CL Last 16 (Dinamo Kiev) (NO City away fans) (24 feb and 15 mar)

[Bilboblue]

Shaite! It seems no one fears us anymore :(

They have good reason to be fairly confident, we cannot seem to keep a clean sheet and they regularly do!

I have a feeling we will scrape through but it will be by no means easy.

Just wish I could have gone there, I was all ready to book flights immediately for todays drawn opponents, then I realised this is one we couldn't go to :o(

 

[jrb]

This might focus a few minds?

I appreciate the standard of the opposition isn't great, but 37 scored, and only 6 conceded, isn't a bad return after 16 games.

Ukraine Premier League Table.

 

[chesterbells]

Will the away leg be an early kick off?

No mate, Kiev about the same latitude as Brussels - you're maybe thinking of Zenit - now they do have a 1700 ko

 

[goalmole]

Look up Dynamo Kiev and their history. Decades ago, they were on par with Bayern Munich, even better. They were considered the best team in Eastern Europe and were considered among the elites like Munich, Real, Milan, Liverpool, etc. Same thing cannot be ever said about City.

City have not looked amazing in their 6 CL games, 2 games they lost to Juventus. I'd say only one game would be considering "intimidating" to Kiev, which was Sevilla away. Let's be honest, City just about beat a poor German opposition home and away. So City aren't an invincible team and I would like if you reduce this cocky attitude.

For posterity.

'istree

 

[aguero93:20]

Something is up with the UEFA website it keeps saying we drew Dynamo Kiev when I know for a fact we got PSG.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Oh okay ta.

I bet Nexen will be well chuffed knowing at least one Utd fan got on the advert.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

I 200% agree with you. While the confidence in the City team and the fans may be sky high due to this draw, you'd have to look at the other end of the stick. Dynamo Kiev's manager, their players and fans all seem to be very happy they drew City as Kiev's manager branded City "one of the weakest teams" to be seeded. I would say it's fixtures like this, or the Wolfsburg Gent fixture, that satisfy both teams. We also can't forget Ukrainian sides have one of the best records against English. Recently Kiev thumped Everton and Shakhtar beat Chelsea to a 2nd spot in a group. All to play for here.

My guess is that the fans predicting an easy win are the same that will blow their top if we draw or lose by a small margin. There are no easy games in the last 16 of Europe's premier competition. Added to that City need to be wary of phantom traffic jams, hotel fire alarms at 3 in the morning, dodgy chefs cooking up the 'a la carte food poisoning special' and luggage going missing at the airport. Some will read this and think "that's a bit cynical" but its amazing what happens when prize money is involved. Just ask the English FA.

 

[imtangledupinblue]

Will their fans be allowed in the Ethiad

 

[deano ou812]

My guess is that the fans predicting an easy win are the same that will blow their top if we draw or lose by a small margin. There are no easy games in the last 16 of Europe's premier competition. Added to that City need to be wary of phantom traffic jams, hotel fire alarms at 3 in the morning, dodgy chefs cooking up the 'a la carte food poisoning special' and luggage going missing at the airport. Some will read this and think "that's a bit cynical" but its amazing what happens when prize money is involved. Just ask the English FA.

Haha so true,and I wouldn't put it past them for any of the above to happen...

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Funny to read some post here.

Firstly - regarding safety in Kiev and 'civil war'.
It is as safe. At least much more safe than living in Brixton London. Combat zone is some 300 miles to the east.
'Civil war'- it's not. It's a war with Russian, hybrid, phoney, undeclared - you name it. I'm 33 and I returned to Kiev and my work (TV) and my family last March after serving one year in the East. Officer of a signal unit (Royal Corps of Signals is your equivalent) in 30th mechanised brigade. Not a professional soldier, just (as every graduate here) had military specialisation according to my uni diploma and got drafted (mandatory)... There are (were) Russians, Chechens, all sort of professional and voluntary shit plus oodles of tanks, apc's petrol and military from our Eastern neighbour, that came across the border to 'protect' Russian language (my primary language) and people of Russian ethnicity (me being one) from Ukrainian 'fasits'. Thanks I don't need such 'protection' and I will never forgive them my brothers in arms killed in the heat of August 2014 and January 2015.

Regarding rasism of our fans. There were 4(four) idiots from ultras fan sector that tried to beat two black supporters of Dinamo. They were stopped by other supporters, but not quickly enough. Those guys were taken by police by now. Everyone is sad that this thing happened and we hope that UEFA will approve our appeal.

As for the future game - yes, indeed, everybody is happy here, since Man City was considered second best (after Wolfsburg) draw for us. It will be really hard, but having one of the best defence lines in this CL - we'll try our best.

Cheers!

Thanks for the post and sorry to hear about the deaths of your friends.
Thanks also for describing your racism troubles. Do you think on appeal that away fans will be allowed to come to the Kiev match?