Match Thread | Manchester City vs. Napoli (18/09/25)

[69FACUPfinal]

Just got the game on talkshite 2. Who the feck is Mickey Gray? What a complete tool. Has got his tongue a foot long up Contes back passage, saying he’s the better manager. They are down to 10 men ffs , they will defend for their lives.

In complete contrast Rob Earnshaw (?) On Sky has been very effusive in his praise.

 

[pee dubya]

Either Bernie or Doku off for Bobb or some kind of change out wide, either side, something. Fucking hell, something

We're creating chances.

 

[Eccles Blue]

Oh y goodness. As if the commentators are definitely for Napoli this blooming woman is saying poor thing about the red card man!
The mind boggles!

 

[TinFoilHat]

P1llock. It would be better if our fans turned up. Empty stands in places. No wonder they sell tickets to 'half and half wankers'.

Where are they then?

I tried getting a ticket for this and it was "sold out" on the website.

Dortmund the same.

I'm starting to wonder if paying the matchday scheme for a scarf and a facsimile letter from Pep every season is worth it.

That's another argument.

Back to the match.

I reckon we'll win this second half.

 

[deano ou812]

Lads are playing well. Dias needs to keep the ball moving, would get Bobb on instead of Bernie.

He needs to release it to players who can eye a pass he has too much of the ball slowing it down at times..

 

[JD_619]

I sense a penalty incoming

 

[madloaf]

TNT: Napoli still in it

 

[daveiw01]

I think the most important thing, regardless of the result, is that this feels more like the City of 2-3 years ago.

If they defend for 90 minutes like this then I think you just have to say fair fucks.

Exactly, don't want to tempt fate, but this feels a little bit more like Pep's all conquering City.

 

[chris85mcfc]

I think we've been decent, the sending off actually makes it more difficult because of the way they setup; they'll just take even less risks

Just got to keep patient and one will drop nicely

 

[balotellishaircut]

Tried to warn everyone as I'm Dutch too and he's nowhere near City level

I agree about Reijdeers but don’t forget on here everything is Dokus fault, even this nil nil.

 

[SkyBlueFlux]

Can read bernardo like a book.

He receives it, carries the ball down the wide area, shimmies and passes it back inside.

Rinse and repeat.

He clearly isn’t the most inventive going forwards but there was two occasions in that half where he saved our defenders from getting boxed in and nobody else recognised the danger apart from him.

If we bring him off for Bobb then fine, but I expect our structure will suffer. Sometimes he’s the only player who knows exactly where he needs to be and that’s why Pep continues to play him.

 

[Gabriel]

Last season against Arsenal, Guardiola persisted with the same team up until 70 minutes and then 78 minutes. We cannot afford that tonight, especially with Arsenal having more resting time before the weekend.

 

[noseve]

Cant make my mind up about Antonio Conte. Any other bloke who had a hair transplant and then dyes it jet black at 56 years old would be an immediate **** in my book, but he is classic Italian male. Picture him shagging a lass and then booting her off the back of his Vespa after hes dropped her back home. Hard to dislike, hes nearly as classic Italian as Bobby Manc

On the contrary - sounds like you have made up your mind about him...

 

[jamielowndes]

The change in philosophy is a breath of fresh air to me. No more passing out from the back all the time, and the slow sideways and backwards has definitely been a lot less tonight. I’m loving this new style, go long when we have to, more forward penetrating passes, far more crosses, even if they don’t come off, it’s miles better to watch, adds a bit of risk. Hopefully we get the reward.

Same. You can still play possession football while having some urgency in attack. The legs just look so much more fresh in comparison to last years league phase.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

We're creating chances.

Do you want to borrow my brick wall? It has some dents in it, mind.

 

[lonestay]

When you think about it, it was the perfect cameo for kdb. Got some songs, got some loving from the crowd didn't fuck it up by scoring against us !!! Lol !

 

[Doc_Testosterone]

Tourists like to watch football quietly. You can't sing and take lots of photographs at the same time.

I have been enough times in the past few years during group stage games to know that the atmosphere tends to be flat. I wouldn’t blame tourists for this.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

No I don't think we have been average, we have been quite good to be honest. Not sure what match some of you are seeing. The keepers has some amazing saves and we have been excellent in the 20-25 minutes of the advantage. Even controlled the game before. We arnt playing a carabao fixture where it's going to be 5-0 at HT against 10. Our plays been good as well, lots of chances

Agreed. You simply have to credit Napoli. Just heroic defending and keeping thus far.

 

[daveiw01]

TNT: Napoli still in it

To be fair, they are. I dislike TNT, but at least there are 2 ex Blues in the studio for a change. Baby steps.

 

[stan bowles]

Doku being doubled, tripled up on but can't find the free man, he looks good against championship teams though.

Should give the others plenty of space to operate then if Doku is drawing a crowd.