City vs Chelsea pre-match thread

[makinghistory]

I think we'll win this. Pep will realize that preventing Hazard from getting on the ball slows them down immensely. Anyone expecting him to match them with 3 at the back is insane. He'll play 4231 with Sagna starting who always gets the better of Hazard.

I think if we can isolate Raheem/Kun/KDB against Cahill/Luiz we should win this.

If ever there was a case for man marking its got be on Hazard. Keep him quiet and the worlds our oyster.

 

[MarsLlama]

Am I right in thinking that we can't finish anywhere other than second in the UCL group? If so then surely Celtic is the game where we want to rest players. This game demands our best team because it's the biggest of the season so far.

 

[makinghistory]

Watched them against Spuds. Yes they were ok but certainly not worldbeaters. If City play well and dont make any stupid mistakes at the back or GIVE them the ball in midfield then I really think we have nothing to fear. Spuds played them off the pitch for 40mints.

 

[makinghistory]

Won't be a popular post, but I'm with you on this. Navas has great ball retention also.

Navas runs and runs and runs oh and also and gets corners sometimes. Thats all you get every match. Its not enough. He never threatens and NEVER gets you a goal. Sterling for me all day long.

 

[makinghistory]

Whole week to to prepare and the first home game under pep against the so called 'title challenging teams'

Think it may be a 1-1 draw. We have a decent record at home to Chelsea in recent years, Chelsea fans aren't that confident either (according to their forum) 1-1 or 2-1 city.

At this stage of the season I think both sides will be ecstatic with 1 pt each.

 

[makinghistory]

I expect us to play Glacial speed attacking football and get hit on the break to concede once if not twice.
Not going to win on current form and are more likely to go down to a defeat - unless some of the players start to pull their fingers out.

Reality is hard to take sometimes but you may well be right unless we pretend we are playing Barca.:)

 

[makinghistory]

Need to avoid defeat. We can't fall further behind them or we could be out of the title race if we drop again soon.
Obviously at home we should be looking to win but I'd play it safe and take a point if offered it now

You dont fall out of the title race at the beginning of Dec when you are in the top 4/6. Neverthless a defeat will be somewhat deflating.

 

[makinghistory]

stop hazard and pedro is the most important thing when trying to nullify chelsea.....get into costa's head and he will get himself sent off as well

Youve just stolen my exact thoughts.

 

[kaz7]

Youve just stolen my exact thoughts.

Costa hasn't lost his head for months,he has calmed down,vinny and mangler used to frustrate him,none of our current team will do that now,we are more likely to get noli sent off

 

[makinghistory]

Lets just remember if Chelski win its just 3 points -theyve not won the title. Similarly if we win we havent won the title we both have a few more matches to play till May. Thats how I see it. Lets stop making this the title decider for goodness sake.

 

[birchwoodgingerste]

We can win comfortable here I'll go 3-0 aguero Hatrick

 

[inchy14]

I would still disagree that we played poorly in those games, but yeah, I would agree that we weren't as fluid and dominating as we know we can be, and as you said, grinding out wins is a really good habit to develop.

I think most Chelsea fans I talk to believe we are a notch below City in terms of ability. We are riding high on momentum at the moment and there is still an air of 'teams haven't figured out how to play against us yet' about us (Spurs did, but their game management was poor), hence the current 7 match winning streak. Pep is currently the best manager in the world, and as many have pointed out, he has a whole week to prepare, so I expect you to be the better team on the day.

Beating City away is not something I expect this team to be able to do, but this whole season has been full of pleasant surprises, so we're going into this game going for the win.

You need to do one mate, talk far too much sense for the majority of posters on here... ;0)

 

[DWIFF]

Bravo
Sagna Otamendi Kolarov Clichy
Fernadinho Fernando
Sterling KDB Silva
Aguero

Stones is to lightweight against Costa and I think Pep will want to bring him down a peg or two after his indiscretion.

Gundogan off the bench if we're struggling. I don't think a point is a disaster but I think we'll sneak it 2-1.

 

[sir baconface]

A full week to prepare and the lads will be up for this one. I think we'll rise to the occasion and put this lot back in their box.

Not quite a must-win at this stage but a massive boost if we do.

 

[Hungarian blue]

Bravo
Sagna Otamendi Kolarov Clichy
Fernadinho Fernando
Sterling KDB Silva
Aguero

Stones is to lightweight against Costa and I think Pep will want to bring him down a peg or two after his indiscretion.

Gundogan off the bench if we're struggling. I don't think a point is a disaster but I think we'll sneak it 2-1.

No way Gundogan is not starting this one.

 

[fergal_oc]

Want to be confident but struggling to believe myself 2-2 :(

 

[BLUEMATT23]

We were hopeless against the teams around us last season. In December vs Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool will tell us all we need to know about where were at.
Lets hope we can win them all.
Pivotal stage of the season now.

 

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

We can win comfortable here I'll go 3-0 aguero Hatrick

I love the positive vibes, however imo they will score, but 3-1 would still be great!!

 

[super_city_si]

We can win comfortable here I'll go 3-0 aguero Hatrick

Hahahaha.....clean sheet? I like your optimism.

 

[Silva_Spell]

Start well, harass them out of possession (only Luiz of their back 7 is any good on the ball and even he has a huge fuckup in him), go ahead and force them to attack. Then pick them off.

If we're up for it we can make them look very ordinary.