Real Madrid (A) - CL R16 Post Match thread

Thaksinssoldier said:
Perhaps he would, and yet our goal conceded was directly as a result of a ball based on a moment of panic from him, highlighting my point.

We all know Pep is stubborn, so he’ll be left there purely because he reminds him so much of Busquets. Having watched Busquets a night earlier, there’s no comparison. Busquets has the ball moving before the rest of us know he’s had it. You cannot say that of Rodri right now. So yes, I would imagine you are correct in that he’ll be left at the 6, but for me I think he’s hesitant there. Even his probing balls from earlier in the season have vanished from his skill set, with him more than happy to pass laterally to their CB’s to try those passes.

And as for hot takes, this is a forum, so accept them or stop trying to smart arse them. Ironic as you are fucking full of them pal.
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This is absolute nonsense. Go and watch the goal again. Rodri plays a regulation ball back to Otamendi who, under minimal pressure miscontrols, panics and fires an absolute bullet pass back to Rodri, who is being closed down by 3 players. Rodri controls it brilliantly, realises there's only 1 player open to pass to, Otamendi, but Nico being Nico he's not expecting it, Modric coming from his blindside knows it's the only place he can pass, and the interception happens.

Their counter attack is caused by 1 player, and it's not Rodri and he sure as fuck wasn't panicking or thinking slowly.



Otamendi takes a heavy touch. Otamendi panics. Otamendi fires a pass to a player being covered by 3 defenders, Otamendi doesn't anticipate the ball coming back to him. Otamendi dives in and takes himself out of the game without getting man or ball.

Sorry, but there's no world in which that goal is Rodri's fault, and that's obvious before moving onto Walker's...whatever that was.
 
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citymad said:
Still trying to get over how brilliant Gabby was last night. He has everything you need as a world class striker: fitness levels, pressing game, brave, technic, jumping and heading ability and a quality finisher. The lad has everything.
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Fearless and cocky as in so sure about his own ability.

Its what will make him truly world class.
 
Pep masterclass - our false number 9s left Ramos and Varane with no-one to pick up. We should have won 5 - 1 in truth. Madrid have no choice but to take risks at our place - risks we can take advantage of. Madrid were defensive and cautious last night (afraid of leaving gaps for us and we still opened them up repeatedly). As well the tactics, we were resolute in that cauldron of a stadium - showing immense character.
 
domalino said:
This is absolute nonsense. Go and watch the goal again. Rodri plays a regualtion ball back to Otamendi who, under minimal pressure fires an absolute bullet pass back to Rodri, who is being closed down by 3 players. Rodri controls it brilliantly, realises there's only 1 player open to pass to, Otamendi, but Nico being Nico he's not expecting it, Modric knows it's the only place he can pass, and the interception happens.

Their counter attack is caused by 1 player, and it's not Rodri and he sure as fuck wasn't panicking or thinking slowly.



Otamendi takes a heavy touch. Otamendi fires a pass to a player being covered by 3 defenders, Otamendi doesn't anticipate the ball coming back to him.
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Pep turned Busquets from a player no-one rated (a reserve team player) to the best in the world in that DM position.
 
When we're on form we hit our short passes hard and decisively - Pep expects a level of touch and control that is rare anywhere. It's part of what destroys our opponents.
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
Is anyone else concerned about Rodri?

I'm not talking about his technical proficiency, eye for a pass, nor using his massive frame when he has to.

I was excited about his early few performances and his showing away at Burnley was a masterclass.

His positional sense is way off, seems to be getting caught the wrong side of the ball.

More alarmingly, there are now times where he doesn't even try to get back in. His lack of pace is further pronounced when he is out of position.

I don't see him as Fernandinho's long-term replacement, perhaps higher up?

Which means we still need to find a sitting midfielder.

Kudos to Gundo last night, he grew a pair once Modric tried to roll his ankle.
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Need to give him time, but he hasn’t convinced me of late. He was shite last night. Kept giving the ball away in dangerous areas. He needs to learn how to turn with the ball faster.
 
Marvin said:
I think we can play a possession game and then look to pick Real Madrid off as we did yesterday. I don't know what else Real Madrid have in their locker. I can see Bale playing for a start.
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yep they will have something up there sleeves but i think and pep should just play our best 11 and go for the kill ? mendy missing and maybe laporte will test our left side of defence
maybe a option is play 3 at the back or use cancelo on the left, pep has options and city at home we maybe cut open them more than the first leg
 
Having watched the game again, It truely was a Pep masterclass last night.
Pep needs to play like that against bigger teams away all the time!
Two DMs and two triangles of 3 in front of the back line based on the DMs with the two forward players in each triangle continually interchanging.
 
