City & Utd Who will finish higher and why?

mike65 · 24-10-2011 11:59am #1

This may get locked PDQ but not if everyone is on their best behaviour.

Which of the two Manchester clubs will finish higher and why - the why is important here, if you are a supporter rather than cheer leading, set out the reasons one or the other will prevail. This is not about which will win the league either as Chelsea should not be discounted (sorry Newcastle it won't last!)

Please state your allegiance at the top of your first post (not everyone will know)

Bobeagleburger · 24-10-2011 12:04pm

I always think utd are the team to beat tbh and despite yesterdays result they won't be too far off top come May. Always very strong from January on.

City have the best squad but no experience in the run-in when the pressure is on.

Too close to call imo.

Jax Teller · 24-10-2011 12:04pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

City they're stronger all over the pitch and they can go out and spend loads of money in January If they need anymore players due to injury or w.hatever

Jax Teller · 24-10-2011 12:09pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

rarnes1 wrote: »

I always think utd are the team to beat tbh and despite yesterdays result they won't be too far off top come May. Always very strong from January on.

City have the best squad but no experience in the run-in when the pressure is on.

Too close to call imo.

i don't think this is true city have winners of leagues from their different previous teams all over

clichy
dzeko
2 x toures
kompany
hargreaves
de jong
balotelli

have all won league titles before
silva won the world cup

gimmick · 24-10-2011 12:11pm

Man United will finish above Man City this season.

Why? Because they will have a greater total of points!

Paleface · 24-10-2011 12:14pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

City will finish higher because they have the best squad and can score goals at ease.

Essien · 24-10-2011 12:15pm

United.

Because I've written them off every October for about 5 years now and I've only been right once.

meriwether · 24-10-2011 12:19pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

City, because they don't have Evra at left back, a creaking Vidic and Ferdinand to choose from at the centre, an inept Anderson, Carrick and Fletcher in the centre (and we don't know how good Cleverly is yet).

They had Nasri on the becch yesterday, for gods sake.

The chickens are coming home to roost for United.

They somehow got away with it having no decent midfield for 5 years. Not this year. No one had a team then like City have now.

Raskolnikov · 24-10-2011 12:25pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

Like I said at the start of the season, City would win the league and Aguero would be sensational. I think that City's squad is just so incredibly strong and packed full of amazing talent. What other team in the Premier League would be forced into sending out Adebayor on loan because there was no room for him and to leave Tevez to rot on the bench? United still have too many problems in their team. Ferdinand and Evra don't look like they have the stomach for the game anymore. Johnny Evans' confidence is just completely shot, perhaps irredeemably for his United career. The centre of midfield is still a problem, the likes of Anderson, Fletcher and Carrick are just not at the level of other top-level opposition teams. Offensively, I think United are fine, I think that the likes of Yaya Toure (the lungs and physicality) and Silva (the brain) are just the difference between the teams.

I don't support either team.

stovelid · 24-10-2011 12:29pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

The best team.

stesaurus · 24-10-2011 12:33pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

United Supporter

While everything is going great for City at present I don't see them qualifying out of their Champions League group. I think they'll have further problems from Balotelli down the line also.
They'll have a blip in the league at some point and it will be interesting to see their reaction.

Overall I felt United would do enough to be above City this season at the start of the campaign and one result does not change my mind.

Scuba Ste · 24-10-2011 12:51pm

Manchester Utd - I'm a Utd fan

City, because we won 6-1 yesterday.

ironbluedun · 24-10-2011 12:57pm

Manchester Utd - I'm a Utd fan

city finished last season strong, this year they are continuing in that manner while at the same time getting stronger and becoming more of a team, that's why they could win it.

Sgt Pepper 64 · 24-10-2011 1:03pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

The big plus for Utd is Fergie - he makes average players above average and knows how to get the best out of people.

Utd have seen off the "money" challenge before and may do again, but it might take a season or so.

The_Kew_Tour · 24-10-2011 1:07pm

United fan. I think City will be the team to catch.

The only thing that may just see United get back into this race is if City go far in CL and they not been used to rotation like United have, but they have the squad now so will be hard to see City not winning it.

But Football is strange game.

massdebater · 24-10-2011 1:09pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

s.welstead wrote: »

United Supporter

While everything is going great for City at present I don't see them qualifying out of their Champions League group. I think they'll have further problems from Balotelli down the line also.
They'll have a blip in the league at some point and it will be interesting to see their reaction.

