City v Barca

[TFC]

I believe they would beat us comfortably.

 

[ilovefotball]

Ok number 1, the Barcelona team of 2009 plays a different game to the Barcelona team now. Totally different.

What? Completly different? Barcelona plays exact same style and formations. The only change being Messi played centrally instead of a striker. Anyway, the formation used in that final we are talking about here is exactly the formation Barca plays these days. If you don't remember, Messi was played through centrally that day and Henry and Eto were played as wide strikers. This was the second game Pep played Messi in the centre and today Eto and henry are replaced by Villa and Pedro/Sanchez.

So you are wrong sir. Barca plays exactly the same formation and almost same side(Eto and Henry replaced by Pedro and Villa) in the same way they did in that final.

Number 2, Premier League team have been the most successful teams in Europe of previous 5-10 years. Every season it is always English team will be very far in the Champions League.

I said against Continental teams. When EPL teams began dominating the CL, every italian team were under transition and Real Madrid was also struggling. The only real challenge was from Barcelona.

Anyway, my point that English teams struggles against continental teams is further strengthen by the fact that even after dominating the CL when most of the top teams were under transition or weak, English teams managed to win only 2 CL titles in last decade.

 

[Dax777]

Yeah, we're five clear at the top, and twatting teams by five asnd six every week. We are obviously shit.

That Barca team, who only beat United because Rooney was a lazy bastard, would definitely thump us. Because Football Manager says so.

This is just a strawman. No one made that claim.

Certainly, those who disagree with you must have gottent there information from football manager. Certainly, it couldn't be because they have the best player in the world, or the top t3 Ballon' D'or from last season. Certainly can't be because they won the CL and Spanish league. Certainly, the fact that they are considered the best team of this generation, both in performance and result clearly has nothing to do with it. I am sure the Chemistry from playing the same system with practically the same set of players didn't play a role.

Clearly, the only basis for thinking they will win, is surely coz Football Manager says so!

 

[Damocles]

Yeah, we're five clear at the top, and twatting teams by five asnd six every week. We are obviously shit.

That Barca team, who only beat United because Rooney was a lazy bastard, would definitely thump us. Because Football Manager says so.

This is just a strawman. No one made that claim.

Certainly, those who disagree with you must have gottent there information from football manager. Certainly, it couldn't be because they have the best player in the world, or the top t3 Ballon' D'or from last season. Certainly can't be because they won the CL and Spanish league. Certainly, the fact that they are considered the best team of this generation, both in performance and result clearly has nothing to do with it. I am sure the Chemistry from playing the same system with practically the same set of players didn't play a role.

Clearly, the only basis for thinking they will win, is surely coz Football Manager says so!

Clearly.

The idea that a team of superstars in Manchester City, who are spanking teams left, right and centre, are top of the league having dropped two points all season and are currently playing some of the best football in the world, could beat a team that has so many massive name players in it is completely impossible and should be instantly dismissed as a stupid idea.

 

[pee dubya]

I think their ability to control possession combined with their pressing high up the pitch, would make us struggle to be honest.

Counter-attacking would be the way to go.

 

[Wellsblue21]

i know we would set up differently but based on tonights performance ALONE, we didnt like being pressed by QPR, when you watch Barca they press all over the field. we would struggle

2 or 3 - 1 barca would be my guess.

 

[Damocles]

I think their ability to control possession combined with their pressing high up the pitch, would make us struggle to be honest.

Counter-attacking would be the way to go.

And we're useless at this, I mean, none of our goals at all have been scored on the counter.

Apart from those 20 or so this season.

But apart from them, we're crap at countering.

 

[carlosthejackal]

Hopefully we will see at some point this season.

 

[pee dubya]

I think their ability to control possession combined with their pressing high up the pitch, would make us struggle to be honest.

Counter-attacking would be the way to go.

And we're useless at this, I mean, none of our goals at all have been scored on the counter.

Apart from those 20 or so this season.

But apart from them, we're crap at countering.

Hah, i get the impression folk are getting a little carried away. Thinking our style of play matches Barca's, or we could stand toe to toe with them and outplay them, because of the number of goals we have scored. It just wouldn't happen, they are peerless in what they do. The point i was making is i think we'd have to take a pragmatic approach, accept that despite the great players we have, we'd still have to concede control of the general play (i.e. let them have the ball).

I think the reason we could struggle is the lack of a top quality deep-lying passer type. Counter-attacking against Barca is easier said than done, once they lose the ball, you have so little time to play a pass. Your passing out from the back has to be pin-point under pressure (maybe less so if Pique and Puyol aren't playing, but still). Countering against your average, over-committed Premier League side is a little different.

Where i think we'd have an advantage is the fact that we're quite used to defending fairly narrow. Barca have no real physical threat, so if you can force the likes of Villa and Messi out wide, by crowding them out when they cut in, you really hamper their effectiveness.

 

[buzzer1]

I was in me seat last week(111) and we was cruising against Villa, there was a moment about 15 mins from the end and joe hart could have just slipped the ball to Lescott(i think) but just twatted it and it came to nothing, anyway i just said(not shouted), time Joe lad and to just play it easy to Lescott, then the lad just behind me(lo the left) said "fuk me mate, you been watching to much fifa soccer", and also he said "you must have been watchin' to much Barca as well". Sometimes i can't believe the mentality of some blues, Ged fkin Brannan anyone? get outta that fkin pathetic losing ,mentality, WE ARE HERE, and not to make up the numbers, GET IT. AAAARRGGHHH.