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Manchester_lalala said:
Need to give him time, but he hasn’t convinced me of late. He was shite last night. Kept giving the ball away in dangerous areas. He needs to learn how to turn with the ball faster.
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i think he was running on empty after 70 minutes and socks down and he put a hard shift last night without the ball, rodri is a great player and first season in the premier league so needs to settle into the hard run of games we play, also because fernandinho being use at centre back there is little rotation for him and a little injury also so give him time
 
ancoats said:
i think he was running on empty after 70 minutes and socks down and he put a hard shift last night without the ball, rodri is a great player and first season in the premier league so needs to settle into the hard run of games we play, also because fernandinho being use at centre back there is little rotation for him and a little injury also so give him time
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Rodri can't do it on his own as the lone DM against the better teams like Fern did. He will improve for sure but Fern is so so difficult to replace.
 
kinky's boots said:
Tbf I don't usually celebrate a goal now either, especially if it seems there could be any possibility of it being ruled out.

We can thank VAR for this- the crowd- especially our crowd- are not going to celebrate goals now until at least the kick off whistle...
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I certainly do. Then again when it gets given. Pissed off when not lol
 
domalino said:
This is absolute nonsense. Go and watch the goal again. Rodri plays a regulation ball back to Otamendi who, under minimal pressure miscontrols, panics and fires an absolute bullet pass back to Rodri, who is being closed down by 3 players. Rodri controls it brilliantly, realises there's only 1 player open to pass to, Otamendi, but Nico being Nico he's not expecting it, Modric coming from his blindside knows it's the only place he can pass, and the interception happens.

Their counter attack is caused by 1 player, and it's not Rodri and he sure as fuck wasn't panicking or thinking slowly.



Otamendi takes a heavy touch. Otamendi panics. Otamendi fires a pass to a player being covered by 3 defenders, Otamendi doesn't anticipate the ball coming back to him. Otamendi dives in and takes himself out of the game without getting man or ball.

Sorry, but there's no world in which that goal is Rodri's fault, and that's obvious before moving onto Walker's...whatever that was.
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i have to disagree, i think they're both (Rodri and Otamendi) at fault, with Rodri slightly more so in my opinion.

both of Rodri's passes to Ota are suspect - the 1st is much more regulation but he shows little awareness of the Madrid attacker, but it should be dealt with, but the square ball back to Ota is dreadful. Ota didnt cover himself in glory and sadly Walker had the chance to put a challenge in after good recovery work and fluffed it.

sadly the replays online have all gone the way of copyright nazis, there's some on Youtube but dont show enough

one last thing, if you can find a replay from the time Mahrez has it, is that Madrid's positioning for that goal is excellent, there is nothing decent on for City throughout
 
shemnel said:
i have to disagree, i think they're both (Rodri and Otamendi) at fault, with Rodri slightly more so in my opinion.

both of Rodri's passes to Ota are suspect - the 1st is much more regulation but he shows little awareness of the Madrid attacker, but it should be dealt with, but the square ball back to Ota is dreadful. Ota didnt cover himself in glory and sadly Walker had the chance to put a challenge in after good recovery work and fluffed it.

sadly the replays online have all gone the way of copyright nazis, there's some on Youtube but dont show enough

one last thing, if you can find a replay from the time Mahrez has it, is that Madrid's positioning for that goal is excellent, there is nothing decent on for City throughout
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Sorry but there is absolutely nothing wrong with the first pass. If you can't control and pass that ball in the time he has, you don't belong in this side.
 
Not long ago we missed out to Spurs on the last Champions League spot...

and in a short space of time we've gone from that to beating Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
 
shemnel said:
yeah i think having Bale and Hazard (will be fit?) will see a different attacking dynamic. I think City need to be very wary this tie is far from over, losing at home to Madrid isnt exactly fantasy land stuff so we need to remain professional, which im sure we will
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Hazard has an ankle fracture, he's about as likely to start for Madrid in that game as you or I.
 
BlueAnorak said:
Having watched the game again, It truely was a Pep masterclass last night.
Pep needs to play like that against bigger teams away all the time!
Two DMs and two triangles of 3 in front of the back line based on the DMs with the two forward players in each triangle continually interchanging.
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I am not sure. It probably depends on the strength and weaknesses of the opponent.

Last season Utd went to PSG at the same stage and beat them because football can throw up fluke results every now and then. In this game City dominated carried much the greater threat and Real Madrid really struggled to hurt a City central defence that for much of the season has been a soft centre.

It was probably a combination of good tactics, good play from City and poor quality from Real Madrid.

I remember though that PSG beat Utd 2-0 and ended up going out 3-1 so City need to be very vigilant and need a repeat performance.

I thought City's forwards carried a real threat all game, probably because unlike in usual games, the opponent was not parking the bus

City were helped by the athleticism of the fullbacks Mendy and Walker who were able to make some fantastic runs forward to support the forwards. Walker in particular was immense. It was an almost perfect team performance. Other fans will probably all concede we played well, but focus on how poor Real Madrid were.
 
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