Barcelona Vs City Pre Match Thread

[bluemoon98]

Referee for the match is Gianluca Rocchi. Reffed the 1-1 vs real madrid and us before.

Has reffed 3 barcelona games and every time they have won them all...

Oh wow, this guy is absolutely terrible.

Can't believe he's gotten another big fixtures, he HAS to be bribing somebody

Cant say i remember him making any bad decisions in the 1-1.

But that was only match i seem to remember him reffing that i've seen.

Care to let me know what hes like mate?

Just found this site and lists serie A matches he has reffed poorly.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2014/10/05/5159857/juventus-vs-roma-and-gianluca-rocchis-most-controversial" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy ... troversial</a>

Sorry for the editing:

Didnt know he sent Platt to the stands in the match?

Rocchi was suspended by Uefa for the first leg of the Champions League last 16 after a controversial performance in the group stage clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid. Rocchi awarded City a dubious penalty, sending off Alvaro Arbeloa in the process. He also sent City assistant manager David Platt to the stands and dished out seven yellow cards.
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[Damocles]

Made a seperate thread:

<a class="postlink-local" href="http://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=311266" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">viewtopic.php?f=1&t=311266</a>

 

[supercity88]

It's set up just the way City like it - backs against the wall against all odds sort of football. We have no excuses this time, only Clichy is missing who would otherwise be in the first 11. I think we have to support Kolarov by using Milner wide left. I'd also be using Navas wide right for pace on the counter. If their wing backs want to get forward then they can but they'll leave acres of space for Navas and Aguero to exploit.

I'm not sure whether our team has enough quality in terms of pace and trickery. It doesn't really matter what formation you play if you have Messi/Ronaldo/Robben... or Neymar/Bale/Ribery...

I do think we should be trying to get our best players into positions they can do damage. Why restrict Silva by making him do defensive work when he is so good at running the game. I would be playing Fernando/Fernandinho sat in a holding role. I prefer Fernandinho but I don't think he's too keen at just sitting back. I would then play Silva and Yaya to complete a central trio. You have the guile of Silva picking passes and the power and pace of Yaya running at players and creating space. You get those two on the ball and allow Aguero to be collecting the ball facing the Barca goal as opposed to with his back to it. I'd then have Milner left for width and supporting Kolarov and Navas right for pace on the break and to put in a shift down that side...

------------------------------------------------Hart
Zabaleta------------------Kompany----------Mangala-------------Kolarov

---------------------------------------Fernando/Dinho

Navas-----------------------Yaya----------------------Silva------------Milner

---------------------------------------------Aguero

I think Barcelona will play just like Bayern did and our best tactic is to try and get the ball forward quickly and into space. With their formation we have to look to play with width, Milner and Navas will look to get in behind the Barca defence and cause problems and it allows Aguero to have more support.

As the game goes on we can introduce the likes of Nasri/Bony/Dzeko to mix things up but I think we would be better playing this formation from the start as it is more likely to see us create chances.

Quite like this. Is this a formation not to lose the game in the first hour or so?

It's an odd game because going into it the aim will be to score twice. 2-0 and we go through. But we need to score 2 goals. Do we go for that at the risk of conceding? If they score, it doesn't really change our aim. 2-1 at least takes us to extra time and the power of the away goal means we are always going to be dangerous.

I can see the logic in keeping things tight to start with but our best players in attacking sense are Yaya, Silva and Aguero. Can we push Silva out wide and have Yaya behind Aguero? Will that be solid enough to help Kolarov out on the left? I don't think so. If Yaya and Silva do defensive work just by pressing the opposition and marking players then I think the lineup I have suggested would work. You can only play Yaya or Silva centrally if you play the two Ferns and you don't drop either of them for this game.

 

[93.20]

Have we been told who's getting sent off this time?

Or do they like to keep it a big surprise?

 

[BigOscar]

Have we been told who's getting sent off this time?

Or do they like to keep it a big surprise?

Fernandinho, almost certainly. Maybe one or two others as well, just for fun

 

[Sigh]

Copy Bayern Munich's approach a couple of years ago as closely as possible.

 

[BoyBlue_1985]

I have been so drugged up since sunday night by Friday morning I wont even remember the result and probably wont know much what going on during either

 

[Eds]

Given that most people are suggesting we play a 4231, keep it tight and hit them with pace on the counter what are the odds that Pellers goes with a 442 and plays with no pace and hoping we can score from a corner!

 

[penalty spot]

Stating the obvious ,we have to take their initial burst of attacking play with the crowd roaring them on. A lone striker and 5 man midfield hoping for a breakaway. The most important thing in the first half hour is not to concede . We can then hopefully grow into the game, especially after one goal of our own ,then anything is possible. If we do not have a man sent off, it could be a result against Barca for the tie. Just hope we don't give them too much respect and play well.

 

[forevermancity]

its about time that we fluked a win, cant think of the last time the odds were stacked against us and we fluked a win/went through

This is that time....