Burnley (A) - Pre-Match Thread

[mikemcfc]

Ederson
walker , stones, otamendi , cancelo
Kdb foden fernandinho
Bernardo sterling jesus

I like, but no cancelo please, he can't even pass or cross lately on his proper side, let alone give his left foot a chance. also fernie to the middle and foden on left.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Fact is, we have lost a man advantage this season.

No team is pressing Ederson, going man for man against us all over the pitch, not too high, but just enough to ensure the ball goes out to our full-back, rather than the man coming short in midfield.

Gundogan is a coward who won't even attempt to drop into the hole with his back to the play.

Rodri will have an attempt, but he's not quick enough and then ends up relying on his size and bulk to shield it or lose it.

We have lost the triangle that Fernandinho was able to give us with Ed and usually Stones.

Pep has made it clear Fern has his new position, which is incredibly short-sighted, or just naive.

For all of Otamendi's faults, he should be playing next to Stones every week until Zinchenko is fit again.

 

[Two Gun Bob]

That's some pessimistic vote up top. Seventeen for the win and seventeen for the naysayers. They are just Hill People for goodness sake ?

 

[SebastianBlue]

That's some pessimistic vote up top. Seventeen for the win and seventeen for the naysayers. They are just Hill People for goodness sake ?

I’ve taken care of that. ;-)

 

[Manchester_lalala]

He absolutely should be playing. He's much better than Angelino and he'll only get better by playing more games.

From what I’ve seen this season from both of them, Angelino looks the far better player than Mendy. Angelino can actually kick a ball for starters. And run.

 

[Two Gun Bob]

From what I’ve seen this season from both of them, Angelino looks the far better player than Mendy. Angelino can actually kick a ball for starters. And run.

Get well soon Mr Zinchenko

 

[aguerooooo]

Never been to Turf Moor before, so this will be a first. I can see this being a draw, too. We've now played not one — but two — games this season in which we twice led and threw it away. The title chase is now, in my sober opinion, over. Nine points difference? Maybe, just maybe. Eleven? I very seriously doubt it. The dippers' form would have to fall off a cliff. That, however, shouldn't stop us from wanting to win every single game till the end of the season. I certainly do.
Fern has been a wonderful servant to the club, but he is now 34. His normal position is one of the hardest working positions on the pitch, if not the hardest. Rodri is obviously the long-term replacement for him (not so long term, actually), and Pep wants to train him into that position at the pace that the PL is played at. I'm pretty sure that that's Pep's thinking. If we hadn't had the CB crisis, they would have alternated. Pep's working with what he's got. That said, Stones and Otamendi might work against a team like Burnley.
Interesting to see that people are now appreciating Zin. He's taken a fair bit of flak on this forum.

Edit: I've revised my personal ambitions downwards to beating the rags. We must at least do that. Losing to them would be the pits. Because they are very, very poor. Also, they're the rags.

Shit seasons were always improved by defeating the rags will give PEP Wriggle room LOL?

 

[BlueLook]

Play Fern in the middle and City wins.

 

[Blu1]

Dreading this game! Lol
we need a good result here to lift our confidence going into the derby.

The joys of being a city fan.

Please no Fookin injuries

 

[jrb]

——————-—-Ederson——————--
Walker—Stones—Otamendi—Mendy
—————-Fernandinho——————-
———De Bruyne———-Silva————-
Sterling———-—Jesus———-Mahrez

Horrible defence, really, but I think we need Otamendi (and Fernandinho in midfield). As hopeless as Mendy currently is, don’t really see an alternative.
Left wing obviously doesn’t suit Mahrez especially well but I don’t care. We have to get Sterling back on the right. Be tempted to play Foden left of the front three, but he probably wouldn’t pose much of a threat running in behind. Mahrez could (in theory).

Mindy???
Mahrez???

No offence, but did you watch the Newcastle game?

 

[deano ou812]

Can see this game being a draw as well,people calling for Fernandinho to go back into midfield isn’t going to happen,I could even see him being played alongside Laporte when he gets back from injury..

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Ederson
Walker Stones Rodri Mendy
Bernardo Fernandinho Foden
De Bruyne Jesus Sterling

 

[BlueLook]

Mindy???
Mahrez???

No offence, but did you watch the Newcastle game?

Jesus?? Bernardo?? Stones?? Sterling?? Walker?? Ederson??

 

[citytill1die84]

Jesus?? Bernardo?? Stones?? Sterling?? Walker?? Ederson??

Haha was just about to post this.

 

[Blue Bogey]

Ederson

Walker
Stones
Otamendi
Cancelo

Rodri
Fernandinho
Bernardo

De Bruyne
Jesus
Sterling

Cancelo is capable on the left so replaces Mendy.
Rodri and Fernandinho anchoring DM making sure theirs forwards don’t hit our CB’s. Walker and Cancelo keeping the width. Bernardo being a busy bee as No. 10 behind Jesus. De Bruyne and Sterling running between Burnley’s CB’s and fullbacks creating the space for Jesus in the middle.

Bring Foden on at RW later to rest De Bruyne for Derby weekend.

 

[sh249]

Mindy???
Mahrez???

No offence, but did you watch the Newcastle game?

In an ideal world, neither would be anywhere near the team at the moment. But there’s a dearth of real alternatives. Angelino is dreadful defensively (should have done better on all four goals against Liverpool and Shakhtar), and would be targeted non-stop for backpost crosses. For Mahrez - who else could play wide left, if we move Sterling back to the right (as we definitely should)? Bernardo isn’t suited to playing that side at all, and will only slow things down further. Foden? Perhaps, like I said. But for me the priority has to be to have someone who can run in behind.

And as others have said, inasmuch as Mendy and Mahrez were both wank yesterday, so were five or six others, and we can’t drop them all.

 

[WallyA]

352. Do it Pep. Tired of this fake width, and putting players in sub optimal positions.

Our current personnel is suited to 352.

 

[Sky Blue]

Fact is, we have lost a man advantage this season.

No team is pressing Ederson, going man for man against us all over the pitch, not too high, but just enough to ensure the ball goes out to our full-back, rather than the man coming short in midfield.

Gundogan is a coward who won't even attempt to drop into the hole with his back to the play.

Rodri will have an attempt, but he's not quick enough and then ends up relying on his size and bulk to shield it or lose it.

We have lost the triangle that Fernandinho was able to give us with Ed and usually Stones.

Pep has made it clear Fern has his new position, which is incredibly short-sighted, or just naive.

For all of Otamendi's faults, he should be playing next to Stones every week until Zinchenko is fit again.

Zinchenko running about like a good un in training today....

 

[ojeme]

Do we even have to play in a 4-3-3?

Ederson
Walker Stones Otamendi Mendy
Rodri Fernandinho
Bernardo De Bruyne Jesus
Sterling​

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Zinchenko running about like a good un in training today....

And that is good news. You know, I’d still like to see that guy play a genuine midfield role, just once (maybe League or F.A . cups?) I suspect he’s much better than we know. He’s certainly excellent for Ukraine.