mozo

Maybe they want the sheer chaos of the Benny Lennartson season again?!

He had an especially good run of form, I think before Christmas? Hasn't made such an impact in recent games, but yeah, he could get close to 40 appearances this season which is a massive step for him.

I think some of the teams in our division, and a few in divisions below us might laugh at your description of success! Having said that, I'm very jealous that I wasn't around to see it. The way things are going, we'll reach 50 years outside of the top flight, with a history of zero major trophies, but who knows, the stars might align at some point. Obviously, I don't agree that we "know that our glass is bone dry", but happy for you to think that, and I'll hope you're wrong. We're an average Championship side currently, and you'll know from following City over the years, that we've been a lot worse off for many, many years of our post-war history.

Thinking about it, I think Mehmeti is the biggest success story. I think the majority of fans had written his off as not being anywhere near this level. I think the 'competition winner' line was used about him a few times. A few months on, he's not only scored a couple of fantastic goals, but I think people are coming round to the idea that he's one of our more effective attacking options. No doubt some of us still find him frustrating, but if he can continue to improve then who knows what he's capable of next season and beyond.

The big winners I would say are Tanner, Roberts, O'Leary, Mehmeti and Dickie, whose status has all got stronger as the season wore on. A difficult season for Conway, Wells, Bell and Cornick, with injuries, bench time, poor service and inconsistent form. I expected more Pring and Sykes if I'm honest. They've just looked a bit average when I expect exceptional. Everyone else has pretty much done their job.

For me it's just bitty; there's good stuff mixed in with bad stuff and average stuff, and it's a combination of Manning's input, the players' execution and the players' limitations. That's frustrating other people more than it is me (so far), but worth remembering that it was equally inconsistent under Nige, albeit with a different tactical approach (not better or worse in my opinion).

Mate, you're definitely a true fan, so huge respect to you. Especially for sticking with the club through the absolute hardest of times. I love hearing about other eras of our history, even if they don't include much success! There's nothing wrong with is disagreeing on how hoe things are right now, that's what the forum is all about. I do think you're seeing things as worse than they really are, but let's see how things go next season. If it doesn't go well, I'll put my hand up and say I was just too optimistic!

Bloody hell, if you've been watching City 60 years you'll have seen a lot of torrid crap!

Very reasonable post Dave. Shame you're going to have to take it all back when we're top in April 2025, playing like a vintage Ajax side

Mate, he's already got 37 points this season and he missed the first 15 games

How many are in the Champions League semi finals?

Damn, you beat me to it....

That's a lot! I thought Bellingham had one early in the season, but maybe not Edit: from a Google search, he didn't

Here's a question... How many hat-tricks does that front 6 have this season? Maybe as many as 8?!!

To then have Mainoo as another option is insane. Watkins isn't a bad back up to Kane either, albeit not done anything great for England yet.

I'd like to see him go back to MK Dons and become a club hero. Realistically, he'll take the best contract he can get and will probably find himself at a club where there's too much pressure and he struggles to get minutes. Hope I'm wrong.

I'm not mocking him, and it's good that he's being ambitious, but realistically he's not going to get back to the level required for the England team.

Yeah but 20% of the time it works every time

You saying he's definitely a git?

Edit disappeared

I don't have time for it, I just like to know it's there

Same every year, and also a time where top end team have a wobble as pressure builds. Funny old game.

It think Manning's post match comments were interesting and suggest that what we saw on Saturday is not how we intended to play: "It was just the basics for me. Mistakes will happen, I’m okay with the lads making mistakes, you’re never going to see or play the perfect game of football it’s then the type of mistake. It was just a little bit too sloppy, we turned it over too cheaply, too passive with the ball, too passive with our running. "When you have an unforced error, make sure you don’t follow it up with another one, make sure you can get back in credit. If you have a little period when they’re pressing, okay, don’t be afraid to spin them and get up the pitch that way. “I thought we did that in the second half, I thought we started okay, there was a bit more purpose and intent, engaging them a little bit higher. We still didn’t work it into enough good areas like the other night but at least we carried more of a threat and there was more play in their half than in the first half.” ... So... if you think Manning prefers to be passive, to not engage high up, to not work the ball into attacking areas, and not to carry a threat...you might be wrong. We have seen in the last year that our players have struggled to execute the game plan, under two regimes. Ultimately, Manning is responsible for our success, or lack thereof, but I'm certain that it was his fault that we crap in the first half on Saturday. Sometimes the players just don't execute.

No one can accuse you of not living up to your name...

There is also that possibility that Twine hasn't reproduced what he does on the training pitch when he's in the game Based on performances I'd say no to signing him, but bringing unknowables into account, I'll remain agnostic.