Overall I felt United would do enough to be above City this season at the start of the campaign and one result does not change my mind.

Surely that'll be a help to City, no?

Delighted to see a new team finally pushing the more established teams. They've brought a lot of enjoyment back into the EPL. Imagine how boring this season would be if City were still a mid-table team.

SlickRic · 24-10-2011 1:14pm

City have to prove they can beat teams consistently over the course of the season.

there is nobody better than Utd at doing that, especially come January.

also City have tough games coming up which they have to get through.

writing off Utd is something i stopped doing about 5 years ago, because it just leaves you with egg on your face.

Utd don't have to be able to beat City to win the League, they just have to beat everyone else more than City beat everyone else.

people often miss that aspect of winning a League campaign.

jester77 · 24-10-2011 1:23pm

Utd are always awesome on the run in, I think they will still take it. It will be interesting to see how City react when they hit a poor run of form, and I can see them dropping points in December.

murpho999 · 24-10-2011 1:29pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

I took my time with this and eventually went with City.

I think it will be close at the end and we have to see how City handle being front runners over a season.

Utd will recover from the defeat but there just did seem to be something monumental about yesterday's result that signified a transfer of power and I'm not sure if the Utd squad can stop it.

MagicMarker · 24-10-2011 1:31pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

I have to go with UTD, they have the experience and have done it time and time again.

City will bottle it.

stesaurus · 24-10-2011 1:34pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

massdebater wrote: »

Surely that'll be a help to City, no?

I don't think so. They need to at least make the knockout stages. Besides it will mean they drop into the Europa which is more awkward with fixtures being on a Thursday.
Anything less than the knockout stages and it will put pressure on Mancini and cause problems in the squad.

Mr Alan · 24-10-2011 1:42pm

SlickRic wrote: »

Utd don't have to be able to beat City to win the League, they just have to beat everyone else more than City beat everyone else.

people often miss that aspect of winning a League campaign.

Exactly.

This is what Liverpool were unable to do a few seasons ago when they were in for the title. However, in saying that, more often than not that aspect comes with squad depth, where City are scarily strong.

It's pretty neck & neck for me to be honest. City have the better team & squad. United have been there, done that though & pretty much own the t-shirt. Interesting times.

PARlance · 24-10-2011 2:37pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

I'm just glad there isn't a "City-I'm a United Fan" option

Still coming to terms with yesterday but only positive I have from it is that our results against the top 3/4 haven't been great in the last few years and we've still managed to do it.

However, Citeh offer the strongest opposition in a long while and I have a feeling that we can't slip up against the big four top few teams this time around.

If we're within 5-8 points of them come crimbo, I'd take that, I know there are plenty of winners in the citeh squad but they haven't won (the league) as a team yet and that will have an influence.
I'll also live in the hope that it's a squad with quite a few volatile players, when the pressure gets heaped on them, I'm hoping some cracks begin to appear.

PHB · 24-10-2011 3:02pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

I don't know yet myself. I'm intrigued to see how City overall. Their run of fixtures is nice up to November, but then it gets very tough very fast.

If City are still in front by the time of the January break, I'd be pretty sure they'll win the league. However, I think United are going to go on a big run soon. After Everton away this weekend, it goes: Sunderland - H; Swansea - A; Newcastle - H; Villa - A; Wolves - H; QPR - A; Fulham - A; Wigan - H; Blackburn - H; Newcastle - A.

That my friends is what you call ten incredibly winnable games. It would not surprise me if the current team could pick up 27 out of 30 points in those games. Have a look at City's games below, do you think they'll drop more than 8? Because if they do, it'll be neck and neck going into January.

Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Napoli v Man City, GpA, 19:45

Sunday, 27 November 2011
Liverpool v Man City, 16:00

Saturday, 3 December 2011
Man City v Norwich, 15:00

Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Man City v Bayern Munich, GpA, 19:45

Monday, 12 December 2011
Chelsea v Man City, 20:00

Sunday, 18 December 2011
Man City v Arsenal, 16:10

Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Man City v Stoke, 19:45

Monday, 26 December 2011
West Brom v Man City, 15:00

Sunday, 1 January 2012
Sunderland v Man City, 15:00

Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Man City v Liverpool, 20:00

me-skywalker · 24-10-2011 3:03pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

I think the schedule for United has been more testing early on, they've had to put more into their games so far and had the mental tests already. The November Int breaking could be a blessing to United. December is pivotal.

