City v Ajax pre-match discussion

[Blue Heaven]

Wow Liverpool reject, Ajax star, Ryan Babel just cant shut up:

"We noticed how the frustration got the better of them during the game. And we saw how the players were directing those frustrations towards each other. That is the danger of a club with so many big-name players and so many big egos.

When the going gets tough, they are not prepared to do the hard work for each other."

It would be even more awful now to let them leave Etihad with a point especially with 3 points.

Eriksen is so happy to tell every newspaper how happy he is with the decision he made when he snubbed a potential move to City.
Now this Babel guy.

I hope tomorrow wont be any tactical joking by Mancini and he will simply get it done just like the players.

It's supremely annoying, isn't it? After the Amsterdam fixture, I e-mailed a mate in Zwolle who is an Ajax fan to congratulate him, and he said in reply, "I guess now you understand that money alone cannot make a top club..." Argggh. Please, please, please let's beat these big talkers (10 points behind Twente) 5-0 and shut them up.

 

[Citizenhill]

----------------Hart----------------
Zabaleta--Kompany--Nastasic--Clichy
----------Yaya------Barry----------
Nasri----------Tevez----------Sinclair
--------------Aguero----------------

We won't see that (Sinclair, probably for Balotelli) but it is what I'd like to see. We're bordering on near out of this group, so why not give Sinclair a chance in a game? There's still a hunger to prove, but Balotelli would be better up front I think, but with Aguero having not played the full 90 against West Ham I can see him being chosen.

Defence picks itself, Barry may be tired as he's had a lot of games on the bounce so Garcia may come in, but its something I'd like to see.

 

[Love_Each_Day]

Can't let them pass out from the back as easily as last time.

 

[didsburyblu]

Should be a good day and a good match though all the supermarkets in the city centre have already got signs up saying 'no alcohol' will be served today so its gona be a nightmare getting served in the pubs

 

[chisnall_blue]

No pressure game today Blues so expecting us to play with sharpness and fluidity and shut up all the CL doubters. Just like when we were 8 points adrift the players just need to do it for themselves now and show how much they care. Expecting a three goal haul after an early wobble where they stick one in on the break
3-1 Citeh

 

[southstand117]

No pressure game today Blues so expecting us to play with sharpness and fluidity and shut up all the CL doubters. Just like when we were 8 points adrift the players just need to do it for themselves now and show how much they care. Expecting a three goal haul after an early wobble where they stick one in on the break
3-1 Citeh

Sorry?

 

[bondsman]

A narrow victory against Ajax might simply put us into the dreadful Europa League so I am hoping for an entertaining, high scoring defeat. Similar to Sporting last season if my memory serves me right. Let us put Europe to bed so that the players and coaching staff can concentrate on what really matters.

Amen. Get through the night without further injury and let us concentrate on retention.

Total bollocks. Play to win always end of. If we end up in the europa league we should aim to win that. Only Liverpool and Utd fans give it out we dont care about this or that trophy and thats because they are usually arrogant and believe they have a right to win things or because they are making excuses and pretending not to care, either way its total bollocks. Winning is a habit, we need it to remain successful.

 

[chisnall_blue]

Total bollocks. Play to win always end of. If we end up in the europa league we should aim to win that. Only Liverpool and Utd fans give it out we dont care about this or that trophy and thats because they are usually arrogant and believe they have a right to win things or because they are making excuses and pretending not to care, either way its total bollocks. Winning is a habit, we need it to remain successful.


Couldn't agree more, we need to be winning. End of

 

[Bellamyend]

baffled by idiot rags who don't want Europa league - this team needs more games against European opposition; these are facts

 

[Shands]

We're looking seriously light on numbers for this game. On top of the first team injuries, Kolo, Rekik, Razak, Suarez and Lopes are ineligible, and of the named B List players three are out on loan and I think at least another 6 are injured. Not much chance of rotation even if we wanted to.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

I dont say this often but i think we will lose by a goal. I can see us being nervous and missing a few chances and Ajax hitting us on the break with a suckerpunch! I hope im wrong, i pray im wrong but we havent been at our very best all season and without silva our creative side has taken a huge hit!

I think 'tis about time we had a full 90 minutes of CL football where 99% of what we do is right. Tonight's the night!

 

[bluetonium]

Assuming we can beat Ajax tonight, and also assuming that Ajax won't get anything in their remaining games, we need a Dortmund win tonight. A draw between those two is terrible for us, as we'd still be third even with victory over Ajax and Real.

