Liverpool (h) CL QF pre-match thread

[Roachy]

I think I’d rather see a 3-6-1/3-2-4-1 formation with Bernardo & maybe even Gundogan in the side.

Ederson
Walker, Otamendi, Laporte
Fernandinho, Gundogan
B Silva, De Bruyne, D Silva, Sane
Aguero

Don't fancy that if salad is fit.

 

[paulsimpson]

we might. walker played quite well in a back 3 for england. i think we should just go for it. its risky, but we dont have a choice. id rather ply stones and laporte because they are betters passers and the others are out of form as well.

Think Stones has to play. Showed what he can do for England the other week and as you say he can pass /find his man ,often with a cutting direct through ball .

 

[BlueAnorak]

Well win the match and lose the tie.
Maybe we'll concede early and gradually catch up but fail at the end.
Or we'll go 4 goals up then we'll concede a goal with a minute or so to go.

Whatever - we've fucked up again. But the damage was done in the 1st leg

We have to find a way of withstanding the ganganpress but unless we take the lead we haven't really got close in two years.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Was at the Etihad yesterday and the emotions took us from heaven to hell. Watching the replay of the 90 minutes in the cold light of day I feel a great deal better about our performance.

First half we played very well but Raheem in particular was not clinical enough albeit he made amazing runs behind their defence.
Second half, united played far better. First And second goal had a great deal of quality albeit we could have defended smarter. We failed to track runners and Ota could have done better. Third goal was defensively poor. Ota had Smalling on the edge of the area and simply let him go. Despite this, we made as dangerous chances in the second half and failed to take them. Raz, Gundo and Kun should each of scored.

The refereeing was interesting. Other than the two penalties which both should have been given, we were given no ‘soft’ fouls whilst they were given at least 8 or 9. Most of them either on the edge of their area or in a position they could attack us from. Again interestingly, their were three or four of these marginal decisions in the first 15 minutes before we scored, and then the remainder in the last 20 minutes when they were ahead. On the basis of the evidence I saw there was definately an influence from referee and team to bias the result against us. For both penalty claims Atkinson was in a very poor position to see them, especially the second. The linesman had a square on view of the Kun foul ( as we did right behind him) though and failed to call it.

Shit happens. I dont blame Pep although I think earlier subs might have made a difference particularly if we had brought Kev and Kun on after they scored the second. I don’t blame the players either. They fought to the end. I do think yet again the referee team had a negative influence on the result from our perspective. It wasn’t a poor performance though and certainly good enough to get us to the title in the next three games. The atmosphere in the first half was fantastic. I wish we could do that every home game.

 

[paulsimpson]

I also think will be 4 at the back.
Firstly we don't have a left wingback for a 3-5-2, and Sané won't be seen when he has to do that job. Btw he has enough problems on the wing finding his form.

Secondly, in difficult times get back to basics. Pep said it post derby.
He changed our proven setup at Anfield and lost, also in the derby. Should go back to our strengths.

I wish our lads could forget this fuckin week which ends today.
Have a new start tomorrow and play to our strengths. Full power. No fears.

Good thoughts mate .
I said after the game yesterday that he needed to get back to basics and it's good to hear he's going to do that. It is a tentative admission that he might have got it wrong which is good to hear , indeed very healthy .Players can only respond positively to honesty like that.

Secondly I agree with your team in general but Stones needs to come in imo simply as he is good on the ball and playing these we need accurate/ complete passes( a Pep hallmark). So it could be a toss up between King Kompany and Ota as to who loses out. We may need aerial superiority and height so Kompany may get the nod on that issue provided he is fully fit. It's a tough one for Pep but at the business end of the season this is where he earns his corn

 

[SamBlue]

In order to score 4 we need to have 12 shots on goal, in order to have 12 shots on goal we need 36-48 shots for the whole game, our stats have getting, eve progressively worse since the turn of the year. It is almost given we are going to concede no matter what setup of players and formation we choose to play, even Ederson's been getting down to Claudio's level of ratio-shots saved. I feel very negative and I think we might actually lose this game and maybe 2 in PL at least.I just want the season to end. Returning from the game last night I realized we are million miles from a real strong collective, I don't know about any other team that works so hard and gets poorer returns in terms of goals scored and overall results - subsequently I downgraded my expectations. I apologize if my view offends somebody, as I said I feel very negative right now!

