Real Madrid (H) Pre-Match Thread

Match Result vs Real Madrid (H)?

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Jag

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1. What should the training sessions leading up to the Madrid fixture be focused on?

2. What game plan and tactics would you employ to ensure that we reach the quarter finals? Keep in mind

3. Would you play David Silva? Should Foden start? What about Bernardo (he started the away fixture)?

4. If Aguero is fit in time, should he immediately start over Jesus?

5. Would you go with experience at the back or place your trust in an inexperienced youngster (Eric Garcia) in our most important fixture of the season?

Please answer these questions as I'm genuinely curious on how City should approach this game. Being a manager is definitely not easy.
 
No striker.

Play with Bernardo in a free role across midfield like he was away there, where he can defend deep where needed but also join the attack.

We need numbers in midfield for this game!
 
Can this be turned into a pre match thread. I know it’s early but who gives a fuck about the Watford and Norwich game. This is so important and we can’t afford to fuck this up. I’d go Ederson Walker Fernandinho Laporte Zinchenko; Rodri KDB Bernardo; Sterling RW Jesus ST Mahrez LW
 
1/ Breaking at pace
2/ A 4/5/1 formation with Gundogan and Rodri sitting in front of our defenders
Invite Real Madrid on and hit them on the counter with the pace of Sterling, Jesus & KDB
3/No Dave. We need midfielders with energy to press and my attacking tactics would pretty much bypass our midfield
4/No. Whoever plays CF has to be full of energy and Aguero won't be ready for that after his lay off
5/I'd go for Fern at the back with Laporte as he played really well in Madrid when he came on and Fern is less likely to commit an error
 
As Mendy is banned I would perhaps play 5 at the back and 2 sitting in front and invite them on with KDB and our 3 quickest players in front of him.

However it all starts going wrong when I I try to visualise the 5 players at the back.
 
3-4-3 (no striker)
Ederson
Walker Garcia Laporte
Cancelo KDB Rodri Zinchenko
Foden Bernardo Sterling

Absolutely swamp them in central midfield with two of Foden, Bernardo and Sterling dropping deep at all times and the other running in behind to stretch them vertically. Cancelo and Zinchenko (*Mendy suspended?) to provide the natural width to stop Madrid stifling us in central areas. Most importantly, when we lose the ball, win it back very quickly. Intensity and controlled aggression off the ball will be key to us not losing.

If we need to change it we have Mahrez, Silva and Jesus to give us different options.
 
Pep is the manager and we have a newly arrived charismatic assistant... lets see....
 
Blu3m00n91 said:
Can this be turned into a pre match thread. I know it’s early but who gives a fuck about the Watford and Norwich game. This is so important and we can’t afford to fuck this up. I’d go Ederson Walker Fernandinho Laporte Zinchenko; Rodri KDB Bernardo; Sterling RW Jesus ST Mahrez LW
Click to expand...
There'll be a pre match thread in the lead up to the game, once the previous game has been played.
 
I think Pep has to play Cancelo at LB these next two league games and let him get as used to it as possible. There's no reason zinchenko should be playing vs the likes of Hazard/Vini/Asensio/etc
 
Need to play a double pivot.
No striker to start.
Clog the midfield.

On paper something like:

Ederson;
Walker, Garcia, Laporte, Zinchenko;
Fernandinho, Rodri;
KDB;
Foden, Bernardo, Sterling;

But becomes almost like a Bielsa 1-3-3-3-1 when needed to strangle the midfield

Ederson;
Walker, Garcia, Laporte;
Ferna, Rodri, Zinchenko;
Foden, KDB, Bernardo;
Sterling;

Sterling stays high for pace on counter and to pin their CBs back.
 
Last edited:
Shaffer92 said:
I think Pep has to play Cancelo at LB these next two league games and let him get as used to it as possible. There's no reason zinchenko should be playing vs the likes of Hazard/Vini/Asensio/etc
Click to expand...

Cotswold Knight said:
No Stones,Otamendi or Gundogan
Click to expand...

Agree.

I argued the case for Cancelo on another thread.

Garcia’s a risk but none of the other options is exactly copper-bottomed. Give the lad his big opportunity. Didn’t we do the same with another young CB a few years back? Nastasic?

Happy for Merlin to start but not Gundo too. Foden should play.

I’d like to see Watford and Norwich matches treated as serious preparation. Saying those matches don’t matter is exactly the mentality that lets us down on occasions. Tell it to Watford’s relegation rivals.
 
Ederson
Walker Garcia Laporte Mendy
Fernandinho Rodri
Foden KDB Sterling
Jesus

We need plenty of legs against Real and in Walker, Laporte and Mendy we've got decent pace at the back. Fern and Rodri should be able to protect Garcia enough. Foden, KDB and Sterling should be able to give Real something to think about on the counter and Jesus will put in a good shift against their backline.
 
hateutd said:
Pep is the manager and we have a newly arrived charismatic assistant... lets see....
Click to expand...
Had to laugh yesterday. The assistant’s talking to Pep at some length in animated fashion. Pep’s sat looking into the distance with an expression like “I wonder what time to go for a shit”. Anyone else notice?
 
Be patient. Don't try to force a goal and thereby leaving our back line exposed.

------------------Ederson
Walker--Fernandinho--Laporte--Me
-------------------Rodri
-------De Bruyne-----Foden
Mahrez----------Jesus--------Sterling

God knows who's playing left back for us.
 
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