Barcelona Vs City Pre Match Thread

[inbetween]

Knife edge game this really, a fantastic performance could set us up for the rest of the season even if we don't go through. A bad performance and a bad loss and it could be curtains for Pellegrini.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

For me it is not if Barca turn up or not, it is if we do or not.
To be honest i could not care less what they do in the match. On our day we can do anyone.
Thing is De Niro we have seen it far few times this season and if anything recently we have been tailing off. You can understand people not being to confident given the circumstances.

I do not think most of us are even chucking in the towel, just finding it hard to see signs we may turn up/come good.

It does not help seeing pics of Messi running around smiling because he and his chums have just hammered some poor sods either.
He broke some mor records very recently i think. Shame it was not his damned toe, just enough of an injury to keep him out against us.
Mind you Suarez is finding his feet now to it would seem and they have Neymar to.

In fact i should probably shut up xD

I don't think its a case of chucking in the towel, just being realistic.

Comparing it with Roma is hardly like for like either (Not you) - that's like saying we will win at Chelsea because we beat Leicester away.

Barcelona are a great side as proven the other week at our place. They are in great form. We are in terrible form and have kept two clean sheets in 14 games. There is little to suggest this is all of a sudden going to change. The players may have downed tools, they may not but they are certainly struggling with these one dimensional tactics!!

I cant see anything other than a loss. It wont be a hammering but I suspect 2-0 or 3-1 something along those lines.

 

[supercity88]

I want to see the professionalism we showed in Roma, the fight and desire we showed against Bayern and a performance that we haven't so far seen this season. I hope that we play with an intelligence as well. Play for free kicks to relieve the pressure, put the ball in the box and test their defence. It doesn't matter if it isn't our usual style, if we play them at their own game we lose. We need to get stuck into them and hope the referee doesn't ruin things by getting too involved.

A performance that shows our true class and desire is what is required. The result won't matter as long as we do that.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

we need to show more aggression/closing down , and show them less respect , and not get carried away with their results against la liga cannon fodder , they have just beaten some no marks called Eibar 2-0 , and Barca had 6 first team players missing / rested. We need to include , milner,navas,fernando,fernandinho,bony,zabs,mangala,vinny players who are committed and will bust a gut , its not a game for lightweights like nasri,dzeko,kolarov, but most of all , we must play with a bit of PRIDE , i can take defeats if our lads give 100%.

 

[kunaguero10]

If Pellers has any balls, Yaya will not start. More than anything, we need pace and attitude tomorrow. Yaya currently has neither.

You don't drop your biggest big game player

 

[PragueBlue]

If Pellers has any balls, Yaya will not start. More than anything, we need pace and attitude tomorrow. Yaya currently has neither.

You don't drop your biggest big game player

You do when he is out of form and need a bit of energy and quite a high work rate. Our results in Europe have been better since he got suspended.

Having said that I fully expect Pellegrini to pick him.

 

[jollylescott]

I don't know why I let my heart rule my head.

There's something about this team that does things when you least expect it. No one gives us a chance. That suits me fine.

Barcelona 1 City 2

City to win in extra time.

 

[paulsimpson]

Milner and Navas both have to play IMO, they provide the best covering of the flanks whilst still posing a threat going forward, hard working and disciplined. My midfield would therefore be

Milner- Silva- Yaya - Navas
Fernandinho

Yes
With Navas on the right
This will work - plenty of pace in a very open game
You never know with City
Put in a shift lads c'mon !

 

[Chippy_boy]

For me it is not if Barca turn up or not, it is if we do or not.
To be honest i could not care less what they do in the match. On our day we can do anyone.
Thing is De Niro we have seen it far few times this season and if anything recently we have been tailing off. You can understand people not being to confident given the circumstances.

I do not think most of us are even chucking in the towel, just finding it hard to see signs we may turn up/come good.

It does not help seeing pics of Messi running around smiling because he and his chums have just hammered some poor sods either.
He broke some mor records very recently i think. Shame it was not his damned toe, just enough of an injury to keep him out against us.
Mind you Suarez is finding his feet now to it would seem and they have Neymar to.

In fact i should probably shut up xD

I don't think its a case of chucking in the towel, just being realistic.

Comparing it with Roma is hardly like for like either (Not you) - that's like saying we will win at Chelsea because we beat Leicester away.

Barcelona are a great side as proven the other week at our place. They are in great form. We are in terrible form and have kept two clean sheets in 14 games. There is little to suggest this is all of a sudden going to change. The players may have downed tools, they may not but they are certainly struggling with these one dimensional tactics!!

I cant see anything other than a loss. It wont be a hammering but I suspect 2-0 or 3-1 something along those lines.

Hard to disagree with any of that. A significant (not marginal) defeat is I think our most likely fate.

That said, this is football, and even more so, it is City. So whilst I agree that your predictions are most likely, I don't rule out us winning, or us losing by 4 or 5 goals. I'd say both of these latter two scenarios are about as likely as each other.

 

[the blue panther]

Back in 1968, one of my dad's sayings about a tough match was, 'When the chips are down, City are always there."

He'll be looking down on us tomorrow night. Poor form from us; great form by them; losing the tie going into the 2nd leg at the toughest of places - the chips are well and truly down!

Here's hoping we go for it and see the great performance we know the team is capable of. 100% from everyone - including Pellegrini in his team selection - and we can beat anyone.