Can Man City Become The Invincibles?

[Baz]

PLEASE NOTE: IN THE POLL YOU ARE VOTING FOR WHICH WILL HAPPEN FIRST.

I was thinking about Arsenal going the whole season unbeaten and it struck me what a mega achievement it was. Not sure which was more impressive between that and Leicester winning the league. Probably the latter, actually. Anyway:

In the 2003–04 season, Arsenal regained the Premier League without a single defeat. Over the 38 games played, their league record stood at 26 wins, 12 draws and 0 losses. The unbeaten run came close to ending six matches into the campaign against Manchester United, as striker Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a penalty in injury time; the match then ended 0–0. At the turn of the calendar year, Arsenal won nine league matches in a row to consolidate first position; they secured their status as champions with a draw against local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in April 2004. Their form did not continue into the domestic cups; Arsenal exited the semi-final stage of the Football League Cup and the FA Cup to eventual winners Middlesbrough and Manchester United, respectively. In Europe, Arsenal reached the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Champions League where they were eliminated by London rivals Chelsea.
Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira presented with the trophy at Highbury on the final day of the season.

Continuing into the next season, a special gold version of the Premier League trophy was commissioned to commemorate Arsenal winning the title without a single defeat. In their second Premier League game of 2004–05, Arsenal beat Middlesbrough to equal Nottingham Forest's record of 42 league matches unbeaten; the feat was eclipsed with a win at home to Blackburn Rovers. The run extended to six more matches for a total of 49 league games undefeated, before coming to an end with a controversial 2–0 defeat to Manchester United. The Guardian noted that Arsenal never trailed in the last 20 minutes of a game during their unbeaten run.

The last sentence makes it even more impressive; they never ever even looked like losing, really.

Well Man City have started the 2017/18 season fantastically well, and it's only a matter of time before the media starts wondering if they'll go the whole season unbeaten. We're only nine games in but so far they've pretty much battered everyone they've played in the league, having won eight of those and drawn 1-1 at home to Everton in the second game of the season. They have scored 32 and conceded only 4:

Last season Man City finished 3rd in the league. The rest of the top six were Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal and United. Out of those, so far they've only played Liverpool at home and Chelsea away.

Chelsea
Home: Saturday 3rd March
Away: 0-1

Tottenham
Home: Saturday 16th December
Away: Saturday 14th April

Liverpool
Home: 5-0
Away: Saturday 13th January

Arsenal
Home: Sunday 5th November
Away: Saturday 24th February

Man United
Home: Saturday 7th April
Away: Sunday 10th December

Does TTH reckon they can go 38 games without defeat? What will be the key to making it happen? Or why won't it happen?

They're free-scoring and have so many options so rotating during a busy schedule due to other competitions shouldn't be a problem. And previously their defence has looked a bit shonky but lately they've been pretty damn good, even with Delph at left-back.

Although they may be about to go out the League Cup to Wolves.

[Ian]

I doubt they'll go the full set of games. It's fucking difficult to do and we've seen enough teams romp through the early stages of the season before flubbing it to not just assume that omg they're unbeatable.

[Shindig]

They'll slip up to someone in January after the Christmas break has knackered Aguero, Kompany or De Bruyne. Arsenal drew a lot in the tail end, as I recall.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've voted for us beating them at Old Trafford (it wont happen) but I think they'll end up losing to someone shit. Possibly Stoke.

Looking back, Spurs have a damn good record against them.

[Reg]

My guess is they'll lose sometime in the busy Christmas schedule, or after/before a European game. Stones looks important to them so maybe when/if he gets an injury.

[Giggles]

United will beat them in December.

[-james-]

I think they have the makings of a legendary side, but no. I'm not sure anyone could do it in the year of our lord 201x.

[Boydy]

Weren't City shit-hot at the start of last season and everyone started wanking themselves silly over 'Pep'?

Spurs and United will both beat them.

[Pleb]

United will shit out a draw.

[McAvennie]

Winter is coming, the gloves will go on,
and then we'll get headlines asking why they aren't putting 5 past everyone as though it's the end of the universe

[Smiffy]

There's more chance 'Pep' signing one of us to play alongside Stones than there is of Man City remaining unbeaten. Too much potential to slip up and I'd argue that all of the clubs in the division are better than when Arsenal managed it.

[Smiffy]

I'll go with Newcastle doing it the day after Boxing Day.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No, they'll lose one of the derbies, a random Christmas game (there's always a fruity 4-2 at some mid-table club on the cards at that time of year) and then probably multiple games later in the year once they've either won the league or fucked it.

[Baz]

More people should vote in this poll.

Mahow’s called a United victory today. 2 defeats in a row for City (they lost midweek to Shakhtar) he says. What does everyone else think?

[Giggles]

I would but I can't.

[Giggles]

I'd also like to distance myself from comments above. United have no chance.

[Byron]

They'll lose to some shithouse club in March or April, probably when they have to go to Mordor in March.

I see they come to us in April so could be us as we have perfect shithouse qualities.

[Ian]

There's really nothing to suggest United getting a win out of this but if we get anything it will be because the game is absolutely vile. I suppose some delusional might argue for the counter-attack and I guess if Guardiola only has one defender back or whatever Lukaku might do something but how you could be confident going into this, even at home, is a mystery to me.

And no, I don't think they'll go unbeaten. A lot of close shaves which is CHAMPIONSHIP FORM but they'll come undone eventually. And it won't matter.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I voted for us more in hope, I don't see it happening.

I think Spurs have a great chance next week though. They've got a great record against City and need to turn things around.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The last few games they've been playing with fire a bit. They'll win the title by March, but they'll lose at some stage, probably while resting players for the CL.

[Baz]

EDIT:

Toggle Spoiler

For reference when it’s archived, Ederson saved a 91st minute Milivojevic penalty and then Man City raced up the field and James Puncheon murdered de Bruyne to halt the counterattack. Game finished 0-0. Still unbeaten.

I’m sure @dino or @John Arne can provide a video.

[Spikey M]

Fuck sake Palace, you dick heads.

[John Arne]

Toggle Spoiler

For reference when it’s archived, Ederson saved a 91st minute Milivojevic penalty and then Man City raced up the field and James Puncheon murdered de Bruyne to halt the counterattack. Game finished 0-0. Still unbeaten.

I’m sure @<a href="http://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=43" target="_blank">dino</a> or @<a href="http://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=30" target="_blank">John Arne</a> can provide a video.

[Jimmy Floyd]

How has he not been sent off for that? It's late, from behind, and he goes off the ground. Falls into any definition of reckless or dangerous. Jon Moss surely fired.

[Max Power]

Jon Moss shouldn’t be reffing Sunday league. Absolutely appalling every time.

[Spikey M]

How has he not been sent off for that? It's late, from behind, and he goes off the ground. Falls into any definition of reckless or dangerous. Jon Moss surely fired.

This reads like a Donald Trump tweet if he were into football.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jon Moss shouldn’t be reffing Sunday league. Absolutely appalling every time.

I feel sorry for Mike Dean, he gets abuse every time he gets something wrong because he's a BIG NAME and the real criminals slip off into anonymity.

[randomlegend]

It'd take a terminal diagnosis to make me feel sorry for Mike Dean. He's clearly an utter cunt.

[John Arne]

Some karma for the Puncheon tackle... suspected knee ligament damage and possibly out for 6 months. Amazingly, Scott Dann also feared ligament damage following a tackle on KDB.

[Baz]

Well done @Mike and @Spoonsky

[Bernanke]

That's why you hold off the vote.

[Shindig]

I'd have preferred them to lose next week. They're going to murder us.