Juventus (A) - Wed 11th Dec, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

[Ric]

It'd be nice if we could get a few players back for this to help with rotation. Akanji, Foden and Kovacic would be a good start.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Trying to win the CL isn’t out of reach. A lot of previous winners haven’t been at the top of their domestic leagues - look at Liverpool 2005 and both of Chelsea’s wins.

Maybe it isn't but we should concentrate on trying to finish top 4 over trying to win the CL.

 

[Originals]

Maybe it isn't but we should concentrate on trying to finish top 4 over trying to win the CL.

We should be okay for finishing in the top 4 this year. We need abit of luck with injuries and once (if) our injuries clear up we could end up going all the way.
I'd take another European Cup over a top 4 finish

 

[bluemanchester]

“All tickets for this fixture will be issued as print@home. Tickets will be sent to the lead purchaser approximately 5 days prior to the fixture.”

Just had email saying tickets are digital as well as print at home.
Confused, me too;-)

 

[CityReddish]

I don't really go by simulations, we are on 8pts and sit 17th, and to avoid a the play offs have to hit the top 8,for me this match is a must win.

Thinking back, one of my first European games at Maine Road in the mid seventies was against Juventus, they had a decent team then but City won 1-0, Brian Kidd :), then in typical City fashion at the time, lost the away leg 2-0.

 

[MichaelFrontzeck'sBathroom]

Dreading this

 

[Big Joe Corrigan]

I don't really go by simulations, we are on 8pts and sit 17th, and to avoid a the play offs have to hit the top 8,for me this match is a must win.

Thinking back, one of my first European games at Maine Road in the mid seventies was against Juventus, they had a decent team then but City won 1-0, Brian Kidd :), then in typical City fashion at the time, lost the away leg 2-0.

I remember the home game as someone nicked my brothers City bobble hat after the match on the Kippax car park.

 

[CityReddish]

I remember the home game as someone nicked my brothers City bobble hat after the match on the Kippax car park.

Those were the days, hope he got it back, for me you really can't beat a European night, the only downer was burning my hands on the Bovril :)

 

[Tolmie scores]

Maybe it isn't but we should concentrate on trying to finish top 4 over trying to win the CL.

Sort of agree, but it's mad striving for top 4 to qualify next year for a tournament we are already in this year. Im thinking - why not have a go now - who knows what might happen - might finish 7th this year anyway - we'd be like Arsenal for years under Wenger..just get top 4...get knocked ..get top 4...repeat = pointless

 

[ProofMCFC]

Sort of agree, but it's mad striving for top 4 to qualify next year for a tournament we are already in this year. Im thinking - why not have a go now - who knows what might happen - might finish 7th this year anyway - we'd be like Arsenal for years under Wenger..just get top 4...get knocked ..get top 4...repeat = pointless

I do agree with just focusing on top 4 but you do have a point about us being in the competition already this year. But in terms of the reported rebuild in the summer, without champions league football makes it 10 times harder. You can probably say bye to all your plan A/B targets.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

I don't really go by simulations, we are on 8pts and sit 17th, and to avoid a the play offs have to hit the top 8,for me this match is a must win.

Thinking back, one of my first European games at Maine Road in the mid seventies was against Juventus, they had a decent team then but City won 1-0, Brian Kidd :), then in typical City fashion at the time, lost the away leg 2-0.

They kicked us all over the pitch that night at MR.

 

[wolviedinho]

Who is fit to play is the question?

Maybe Doku starts this one with Jack.

The defence? Anyone with working legs -:)

So hard to predict a city win under the current circumstances. Guess we just got to wait and see on the day.

Take a draw now.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

We should be okay for finishing in the top 4 this year. We need abit of luck with injuries and once (if) our injuries clear up we could end up going all the way.
I'd take another European Cup over a top 4 finish

I think we'd all take another European Cup over a top 4 finish but we have to be pragmatic this season and accept we are no longer the same quality we were.

Sort of agree, but it's mad striving for top 4 to qualify next year for a tournament we are already in this year. Im thinking - why not have a go now - who knows what might happen - might finish 7th this year anyway - we'd be like Arsenal for years under Wenger..just get top 4...get knocked ..get top 4...repeat = pointless

It is mad without thinking about it but qualifying for CL ensures millions in revenue and being in CL helps attract top players.

 

[Originals]

I think we'd all take another European Cup over a top 4 finish but we have to be pragmatic this season and accept we are no longer the same quality we were.

It is mad without thinking about it but qualifying for CL ensures millions in revenue and being in CL helps attract top players.

Agreed but alot of our issues are cause we've had an half fit squad for a good of games now. We get everyone bar Rodri fit and we've got a very good chance.

 

[ancoats]

It's such a hard game to play away from home at any part of the season even if we have a fully fit squad and starting 11 it's still going to be hell and hard to win, But an injury-hit and down to the bare-bones squad that is lacking form and feeling sorry for themselves well it's not looking good,

they need the points just as much as City do and will be the same old team from Italy, defend defend defend and be dirty and use all the tricks in the book, they will target Haaland and be right in his face hoping to get him to kick out
and if Jack Grealish plays he too will be getting ruffed up

Some How we have to make the knockouts or a playoff place in the new year, then we can review after a possible couple of new faces in jan transfer window.

 

[sarcastico]

Edi
Walker Dias Gvardiol
Rico Gundo
Grealish Foden(Put on your big boy underwear)
Sav Haaland Doku

 

[supercity88]

Everything suggests this will be a draw. Juventus have drawn a number of games, we're struggling to win games and you'd expect Pep to be a little bit more defence minded considering it's an Italian team and how much he respects their defensive capabilities.

However, win it and it does still give us the chance of making the top 8. Our goal difference is good and I think 16pts will be enough on goal difference to do it. We'll have 17pts if we win all three and given the injuries and strain on our squad I'm sure Pep will be pushing the team to go and get the job done and avoid the extra fixtures. The general pace and intensity in the CL, from the majority of sides, suits us more than the PL with the lack of energy we've shown recently.

 

[Father Paul]

with a win we keep the top8 hopes alive. with a draw or loss its gone. we need top8, otherwise more fixtures, more tiredness, more injuries and depending who we draw in the "losers playoff round", we might not even qualify for the last 16 despite all the 10 CL games to get there. what a waste of time that is.

I am still livid about the Feynoord game, 3-0 up an we got a point only while that extra 2 point would be crucial now.

We probably dont deserve to be in the top eight after that debacle.

 

[SamBlue]

Only certainty is we are going to concede, quite possible from some really bad mistake or positional feck-up. It is what it is!

 

[kaz7]

Not watched the cl this season , new format twisted my melon man