But I guess if we win all three then no problem :)

Most important is that we get at them tonight, and hassle the hell out of them, starting from the front. I thought they looked suspect at full back, so could be an opportunity there for Sinclair or Kolarov to get a bit of space, and I think Dzeko had the beating of their center backs most of the night, just couldn't link it up.

So, this is what I think it will be:

--------------Hart-------------
Zab--Kompany--Nastasic--Kolarov
-------Yaya Toure-----Barry----
------Aguero---Tevez---Nasri-----
------------- Dzeko---------------

Unless he saves Kolarov and Dzeko for the bench for plan b, in which case we would see Clichy and either Balo or Sinclair I think, or possibly Garcia with Yaya released, which would be pretty good to see.

--------------Hart-------------
Zab--Kompany--Nastasic--Clichy
---------Garcia------Barry-------
------Tevez---Yaya---Nasri-----
------------- Aguero---------------

Actually, that latter one gives a bit more balance, and I feel we can get at them in the air from set pieces. Maybe even bring Lescott back for that too.

 

[lionheart]

I wouldn't be surprised if Madrid and Dortmund play out a very tame and highly tactical goal-less draw to help both teams qualify.

 

[bondsman]

Id play Balo from the start tonight. He has pace which we sorely lack in Europe.

 

[Pigeonho]

We won't qualify anyway and nightmare scenario is the EL. On that basis I want a defeat with no injuries and then crack on with retaining the league. Shame, but best in the long term. Retaining that PL is vital.

 

[cheddar404]

We won't qualify anyway and nightmare scenario is the EL. On that basis I want a defeat with no injuries and then crack on with retaining the league. Shame, but best in the long term. Retaining that PL is vital.

Logically I agree but I can't want us to use, whatever the situation.

 

[Pigeonho]

We won't qualify anyway and nightmare scenario is the EL. On that basis I want a defeat with no injuries and then crack on with retaining the league. Shame, but best in the long term. Retaining that PL is vital.

Logically I agree but I can't want us to use, whatever the situation.

Maybe want is the wrong term. Ok, I would prefer us to lose but will obviously be happy in the immediate if we win, but it could comeback to haunt us so all in all a defeat is the best result in the long term.

 

[dancity19]

We won't qualify anyway and nightmare scenario is the EL. On that basis I want a defeat with no injuries and then crack on with retaining the league. Shame, but best in the long term. Retaining that PL is vital.

Logically I agree but I can't want us to use, whatever the situation.

Maybe want is the wrong term. Ok, I would prefer us to lose but will obviously be happy in the immediate if we win, but it could comeback to haunt us so all in all a defeat is the best result in the long term.

Understand with what you are saying, and agree with it, on the main- EL would be the nightmare.

However, I can only go into this game hoping for a win to keep our slim chances alive, and then hope for a huge game against Real, and even Dortmund. Us winning tonight isn't a guarantee of us finishing above Ajax, anyway.

As you say, retaining the League is the number one priority. But I don't want us to go out with a whimper, especially before a big game against Spurs. I always think winning is a habit, losing is a habit, and as we saw under Hughes...drawing can be a habit!!

Go into every game wanting to win. I normally air on the side of pessemism with City, and after Ajax I was convinced we were out. But you never know with City. If we win tonight, then we have 2 huge games. Stranger things have happened....

 

[Pigeonho]

Logically I agree but I can't want us to use, whatever the situation.

Maybe want is the wrong term. Ok, I would prefer us to lose but will obviously be happy in the immediate if we win, but it could comeback to haunt us so all in all a defeat is the best result in the long term.

Understand with what you are saying, and agree with it, on the main- EL would be the nightmare.

However, I can only go into this game hoping for a win to keep our slim chances alive, and then hope for a huge game against Real, and even Dortmund. Us winning tonight isn't a guarantee of us finishing above Ajax, anyway.

As you say, retaining the League is the number one priority. But I don't want us to go out with a whimper, especially before a big game against Spurs. I always think winning is a habit, losing is a habit, and as we saw under Hughes...drawing can be a habit!!

Go into every game wanting to win. I normally air on the side of pessemism with City, and after Ajax I was convinced we were out. But you never know with City. If we win tonight, then we have 2 huge games. Stranger things have happened....

Quite honestly out of the 2 games left after tonight, I can't see us getting 1 point. Madrid and Dortmund especially are better than us, they've proved that. You're right, stranger things have happened but personally I can't see us beating both of those teams.

 

[TBooksbluearmy]

If we win all the remaining games we will defenetly be through to the knockout stages of the Champios League. Will this happen maybe but only if we play to our strengths and not always changing tactics 3or4 times during the game.