City v United pre-match thread (team news pg 66)

[Hamann Pineapple]

Just to get the juices flowing

Thursday night's derby is huge for Manchester City for another reason: UEFA's new co-efficient system.

Where Manchester United's status is now boosted by their history as tournament winners — taken into account for the first time as the result of a carve-up between David Gill and other members of Europe's elite — City cannot afford a year out of the Champions League. They fell from 11th to 16th in UEFA's new Gill-conceived co-efficient rankings as it is.

Manchester United, despite spending two of the last three seasons out of the Champions League, rose from 20th to 12th; AC Milan, whose previous five seasons amount to two last-16 eliminations in the Champions League and three years when they didn't make any UEFA competition at all, jumped 16 slots, 25th to ninth.

So if United don't reach the Champions League — well, Gill and his friends at UEFA have seen them all right. If City don't get there, Pep Guardiola is about to receive another reminder of what life is like outside UEFA's favoured few. Sir Alex Ferguson is a big fan of the new system, by the way.

Begin eye-rolling sequence now.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...us-Rashford-new-Harry-Kane.html#ixzz4fMFgu2yI

 

[northstandgiveusasong]

Well, actually, if you look back over pre-match threads this comment has been coming up over and over all through the season!
That said, I think lots are being very gloomy on here. I myself am still pretty depressed about last Sunday, but that's because we were the better team, in fact. What we seem to lack sometimes is not the skill but the steel. I'm pretty sure we'll have it this time. And we are, man for man, a considerably more talented side than these. 2-0 or 3-1.

This all day long.

Pep will know that after Sunday, he MUST win this one. We've got to go at them from the first minute and with the crowd behind us, if an early goal comes, then we'll get a few more as they've then got to take a gamble and come out as they need at least a point. Would love to see this team. Kolarov is too slow so Clichy for me...best if a bad bunch.

Willy
Zabaleta
Kompany
Ottamendi
Clichy
Fernandinho or Fernando/Delph if not fit
Yaya
De Bruyne
Silva - Sterling if not fit
Aguero
Jesus

 

[City Raider]

We know we're gonna face a mass of bodies, then they'll try and get ball to Jogba to hit their runners in behind.

Without Silva to create in tight spaces we are pretty much relying on long range shots or their mistakes. We also need someone sitting on Jogba when we lose it.

The sort of game where having an aerial threat would be so useful. They're going to let us have it out wide.

 

[kaz7]

PEP: David Silva is a real doubt. Gabriel is ready but his physical condition is not optimal. Sergio is much better - he will be ready.

 

[kaz7]

PEP: (Aguero and Jesus) can play together, it depends on the way we want to play. If you play without wingers, more narrow, they can play.

PEP: (On Sterling) In the last game I decide to put one less attacking player. It’s not a lack of confidence or anything like that.

PEP: (Mourinho and I) are neighbours. When we see each other we say ‘hi’.

PEP: They are good. Good rival, good quality and a long run in the Premier League without defeat.

 

[Ric]

Big blow if Silva's out.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Big blow if Silva's out.

Youre not wrong.The footballing Gods certainly haven't favoured us this season.

 

[Peggy's a blue]

The local rags are all very confident, saying boy wonder will tear us a new one, oh dear! I don't like it when they are this confident. I usually get the "will be a close game, two good sides" bullshit, you know edging their bets, but no not this time, gung ho confidence is the order of the day. Add to that, they even insult us, by saying how crap our defence is. Well I hope it all end in tears, their tears, as we stuff the overconfident rags ;-)

 

[mancityvstoke]

daft red ****s

 

[kaz7]

We are even more stuffed without dave,no-one can do what he does and we really need to sort that out this summer