Are Manchester City Being Underestimated in the Premier League Title Race?

0:00This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. So, looking at that defence, the defence doesn't seem weaker than our season. We told Rosh had a very good loan at Gerona. It's striking to me that Ait Nori can't get in the team. And he was a new signing just last summer, but I think he's certainly a very serviceable backup left-back, Vardio's fantastic. Mark Gaye is Mark Gaye. Ruben Diaz is fantastic. And Mateus Nudes, who hasn't been used a lot at right back yet, is a very, very good, he's been very good for Manchester City at right back. Rico Lewis, I'm less sure about, but then again, useful players have around the squad, and you do think that O'Reilly is more in that left-back role anyway. So, in that midfield pool, you've got O'Reilly, Fernandez, Anderson, Coverture, Tch, Foden and Buaddi. I think that's a very, very strong group. That's a very strong group. The only thing, maybe that they are lacking in there is a little bit of muscle, but I think

1:04that those six players have pretty much everything you would want in a midfield group, even down to Coverture, who's got that experience. Then we come to the forward line, and Harlan doesn't have a backup, and that is significant. They have sold Marmouche. They do not have a backup for Ireland Harlan. Semenio is better than what they started last season, where Alana is a complete wildcard, but it wouldn't be that difficult for him to be an improvement on Savino, because he would only have to score three times. Iliman and Jai, I think, is a wonderful footballer, and it's going to be a problem having him in that city squad, and I know they have very high hopes for Ryan McCaydo. So, what do we think then? Do we think Manchester City have got worse? Oh, Scarlett's in the waiting room. Yes, she is. Rather. Good evening, everybody. Do you think that Manchester City are worse than last season? Worst than last season. I think inevitably, because I think the problem is, and the inevitable issue for city and

2:12for Liverpool is, when you lose talismanic players, it's not just money you have to spend to replace them. It's time, it's emotion, and it's outlandish quality. And I look at Liverpool, and I think of the players that you've lost in your front line, in Mozala, in Bobby Femino, in Sadiya Manay, even to some extent in Lewis Diaz. And to me, as a Diaz, as good as Alex under EZAC is, and as good as Hugo Acatequez, and as good as Florian Burt might be, they are not yet in any world at the level of those players. And they're also not the level of those players in terms of the expectation and the delivery on that expectation. Roger, I'm pretty sure city spent a significant fee on him. I'm just looking up the fee. And it was about 50. So it was 62 million on him. And in 2019, that's a lot of money. So he was a big money signing, but the return on that investment over the years has just

3:13been unbelievable. So I think it's not just replacing a footballer. It's replacing a totemic figure in the recent history of the club. And I got to say personally, I have no idea if Elliot Anderson is good. I was just saying, just before you came on, there was a stats graphic circulating on Twitter today that had Elliot Anderson by a mile ahead of everybody else in line breaking passes in the Premier League. Now, I'm with you. I would have struggled last season to look at Elliot Anderson and be like, what exactly is it that you're so good at? Whereas without a Wharton, for example, it's incredibly obvious what he's bringing. He's bringing prodigious forward passing. That is his skill. But I'm sure the statistics and the tacticos have a different view on Elliot Anderson. I don't know. I mean, I don't know where one day it seems like the world decided Elliot Anderson was really good. I'm yet to see evidence of that. I think Enzo Fernandez as well.

4:17He's a talented footballer. But whether he has the mentality, I really don't know. I think you certainly think he will try very hard in moments where he believes it's important to try hard. But I didn't never really got the sense that he was playing for the badge at Chelsea. I got the sense that he was playing for himself. And that's the opposite of what Roger was. I think that the my broader, not to get too granular here about individuals. I think there's two points here. I think this Manchester City team is world apart from the Chelsea team. And I think it is significantly better. And it's his team that has set the manager in his own box who is really unproven. This is a team that not all the individuals have, but a large amount of them have gone course and distance. And a large amount of them went course, but not distance with Arsenal last year. So I think the point I'm trying to make is I don't understand why Chelsea, that's the whole point of the show really, is that Chelsea who got 52 points last year.

