Real Madrid (A) - Wed 19th Feb, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

[sh249]

————————Ederson———-
Khusanov-Stones-Dias-Gvardiol
————Gonzalez-Gundogan——
Savinho———-Foden——-Marmoush
———————-Haaland————

If Gundogan can’t do two games in a few days, bring in Bernardo.

Love De Bruyne but he should be nowhere near this from the start. Nor should Kovacic.

 

[hertsblue]

Hopefully ref will be strong, especially with their victim’s mentality in the media re refs and the abuse the refs received including his family since sending off Bellingham.

 

[Dax777]

————————Ederson———-
Khusanov-Stones-Dias-Gvardiol
————Gonzalez-Gundogan——
Savinho———-Foden——-Marmoush
———————-Haaland————

If Gundogan can’t do two games in a few days, bring in Bernardo.

Love De Bruyne but he should be nowhere near this from the start. Nor should Kovacic.

Im okay vwith Kova next to Gonzo

 

[Dodge]

Gone for a breakfast there waiting for @Dodge to appear
After his Brentford exploits

Arfff ;)

Just heading for Plaza Mayor mate, you still in Alicante?

 

[noseve]

I don't think this team will let their heads sink. We have to score twice anyway. If they score it just means that's only enough to take it to extra time. We've got options on the bench now and will be boosted by the result and performance on Saturday. There have been numerous times in recent years where the pressure has been on and the team have delivered an exceptional performance. Sometimes it's complete domination, other times it's digging in through adversity to get the result. If we're 2 goal down on aggregate then the shackles come off, there's nothing to lose at that point and it might be a positive rather than a burden.

The gameplan for both teams is quite obvious I think. Ancelotti will recognise our threat on the ball and look to stay compact and counter, knowing we need to score. Pep will recognise their threat on the counter and look for us to be patient rather than too expansive.

Strictly speaking, of course, we only have to score once. Not being pedantic, but the mindset of 'must score twice' is counter-productive.
If we score once, we're level. Simple as that. Then it all starts again...

 

[Gone for a Burton]

This os the only way we lose the game. Hopefully, if he does the 'experience' thing, he only does it on defense.

Ederson
Khusanov Dias AKe Gvardiol
...........Gonzo....Stones........
......Savio......Phil...........Marmoush
.................. Haaland..............


At least this way, he can say he didn't throw caution to the wind

Stones for Ake,Kevin next to Nico Phil to drop in to a floating 8 & 10 when in possession or 6/4 out of possession mixing movement with KdB.

 

[citeh94]

I also feel that we can do it, but disagree with your assessment of last week. We should have been dead and buried within 15 minutes. 'more of the same' won't cut it in the Bernebeu

Yeah didn’t really mean to put it like that, we should have been dead and buried but I did think moments like Ake’s block kept us in the game and if we are to win tomorrow night we need moments like that again because they will certainly get opportunities

 

[ancoats]

I strangely dont see us losing. Outside of Pep seriously hampering the lineup. I see us winning the game. Maybe 2-1 3-1 or 4-1. We might lose on penalties. But we'll win the game

Win the game no matter how over the 90 minutes or extra time or pens will be a statement of intent
But losing is OK as well, as long we don't fold and take a big hit.

We need to win the Champions League again and again, Then we can shut the red scum up

 

[heslops barnet]

Pick the same 11 as the weekend pep

Good shout but you never know with Pep in Europe………unfortunately

 

[ancoats]

Looks like everyone other than Rodri, Bobb and Akanji is back at training.

Thus, Pep's chances of messing up the lineup has increased drastically. :p

I think if City and Pep got the 2.1 win last week then Pep would have changed the system and defended a bit more tomorrow, But now we need goals or score more than them and then maybe pens, it changes the whole output for me and Pep having a brain fart in the middle and defence,

Phil Foden has to play, down the middle or just off the left coming in But 100% needs to start, also Khusanov plays with Dias and Stones in a 3 and Gonzalez holding

Ederson (Khusanov Dias Stones Gvadiol) (Gonzalez Silva Foden) Marmoush Savinho Haaland

 

[supercity88]

Strictly speaking, of course, we only have to score once. Not being pedantic, but the mindset of 'must score twice' is counter-productive.
If we score once, we're level. Simple as that. Then it all starts again...

My post was in response to someone saying heads will drop if we go a goal down. So we would need to score twice!

 

[supercity88]

I think if City and Pep got the 2.1 win last week then Pep would have changed the system and defended a bit more tomorrow, But now we need goals or score more than them and then maybe pens, it changes the whole output for me and Pep having a brain fart in the middle and defence,

Phil Foden has to play, down the middle or just off the left coming in But 100% needs to start, also Khusanov plays with Dias and Stones in a 3 and Gonzalez holding

Ederson (Khusanov Dias Stones Gvadiol) (Gonzalez Silva Foden) Marmoush Savinho Haaland

I liked what Brendan Rodgers said today regarding Celtic. Losing a football match isn't a big deal, but leaving everything out there and knowing you gave it your all is critical.

I hope Pep doesn't make too big and occasion of it. We are where we are due to results in the league phase. We shouldn't be in this position but it is what it is.

This isn't a semi final it's a playoff. Don't put the same level of pressure on things. The trophy is miles off even if we win. Go out there and give it everything, if we get beat we get beat.

I can see a masterful City performance and a tactical stroke of genius from Pep tomorrow. But I was saying that throughout our horrific form so take it with a pinch of salt!

 

[big gaz]

Us - 11 City bastards
Them - FUCK UM
Come on City !

 

[johnny crossan]

 

[big gaz]

View attachment 147216

I can go with that.

 

[foggy1974]

————————Ederson———-
Khusanov-Stones-Dias-Gvardiol
————Gonzalez-Gundogan——
Savinho———-Foden——-Marmoush
———————-Haaland————

If Gundogan can’t do two games in a few days, bring in Bernardo.

Love De Bruyne but he should be nowhere near this from the start. Nor should Kovacic.

I don't expect us to have the space behind RMs' defence & Kev may longer has the legs but I'm pretty sure Pep rested both Kev & Berny for Madrid

 

[big gaz]

Yes, and Ake, both running normally.

In fact the only ones I didn't see were Akanji and Rodri, wasn't tatally sure I saw Oscar, but might have.

Fuck off running normally, is there any other way to run ;-)

 

[foggy1974]

Fuck off running normally, is there any other way to run ;-)

Like Sterling ??

 

[Betterdeedthan red]

I'm convinced Rodri will play.
He's far ahead of were we thought he would be. I think he's certainly a shock inclusion

Your not been serious.
Are you ?

 

[Mancity1980]

I feel like Pep will favour experience in this one and end up with Ake at LCB and Stones alongside Nico with De Bruyne starting too.

I personally think that's the wrong way to go, but maybe they'll respect us enough to let that side get a foothold and we've got enough on the bench to make them suffer late on.

I'd be shifting Khus to RB for Rico and slotting Dias in at LCB next to Stones. I'd play Kovacic for Gundo as he's got a bit more energy and will benefit from Nico being alongside him. I'd save Ake for any injuries/fatigue rather than start all of our best defenders. And I'd save De Bruyne and Gundo for the bench when wise heads can make a difference against tired legs.

The big problem I see here is if Real get the opening goal, it is all over. So the conundrum is do we start cautious and hope they don’t sneak one past us or do we start less cautious in an effort to get the opening goal and risk them catching us on the break? I don’t know the answer.