Man Utd December - Villa, Wolves, QPR, Fulham, Wigan, Blackburn
Man City December - Chelsea, Arsenal, Stoke, WBA, Sunderland, Liverpool

If United are within 3 points in December Ill stick with United as Im expecting us to be getting at least 16pts(5wins 1 draw) from them 6 games and City getting approx 13pts(3wins 1 draw).

Nalz · 24-10-2011 3:32pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

If city fail to qualify to knockout rounds of CL id put them as favs...

Heart says champs will be united, head says 2nd place and CL quarters for the reds this season

aidan24326 · 24-10-2011 3:44pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

City are playing good stuff right now but let's see if they can keep that up over a whole season. The jury is still out on that one. United have been there and done it and their consistency and experience will come into play as the season wears on. So for me United would still be the safer bet.

curry-muff · 24-10-2011 3:49pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

I think people are reading too much into one freak result, City do have a stronger squad than us, but I think the United mentality/experience/Fergie Factor will prove too strong again.

United definitely do have a bit of work now to pick themselves up after yesterdays result. 6-1 was mad, and to be fair it was only 3-1 until the 90th minute and the whole team just switched off.

We've bounced back from such results before:

Tottenham Hotspurs 4-1 Manchester United 1995/96 (won the league)
Southampton 6-3 Manchester United 1996/97 (won the league)
Newcastle United 5-0 Manchester United 1996/97 (won the league)
Chelsea 5-0 Manchester United 1999/00 (won the league)
Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool 2008/09 (won the league)
Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City 2011/12 (will win the league

)

aidan24326 · 24-10-2011 3:56pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

curry-muff wrote: »

I think people are reading too much into one freak result

That's all it was, a freak. United and City could play again a hundred times and you'd never get anything like that sort of scoreline. City can enjoy this one for now but the league was never won in October and they'll be well aware of that.

thegreengoblin · 24-10-2011 4:41pm

I posted this elsewhere but let's remember the score was 3-1 with two minutes of normal time left. Had Smalling scored that header on 86 minutes, well, who knows, aunty, balls, etc.....

The reason I mention this is that it wasn't the merciless hiding in football terms that many will think it is so if I was a City fan I wouldn't be getting too carried away although I would definitely be hugely optimistic as they are clearly a force to be reckoned with now.

But as a United fan I would be concerned simply because of one word: midfield. United's midfield is not up to scratch and they've been getting away with it for the last few years. Any great team worth its salt has one blue-chip, marquee player in midfield and United don't. Signing Wesley Sneijder last summer would have remedied that situation. His ability to retain the ball would ease the pressure on the defence and his eye for goal would add an extra dimension to the attack.

They have to get him in January if they are to challenge for major honours this season. If they don't I think City will win the Premier League.

SlickRic · 24-10-2011 4:53pm

thegreengoblin wrote: »

His ability to retain the ball would ease the pressure on the defence and his eye for goal would add an extra dimension to the attack.

this isn't the problem in your midfield.

the problem is teams are bypassing it too easily when they have it, and are getting at the back 4 with alarming regularity.

smokedeels · 24-10-2011 5:03pm

We've never seen this City team cope with the pressure of being at the top, I wont call this season until the new year as I'm not sure City will have the same harmony if they hit a bad run of form. That said it's inevitable that they will be the top team very soon, if not this season then probably in the next two.

The interesting question for the ABU's is "is this what you'd prefer?". United have always given opportunities to young players and hard workers, sure the squad is punctuated with a few big money signings but I don't understand how non-City football fans (from what I've seen) are happy at the thought of this power shift, at least United are a proper football team.

thegreengoblin · 24-10-2011 5:23pm

SlickRic wrote: »

this isn't the problem in your midfield.

the problem is teams are bypassing it too easily when they have it, and are getting at the back 4 with alarming regularity.

I agree that United's back four is coming under serious pressure. According to Lee Dixon on MOTD2, in United's five PL games so far this season their opponents have had 91 shots although Dale Johnson of ESPN says it's 102. Whichever one is right, those are quite shocking stats for a team which is trying to win the league.

Teams are bypassing the midfield but this is why I reckon if they had a player who can hold the ball and distribute it properly it allows the other midfielders to focus on their own tasks and take that pressure off the back four. Anderson and Fletcher are clearly not creative enough to boss a game but throw Sneijder in there alongside one or both of them and they don't have to worry about being creative, they just have to sit back and break up ball, which is what they do best.

tdv123 · 24-10-2011 6:03pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

My head says City but my heart also says City...............so I'll go with City.

ft9 · 24-10-2011 6:07pm

United for me. Liverpool fan.