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

In order to score 4 we need to have 12 shots on goal, in order to have 12 shots on goal we need 36-48 shots for the whole game, our stats have getting, eve progressively worse since the turn of the year. It is almost given we are going to concede no matter what setup of players and formation we choose to play, even Ederson's been getting down to Claudio's level of ratio-shots saved. I feel very negative and I think we might actually lose this game and maybe 2 in PL at least.I just want the season to end. Returning from the game last night I realized we are million miles from a real strong collective, I don't know about any other team that works so hard and gets poorer returns in terms of goals scored and overall results - subsequently I downgraded my expectations. I apologize if my view offends somebody, as I said I feel very negative right now!

Why can't you just wallow alone. Instead of trying to bring us down.

 

[Nightmare Walking]

In order to score 4 we need to have 12 shots on goal, in order to have 12 shots on goal we need 36-48 shots for the whole game, our stats have getting, eve progressively worse since the turn of the year. It is almost given we are going to concede no matter what setup of players and formation we choose to play, even Ederson's been getting down to Claudio's level of ratio-shots saved. I feel very negative and I think we might actually lose this game and maybe 2 in PL at least.I just want the season to end. Returning from the game last night I realized we are million miles from a real strong collective, I don't know about any other team that works so hard and gets poorer returns in terms of goals scored and overall results - subsequently I downgraded my expectations. I apologize if my view offends somebody, as I said I feel very negative right now!

A great team ream responds when the chips are down. We need a glorious night in Europe. Everyone is a bit shocked after 2 bad results. We have not played poorly though. We are more than capable of getting the result we need against Liverpool.
We have had 2 bad results, shit happens. We are still a fantastic team.

 

[sir baconface]

Ha might end up 7-3 on the night!

7-4 mate. We are City ;)

 

[MCFC1993]

Need the crowd to be like we were in the first half yesterday. Give our team the best chance we can.

Wouldn't expect the drop off we had in the 2nd half either because unless we are phenomenal in the 1st half we'll most likely still be chasing the game.

Go through tomorrow and the last 2 games are forgotten, that's got to be the mentality.

 

[andy07]

In order to score 4 we need to have 12 shots on goal, in order to have 12 shots on goal we need 36-48 shots for the whole game, our stats have getting, eve progressively worse since the turn of the year. It is almost given we are going to concede no matter what setup of players and formation we choose to play, even Ederson's been getting down to Claudio's level of ratio-shots saved. I feel very negative and I think we might actually lose this game and maybe 2 in PL at least.I just want the season to end. Returning from the game last night I realized we are million miles from a real strong collective, I don't know about any other team that works so hard and gets poorer returns in terms of goals scored and overall results - subsequently I downgraded my expectations. I apologize if my view offends somebody, as I said I feel very negative right now!

Bollocks. The rags got 3 from 5 attempts whilst we should have had double figures. It is about being tight at the back and clinical up front.

 

[ayia napa blues]

Really can't believe how many people have given up already for most city fans were playing the best football we have ever seen we are creating chance after chance .

If it clicks we can score 5 or 6 no problem .

If we won the first leg 3 -0 most people on here wouldn't be confident with that going to anfield . So what's the difference

Really hope the doom merchants stay at home .

Am gonna be rocking Tue even if am.on my own don't care .

If Barca or real were 3 down from first leg they wouldn't be writing the tie off. I can't believe am reading people saying thing like they can't wait til the season is over .

Were going to be crowed premier league chmapions imminently and have a shot at ecl semi final.bring it on

 

[deano ou812]

Hand on heart after the last two games can anyone actually honestly think we will score enough goals to get past Liverpool,to be fair we can’t see them not scoring at least one,stranger things have happened but what doesn’t fill me with confidence is when was the last time we went into a game and just went at a team from the 1st min to the 90th min..we either seem to play well first half then drop off second or vice versa,we need to be ruthless and relentless for the whole game ..

