FOWLER Pretenders won’t outwit the City combo of talent, chemistry and harmony

IS this version of Manchester City a vintage team? Not so far.

Are they a team struggling in transition? Fat chance.

Put it this way, they’ve not been as fluent and dominant as last season’s all-conquering side, which goes down as among the best in football history.

Hell, they’ve even lost two and drawn two. But look where they are.

If this is a transition, it’s seamless by the standards of every other club in world football.

And I would repeat what I said in this column last week – the title will be won by whoever finishes above City.

Critics say they’re not playing well, they were poor against Liverpool, lacked their edge. They were playing a fantastic team who have a great record against them, and one of the best managers in history.

Cautious? Why wouldn’t you be against a Jurgen Klopp side who are dangerous against anyone. But look where City are in the table. They’re quite obviously the team to beat.

So, do Spurs have any chance at the Etihad today? Not really.

Yeah, I know Tottenham have a super record against Pep Guardiola’s team – five wins in their last seven Premier League games against City is so astonishing I had to check it twice!

Since Guardiola moved to Manchester, no side has beaten him more often or scored more goals against City... not even Liverpool.

But this is a different Spurs manager than the ones who found the

Kryptonite to make City fall apart. This is a different approach and a different mindset… and, while I know Spurs fans will welcome it after the dour stuff under previous regimes, it won’t necessarily help this afternoon.

Under Ange Postecoglou, they started the season brilliantly, vibrantly and it was refreshing. But reality was always going to set in at some point.

How far were Spurs behind City last season? Yep, light years. They’re not making that up in six months. If the real City turn up, they win. Why are Tottenham collapsing now?

Simple. Their squad isn’t yet deep enough to challenge, and it always catches up on you. And if that’s their weakness, then it is Manchester City’s superpower.

People say they are missing Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones, that injuries have diminished them.

They haven’t. Because whatever team they put out, whatever injuries they have, they are still dominant.

This is the point where their critics say that’s all down to money and, yeah, it helps. There is a real art to putting a squad together and keeping everyone happy. So many managers fail at that.

You can’t just go out and sign 30 superstars and say 19 of you will be second or third choice. It would all collapse within weeks.

So it’s a balance of stars, top professionals, young, hungry players and kids coming through from the academy.

You have to say Guardiola (below, with Erling Haaland) is the master.

How many times do you hear City players complaining in public, like they have done at, say, Manchester United in recent years. Pep seems to keep them all happy. Even the likes of Kalvin Phillips, though he’s played about eight games in 18 months, hasn’t leaked anything to the media. Jack Grealish, when he’s not played much this season, hasn’t mouthed off in public, either.

If there’s a secret to their success, beyond the obvious that they’ve got a load of talented players and a managerial great, then it’s that chemistry Guardiola and his recruitment team have in blending a balanced and harmonious squad.

They’re not all superstars. They’ve found some really top players at decent prices without inflated reputations and egos, and got them playing at the highest level.

They’ve also pushed through some kids of genuine talent who remain hungry. There are so few mistakes – and that takes skill and judgement, not just money.

Which is all a way of saying that I don’t think Spurs, United, Chelsea or even Arsenal will come close to challenging them for the title this season.

If anyone will, then it will be Liverpool.

But you know how in games City seem to go up in gears when they need to. Well, it’s like that in seasons too… and they’ve hardly got out of second just yet.