Brentford (A) - Sun 5th Oct, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[eversince 76]

Win this and it's a very good start to the season in my opinion. We have the 'fortune' that many of our players won't be part of their international squads and can hopefully stay and build fitness and work with the club over the break, where again, hopefully, we can get even better.

In attack we are fine, it's just tightening the defence by stopping those sloppy periods we lose control of games.

This will be a tough one with their physicality but a good chance to right the wrongs from Wednesday.

Agree. And at least a bit more positive than some of the ‘we support City but need to moan’-brigade or the ‘Bernardo is too old or/and slow’-army.

Win and it’s indeed a good start with hardly a preseason and players injured. But hey hoo, we should be beating every opponent with ease.

 

[train man]

. We are often a goal up and coasting along just waiting to add to the scoreline...

but often not trying to add to the scoreline...
we know we need to get another to close things out, let's stop the sideways arc and get on with creating actual fuckin chances...

 

[Marvin.]

but often not trying to add to the scoreline...

We used those tactics away from home when we won the Champions League didn't we?

I remember City being very dominant at home but we'd play safe away from home. I think that's a legitimate tactic. It doesn't work now though because the to get into the top 8 you need to win away from home.

 

[Bri1975]

 

[train man]

We used those tactics away from home when we won the Champions League didn't we?

I remember City being very dominant at home but we'd play safe away from home. I think that's a legitimate tactic. It doesn't work now though because the to get into the top 8 you need to win away from home.

Yep, but we were kings of ball control and retention, better than anyone has ever seen, anywhere, and we're a little way off that now...

 

[Withnail]

I think this match is a real barometer for where we are.

Agreed if we win we can go into the international break with a bit of confidence on the back of 6 games ( all comps) undefeated. If we lose or even draw then you can start to question have we progressed from last season.

 

[johnny crossan]

 

[Franny 1234]

Khusanov,Oreilly,Donnarumma,phil,Doku and Haaland that's my first six names on my starting eleven. Not to bothered about the other five starters. CTID

 

[PeterBarnesShorts]

Yep, but we were kings of ball control and retention, better than anyone has ever seen, anywhere, and we're a little way off that now...

…and unlikely to see from any team,ever again!It was that good.We should not expect that kind of level as a constant.

 

[The Mighty Marmoush]

This game is really tough make no mistake. If we are to beat these, we need to focus, with complete concentration for 98 minutes and put away our chances when we get them.

Furthermore the players from the bench that will replace at least Rodri and others from the 60 minute mark, need to cut out the stupid mistakes, such as those made in the Arsenal and Monaco games.

Especially conceding possesion and needlessly giving free kicks, throw ins and corners away.

These guys are set piece specialists with deadly long throws. Come on City!!!!

The free kick that led to the penalty that was not a penalty, was not even a free kick, so no blame on the players from the bench

 

[coolcity]

I have no idea what’s going to happen in this. Not really looking forward to it if I’m honest.

That's insane. Why do you even bother supporting the club then? We've had the time of our lives over the past decade and a half, reaching heights that bit obliged for most of us older fans think we would never see, but never even thought lodgings if any club even if some of you don't seem to recognise it.

Even this week Erling broke yet another record, becoming the fastest player to reach 50 CL goals, another incredible achievement to go into our record book yet few have recognised it and World rather moan because we didn't quite get over the line with all 3 points.

I honestly don't know what you want if you can't enjoy this period in our history. You're going to have to accept that we will never win every match, every trophy, score 5 goals in every match and so on but if you can't enjoy what we are doing and will continue to do there's something with with you.

 

[Goater101]

So many shithouses on here. Acting like every side we face atm are some super team.

 

[Marvin.]

Yep, but we were kings of ball control and retention, better than anyone has ever seen, anywhere, and we're a little way off that now...

I didn't have a problem with Pep's cautious away tactics in the old-style CL but I do now. The rules of the competition mean that there is an incentive to take risks away from home. To qualify automatically you need to try and win at least one of your away games in the CL. We were dominating Monaco and let that game slip. Partly because of a rash defensive error, but also partly because we decided to manage the game out in our usual manner. That's fair enough for the old format because then a point away would have been a good result, but that's no longer the case.

 

[BlueMonkey79]

So many shithouses on here. Acting like every side we face atm are some super team.

Sadly teams don't need to be SUPER to get a result against us nowadays.

Brighton weren't good and Monaco I thought were very underwhelming.

 

[Cobwebcat]

So many shithouses on here. Acting like every side we face atm are some super team.

While I know what you mean the PL is the strongest it has ever been. If there was a Worldwide Super League top 20, based on current standards, 10 of the teams would be from the PL. All 20 would be top 50.

While far from Super teams there really are very few easy games anymore because every team in the PL has the money, organisation and expertise to match CL standards (until the final 8)

Who would have thought a Bournemouth could outbid AC Milan?

City have nothing to fear, but give any PL team a sniff of a chance and we will pay the price. I think that’s what posters are seeing combined with out levels not being what they once were when we beat everyone for fun.

We will get better though. While far from 2023 standards this team is improving and I think, if it clicks soon, we can win the PL.

 

[Buckshaw Blue]

Khusanov,Oreilly,Donnarumma,phil,Doku and Haaland that's my first six names on my starting eleven. Not to bothered about the other five starters. CTID

I think Khusanov is still injured.

 

[bluemoon32]

1-3 City
Foden the star player

 

[malg]

So many shithouses on here. Acting like every side we face atm are some super team.

Not so sure a super team I think it's just the dawning realisation that a lot of teams can now give us a game. 2/3 years ago that wasn't the case. I'm not sure it's because Guardiola has been found out, more a case that we've lost a lot of players from the Treble season and some new signings are having a wee bit of trouble adjusting to Guardiola and the PL.

 

[Father Paul]

That's insane. Why do you even bother supporting the club then? We've had the time of our lives over the past decade and a half, reaching heights that bit obliged for most of us older fans think we would never see, but never even thought lodgings if any club even if some of you don't seem to recognise it.

Even this week Erling broke yet another record, becoming the fastest player to reach 50 CL goals, another incredible achievement to go into our record book yet few have recognised it and World rather moan because we didn't quite get over the line with all 3 points.

I honestly don't know what you want if you can't enjoy this period in our history. You're going to have to accept that we will never win every match, every trophy, score 5 goals in every match and so on but if you can't enjoy what we are doing and will continue to do there's something with with you.

Is this a programmed response? They just expressed reservations about a tricky away game not universal doom and gloom.

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Henderson is apparently playing very well for them.

I was watching Jonny on YouTube typical city last night. He said he hated Henderson. I think he speaks for many of us....

I've seen this guy in one of our local upmarket supermarkets wearing a luminous pink Versace track suit. What a plonker. He is unfortunately, a very annoying player and constantly in the face of refs, years of practice at the Dips.