 

[Rammy Blue]

I can’t wait for this game. Know full well it’s a long shot but stranger things have happened.

 

[lasereyes]

Was at the Etihad yesterday and the emotions took us from heaven to hell. Watching the replay of the 90 minutes in the cold light of day I feel a great deal better about our performance.

First half we played very well but Raheem in particular was not clinical enough albeit he made amazing runs behind their defence.
Second half, united played far better. First And second goal had a great deal of quality albeit we could have defended smarter. We failed to track runners and Ota could have done better. Third goal was defensively poor. Ota had Smalling on the edge of the area and simply let him go. Despite this, we made as dangerous chances in the second half and failed to take them. Raz, Gundo and Kun should each of scored.

The refereeing was interesting. Other than the two penalties which both should have been given, we were given no ‘soft’ fouls whilst they were given at least 8 or 9. Most of them either on the edge of their area or in a position they could attack us from. Again interestingly, their were three or four of these marginal decisions in the first 15 minutes before we scored, and then the remainder in the last 20 minutes when they were ahead. On the basis of the evidence I saw there was definately an influence from referee and team to bias the result against us. For both penalty claims Atkinson was in a very poor position to see them, especially the second. The linesman had a square on view of the Kun foul ( as we did right behind him) though and failed to call it.

Shit happens. I dont blame Pep although I think earlier subs might have made a difference particularly if we had brought Kev and Kun on after they scored the second. I don’t blame the players either. They fought to the end. I do think yet again the referee team had a negative influence on the result from our perspective. It wasn’t a poor performance though and certainly good enough to get us to the title in the next three games. The atmosphere in the first half was fantastic. I wish we could do that every home game.

Good assessment. It was quite a bit like the home Chelsea game last year where we ran them ragged but a sitter (2 on this occasion) along with atrocious refereeing gave them a lifeline. The only silver lining is it almost certainly doesn't affect anything - I would be more pissed if this happened beginning of next season when we are not streets ahead of the pack.

 

[sirrmattmoo]

Salah and Robertson are likely to be fit by all accounts

 

[argyle]

In order to score 4 we need to have 12 shots on goal, in order to have 12 shots on goal we need 36-48 shots for the whole game, our stats have getting, eve progressively worse since the turn of the year. It is almost given we are going to concede no matter what setup of players and formation we choose to play, even Ederson's been getting down to Claudio's level of ratio-shots saved. I feel very negative and I think we might actually lose this game and maybe 2 in PL at least.I just want the season to end. Returning from the game last night I realized we are million miles from a real strong collective, I don't know about any other team that works so hard and gets poorer returns in terms of goals scored and overall results - subsequently I downgraded my expectations. I apologize if my view offends somebody, as I said I feel very negative right now!

What is the shot to conversion rate for us?

 

[argyle]

Bollocks. The rags got 3 from 5 attempts whilst we should have had double figures. It is about being tight at the back and clinical up front.

Think you just proved his point? We need many chances to score?

 

[BlueBorlz]

It all comes down to whether LFC score, if they do then probably curtains, if they don’t then City almost certainly go through.

It’s almost inconceivable that at some point City are not 2-0 ahead (in the case that Pool don’t score) and panic stations will set in. Pools defence is diabolical under pressure, how your lot neglected to test this out last week is beyond any reasonable logic! You won’t make the same mistake again.

I give it 40/60 that you lot go through. And stop wetting the bed about winning the league you daft blue buffoons

 

[Mr HJ]

Bear with me here - I've followed the Red Sox since going to Fenway when I spent a while living in Boston during the eighties - it pains me greatly that Fenway Sports group now own the scousers BTW - anyway today the Red Sox had an unbelievable comeback win from being down 7-2 they scored 6 runs in the bottom of the eighth to win it and remain top of the division. An omen perhaps for Tuesday? it can be done, believe my fellow blues.