Real Madrid (H) - Tues 11th Feb, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction?

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noseve said:
You make some good points, but I never suggested that pace came into it. By skinning, I just meant that the three I mentioned will be beaten time and time again (by their own errors and back-pedalling as much as by any great RM play).

When it comes to one player running with the ball against another one, how 'the team plays' doesn't come into it.

A natural defender trying to actually close the attacker down will always get my vote over what we see, with monotonous regularity, in every game. Even when faced with average attackers.

The two biggest issues - which I refer to on here quite frequently (after all, if the team continue to do it, I'm entitled to keep complaining about it) are
1) Back-pedalling without even a thought of tackling until we have penned ourselves into our own area;
2) Making some half-arsed show of trying to block a shot from 5m away, instead of getting a foot on top of the ball and stopping it at source. I personally haven't played for years, but give me a ball right now, and I could swing it around somebody standing as far away as our lot were for most of the Arsenal goals.

The Brugges right-back received praise on here for keeping Phil so quiet. That's all he was doing - closing him down. Takes energy and concentration of course, obviously, but not any rocket science.
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Ok so tbf I think what you have a problem with is the way the defence sets up and how we defend rather than an individual player. Even if Khusanov started, I wouldn't expect him to come in and take a free role at right back and just try to man mark the winger out of the game. He'd come in and follow instructions.

I just can't agree with you that how the team plays doesn't come into it or that it's perfectly simple. This is a professional team.
 
noseve said:
You make some good points, but I never suggested that pace came into it. By skinning, I just meant that the three I mentioned will be beaten time and time again (by their own errors and back-pedalling as much as by any great RM play).

When it comes to one player running with the ball against another one, how 'the team plays' doesn't come into it.

A natural defender trying to actually close the attacker down will always get my vote over what we see, with monotonous regularity, in every game. Even when faced with average attackers.

The two biggest issues - which I refer to on here quite frequently (after all, if the team continue to do it, I'm entitled to keep complaining about it) are
1) Back-pedalling without even a thought of tackling until we have penned ourselves into our own area;
2) Making some half-arsed show of trying to block a shot from 5m away, instead of getting a foot on top of the ball and stopping it at source. I personally haven't played for years, but give me a ball right now, and I could swing it around somebody standing as far away as our lot were for most of the Arsenal goals.

The Brugges right-back received praise on here for keeping Phil so quiet. That's all he was doing - closing him down. Takes energy and concentration of course, obviously, but not any rocket science.
Click to expand...

Ok so tbf I think what you have a problem with is the way the defence sets up and how we defend rather than an individual player. Even if Khusanov started, I wouldn't expect him to come in and take a free role at right back and just try to man mark the winger out of the game. He'd come in and follow instructions.

I just can't agree with you that how the team plays doesn't come into it or that it's perfectly simple. This is a professional team.
 
Ederson, Akanji, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol, Grealish KDB, Kovacic, Bernardo, Haaland, Foden. That's my team to start. It won't be that. Wrestling about Savio. Went for keeping his powder dry.
 
WestGorton said:
Ederson, Akanji, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol, Grealish KDB, Kovacic, Bernardo, Haaland, Foden. That's my team to start. It won't be that. Wrestling about Savio. Went for keeping his powder dry.
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Savio should play instead of Grealish based on Savio's form and Grealish's lack of fitness. Could be a case for Grealilsh to play the second leg if he plays against Newcastle and has a good outing, but doubt we'll see him even then.

Would love to watch Savio outplay Vinicius at the Etihad though.
 
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GaudinoMotors said:
Fast transitions mean losing the the ball quicker.
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Madrid will keep the ball
Better than us. So I don’t see the problem. We need to be compact and lightning quick on the counter. They also play a high line so space over the top for legs to run into. We won’t/don’t have the players to dominate them in possession we’re to sloppy nowadays. They have fantastic speed up front and will destroy our high lines
 
I think we need to go for it at home, we need a lead going into the second leg.

Probably one of the hardest team predictions ever as the lads just can’t get into any sort of rhythm. Defence picks itself although I would be tempted to throw Khusanov in at the deep end, but as annoying as Akanji has been at CB this year, he’s proved to be good at RB in previous seasons. Experience wins out this time around I think.

Ederson

Akanji Stones Dias Gvardiol

Gonzales Kovacic/Bernardo

Foden Kev Savinho

Haaland

Gvardiol pushing high up as he can leaving Akanji, Stones and Dias at the back with Kovacic and Nico covering. That front four with Gvardiol supporting will cause them problems. I’d definitely go for Kev, we need to create chances and he’s still the best at it. Don’t think he’s suitable for the second leg.

That’s what I would like anyway. I think Pep will go with this midfield and forward line and it won’t go down to well before the game.

Nico Kova

Bernardo Kev Foden

Haaland
 
Pep will go to what he knows if Niko is fit he will play but rest is his safe mode team who he trusts


_________Ederson

Akanji_Stones_Dias_Gvardiol

______Niko_Kovacic_______

____Silva_kdb_Foden____

______Haaland_______
 
Watching Real Atletico, both teams strong, fighting, but Real's defense is a mess, shattered by injuries, defo might be caught off guard. Their midfield seems poor for long periods as well. First half Atletico leading but had better chances too.

We are far from our best, but we not facing prime Real. Question is whether we gonna stop counter attacks of Mbappe, Vinicius, Rodrygo. They are quality and threat, no doubt. We need strong performance out of Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol and (probably) Stones.
 
Real where better in the first half, but that comedy of a penalty is gonna be another controversy. Lets see how the 2nd half goes. Real have a hard job of puting atleast 2 goals on a atletic thats gonna defend deep with all players...
 
IronsideKozuch said:
Watching Real Atletico, both teams strong, fighting, but Real's defense is a mess, shattered by injuries, defo might be caught off guard. Their midfield seems poor for long periods as well. First half Atletico leading but had better chances too.

We are far from our best, but we not facing prime Real. Question is whether we gonna stop counter attacks of Mbappe, Vinicius, Rodrygo. They are quality and threat, no doubt. We need strong performance out of Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol and (probably) Stones.
Click to expand...
I agree, their defending looks a lot like ours at the moment, fragile and exposed. Athletic have sat deep and hit on the break when they can making it harder for Madrid to counter and have overloads on the break. The front three of Madrid is scary quick and if they have space to run into we will struggle to catch them.
 
theres only one carlito said:
Madrid will keep the ball
Better than us. So I don’t see the problem. We need to be compact and lightning quick on the counter. They also play a high line so space over the top for legs to run into. We won’t/don’t have the players to dominate them in possession we’re to sloppy nowadays. They have fantastic speed up front and will destroy our high lines
Click to expand...
Madrid will not keep the ball. Never has against us and wont on tuesday at the Etihad. We go for it at home, especially since Real have injury crisis.
 
Needs a much pace as possible in that front line both Savinho / Marmoush have to start imo
 
Really think city have to go for it in this game. Front three of Omar, Erling and Savinho. Madrid’s defence is poor atm, and that front three would shred them. Also would like to see Khusanov get a game. I think Akanji wouldn’t cut it at the moment.
Think he’d give Vinicius a run for his money. Khusanov’s physicality is something Vinicius hates, he can’t stand being out-physicalled, tends to get to his head, which is needed. Pray Nico is fine. If he is, I think their is a chance.
 
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