Club Brugge (H) - CL - Post-Match Thread

[East Level 2]

Excellent turnout at the Etihad tonight. Selling over 50k tickets when not playing glamorous opposition is a good effort IMHO. Especially coming through the Covid crisis.

I’ve not read the last few pages but I’m guessing there’s Blues saying the real fans weren’t at the game tonight and the ground was full of tourists. That’s bollox but who cares.

Come on Tim; there were loads of tourists last night. Or perhaps it just looked like loads.
Anyway, if "real fans" don't turn up with such low prices then they can hardly be called "real fans" can they? - Whatever a "real fan" is.
Obviously this doesn't apply to those who tested positive, those badly impacted financially by Covid, those who can't do midweek due to other circumstances (including travel) and those for whom even £20 is too high.
As for the game: We looked lost for much of the first half taking far too long on the ball. We were far better after the break but I felt the goal celebrations were a bit muted. I'm putting this down to VAR rather than tourists as the use of technology adds an element of doubt to so many goals. The delay over Foden's goal meant fans weren't going bugshit for the second and third, and the game was dead when we scored the fourth.
Onwards and upwards. We only need a point to qualify and we'll top the group if we beat PSG.

 

[r.soleofsalford]

Left sided option currently better than ineffective Jack Grealish IMO


Foden Jesus and yes even a struggling Sterling.


I`m not saying Grealish will never be good for us, I`m just saying he isn`t good enough at the moment. Maybe after 12 months when he`s modified his game.


IMO

 

[skyblue92]

On another day Cancelo scores rather than hitting the crossbar and their keeper doesn't save from Mahrez, early in the second half

Given that scenario Grealish would have two assists and everything would appear slightly rosier.

Agreed mate them 2 through balls that grealish played to mahrez and cancelo especially was absolute top class

 

[Saddleworth2]

Raheem was good when he came on yesterday I thought. Not sure what to make of Pep's demeanour in the post match interview - he seemed pissed off when talking about Sterling or maybe it was just Pep being Pep.

 

[BringBackSwales]

Doesn't look good for Sterling. From this interview, it looks like he is off in December.

Not sure how you gleaned that mate? I thought Pep was just answering daft questions in his normal manner?

 

[Pingu the Penguin]

A patchy performance. First 10-15 mins were very good and second half was better. Same 2 players Bernardo and Rodri our best players by some distance.

Really disappointed with Grealish again but to think we need to give him time. Equally disappointed with Mahrez. Thought Sterling and Jesus gave us much more energy and directness.

I did enjoy the brief moments when we had Foden on the left, Jesus up front and Sterling on the right. Don’t think id be too disappointed to see that on Saturday.

The pressure on grealish is intense. He could/should have had 2 assists. We have seen others need time to settle to style of play and he’s doing well I think

 

[dad1971]

Doesn't look good for Sterling. From this interview, it looks like he is off in December.

To Tenerife on his holidays ???
Pep answered each question with the contempt they deserved. Same old rubbish trying to push his buttons but he served it back to them. Only one genuine question at the very end.

 

[Marvin]

Come on Tim; there were loads of tourists last night. Or perhaps it just looked like loads.
Anyway, if "real fans" don't turn up with such low prices then they can hardly be called "real fans" can they? - Whatever a "real fan" is.
Obviously this doesn't apply to those who tested positive, those badly impacted financially by Covid, those who can't do midweek due to other circumstances (including travel) and those for whom even £20 is too high.
As for the game: We looked lost for much of the first half taking far too long on the ball. We were far better after the break but I felt the goal celebrations were a bit muted. I'm putting this down to VAR rather than tourists as the use of technology adds an element of doubt to so many goals. The delay over Foden's goal meant fans weren't going bugshit for the second and third, and the game was dead when we scored the fourth.
Onwards and upwards. We only need a point to qualify and we'll top the group if we beat PSG.

What do you mean by look like tourists?

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Come on Tim; there were loads of tourists last night. Or perhaps it just looked like loads.
Anyway, if "real fans" don't turn up with such low prices then they can hardly be called "real fans" can they? - Whatever a "real fan" is.
Obviously this doesn't apply to those who tested positive, those badly impacted financially by Covid, those who can't do midweek due to other circumstances (including travel) and those for whom even £20 is too high.
As for the game: We looked lost for much of the first half taking far too long on the ball. We were far better after the break but I felt the goal celebrations were a bit muted. I'm putting this down to VAR rather than tourists as the use of technology adds an element of doubt to so many goals. The delay over Foden's goal meant fans weren't going bugshit for the second and third, and the game was dead when we scored the fourth.
Onwards and upwards. We only need a point to qualify and we'll top the group if we beat PSG.

I agree that they are not then”real” or superior fans they or their mate believe.

Re tourists, anyone who goes to the game and want City to win is Blue enough for me. Some of the people I bought tickets for last night weren’t really City fans and just wanted to see great football. I agree that we weren’t playing well for 20-25 minutes in the first half but we turned on the magic in the 2nd half.

The Etihad is normally fairly quiet (I know we are loudmouths) so I’m not sure why a couple of other posters have commented on tourists impacting on the atmosphere. I read on here sometimes of Blues who have a home season card just to help them get away tickets and they hardly ever go to the Etihad. That’s pretty poor support IMHO but each to their own.

I know of a couple of Blues whose seats would have gone empty due to illness and work. One guy has lost his savings during the lockdown and is self employed so can’t afford to leave until the job is done. That’s life and also why it’s important for people to utilise the forward ticket function that’s one of the few (or possibly only) benefit of mobile ticketing.

 

[Marvin]

My seat was empty. I have got Covid but hopefully that will be the only home game I miss this season.