City v Liverpool (Home) Pre-Match Thread

[Marvin]

Never seen a season like it though where we got so little compared to what we deserved.

Chelsea at the Etihad scored 3 break away goals and had the worst officiating in any match of the last 10 seasons.

United at the Etihad had 11 men in the box all game and celebrated that point like they had won the Champion's League.

Tottenham at the Etihad 2-0 and cruising but they had 2 shots all game and scored both.

Not making excuses as you make your own look but even twats who hate us like MoTD said we were ridiculously unlucky last season.

You identified the clear trends of last season:

1) Inability to turn dominant possession into goals

2) Conceding from counter-attacks

But it was not bad luck.

I believe the purchases of jesus and Silva will address the poor forward play, and the signing of the full backs should improve us defensively. We'll always concede goals on the counter-attack given the numbers we commit forward.

 

[FFPbegone]

Hart
Zabaleta
Otamendi
Mangala
Kolarov
Touré
Fernandinho
Silva
De Bruyne
Navas
Bony

No... wait...

Fuck me, we have really upgraded .

 

[wattle]

Do you know what, after 40 years of being obsessively supportive I think the press bollox has finally beaten me. I just can't get up for this at all. I'm sick of the super over media hype and negativity about our club. Plus other fans talking utter bollox after believing what the sun and talkshite says. The rashford/sterling thing with England has finally done it for.

 

[The slaughtered lamb]

Do you know what, after 40 years of being obsessively supportive I think the press bollox has finally beaten me. I just can't get up for this at all. I'm sick of the super over media hype and negativity about our club. Plus other fans talking utter bollox after believing what the sun and talkshite says. The rashford/sterling thing with England has finally done it for.

There's no doubt that the influence of television money and the media has made the game poorer; Basically, it's made it bent, to the point that they're influencing the outcome of games (I know some won't agree). It also teaches you a thing or two about human nature, because as you say, some people will believe anything that the media tells them, especially if it's what they want to hear. I'm also sick and tired of the England shite to the point where I either don't watch, or want them to get beaten when they play but there's no way I'm giving up yet while operation brainwash is in full swing. They can fuck off, I'll go when I'm ready. For the time being I'll try to avoid the media and the dullards.

3-1 City, Sterling hat trick. Oh no, they've stopped him haven't they, so Aguero hat trick.

 

[Blue Hefner]

Sick and tired of a system we've used twice.

It was also toure that gave away possession cheaply last year at Anfield which led to the winning goal.

It was Kolarov that gave it away but it was Yaya's pass to him that was the problem

Re Yaya in general - he was shit away at Arsenal and shit at home to Liverpool towards the end of last season, there is no way he should start this match

 

[Lancet Fluke]

Is there any update on Kompany? With him it will be a seriously difficult game but we have every chance, without him I would fear a bit of a beating.

 

[Rebelblue]

Ederson

Walker
Vinny
Stones/otto
Mendy

Dinho
Gundogen
Kdb

Silva
Kun
Sane

For me that line up is solid at the back, matches up their 3 in midfield with a better three and the guile of Silva to utilise sane and kun.

Not gonna happen like but be nice to see. We don't have to overload on the attackers just cos we are at home. That's often the prob trying to shoehorn everyone in. You've jesus and bernardo who can change the game if needed.

 

[pavelsrnicek]

I have to admit I have concerns over Fernandinho at the moment. He is better defensively than Yaya and Gundogan and probably more mobile. However of late he has very susceptible to being pressed and has given the ball away in dangerous areas notably for King's chance in Bournemouth. Considering that Liverpool will press us high I worry that he will be targeted on Saturday.

 

[Citygolf]

The 3-5-2 formation has been implemented for games like this in my opinion.

Granted we haven't looked great using it in the league so far but in pre season we were very impressive. The big difference in playing it is it limits the opposition chances to counter attack and leave us short at the back. This is a key element to beating Liverpool in my opinion. The negative is it takes away from us as an attacking side but only if we are playing against a team that are happy to sit in and defend, which I doubt very much Liverpool will do.

Ederson
Walker
Kompany
Stones
Otamendi
Mendy
Fernandinho
Silva
KDB
Jesus
Kun

From the start of the season I would have had Yaya in the side instead of Fernandinho based on the opposition we have been playing. Fernandinho hasn't covered himself in any glory in the games so far but his mobility will give him the edge over Yaya in this one.

Hopefully this is the game where we take our chances and put down a marker.

3-0 City.

 

[Father Paul]

Although the performances were generally quite good. We were very unfortunate not to beat Everton at home, Tottenham at home and probably Chelsea at home too (De Bruyne missed sitter at 1-0 and Luiz wasn't sent off), and at home to Liverpool Milner should've conceded that penalty too. Away at Arsenal Monreal's last-minute handball in his own box went unpunished. In a world where we get fair decisions (and De Bruyne didn't temporarily become Vincent Janssen in December) that record is much more like Won 5, drew 3, lost 4. I believe we will improve this season because now we have new fullbacks, Bernardo, Jesus and Gundogan.

Nothing unfortunate about missing two penalties indicative of the general lack of a cutting edge last season. Kevin missed one of the peno's and that chance against Chelski might have made a difference but the way they carved us up second half was alarming. Liverpool were well in that game and missed a couple of sitters which would have sealed the points. The Spurs and Arsenal games said more about our poor defending rather than bad luck. Bottom line is last seasons stats don't lie and a big improvement is required if we
are to be serious contenders come next April/May.