RB Leipzig (A) - Wed 22nd Feb, 20:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[Tony - MCFC]

A positive post, City are amazing, and we’ll win tonight.

Cheers.

 

[supercity88]

Looking forward to seeing if the players are indeed prioritising the CL and we step up a level tonight. It has felt to me at times that the players are mentally done from such an intensive battle over the past few years - lots of games, lots of success and a few tough losses. Working with Pep will be draining mentally and then throw in covid, the Euro's and a World Cup. Not easy.

But this one continues to escape us so will we see a different level of performance. A tough game, a team that play in a way we often struggle to contain. Excited for it. Come on lads, bring home that big eared bastard.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Not to sure Jim I watched them against bayern at home the other week it was all every man behind the ball and try and hit quick on the counter. Just can't see them pressing right up the pitch first 20 mins and chance losing the tie in that 20 mins if we get the quick passing going and pick them off.

I think the 'knock out element' will force a change on them. I suspect they've given up getting anything at The Etihad so the only hope might be tonight, and with a Uefa ref!!

 

[Legal Alien]

Kev out today. Idk that we’ll be able to create. Leipzig love to hit on counter attack. An early goal could force them out of it. Cmon lads. I’d take a 2nd or 3rd in the league in exchange for this fucking monkey off our back tbf.

It's up to the others to create now.
We'll see what team Pep puts out, but i'd like to see Grealish take the KDB role tonight and see if he can step his game up.

I'd luv to win it this season to shut up the critics and other fans, if nothing else.

 

[Lavinda Past]

I hate to be pessimistic but I think we've missed our chances to win it with this squad. You never know, the best team doesn't always win it, but unless everything clicks and we keep key players fit I think we'll struggle.

Liverpool and Chelsea have won the CL with far weaker squads than ours, and certainly neither was the best team in the competition when they did win.

Our current squad is easily our weakest since Pep arrived imo. It would be typical City for us to have an injury crisis and still go on to win it this year!

Daft tournament, daft things happen.

 

[simon23]

Ederson

Walker Akanji Dias Ake

Rodri

Greailsh Bernardo

Foden Haaland Alvarez

Time to see if Grealish can step up as many imagine he will and play him centrally...with him and bernardo there re a lot of legs in that midfield - Grealish can do the defensive side of the game - get foden closer to the goal where he is better a well and have the 3 upfront who are probably the best finishers.

Im sure we wont get this and Im sure Gundo and Mahrez are going to start but its what Id like to see

 

[Legal Alien]

I hate to be pessimistic but I think we've missed our chances to win it with this squad. You never know, the best team doesn't always win it, but unless everything clicks and we keep key players fit I think we'll struggle.

You can say that about a lot of teams this season though.
The only consistent, standout team is Napoli.

If Pep is focused on the CL you know he'll have the team ready and i'd fancy us against anyone.

 

[paulchapo]

Liverpool and Chelsea have won the CL with far weaker squads than ours, and certainly neither was the best team in the competition when they did win.

Our current squad is easily our weakest since Pep arrived imo. It would be typical City for us to have an injury crisis and still go on to win it this year!

Daft tournament, daft things happen.

There's no doubt on our day it's possible. You look at the Arsenal game last week, only 39% possession or something, rode our luck a bit but won in a high pressure game. We've got it in us it's just if luck, var and the officials don't conspire against us.

 

[SJT]

Put a LB at LB and we can do things, tinker and we’re fucked.
So, let's be positive - put Ake at LB and we’ve a good chance - 2 goals from the Viking!
1 for them so...2-1 to City.

 

[greasedupdeafguy]

Please a normal back four

 

[blueparrot]

Put a LB at LB and we can do things, tinker and we’re fucked.
So, let's be positive - put Ake at LB and we’ve a good chance - 2 goals from the Viking!
1 for them so...2-1 to City.

We haven’t got a left back, in fact we haven’t had a left back for years. So haven’t a left back isn’t the key to doing or not doing things and hasn’t been for years.

 

[Eccles Blue]

The Boys in Blue never give in. They fight to the end. Come on City. Come on City. Show ‘em lads, show ‘em all. Especially the Zig zag lot. Especially the stupid, blind, biased media. We can do it folks.

The Best team in the Land and all the World.

Enjoy the game everyone. Positivity all the way. Positivity and more importantly GOALS. Let us score the 5 and more tonight!! :-) :-)

 

[Dave El Magico]

That's funny, I'm not reading panic. I'm reading the need to take them seriously. As you always should, for any team that get to this stage of the competition. We stay focussed, we take them seriously, we play at a decent rhythm, and I believe we win this one. Maybe even by a two-goal margin.
But I'd take a draw, no problem.
Agree with you about Álvarez, incidentally. It's forgotten, but people on here were running down Nate Aké the first year he was here, and he hardly bloody played, because of injury! Now looks like one of our most dependable defenders…

I agree with your comments and was just implying that certain comments made on this thread led me to believe that some feel we have become a poor team with not much depth to our squad. Yes, we have not been at our best for part of the season, but still performing at a good level.

Totally agree with your comments regarding Nathan Ake and some of my posts on other treads demonstrate this. He has been our most consistent defender this season and very underrated by many.

Draw in the first leg wouldn’t be a bad result, but I do feel that we are capable of picking up a win over there.

 

[yankblue]

Please a normal back four

We don't even have a normal back 4!

 

[Norbert D]

After revelling in last nights @special European blah blah just makes me wonder if we will fuck up tonight. Just bought my ticket for the second leg so hopefully it won’t be chasing a cricket score.
just hope this isn’t Pep and his experimental side, it’s a simple game as someone once said.

 

[M Gaudino]

We haven’t got a left back, in fact we haven’t had a left back for years. So haven’t a left back isn’t the key to doing or not doing things and hasn’t been for years.

We had a left back for most of the games in 2019/20 and we were terrible.

where we’re going we dont need…….left backs

 

[Sparkys-Army]

I'd like something similar as the tactics and formation vs Forest. Most of that game was the best we've played in ages from an attacking perspective (creating chances, not the scoring side...).

Maybe Mahrez for Foden as he's always got a goal in him. Ake LB and Silva in for KDB?

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Kev out today. Idk that we’ll be able to create. Leipzig love to hit on counter attack. An early goal could force them out of it. Cmon lads. I’d take a 2nd or 3rd in the league in exchange for this fucking monkey off our back tbf.

Don’t forget Foden is back, Grealish is starting to find ways to set up his teammates now, Mahrez is good in the CL and Bernardo does step up when de Bruyne doesn’t play.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

I'd like something similar as the tactics and formation vs Forest. Most of that game was the best we've played in ages from an attacking perspective (creating chances, not the scoring side...).

Maybe Mahrez for Foden as he's always got a goal in him. Ake LB and Silva in for KDB?

Only one thing needs to change from Saturday - our finishing.

Other than that is was a cracking performance.

 

[jimharri]

The Boys in Blue never give in. They fight to the end. Come on City. Come on City. Show ‘em lads, show ‘em all. Especially the Zig zag lot. Especially the stupid, blind, biased media. We can do it folks.

The Best team in the Land and all the World.

Enjoy the game everyone. Positivity all the way. Positivity and more importantly GOALS. Let us score the 5 and more tonight!! :-) :-)

No shouting? Are you feeling okay EB? Not pining for a particular absentee, perchance?