Man City V Barcelona Pre Match thread.

[Manchester_lalala]

Spot the good news.

That looks like Jo in the middle with his back to the camera, is he cup tied?




In all seriousness, Jimmy is back.

 

[markbmcfc]

My team, and who I think MP will play in brackets.

Hart

Zabba (Sagna)
Kompany
Mangala
Clichy

Fernandinho
Milner (Fernando)

Navas (Milner)
Silva
Nasri

Aguero

4-5-1 Without the ball, 4-2-3-1 with it.

 

[kaz7]

Everyone fit

 

[jrb]

As long as they don't draw us out when they have the ball. Let them play it about for as long as they want in midfield. Unfortunately opposing teams/players get drawn out eventually, and that's when Messi & Co go into the spaces and cause havoc. The players need to be patient, hold firm, and let Barcelona come to us. If they want to play a game of Cat and Mouse, let them. We've got the players to break up their play and then break on them.

 

[Bluep*ss]

Spot the good news.

That looks like Jo in the middle with his back to the camera, is he cup tied?




In all seriousness, Jimmy is back.

yes I see Milner is training which is good news. Is the guy in the woollen hat and scarf - Dzeko??.

Also maybe Jovetic will play at Anfield.

 

[Big Swifty]

The referees can influence how the game goes and the result. I see we will have a German called Felix Brych. Anyone know him? Apparently he gave a "ghost" goal in one game, and is known as a "disciplinarian".
I just hope he's better than the one MP raged against last time we played Barca. A sending-off, a dodgy penalty, a failure to stop cheating (Suarez anyone?), all these can make our best plans irrelevant. We mustn't lunge in to give soft free-kicks away near goal - we know what our defending is like at set pieces.
So we must stifle their creative men without giving the ref a chance to flash yellow and red cards willy-nilly. Not easy!

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

new referee for us in Felix Brych from Germany, has refereed Barca 4 times, and they've never won. In maybe a good omen, he refereed Chelsea's first leg win over Barcelona in the 2011-12 Semi-Finals, on the way to Chelsea's CL win.

 

[the-ecstacy-of-eight]

yes I see Milner is training which is good news. Is the guy in the woollen hat and scarf - Dzeko??.

Also maybe Jovetic will play at Anfield.

Think it's MDM myself.

 

[HoneyMonster]

Hart
zabs, kompany, Demichelles, Clichy
Milner fernandinho
navas Silva Nasri
Aguero



I reckon start with Aguero up front with Silva behind pack midfield and then later in game bring on Edin for navas and go for it!!

 

[EaglesFan]

Regardless of what MP is saying for the record (to be politically correct) - if the game is tied in the 2nd I expect him to get more aggressive (even play 2 strikers for a spell).

We HAVE TO win the first game. Because what history has thought us is that beating Barca at their house, in a tie like this, is mission impossible.

So Pellers can be "tie is ok" all he wants - I am sure he knows he has to win at home to have a chance.