Fergie beat 6-1 in Old Trafford? He's on a mission now imo to prove this was a once off. And Fergies a dangerous man on a mission, I really expect UTD to pick it up now.

cgpg5 · 24-10-2011 6:33pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

City are the better team, have the better players but have they the better consistency? When the going gets tough in March/April and the pressure begins to build will they be able to graft out the 1 nils playing badly like United did last season? If I were a betting man, I'd say they will- just.

5starpool · 24-10-2011 6:46pm

I have no idea if City can maintain this early season form for most of the season, and most teams can't, but if they do then I don't think utd can catch them.

However, based on logic, history and just instinct, I think utd will still get there at the end unfortunately. I'd love to write them off and be very right, but it's a pointless and almost always incorrect thing to do.

Barr · 24-10-2011 7:12pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

City by a mile if they don't go too far in the CL.

Bodhisopha · 24-10-2011 9:26pm

City.

The race for second place should be interesting.

jesus_thats_gre · 24-10-2011 9:32pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

Essien wrote: »

United.

Because I've written them off every October for about 5 years now and I've only been right once.

I was thinking the exact same thing!!

Pro. F · 24-10-2011 9:55pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

United because Alex Ferguson.

I'm a United fan, but this isn't fanboyism. It just always seems that betting on Fergie for the league is the sensible choice.

Shanotheslayer · 24-10-2011 11:50pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

City because I called it from the start of the season!

DoctorGonzo08 · 25-10-2011 11:45am

City fan. I think it is really too close to call at this stage. Regardless of the result, Utd are still the team to beat. I think people are forgeting Utd have 7 pts from Ars (H), Che (H), Liv (A). City have only really played Utd. Although this was a great result it is still just the one result. (I'm not mentioning Tot because they weren't the same team, and both Utd and City have played them.)

Anyone who calls this right now (and you have a 50-50 chance), fair play to them. But nobody has won a league in Oct and its not going to change. I said it at the start, the Eastlands game will be a title decider and I don't think that has changed. At the moment I would be of the opinion Utd to nick it by a point or two come the end of the season.

killwill · 25-10-2011 12:01pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

United will be there or there abouts because as they have proven over the last few years, even if you don't beat the top 4 teams, you can win the league by being consistently strong against the bottom teams.
City are getting better and better and it is only a matter of time before they win the league BUT it won't be this season.

Xavi6 · 25-10-2011 12:32pm

Manchester Utd - I'm a Utd fan

City because we're richer and money buys success.

Le King · 25-10-2011 1:11pm

Manchester City - I follow another team

I'll always bet with Fergie. Man City have better resources atm to win the league.

I still think we will finish higher. CM is paper thin.

That result while being absolutely shocking and disgraceful in the short term might actually work for us in the long term. By that I mean actually signing a CM next summer and dropping Rio, Evans and Evra.

What's been proven this season is that any team that comes at us through the middle will destroy our midfield. Too open at left back too.

Fergie to rally the troops and us to nick it IMO.

ironbluedun · 25-10-2011 1:11pm

Manchester Utd - I'm a Utd fan

were all forgetting one thing that will have an affect, thats the jan transfer window, in that window city could well move for more players. mancini has his eye on one or two.;)

DoctorGonzo08 · 25-10-2011 1:27pm

ironbluedun wrote: »

were all forgetting one thing that will have an affect, thats the jan transfer window, in that window city could well move for more players. mancini has his eye on one or two.;)

I don't think he will, as I don't think he needs anyone. Possibly a CB. But who else do we need? 3 World Class Strikers, Best Playmaker in the World atm in Silva. LB slight worry but Kolorav has really developed this season.

I think City's best chance at the title lies on Silva's shoulders. If he stays fit, domestically we won't be beaten.

deisedave · 25-10-2011 1:41pm

Manchester has had a rough few games but I really cant see City winning the league this season at least.

G.K. · 25-10-2011 1:47pm

Manchester Utd - I follow another team

LCB is the area above all else City need a body.

DoctorGonzo08 · 25-10-2011 1:47pm

deisedave wrote: »

Manchester has had a rough few games but I really cant see City winning the league this season at least.

You can't see them dropping many points either. It will be a good team performance from whoever will beat them, and you can't see it happening at Eastlands.

City & Utd Who will finish higher and why?

Which club will finish higher 225 votes

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