5:20There is no way they can be the closest challenges. And I look at this Manchester City side and I think, yes, you're doing a lot of sums on paper here because you're saying that Anderson, Fernandez, Duadea are going to be better than what they had before. But I think they can be. But I think that's the thing. The depth is just less relevant for Chelsea because of the lack of Champions League football. So you immediately become a much different proposition when you can play your starting lineup week in week out, which to, you know, until it gets really congested around the festive season, they're going to be able to do that. So that does change the capability of that team. Yeah, of course, of course, you're right to mention depth and it is relevant. But I actually don't think that's my issue with Chelsea. My issue with Chelsea is, if Chelsea are going to be in the title conversation, they need to have a 30 to 40 point swing. And I don't look at that team and think they're so much better than last season that they're going to be able to do that. And I also think that outside of that brilliant quadrant of players, they've got a lot of

6:24players who are going to have to play out a position and some real liabilities, like for Farna, for example. Yeah. Although, where is this narrative coming from, look, Farna is a liability. Well, I watched him on the weekend. That's where it's going from for me. I don't think he was that bad on the weekend. I just think Chelsea playing a back five. Well, normally it's Cookorea who harasses the shit out of the Kaya Sacka and still Sacka probably manages to get past in a couple of times. I'm trying to think was it was it for Farna who was out on that left hand side? No, because they were playing wing backs, weren't they? Yeah. So who was that left wing back was in Netto? No, Netto was on the right. It was Harto, Jarl Harto. Yeah. So I think like, I don't know, I just think that that system inevitably ends up making centerbacks run where they don't really want to and therefore look a bit silly. I think for Farna is a perfectly decent player. I just think the problem is for Chelsea, for Liverpool, for City, for anyone who is

7:26trying to replace, well, Chelsea aren't trying to replace top quality talent. They're trying to generate it. But for every, for every Saliba, there's a Moscarra for every, it seems like me and, um, me and Barney Bonardo become Farna friends in the last 20 minutes. We agreed on everything. Um, so maybe he isn't just a figment of your imagination. Maybe he's your, do you know Barney Bonardo? No, no, I mean, I just thought because his birth here was the same. Barney Bonardo's real name. Um, I don't know. Oh, yeah, yeah. Barney Bonardo, yeah. Um, maybe we do know him from somewhere because it seems like he shares our birth here. Um, but why is that? Those are people who were born in the same year. I know. I just, I'm just so here that you'll fix the old things. This person showing up on the stream with our birth here, just, I don't know. I thought maybe it was like a person from our past. I was racking my brain for any banners that we may have known. Um, but anyway, I, I think I made my point pretty clearly and, and those that

8:26were here and were in the comments, we're agreeing that, that this Chelsea Renaissance has been massively exaggerating. And whilst it's definitely not a stretch to imagine them being better than last season, it's a tremendous stretch to imagine them being anywhere near 90 point pace this season. Um, so we've kind of done Manchester City now. And I think you're right. There are huge questions across Manchester City, namely the manager, who has not proven in any job that he can sustain things without blowing up, even at Leicester, they had a, I think it was a 20 point lead. Maybe it wasn't that much, but they had an enormous lead at one point that was reeled in. Maybe it was an 11 point lead that was reeled into two points. Um, and actually looked like they might choke promotion at one point. So Maresca, this is all new for Maresca. Um, but it's not a closed shop. It's not a closed shop. Anna Slot won the Premier League in his first season. Antonio Conte did the same. So he could, he could do it.

9:26I'm just saying, I think that's one of the broader, the broader point about the Premier League title race for me. And the thing that, you know, is underlying one of these conversations about squad composition and management is who is in what part of their arc, you know, Arsenal laid the foundation for this period with Artetta for many years. You know, he's been in, he's been in this job now. I think this is the ninth season or I'm actually, let me, there's not the ninth season. He, he joined in 2020. So we're here now. There were several years we finished eight two seasons in a row. This isn't a kind of, oh, Arsenal or the gods, Artetta, blah, blah, blah. It's the fact that this was once a project. This was a long time ago. And, you know, the building blocks have been in place. Ben White came into the building in 2021, Gabrielle in 2021, Oda Gard, 2021. Saka has been there the whole way through. Yeah. A lot of the Liverpool team, the Liverpool team that won the league the season before last was, was largely cops.

