Real Madrid (A) - Tues 9th April, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

[blueparrot]

Who’s gonna feed Erling then? Unless KDB is stiff or sore after the weekend then not entirely happy he’s not playing

Think we needed Kovacic for the away leg, who misses out is difficult but KDB playing at the weekend playing Foden makes sense.Bernardo and Grealish were always playing.

 

[maxwellblue]

match day thread's gonna be interesting

best avoided

 

[Middedon]

match day thread's gonna be interesting

1. This is Southgates fault
2. Halaand sucks
3. Halaand is awesome, the rest of the team sucks
4. Wtf Joško, should have played Rico
5. Pep is done, what was he thinking with no KDB
6. Defenders have no pace
7. Oh god, please no (every time Stones goes down)
8. Kova can’t hit a truck
I know I’ve forgotten quite a few

 

[Rammy Blue]

No Kev, no party for Haaland. We should have just played Alvarez as a striker then, so he can press hard.

If Real over commit early doors, hitting Haaland long is always an option, remember Bayern away.

 

[mccity]

It'll be very interesting to see whether it's Foden or Bernardo in the middle

 

[alexmcity]

Gvardiol lacks his pace which is crucial in games like this.

I'm not sure about that. Maybe Ake is a bit quicker over 5 yards, which is really important, but Gvardiol doesn't seem slow to me.

 

[super_city_si]

I think in possession its like this

Ederson
Akanji Dias Gvardiol
Stones Rodri
Bernardo Kovacic
Foden Haaland Grealish

Back to the box mid?

 

[YatesA]

Who’s gonna feed Erling then? Unless KDB is stiff or sore after the weekend then not entirely happy he’s not playing

Erling really needs to start using his size and playing like a traditional big man. Headers, hold up play, being a general nuisance. Other talented big men up top have utilised both styles and it will not only make erling a goat level player, it will take city to ridiculous heights.

 

[Crooked_rain]

Gone for total control. Should have played Kev instead of Haaland in that case as Haaland wont get any service with no Kev.

Well he might, he was already PL top scorer when Kev was out 5 months, so it's a bit of a myth that Kev is the only one thar can assist.

He might get the service/space today because you would think Real Madrid are going to play football. Its knockout football, it makes no sense for them to park the bus and try not to lose like most of our opponents. They won't fancy only taking a draw to our place, so they really have to come out and play, which suits us and should allow us to create more.

 

[DenisLawBackHeel74]

No Kev for Rudiger to kick fuck out of…..suspect we’ll see him in second half

 

[gray740]

Phil will fly tonight .

 

[city warrior]

I would have started KDB as false 9 instead of Haaland though. Constantly interchanging with Foden, because Haaland doesn't press as hard, and without service (which he won't have today) he is gonna mostly a passenger. Cmon big Erl, prove me wrong, and press like a mad man today.

 

[SWPISHOME]

Ederson had been getting a bit erratic with some of his decision making, culminating in the penalty and his injury against Liverpool. Ortega has done nothing wrong since stepping in so he deserves to keep his place.

Fully agree.

I love Ortega he's a superb goalkeeper, Ederson does offer us something different with his range of passing, He's a freak in that sense.

All in all it's a massive night for Ortega to cement his place as No.1 for the rest of the season on the biggest stage.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

I’m fine with that team.

 

[super_city_si]

It'll be very interesting to see whether it's Foden or Bernardo in the middle

I'd put my money on Bernardo

 

[Rammy Blue]

It'll be very interesting to see whether it's Foden or Bernardo in the middle

Foden definitely, with Kova playing then Bernie will be out right.

 

[YatesA]

No Kev, no party for Haaland. We should have just played Alvarez as a striker then, so he can press hard.

That's probably fair but I am just praying haaland starts to put his big boy pants on and starts playing like his size and doing more traditional big man stuff. Hold up play, winning headers, being a general constant nuisance physically

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

He’s doing that with Kev to reduce the turnovers/breakaways. Think of the second half at Anfield.

Kovacic hasn't exactly been secure on the ball the last two games either, tbf. I would have gone with Bobb on the RW and Bernardo next to Rodri.

 

[MichaelFrontzeck'sBathroom]

I imagine Kev will come on at some stage in the game come on city

 

[CTID1977]

2-2. Kova Man of the match