It seems unlikely that North London resident TS Eliot is an Arsenal fan, but his poem suggests otherwise.
“April is the cruelest month,” “The Wasteland” begins. “I wept, fasted, wept, prayed,” lamented J. Alfred Prufrock’s “Love Song.” “The challenge ended; not with a bang, but with a whimper,” which may have been the first draft of The Hollow Man.
Sunday was a disappointing day not only for Arsenal and Liverpool fans, but also for those neutrals who had hoped to see the three-way title race continue. Liverpool lost 0-1 to Crystal Palace and Arsenal lost 0-2 to Villa, leaving Manchester City with a two-point lead in the league, and as the leader, Guardiola’s team is almost unassailable.
“I already know it all, know it all,” Elliot groaned. But cheer up, Tommy. There is hope.
Here are 10 completely realistic reasons why Manchester City could still drop points.
This is a serious article, so let’s get down to business. Can a team win the Triple Crown twice in a row? With injuries mounting, games tripling and emotions deepening – can City bounce back again?
There’s a reason high notes – or double tones – are so rare.Participate in multiple games Do influential. When margins are so tight, fatigue levels, tactical planning and mental freshness are even more important.
When cup competitions are direct knockout matches, league games against lower-ranked opponents are naturally the most overlooked games. City host Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, face Chelsea in the FA Cup three days later and travel to Brighton five days later.
Guardiola has said City are in “very, very big trouble” due to fatigue and injuries. So surely this gives hope to Liverpool and Arsenal?
Manchester City may need a bigger trophy room (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
The spurs
Won two games and lost five. Has Guardiola ever had such a bad record? Challenging Lionel Messi on beam? Credit card roulette at Manchester’s best restaurants? Uno’s family game?
Manchester City have struggled against Tottenham. Their Premier League record in north London is worse than any other competition. Yes, they may have beaten them in the FA Cup this past January, but that record doesn’t include the 2019 Champions League quarter-final defeat.
Every manager has a dark room in his or her mind that contains their most devastating failures. Guardiola’s estate houses a Beavertown brewery and a retractable NFL stadium.
Tottenham may have been overwhelmed by Newcastle, but both of their meetings with Manchester City this season have been extremely close. They still have the Champions League to chase and they won’t back down.
Guardiola often surprises with league trips to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Is scoring 30 goals in 37 games really a sluggish season? Since when, as Roy Keane said, does that make you a second-tier player? Anyway.
If Haaland fails to score for the rest of the season, maybe Then There is a conversation to be had. For now, City’s rivals can only hope for the best.
Pep makes things too complicated
“I always overthink things,” Guardiola said in 2022. I think too much and that’s why I get good grades. I like it.
“If it works, I’m brave, if it doesn’t, I’m overthinking it,” he added a year later. So go ahead – be brave.
Why stop there when you already play four centre-backs?
Playing a back four of Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Josco Gwadiol. John Stones is actually a midfielder already. Plank Kyle Walker (yes, he counts as a center back) is on the right wing.
What about the rest? Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been recalled to play Andy Carroll’s role. Finlay Burns is 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) tall and must be pretty good at the net. Luke Mbete could return from Den Bosch and use his left foot on the left wing. Max Alleyne, 18, has been on the bench this season. Want to join Stones’ double pivot? People are already talking about the skill level of 16-year-old Stephen Mfuni. Put him at No. 10.
Guardiola believes in total football. They’ll be fine. When you win everything, the only way to win is…to win better.
Forest’s latest investment finally arrives
Picture this: Nottingham Forest are fighting for Premier League survival and shut out Manchester City. In the 71st minute, Phil Foden finally gave the team the lead. Chris Wood put Forest back on target at the end of the 88th minute. madhouse.
But before the cheers died down, the whistle blew. VAR review. Suspected foul in the penalty area. The referee walks to the monitor. City Ground has seen this story before. But then he spotted something in the crowd—and walked away.
Supporters paused amid loud celebrations. What made the referee change his mind? They look for answers and find them.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, I’m Mark Clattenberg.