10:30And the, which was the point I'm, I'm making here. I think, you know, you can't be good forever. And the city were good forever in large part because they were able to invest that money and they invested it well. That they have that financial advantage they have on everybody else and regenerate. So they probably had their first, the first David Silvery, Pep Guardiola team. And then maybe more the De Bruyne, Pep Guardiola team, although silver arguably belongs to a slightly different era of man city's history. But I just think Arsenal are at the top of their arc right now. That's why they bought Bruno Gimmerais and as Reconcert and white to bit odd that they didn't go and buy some similar kind of player in the front line. That's why Arsenal the favorites because everything is currently in position. I know. And I don't, I don't doubt, this isn't the arguing that Manchester City should be favorites. This is me saying that I cannot believe that the conversation that I heard,

11:31the Peter Durerification, which you didn't get because you were in the ground of Sunday's game was all about trying to, to baptize to Chris and Chelsea as this, this, this, this type, this type of competing person. And what I'm trying to say is actually really, really similar to what you're trying to say, which is winning the Premier League is the most difficult thing to do in football. And I have something I want to share to that effect. So this is Rodry after his first game back for Barcelona, sitting on the bench. No, this is because they played Valencia. He has played for them already. It's because Valencia, all of them. Yeah, but he's saying what the hell is going on. Valencia are a big team. Valencia have won UEFA cups. They've been in the Champions League and not recently, but you know, they're a good team, huge stadium, historic club. And Rodry is saying what the hell these guys are shit. And the fact is that Rodry could show up her, what's a good example.

12:34They could show up at Portman Road on a Friday night and be given a game. But Barcelona are not given a game at the Mastaya. And you know what I'm saying here that winning the Premier League is really hard. That winning the Premier League isn't won by the most fashionable team. It isn't won by the team that make the most signings. It's won by the best team over 38 punishing football matches. And that is why I believe that Manchester City, for all their transition, apart of the conversation. And I actually think I've talked about this already, Scarlett. And I actually think that Liverpool are two. Look, we were a mess last season, but I think we are two because I think it's there are still players in that squad that have been part of winning Premier League's multiple in the case of. Yeah, but I think that's also the reason why I think Liverpool in some ways are well, they're less favored because although you have a wealth of extremely talented players. And I don't doubt that you're between eras right now. So I think as time goes by, we increasingly reflect on that slot title win as a late stage club title win.

13:41Well, I think you've got to give slot credit in the sense that it was the same squad that young club got. He got 82 points out of and the points tally is a bit around because we won the league with so long to go, but but slot took that team on. Sure, and your point is it was the same. It was a lot of the same. And I'm saying some of what some of what Arnie slot did was really important to why Liverpool won that title because he probably took that Liverpool team that was probably at the end of its ability to go and be dominant and concocted a style of football and won in the Premier League as it is, which is visceral and difficult. And therefore was able to extend the winning period of that team, but I do think that that team is not there anymore. It isn't. So I think, but I know he did that even I think the team that won the title and competed undercloth prior to that prior to the sobbers line, a callister midfield was better.

14:46Yeah, I agree, but I think the general standard of the Premier League has got worse or the squeezed middle has got better and the top teams are no longer. The top teams are no longer super teams and it's not going to take 90 points to win the league, but that's another show. I think my point is in the round that Liverpool and more likely is challenged for the title than Chelsea, purely because the step you're asking this Chelsea squad to make to be competitive in the title races bigger than what you're going to do. And I'm making the general point that I think the the the powers that be the pundits, the TV people would rather have a new shiny toy in Chelsea than be like, yeah, I guess it's probably going to be city maybe Liverpool as well. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, I agree with you. And you know, I wish Liverpool the best of luck. We meet is it in November 1st? Yeah, October 29th. So we meet on the 1st of November at Amfield and then February at the Amurts.

15:51Will you be at Amfield? You should try and go. We could go up together. I like to play Liverpool at the beginning and ends of seasons. I think that's a less volatile time to play. I don't fancy a trip to Amfield in the winter. I have to say that. I think it's what's annoying is the timing means that you won't be able to give us a guard of honor. You given us two. Isn't it odd? Genuinely, this is like all banter as hide. Isn't it odd and slightly unfortunate for you that the two times that we won the league have coincided with asking on Liverpool fixtures after we've won the league. So you've had to give us a guard of honor. And on that note, I'm going to call in the night guys. Thank you very much. I'm going to pop off. I've actually had one more question for you before you. One more. I want to know just because you know, this is just a cozy personal chat with you and me. Thank you, though, to lovely Bernie Barnardo, Barney Bernardo to get your name right for all your comments.

