Pliskin

I agree with this. To be fair we just need to get this match out of the way, people will sit belly laughing when I say this, but I think you’ve summed our current position up perfectly, we look tired and vulnerable…… and there’s been a lot of talk about us pasting someone, but I think it’s looking more likely we get a pasting in all honesty from one of the better sides in this league. We need to get past this one, and then really regroup to make one final push to keep Leeds and Southampton at arms length and scrapping between themselves.. We’re so close, to let it slip now would be criminal, but none can criticise any of us for being pessimistic, considering we’ve pissed away any good opportunities we’ve had over the last few years, excluding the FA cup. A draw would be a cracking result on Friday if we could get one.

It’s your pace and power that concerns me. We struggled when Ipswich pressed us, and you’ll likely do it better. No we haven’t lost badly this season, but the majority of the league is fairly poor. We managed to remain consistent when you have had dips in form, but now you’re bang on form, confident, at home and will be well up for this. I just think you’ll want it more than us, and will want to prove a point in doing so. There’s still an element of softness about us, that may come back to bite us.

I think he’s better than Kompany. There is only one way of playing, and theoretically over the course of a whole season it will win you more than you loser usually because the lesser teams won’t have the answers to the questions being asked of the style. But, as Man City find from time to time, get it wrong, and you can get battered. It just means that you won’t change, regardless, and the thing with Leeds is they’ve got so much pace and power upfront, that it will cause us a lot of problems. How often has our defence actually been tested? Not really all that much, there’s no doubt that with the pace Leeds have, they will cause us no end of problems. But this is where like you suggest, the manager needs to think, he needs to out think Farke, not try to out play.

Thing is, if we did this, I’d be more confident. However, we know how we will play, so will Leeds…. Which is all well and good when you’re Man City, but we aren’t. I just fear we will walk straight into Leeds arms wide open, and they will just pick us off with ease. It’s a real test, if we win, I’ll be stunned and happily say we will comfortably finish top, lose, and the door opens a bit more for Leeds and Southampton.

Nothing pointed to us being relegated after a decade of ticking the balls of the premier league big boys….. were the most ridiculous club in history, I would not be stunned if we managed to stack it from this position.

It’s definitely blown the title race open. It’s incredible, last week we were 12 points clear, but a poor defeat to an average team, and a tricky run of games. What we have done so far doesn’t really show what this team is made of, as it’s not been too taxing, but my concern is, when it’s got tough, we’ve wobbled a bit. The points gap could be slashed further next week, and I think the fear for me is a heavy loss could derail us. It’s up in the air really, we’ve all got opinions, but I’ve got the same painful hope I had last season in the pit of my stomach. It’s probably best for us to just sit back and see what unfolds….. but, as insane as it sounds, and this is probably because I’ve still got a small Brendan Rodgers sat in my ear saying “The beauty is, it’s in our own hands”, but I just feel Southampton and Leeds are poised to finish in the top two from this position. Down to the lads to get it done.

I’m not saying we’re shite, we’re soft. We don’t do well with aggressive football, which is exactly what Leeds will do. They had us fairly comfortably at our place and we’re going to their gaff where they haven’t lost all season. Being top of the league is an easy argument to throw at those who doubt, but for me the evidence is on the pitch. We’ve won a lot of games without being convincing. We’re better than 90% of the league, and when we come up against poor teams we tend to win. (Boro aside for some bizarre reason)…. It’s not a criticism, this team is still carrying scars from last season, Enzo has done a remarkable job, a better job than some think, but… there have been warning signs at stages that this team is capable of wobbling, this defeat will be a huge psychological blow, and as I’ve said pound for pound over 90 minutes at home, Leeds will just have far too much for us to cope with. What we need to do, is just hope that we can muster enough points to keep them and Southampton at arms length. Thanks to our good start we’ve got a cushion, but we’ve got some really tough games coming up next month that will test our metal, the question remains can we deal with it?

They’ve not lost at home all season have they? If your Leeds you just go hell for leather. We will crumble and likely end up 3-0 down after half an hour. This will be the first game we get truly battered in my opinion. Leeds V Southampton could be a godsend on that final day.

We need to finish this season first…..

Exactly my thoughts. Our start set us apart, but it is easily undone. People calling those concerned bed wetters and nonchalantly saying “we will be fine” need to remember last season. This team still has a soft underbelly, and we’ve lost games that we really shouldn’t have. Today being one of them, comments like “they’re a decent team” they’re ****ing mid table, and we’re supposed to be run away champions….. I do have genuine concerns, this side definitely has a self implosion in it, and I’m concerned that a defeat to Leeds could end up knocking us for six. Perhaps last season has scarred me, but we’ve pissed away a lot of good situations in recent years, and I think we’re still well capable of doing it again.

It’s okay to be concerned….. and I am….. we’ve displayed some concerning characteristics at times this season, and I fear that if the pressure gets ramped up, we could fold.

Absolutely zero chance we get a result here. Their inconsistencies aside, 11 v 11 they’re a better team than us. They will turn is over comfortably. It then becomes a test of if we can do enough to stay in the top two. I think we’re going to fall out of form just at the wrong time. 4-0 Leeds.

Terrible timing for a terrible result. Lose to Leeds and the doubt will start to set in. I fear this is now going to turn into a fight, I just hope we’ve got the minerals to limp over the line.

We seem to struggle when things aren’t going our way, we’re fine when we’re winning, but ask us to fight and we struggle.

Not at all. There’s a lot of people who think us winning the league is a full gone conclusion, but at this stage of the season, two defeats back to back like this can be extremely damaging. It will also give the chasing pack hope. The problem is, we’re well capable of a ridiculous collapse, Enzo has done an incredible job, but there’s still a hit of last season in this team. I actually want us to piss it, I want us to beat readings record with ease, but I now fear that we will be dragged into a bit of a fight. I’m hearing a lot of people suggesting Boro are a good side, they’re ****ing mid table shit, this is a game we should be winning, and striding away at the top of the table.

There absolutely no chance we get back Into this game. Boro will likely get more. A horrible day considering we’ve got Leeds away next weekend, we had to win this game, two defeats in a row, with one to Leeds could be a genuine difference maker.

Should have started with Cannon. Daka is rubbish in these types of games. Frustrating because these are shit, yet they look comfortable. We could be here until next week and we still won’t score. ****ing hate Boro. What even are they? Just **** off.

I don’t think we’re capable of turning this around. We look well beaten in all honesty.

They’re gonna walk this. 3 or 4-0. And they’re shit. ****ing pissed off.

This is shit.

Boro are an awful side. Just dragging us down to their level. Can’t see us winning this. They will shit it to full time.

Us, Southampton and Leeds will all go up. I just hope it’s us with the title.

All of those cakes and doughnuts!

I agree. I think they’re in big trouble long term. Writings on the wall IMO.

Like this. In terms of complexity within the sport, there’s a lot about the game that makes me cringe when I watch it, and always has, tackling has always been something that irritates me. How many tackles have been missed down the years, through what can only be described as idiocy? I mean there was a moment in a Seahawks game where someone went to tackle without using their arms…… he essentially did a diving header into the opposing player, missed and they eventually made enough yardage to lead to a touch down…… I mean, an average rugby player wouldn’t kiss half the tackles some of these guys miss. The game once you get your head around the concept isn’t overly complicated I’d say, there’s a lot of niche rules and regs, but overall it’s a relatively simple game, with a lot going on I’d say? Like you say, the majority of it is all pre-planned plays, which is shown up when a team is having a real bad day at the office.