This superhero doesn’t have a cape, but Forest’s referee consultant has rules in front and justice behind him. Gotham City is protected from PGMOL. The Premier League table is level again.
This was Clattenburg’s time (Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Rodri’s break turns into a gap year
Rodri said he needed a break, but remember, this is a player living a college lifestyle. He lives in a student dormitory. He holds a degree in business administration. He drives a second-hand Opel Corsa. He’s one step away from selling you a £2 ticket to a Tuesday Pryzm club night.
Asked why he thought university was the best time of his life, he told Manchester City’s website: “Spending time with young people like you.” “Sometimes studying, sometimes going out. It was good… a great time.” .
But as the season has intensified in recent months – he has played 3,498 minutes for City in all competitions this term – that purity has certainly been lost.
“I definitely need a rest,” he told reporters after City’s 3-3 draw with Real Madrid, looking as dazed as someone who had attended a 9am hangover lecture.
Of course, a week is a short break. But why not take three months? Why not find yourself? You only live your twenties once. British Airways offers flight discounts to students. There is a world out there waiting to be discovered.
Rodri is exhausted and needs a gap year (Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)
“Jarrod, maaat,How about it?
“Foreman? Foreman? Foreman? Moyesi?
“Calvin…how is the new place to live? Has your passport been renewed?
Declan Rice’s phone bill has never been higher.
Manchester City hosts West Ham United on the final day. When it all started, there was little that Rice could do except take care of his own business. So the real work begins before that. West Ham United have nothing left to play for – now is the time to change that. Every negotiating card is on the table.
He sold his car to Lucas Paqueta. He was willing to quit the England squad in favor of Phillips. David Sullivan has promised to have his firstborn son. West Ham won.
Job Interviews to Remember by Roberto De Zerbi
Brighton have been a bit of a flop this season as they sit 10th in the league and are without a win in four games. Roberto De Zerbi remains one of the most impressive coaches of the past 18 months. Arguably only Guardiola surpasses De Zerbi in terms of sheer madness and tactical improvisation.
During the summer, large jobs are open. Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona.
Competitor There may be reports on Saturday that Brighton are increasingly confident that De Zerbi will stay, but this comes against the backdrop of new contract talks being put on hold and the manager having been publicly non-committal about his future.
Show rather than tell is the first rule of job interviews – and De Zerbi has the chance to show off his tactical acumen by outsmarting Guardiola.
City initially reacted to Brighton’s pioneering use of overlapping sweepers and a Fibonacci sequence-based pressing pattern, but were bewildered by the illuminating introduction of Jason Steele as an inverted front four.
No one can outsmart De Zerbi (Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Gary O’Neal’s luck improves
Gary O’Neil may seem an unlikely contender for MTV’s Welcome to My Crib, but let’s imagine him opening the door to his Wolverhampton mansion.
The doormat is a four-leaf clover. As you enter, seven lucky cats wave hello. Rabbit’s feet hang from the kitchen beams. O’Neill tells you that mirrors are forbidden, and he demonstrates how he brushes his teeth in the reflection of his bathroom window.
An almost overwhelming scent of incense hit my face.
No team has been more unlucky than Wolves this season. O’Neill tried reason, he tried rationalization. He tried avoiding the ladder. All that’s left is faith…and Nathan Fraser.
Foden hits the crossbar. Jeremy Doku tripped over his shoelaces. Max Kilman delivered a powerful blow to Hwang Hee-chan’s ass. Molineux erupted.
City’s 115-count indictment comes to sudden conclusion
The metaphorical gavel fell. White smoke billows from the ceiling of Premier League headquarters. The day was thought to be months away – but the decision had already been made.
City faced 115 accusations of breaching Premier League financial rules over nine different seasons. Point deductions are a realistic outcome if they are found guilty of at least some of these offences.
Of course, City will say that’s impossible, which is the most ridiculous suggestion on this list. After all, they vehemently deny the accusations and are working to prove their innocence.
deeper
Briefing: Arsenal and Liverpool must show the title race is not over with just two points remaining
(Popular Photo: Getty Images)
