I'm getting that sinking feeling again.

[redgunamo]

We did play better. 2 and 3 years ago. We got better results. We didn't win the league but we got better results.

No. Arguably, finishing runner-up made everything worse as it's heightened expectations to an unrealistic level. The money, the new players is nice but we could have done all that with third or even fourth.

Third may be precarious, powerless and passive, but, rather like a president pro tempore of the American senate, or Princess Charlotte of Wales; third means things are going alright so far, but you'll be for the high-jump if things get too much better or anything goes wrong with the chaps up top. However, second means living in a sort of perpetual state of being about to be hit on the back of the head with a bit of lead piping. As the fellow said.

I notice we've already begun talking about winning it again next season when we haven't even won anything this season yet

[Peter]

No. Arguably, finishing runner-up made everything worse as it's heightened expectations to an unrealistic level. The money, the new players is nice but we could have done all that with third or even fourth.

Third may be precarious, powerless and passive, but, rather like a president pro tempore of the American senate, or Princess Charlotte of Wales; third means things are going alright so far, but you'll be for the high-jump if things get too much better or anything goes wrong with the chaps up top. However, second means living in a sort of perpetual state of being about to be hit on the back of the head with a bit of lead piping. As the fellow said.

I notice we've already begun talking about winning it again next season when we haven't even won anything this season yet

Either you're in the title-winning business, or you're not.

If we're not we may as well save the money instead of padding out the squad with players we dont want to use.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Either you're in the title-winning business, or you're not.

If we're not we may as well save the money instead of padding out the squad with players we dont want to use.

You have PM btw.

As per your post, I think it's more that the continual injuries have thrown any hope of building cohesion.

While Vik, Noni and Eze have all performed to varying degrees, we looked our best when Kai, B and Odin were all fit and firing together.

[Peter]

You have PM btw.

As per your post, I think it's more that the continual injuries have thrown any hope of building cohesion.

While Vik, Noni and Eze have all performed to varying degrees, we looked our best when Kai, B and Odin were all fit and firing together.

But they haven't been. For more than a year.

Why?

[redgunamo]

Either you're in the title-winning business, or you're not.

If we're not we may as well save the money instead of padding out the squad with players we dont want to use.

Yes. "Business" being the keyword; we are a business that must turn a profit. We must answer to a board and justify our spending based on commercial returns.

Unlike Abu Dhabi for whom Manchester City is part of a nation-branding project where the "profit" is global influence. They will always be willing to pay a premium that a standard commercial company, like our Emirates (Dubai) and even the Kroenkes, would find it hard to explain. It's a sort of proxy war for soft power and influence between two emirates within the same country being fought out in the Premier League. They battle each other hard, but not too hard as that would damage the country itself.

In this context, not good enough simply means "Very good but not good enough to beat Manchester City". Otherwise we're the very best around.

We cannot beat them. We must just hope to be able to take advantage when they are ****, as you suggested. Like this season, in fact. As for the players, well; none of this explains why our centre forward cannot control a football or why our full backs seem to freeze whenever they are required to take a throw-in. But we have to at least try to look as if we're trying

[Peter]

Yes. "Business" being the keyword; we are a business that must turn a profit. We must answer to a board and justify our spending based on commercial returns.

Unlike Abu Dhabi for whom Manchester City is part of a nation-branding project where the "profit" is global influence. They will always be willing to pay a premium that a standard commercial company, like our Emirates (Dubai) and even the Kroenkes, would find it hard to explain. It's a sort of proxy war for soft power and influence between two emirates within the same country being fought out in the Premier League. They battle each other hard, but not too hard as that would damage the country itself.

In this context, not good enough simply means "Very good but not good enough to beat Manchester City". Otherwise we're the very best around.

We cannot beat them. We must just hope to be able to take advantage when they are ****, as you suggested. Like this season, in fact. As for the players, well; none of this explains why our centre forward cannot control a football or why our full backs seem to freeze whenever they are required to take a throw-in. But we have to at least try to look as if we're trying

Too often it doesn't look as though we are trying. Sometimes it doesn't even look as though we are trying to look as though we are trying.

But you are right- our role is to pounce when they are ****. That was last season- we failed. And now this season- and we are stalling.

Two great chances to win the league after two seasons where we almost looked good enough to beat them when they were good.

We seem to have mastered the art of doing not quite enough.

[redgunamo]

Too often it doesn't look as though we are trying. Sometimes it doesn't even look as though we are trying to look as though we are trying.

But you are right- our role is to pounce when they are ****. That was last season- we failed. And now this season- and we are stalling.

Two great chances to win the league after two seasons where we almost looked good enough to beat them when they were good.

We seem to have mastered the art of doing not quite enough.

The mathematics favour us this season, at least. Statistically, if we carry on as we are, they will need a miracle to catch us.

So that's that then

[Peter]

The mathematics favour us this season, at least. Statistically, if we carry on as we are, they will need a miracle to catch us.

So that's that then

Hardly a miracle. They just need to beat us (and christ, our away performances make that look a formality) and then win one or two points more than us over the other 11 games.

And at least one bookie has already paid out on us as champions. That's as bad an omen as getting the full backing of your chairman

[redgunamo]

Hardly a miracle. They just need to beat us (and christ, our away performances make that look a formality) and then win one or two points more than us over the other 11 games.

And at least one bookie has already paid out on us as champions. That's as bad an omen as getting the full backing of your chairman

Everyone knows there's no such thing as a poor bookmaker.

Which is *******s, of course, as bookies go out of business just the same as anyone else

[John Bunnell]

City only put 2 against 4th division Salford... It's on!

[Peter]

Everyone knows there's no such thing as a poor bookmaker.

Which is *******s, of course, as bookies go out of business just the same as anyone else

Not in Abu Dhabi....

[redgunamo]

Not in Abu Dhabi....

Yes, problem is, these people are highly competent. Not like the fractious morons at Chelsea, Manchester United or Spurs.

[Peter]

Yes, problem is, these people are highly competent. Not like the fractious morons at Chelsea, Manchester United or Spurs.

Well, you have to be pretty stupid to buy Spurs.

The competence really just seems to consist of the ability to appoint the right people. None of those three seem to have it. City do.

Helps if you offer more money, I suppose.

[redgunamo]

Well, you have to be pretty stupid to buy Spurs.

The competence really just seems to consist of the ability to appoint the right people. None of those three seem to have it. City do.

Helps if you offer more money, I suppose.

Right. Offer the right money to the right people. It's a skill.

We may be ****, nonetheless we can be eternally grateful they did not actually buy Spurs.

[redgunamo]

City only put 2 against 4th division Salford... It's on!

There you are then. Definitely on.