Live Match Discussion 2023/24

[Tony Towner]

This is a daft stance. I can tell you unequivocally that up until 3 weeks ago all 3 managers had no clue who was going to win. 3 players from those 3 clubs had no idea either.

They all thought it was a tight race. I can imagine that hasn't changed for the top 2 even this morning.

No player competes without wanting to win every game.

What confuses me as that you thought it was a foregone conclusion even though the players and managers did not.

Not you too Johnny. They were 2/5 a month ago, the bookies knew, at least one paid out (I appreciate that's a publicity stunt). I didn't suggest anybody wasn't trying or that Spurs or any other team chucked games, just that them winning was inevitable as they finish every season like that and people are kidding themselves if they thought it was going to end any differently. I'll be delighted if they blow it on Sunday, they won't though.

Next season will be the same.

 

[Johnny75]

Not you too Johnny. They were 2/5 a month ago, the bookies knew, at least one paid out (I appreciate that's a publicity stunt). I didn't suggest anybody wasn't trying or that Spurs or any other team chucked games, just that them winning was inevitable as they finish every season like that and people are kidding themselves if they thought it was going to end any differently. I'll be delighted if they blow it on Sunday, they won't though.

Next season will be the same.

Me too I'm afraid.

I want the race it's what makes football great. Maybe confirmation bias on my part but I genuinely think it was a race.

City have been involved in 3 really close races and I've been excited by all of them, including this one.

Watching top class players do their stuff to such a high level is brilliant for the sport imo.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

The words City and brilliant for the sport do not compute for me.

There is nothing brilliant about state sponsored financial doping

 

[Wilf Wolf]

The longer City dominate and piss of Arsenal, Liverpool, United and Chelsea the better. Might reach a point where something is done to make the league more competitive. All the legacy City fans I know are very grounded and take nothing for granted. Given who their rivals are the longer City rub their noses in it the better, it’s not as if it affects Wolves in any way!

 

[The Bear]

I don't think the title race has been dull. And if they win it they're the first team to ever win 4 in a row which is some achievement.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

The same team winning it 4 times in a row is dull in itself.

 

[jd1981]

As I’ve stated if they were winning it by 20 points every season then I’d say it’s dull, they’ve been pushed all the way in most season bar couple of outliers. Not sure it would be anymore exciting having Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool sharing the title amongst themselves usually when the title is a round robin phase like it was from about 2013 to 2017 then you usually find the quality is diminished. Man Utd 2013, City 2014, Chelsea 2015, Leicester 2016, Chelsea 2017.
All worthy winners but none were special oh and only 1 of those title races went to the final day the rest were wrapped earlier some a lot earlier.
If we were having this conversation in the 80’s we’d say we were sick of Liverpool winning it, the 90’s Man Utd same in the 00’s with a few Chelsea titles in there.
It’s nothing new and having dominant sides has been pretty much the norm for about 50 years now.

 

[jd1981]

The same team winning it 4 times in a row is dull in itself.

It’s also never been done before so that in itself is something new.

 

[Kenny]

As much as I don't want City winning it again I reeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy dont want Arsenal to win it. No clue why, just can't stand the club, the manager, its players or the mascot. Fuck 'em

 

[1986]

Wonder how long more Pep will stay.....he's won the lot with City .

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Wonder how long more Pep will stay.....he's won the lot with City .

Received wisdom seems to be another year, at most two.

He is definitely the difference maker, they have quality players throughout of course but he more or less guarantees you won't ever have a shocker of a season, which even the likes of Klopp and Ancelotti throw in occasionally. They haven't been an unstoppable force this season but they simply don't ever go away.

 

[Sniffer]

As much as I don't want City winning it again I reeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy dont want Arsenal to win it. No clue why, just can't stand the club, the manager, its players or the mascot. Fuck 'em

Their league title like winning celebrations at the end of each game has pissed me off for a long time and I can't take to Arteta. In the halcyon days when we were chasing a Champions League spot and they finished below us but got into Europe, their behaviour at Molineux after beating us turned me against them.

 

[1986]

If he does leave it would be fascinating to see where he would go after that .

 

[jd1981]

I’ve not forgiven them for screwing us over in every possible facet in 2020.

 

[1986]

Their league title like winning celebrations at the end of each game has pissed me off for a long time and I can't take to Arteta. In the halcyon days when we were chasing a Champions League spot and they finished below us but got into Europe, their behaviour at Molineux after beating us turned me against them.

When they beat Luton 4 - 3 at Kenilworth Road their celebrations were way over the top , against a side who had no right to score 3 against them given their budget .

 

[Alan]

When they beat Luton 4 - 3 at Kenilworth Road their celebrations were way over the top , against a side who had no right to score 3 against them given their budget .

I've got a way bigger problem with City treating Wham as a complete afterthought than Arsenal players "celebrating too much".

The title race is a mental pressure cooker, let the players vent when they can. Never understood policing the post-match vibes like that.

 

[Sniffer]

I've got a way bigger problem with City treating Wham as a complete afterthought than Arsenal players "celebrating too much".

The title race is a mental pressure cooker, let the players vent when they can. Never understood policing the post-match vibes like that.

In the words of the great man Nuno - stay humble

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Their league title like winning celebrations at the end of each game has pissed me off for a long time and I can't take to Arteta. In the halcyon days when we were chasing a Champions League spot and they finished below us but got into Europe, their behaviour at Molineux after beating us turned me against them.

A few recent incidents with them.

Obviously Luiz maiming our best forward since Bully.
Ramsdale being a fucking prick.
Ben Orange being a cheat, it's not "dark arts", he is a cheat.
Arteta doing Riverdance down the touchline all the time.

 

[Alan]

In the words of the great man Nuno - stay humble

I don't necessarily disagree, "act like you've been there before" and whatnot. But unless they were near-physically rubbing Rob Edwards' nose in it, I say let them be passionate about a result. Couldn't care less who it's against; this idea that "you can't celebrate after beating them" is nonsense to me and just pervades the idea that the Big 6 (or w/e you want to call them) have a birthright to trounce "smaller" clubs. They don't.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

It’s also never been done before so that in itself is something new.

Celtic and Rangers winning the league 9 times in a row hadn't been done the first time they did it either.