City v Real Madrid post match

[cleavers]

Interesting what you say about the possibly change in tactics second half, but for me I certainly felt that we ran out of legs and they forced us backwards and also got much more control of the midfield rather than us deliberately giving it up to them.

The reason I thought "deliberate" was because it seemed to happen right away after half time, if we'd just run out of legs, we would have kept the pressing up after half time, and we didn't, it looked like we surrendered territory right from the off.

I thought Modric was their best player (in both halves) and if anyone wasn't available for the second leg, I'd prefer it was him.

It will be interesting next week, and at least we go into the game with a chance, and also a manager who understands spanish teams.

 

[Eaglechief]

Maybe you should be as two years ago in April you were decrying anyone who suggested we might win the title as equally delusional. Seems you have a history of making overly negative posts about how poor City are. Very interesting. Speaking of "delusional" - seems it's a word you use regularly when talking about other Blues. Very very interesting. Anyway crack on. Having had a quick browse of your post history you're going on my ignore list.

Yes, I wasn't delusional about winning the league this year, nor last year.

This season for example, a fair number of fans hoped we would go on a magical run of 10 or more wins in a row to win the league, even though we hadn't won 2 league games in a row since October, that is what I would call delusional thinking.

 

[cleavers]

We were always going to have to score over there, even if we had won by a couple goals. Clean sheet was the fundamental upside.

I think that is important to understand, even if we'd won 3-0 last night, we'd still probably have had to score there, now if we score they need to score 2, that is an advantage, so lets make sure we get one.

 

[Eaglechief]

Eaglechief get a grip we are still in it man. I admit Madrid will be difficult to contain particularly if the ladyboy is back but we have a good outside chance. We could well get stuffed 4 or 5 nil but we also could fluke a scoring draw with an o.g. in time added on. Chin up we still have a chance.

Father Paul, I would love to be proved wrong and we get to the final, I really would!

 

[Hoghead]

That's a fair point, we did achieve the objective of keeping a clean sheet. However, whereas we have a *chance* in Madrid, you'd expect Real to win that game 4 times out of 5. To progress to the final, we should have been hoping to win our home game and draw or lose by less, in the away game. My frustration is that last night we really didn't play and theres no question, 0-0 was much better result for them that it was for us.

So really the opportunity lost last night was that we didn't take advantage of it being the home game and scoring. We certainly benefited from the absence of Tranny and Benzema by keeping a clean sheet.
I wonder if those two track back .......

 

[BillyShears]

The reason I thought "deliberate" was because it seemed to happen right away after half time, if we'd just run out of legs, we would have kept the pressing up after half time, and we didn't, it looked like we surrendered territory right from the off.

I thought Modric was their best player (in both halves) and if anyone wasn't available for the second leg, I'd prefer it was him.

It will be interesting next week, and at least we go into the game with a chance, and also a manager who understands spanish teams.

Bale and Marcelo were excellent too I thought. Those three oozed class. Overall I thought the draw was the fair result and I'm genuinely shocked to see how many of our supporters think it was a poor result and that we've made it hard for ourselves in Spain. For me that was the BEST result we could've hoped for. Personally I think if we'd scored a goal Madrid would probably have gone up a level (felt they played within themselves) and got the away goal. As it stands now they have to come out at the Bernabeau which they'd do anyway, but it'll mean that we will have spaces on the break. Also think that Kun and KDB can't play much worse than they did last night (touch wood!).

 

[cleavers]

Bale and Marcelo were excellent too I thought.

I thought they were a pair of whinging tw@ts if I'm honest, both of them wound me up with their constant moaning at the referee.

Overall I thought the draw was the fair result and I'm genuinely shocked to see how many of our supporters think it was a poor result and that we've made it hard for ourselves in Spain. For me that was the BEST result we could've hoped for. Personally I think if we'd scored a goal Madrid would probably have gone up a level (felt they played within themselves) and got the away goal.

Our support never ceases to surprise me, just as we got back in the car there was an idiot on 5live saying that he'd prefer Pearce or Hughes as manager to Pellegrini (no seriously, he probably posts on here !).

Best result other than nicking a late winner :)

I thought they showed us a lot of respect, especially at the start, and I thought we caught them a little by surprise with our pressing game.

Also think that Kun and KDB can't play much worse than they did last night (touch wood!).

I hope not, especially Sergio. I think in KdB's case, he tried a lot of hollywood passes, but if one had come off, we might have been even happier, so I don't blame him for trying them.

 

[Blue Til Death]

I have not spent the last 45 years supporting City to start doubting us now.... We are going to the CL final, anyone who thinks different is semi sensible ....!

 

[Chi-town blues]

I noticed this - seemed to pull up, and limp and grimace. Didn't expect him to last the game after that, it obviously affected him

Looked like he pulled his hammy. I didn't expect him to last that long either. Call me crazy but Bony should have replaced him .
I hope it's not too bad and fit for s. Hampton .

 

[U.G.]

My First Post in this Forum :-)
Well City made a Good Job - but 2nd leg will be very very difficult.... Joe was great!