably I reckon

[OLD SAINT NICK'S GOT BIG SNOWY BALLS]

Im sure it was Sir Bob who used to say he preferred having the points rather than games in hand because you still had to win your games in hand.

Every time although 13/14 should focus our minds a little. Different this time if we have a genuine big lead.

[DangerScouse]

[/quote]

We will win the league comfortably I reckon

Wish I could share your level of optimism. City almost back to full strength injury wise and despite how the bookies have it, City are marginal favourites imo.

[deFacto]

One game at a time. Palace next.

[jingllebellc jingllebellc]

Wish I could share your level of optimism. City almost back to full strength injury wise and despite how the bookies have it, City are marginal favourites imo.

We need to stop thinking about City and concentrate about ourselves. We continue to win there is bugger all they can do about it. Despite their returning sqad and being favourites.

[Little Robbie Red Breast]

One game at a time. Palace next.

[JackWard33]

Beat palace at home and we have 60 points in the middle of January ... that’s ridiculous it really is