Al Ain (N) - Mon 23rd June, 02:00 | CWC | Pre-Match Thread

[aka blue jambo]

Likely Lads stuff in morning
Avoid the news about WW3
And sit with tea and toast about 7am

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

I know this probably stating the leedin' obvious, but I imagine the team will mostly be those, who didn’t play on Wednesday.

I think Pep said as much. I'm hoping for a big win and I think some of the City squad are playing for their futures at the club...not for this competition but i expect the squad to be trimmed from mid July till the end of the transfer window.

 

[cleavers]

I thought it was 2am Tuesday ?

 

[rodrizontal]

At this rate, Madrid might not qualify from their group. We need to finish first in our group and not worry about where Madrid finish

 

[heslops barnet]

I looked on the channel 5 TV catchup service to see if they are reshowing the CWC games later. They just show daily highlights each day. That might suit some fans who just want the best bits?

Personally I want to watch the whole match so I'm setting the video recorder. I can fast forward if it's not exciting but I hopefully won't miss anything.

Staying up for a 2am KO would mess me up for the week these days.

Probably be able to watch x25 speed, we may look quicker on the break

 

[cleavers]

I'll still be "working" (FH) at KO, so I'll definitely see the first half, if we're a few up (or down) by HT, I'll go to bed at 3, when my shift finishes.

I'll record it, since I've discovered it's 2am Mon, not Tue as I thought, not WFH tonight, so can't be arsed, with no choice for a late night tomorrow.

 

[chesterbells]

Probably be able to watch x25 speed, we may look quicker on the break

I was gonna ask him where he’s getting his video cassettes from these days.

 

[cleavers]

Why are people making a meal out of Stones not being ready to start? He hasn't got injured again, he wasn't fit enough to play for England 2 weeks ago, he hasn't played in months, of course he's not ready to start a match, his reintroduction was always going to be as a sub whenever that may be. Hopefully later.

They've nothing else to flap about ??

 

[chesterbells]

I’m sure I’m being slow here, but isn’t this match irrelevant to winning the group?

Win tonight and we’re still very likely to need to beat Juve (unless we bag a huge win). Lose tonight and if we beat Juve we also top the group? (Is head to head first criteria if points equal?)

 

[Damanino]

I wouldnt mind to put 7/8 goals past Al Ain if we can and a draw gets us 1st place in last game.

but with Pep mentioning as well the huge respect to Al Ain due to Sheikh Mansour/UAE I doubt we will do them as badly as we should for the goal difference. we will keep it more respectable score line 2/3 goals and then we have to do our best vs Juventus.

 

[cleavers]

I’m sure I’m being slow here, but isn’t this match irrelevant to winning the group?

Win tonight and we’re still very likely to need to beat Juve (unless we bag a huge win). Lose tonight and if we beat Juve we also top the group? (Is head to head first criteria if points equal?)

If we lose tonight, we're not likely to beat Juve anyway.

 

[chesterbells]

If we lose tonight, we're not likely to beat Juve anyway.

Yep, quite. But that’s not what I was getting at or asking. But cheers anyway!

 

[Impeccable One]

I wouldnt mind to put 7/8 goals past Al Ain if we can and a draw gets us 1st place in last game.

but with Pep mentioning as well the huge respect to Al Ain due to Sheikh Mansour/UAE I doubt we will do them as badly as we should for the goal difference. we will keep it more respectable score line 2/3 goals and then we have to do our best vs Juventus.

We might prefer to be 2nd in the group

 

[Xhavenjoe]

I thought it was 2am Tuesday ?

Our match is starting in 5 hours

 

[city9320]

I thought it was 2am Tuesday ?

Nah. 2am tonight/tomorrow morning...

 

[Pollock's Deft Backheader]

It's 3am here so it's on the border of stay up/get up.

 

[DJ Dreamer]

Would like to see Echeverri start this one. Just from the vids and stuff the club is releasing I get the impression he's lighting the gaff up in training and is a bit further along in terms of being able to make an immediate impact than we might assume.

I hope so to

DAZN pundits keep talking about Esteveo & Mastantuono because they are off to Chelsea and Real Madrid. Our lad has been forgotten about...

 

[Damanino]

We might prefer to be 2nd in the group

we might, but we play the last game City vs Juventus sooner than the opposite group plays their last round (Real/Salzburg/Al Hilal) so its them who can "choose" an opponent for next round knowing the final standing of our group.

not as good as if we would kow how their group finished and then we act accordingly vs Juventus with couple of own goals on each side :))

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

I hope so to

DAZN pundits keep talking about Esteveo & Mastantuono because they are off to Chelsea and Real Madrid. Our lad has been forgotten about...

They were talking about him the first game we played. They also talked about him in the warm up to Real’s first game.

 

[DJ Dreamer]

They were talking about him the first game we played. They also talked about him in the warm up to Real’s first game.

It must have been so brief I missed it.

Hopefully he starts, hopefully he performs and all they do is talk about him...