[Surrey Blue]

There was once a time at the end of the season when, unless you were really into cricket and tennis, say, when you couldn’t wait for the start of the new season. I now think we’ve had – and have – too much football/hype (at the ‘top’ level) and I doubt if I’ll take much interest in the Euros. The start of a new league is soon enough for more football. Must be an age thing and I suspect I’m in an extremely small minority. Then again perhaps it’s because the grandchildren have been here all week and I’m feeling worn out!

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[Surrey Blue]

3×9 – you may be right but it may need a change of approach with City possibly getting on the managerial merry go round and trying a different model. However, for Chelsea I must say the omens are promising and I’m expecting positive things from the Club next season, but I did fancy Utd for the league last year so what do I know!

Meanwhile, in trivia corner, I wonder if Pep was aware that Aguero had scored more goals against Chelsea (and Newcastle) than any other team(s) in the Premier League before he restricted him to a small spell the other night? Irrelevant I know, but it might turn up in some form in pub quizzes when they eventually reappear.

Finally, I’m sure the rest of us that haven’t mentioned it so far wish you all the very best over the coming months – and way beyond.

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[Surrey Blue]

I mentioned a short while ago that City needed to be at the top of it’s game to beat Chelsea and patently it wasn’t. Arguments about the personnel/tactics chosen on the night will doubtless rumble on but that’a fairly pointless exercise. Overall, a very successful season in a strange environment, and hopefully City will be challenging again next season when we’ll see just how good Chelsea is with its new Manager for a full season.

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[Surrey Blue]

Nonsensical decision but completely predictable I’m afraid. No wonder UEFA has little credibility with those involved in or followers of football.

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[Surrey Blue]

Brian, City going to Newcastle reminds me of 1968 when City had to win on the final day of the season to be sure of the title, which of course is what happened. There are faint echoes of that time now given that Utd lost 2-1 at home to Sunderland on the day. Happy memories apart from being the only time I have never been able to recall how I(we) got home to Manchester from a match – it’s a complete blank!!

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[Surrey Blue]

More than a few City followers were dreaming that Aguero would come on late in the ECL final and win it for their team. I suspect the odds on their hero even being involved in the game might have got that bit longer now, but who knows with Pep. However it does appear that efforts are being made to bring the game to England so we wait in hope. Wherever the venue,  I think is very apparent is that City has to bring its Triple A game to the match against an impressive Chelsea for it to have any chance of a positive outcome.

I’m just wondering what the odds are of being defeated in an FA Cup semi, home league game and ECL final in consecutive games by the same opponent….

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[Surrey Blue]

I initially thought PSG might have a tad too much for City so very pleased to be wrong. In fact, it was a bit like days of yore when those dastardly foreign teams would kick, spit and generally cheat/lose it against the sturdy Brits  – gives hope for future encounters! It gets a lot harder now of course and, if Chelsea win tonight, UEFA must be prevailed against to shift the final from the Ataturk Stadium.  It won’t happen of course as it’s too reasonable a suggestion.

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[Surrey Blue]

…but it seems to have had the desired effect!!
I think I hear the sound of nails and coffins in terms of the recent proposals.

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[Surrey Blue]

He didn’t sound too enthusiastic…

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[Surrey Blue]

Brian, I think I tend to agree that something will happen along the lines being proposed. These clubs will have modelled the likely outcomes to death and seemingly have little appetite for compromise. Meanwhile, the EPL can’t afford to lose the value from the loss of the six clubs so they’re in a bind. In addition, UEFA has to treat with these clubs also but what the outcome of all this will be is too hazy just now. A sorry mess all round sums it up and a sad way to deal with the inevitable results of appalling management/ inability to keep their houses in order by these same clubs ( and many others).

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[Surrey Blue]

I was just musing on what this section of the website changes to if ESL becomes reality – perhaps ‘UAE Charlatans LLC ’til I die’ or similar? Doesn’t quite trip off the tongue though. Perhaps we should also open a book on who’ll be the first of the erstwhile ESL Club owners to pack their bags and leave if this proposal comes to nothing. Interesting times.

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[Surrey Blue]

Let’s not forget that this ‘project’ probably isn’t meant for people who use this website ( and similar) but is presumably aimed at the billions of people who like ( or can be persuaded to like) this particular version of football and don’t mind watching it online. We must assume that the people making this proposal are no mugs in terms of developing the project to date but who knows where things will settle if it is to get off the ground. We probably shouldn’t underestimate the potential interest in this however repulsed we are by what we’ve seen so far.

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[Surrey Blue]

Well, the sacked manager effect means that Spurs are bound to beat City this weekend…

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[Surrey Blue]

And so Chelsea follow Leeds in demonstrating how to make and take chances against City and thus win the game. So what now? It seems to me that City have a greater likelihood of ending up with no honours this year than taking all three that are still possible. I think it’s not unreasonable to expect a close race with Utd for the EPL title and a loss to PSG in the Champions League. Obviously, anything can happen in the Spurs game next week. All told, I think that most City followers would think that winning the title would represent a very good achievement in these very strange times but, whatever the outcome, it looks as if the Club has a lot to do in the close season.

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[Surrey Blue]

Good points well made Ed, but Derbies tend to be tricky games to predict whatever form might point towards. However, hardly a surprising result yesterday as Utd has a very good away record and did to City what a number of teams have done over the last couple of seasons. I must admit that Utd were my best guess for the title this year as I thought City (where are the goals coming from?) and Liverpool (burnout?) might just struggle. Well, my musings are not yet wrong about Utd, but you’d probably still put your ten bob on City for the title. But something nags away at me saying if there’s a Club that can pull defeat from the jaws of victory it’s City!!

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[Surrey Blue]

You might be right about Pep’s preference for attacking football Brian, but for the rest of this season I think he’d take twenty one- nils!

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[Surrey Blue]

Spot on MM. I think a lot of City watchers are puzzled why the Club hasn’t taken the decline of Aguero more seriously, although it’s seemingly almost impossible to find a replacement of that quality. It is encouraging to see more stability at the back but the difficulty in finishing stood out in the game last night and that remains a concern. There is very little chance that this City will undeservedly nick a late win – if only!

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[Surrey Blue]

Just wanted to express my sadness at the loss of my favourite City player, and obviously a favourite of so many City watchers. A lot has already been written here and elsewhere tonight about his prodigious ability, but a particularly special performance for me was in the 3-1 defeat of Utd in late March 1968 which Colin completely dominated prior to being stretchered off. The result was an important piece in the jigsaw that eventually became the League Championship for that fabulous City side. I think watching the game in the Stretford End made this game and performance particularly memorable for me.

Farewell King Colin, but you will never be forgotten.

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[Surrey Blue]

3×9- good points, well made ( although Sane didn’t figure last season). If you look at the last three seasons, Aguero, Sterling and Jesus accounted for about half of all EPL goals scored. Now City (in effect) has no Aguero – we can’t assume a fully effective Aguero from now on – and there’s also the slight impediment of no David Silva. Quite a high barrier so PG obviously has to find a way how to get this group up for it. We may well be in for a relatively fallow spell until the manager finds a way, but that shouldn’t hold fears for long term City followers. The Club might have a highly celebrated coach for now, but giving away goals and missing chances has been part of the Club’s DNA for as long as I can remember!

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[Surrey Blue]

cb54 – yep, that’s been apparent for quite a while now. But an Aguero replacement (like for like) is probably impossible so presumably City spends the next few months working on a new approach, or maybe that process continues into next season if Pep moves on in 2021. It’s too early to call, but the Club is likely to have to improve materially from now on to make top 4 this season. This is probably not what the owners were expecting….

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