16:53It seems like the rest of the chat, the cats got their proverbial tongue. So this is just a quiet sister to sister catch up. I want to ask you with what three weeks into life on EPL index, how are you finding it? I'm loving life. I love the live streaming. I think it's better for our relationship to not have to think about exactly when we're going to record a podcast and how I love the wonderful community of commenters and followers that we've accrued through this. And I'm very, do you know what tonight I like tonight? I am. I'm being. Yeah, I'm difficult because he said tonight. I'm gay. Didn't he? Yeah, but tonight I love Barney Bernardo. So, Barney, I'm still here for another five minutes. So I don't know where Scarlett thinks she's going. Thank you very much for being here. Scarlett and Barney Bernardo. But yeah, Scarlett, other question just before we go. What's your message to EPL index tonight?

17:57My message to EPL index. Yeah, to the platform, to the channel, to the people. To the platform, I would say, you know, Viva EPL index, like let's do this. We are a place for a variety of Premier League fans to come to discuss their teams. No, Barney Bernardo, this is the rousing finale. I, you know, I'm sincerely hopeful that we can grow in the same way I'm filled index has, you know, this is a really exciting platform. A lot of the same people crossing over between the two platforms and, you know, opening its doors to a wider variety of Premier League fans. So like Barney Bernardo, like Barney Bernardo. But, but you know, whatever, whoever it is you support. I think that's a thing. EPL index can cater for you. This is not just a Liverpool channel. It is for all of the Premier League. Of course, Lola and I have our teams that we follow. And we will be discussing Arsenal and Liverpool a lot. Oh, we've got a man's fan.

19:00I think I've thought, I think I, I don't, I don't know who this is. But what I will say is that I think it's been a difficult few games for Tottenham fans and the head loss has been real so far this season. So look, if you're a spurs fan, I've got a great number of a therapist. If you do need some support. Oh, Rob G. Rob G. This is an unplanned special where Scarlett and I just decided we just decided to come and have a chat, didn't we? I was here by myself. Scarlett kindly came to keep me company. We're not actually in the same house to anybody who's confused. You could call it. You could call it an outside broadcast. It is an outside broadcast. And speaking of, and we should say welcome to this first fan and welcome to anybody of guys. It says on my screen that there's 103 of you watching. And I'd love for that to be more. So please all go home and tell a friend go home and tell a friend about what you've seen.

20:03I don't think I don't think miss Spurs fan in our midst has any friends. I'll make it I'll make it work your while. But look, if all of you could go away and tell one friend about the things that you've seen here. Um, about the last that we have had about the journey that we've been on. We would be very grateful. Wouldn't we scarlett? We would we would love that guys. I know Lola has a lot of fans over on Ampild index. And you know, I'm feeling pretty sad without a fan club like Lola's. So I really, really need a contingent and Rob G is one of them. So it's good to see you. Barney, but other and by the other of not just Arsenal supporters, although I appreciate that you're Arsenal supporters of just non. Liverpool fans because I think we have you guys are the voices of reason. Charles 877-S1C. He's a CFC tears how we like it and holiday for JP Morgan. I feel like Charles might be an Arsenal fan. I don't know just a feeling and thank you guys victory. Great to see the Goldman Sachs.

21:03Viva Goldman Sachs. And and by the way, thank you though for the late comments. Thank you. Please all feel very, very free to comment as much as you like during the show. This is this this channel and Ampild index, by the way, for any Liverpool fans that don't know about it. Our point of difference to other channels is that you really are our priority. Now other shows might do YouTube lives and they might have you in the room, but they are not this show is for you. So anybody in the comments get involved. Please tell your friends. We want to see more of you. We want to keep bringing you this content. And yeah, like Scarlett said, I don't think I could have said it better myself. Viva, EPL index. And Scarlett, there is one more comment for you I think. RAA1, another one of the loyal gooners in our following. Good to see RAA1. It's going to be a big night tomorrow.

22:04So I hope you've got some good plans for the game. And thank you always. Thank you for the Goonor army who assemble here to help me deal with Lola's Liverpool madness. I don't think there has been any madness tonight. It's been a very harmonious show. And on that note, we will leave you guys. Thank you all very, very, very much for being here. Thank you to Scarlett, massive round of applause to Scarlett for being here. She has carried things in her own special way. She's bought her own special light to proceedings. And it's wonderful to see her. I don't see her nearly enough. But yeah, goodbye everybody and have a wonderful, wonderful Tuesday night. And I will see you again very soon.