Manchester City vs Liverpool pre-match thread

[IanBishopsHaircut]

If we beat Liverpool on Sunday I think we should have a parade like the scousers did last week...8 games to go champions 2013/14

 

[Paulmcfc2703]

Not looking forward to this game at all. Almost everytime this season when a big game is a must win or at least a must not lose we consistantly come up short. Chelsea home & away, needing to bounce back at Norwich, looking to beat a depleted arsenal away, Wigan cup game, Barca home game. Too many times has this happened.

I predict a 3-1 loss

 

[JustAnotherCityFan]

Quote from someone on Rawk

"The expensive toys will buckle under pressure. They are bound to be. It will be a good learning for them as to who are the men of Football in this country. On top of it, I cant fathom them to be Champions of English football after spending as much as they did and succumbing home and away to Barca. City always failed in Europe. They don't deserve this title and will get a check of reality on what Championship material is all about.
I see a comfortable win for us."

 

[Chippy_boy]

Re: Liverpool Thread 2013/14 (continued)

We're expected to win and yet you yourself have 5 Liverpool players in a starting 11 between both clubs which tells me its as good as 50/50. It's the new breed of football managers not having the balls to say we are confident of going out and winning but instead keep playing down their teams chances that is creeping into fans opinions. Apparently, so I'm told, it takes the pressure off the players and yet the players know only too well they have been in with a chance of the title and I reckon that belief started ever since you got that last minute penalty away to Fulham which was a big win for you. Stop with all this City are under pressure bollocks, both clubs are under pressure, you are in with a cracking chance of winning it and although it will still have been a great season for you this year represents possibly your biggest chance of landing it as next season with the Champions League and expectations will be a whole different ball game.

I've been unashamedly biased ;-)

I'm not taking the pressure off anyone - I expect us to win the match for the reasons I stated I'm just saying that given the salaries and transfer fees paid it should be no competition. The reason it is is a testament to our manager and our players.

I can't wait to see what Rodgers can do with some CL quality players, we've not been able to attract any so far. I suspect he's going to do rather well though

Why am I not allowed to post on your forum, but we are allowing you to post on ours?

 

[Ninja Skrtel]

Re: Liverpool Thread 2013/14 (continued)

You've just made yourself look even sillier. You do realise the more games you play the higher the chance those stats have of decreasing?

Not really - that's why I included defensive actions, the higher they are the better they are regardless of games played. To achieve more defensive actions tells you that he does a lot more, as a result - wins a lot more balls.

The proof is in the pudding mate - we'll see come Sunday.

Key point from my original post is that you're expected to win and anything less than a win should be seen as a failure.

Is this the best you've got then, when it actually comes down to it?

'We'll see come Sunday'

You have a 33.3 per cent chance of being able to come on here and say 'See, I told you so!'

Just like every other fucking opponent we happen to face on any given weekend.

You don't have a Scooby, like the rest of us. It's your gut. nothing more.

Everything else just keeps you that little bit warmer at night between now and Sunday.

We can base our opinions on what we have seen our team perform and achieve over the last three years.

Liverpool fans seemingly want to base theirs on nothing more than the fact 'We're Liverpool FC'.

FACT, as Rafa would say.

Actually, the facts are...we have won 23 games this season and lost 5...you have won 22 and lost 5.

Of our 16 home games we have won 14 and lost only 1. Of your 16 away games you have won only 8 and lost 4.

We have every reason to be confident of a win. And that my friend is a Rafa FACT!

 

[Ninja Skrtel]

Re: Liverpool Thread 2013/14 (continued)

We're expected to win and yet you yourself have 5 Liverpool players in a starting 11 between both clubs which tells me its as good as 50/50. It's the new breed of football managers not having the balls to say we are confident of going out and winning but instead keep playing down their teams chances that is creeping into fans opinions. Apparently, so I'm told, it takes the pressure off the players and yet the players know only too well they have been in with a chance of the title and I reckon that belief started ever since you got that last minute penalty away to Fulham which was a big win for you. Stop with all this City are under pressure bollocks, both clubs are under pressure, you are in with a cracking chance of winning it and although it will still have been a great season for you this year represents possibly your biggest chance of landing it as next season with the Champions League and expectations will be a whole different ball game.

I've been unashamedly biased ;-)

I'm not taking the pressure off anyone - I expect us to win the match for the reasons I stated I'm just saying that given the salaries and transfer fees paid it should be no competition. The reason it is is a testament to our manager and our players.

I can't wait to see what Rodgers can do with some CL quality players, we've not been able to attract any so far. I suspect he's going to do rather well though

Why am I not allowed to post on your forum, but we are allowing you to post on ours?

Come post on KopTalk forums..all footie fans are welcome.

 

[Blue Hefner]

Re: Liverpool Thread 2013/14 (continued)

We're expected to win and yet you yourself have 5 Liverpool players in a starting 11 between both clubs which tells me its as good as 50/50. It's the new breed of football managers not having the balls to say we are confident of going out and winning but instead keep playing down their teams chances that is creeping into fans opinions. Apparently, so I'm told, it takes the pressure off the players and yet the players know only too well they have been in with a chance of the title and I reckon that belief started ever since you got that last minute penalty away to Fulham which was a big win for you. Stop with all this City are under pressure bollocks, both clubs are under pressure, you are in with a cracking chance of winning it and although it will still have been a great season for you this year represents possibly your biggest chance of landing it as next season with the Champions League and expectations will be a whole different ball game.

I've been unashamedly biased ;-)

I'm not taking the pressure off anyone - I expect us to win the match for the reasons I stated I'm just saying that given the salaries and transfer fees paid it should be no competition. The reason it is is a testament to our manager and our players.

I can't wait to see what Rodgers can do with some CL quality players, we've not been able to attract any so far. I suspect he's going to do rather well though

The transfer fees and wages are paid so we can compete in 4 competitions not just compete V L'pool.

You make it sound like L'pool are some sort of poor little up start. L'pool have been spending fortunes for years, it's not City's fault that you blew it all and have only competed for the league twice In 20 odd years.

 

[BlueMoonoverUS]

Not looking forward to this game at all. Almost everytime this season when a big game is a must win or at least a must not lose we consistantly come up short. Chelsea home & away, needing to bounce back at Norwich, looking to beat a depleted arsenal away, Wigan cup game, Barca home game. Too many times has this happened.

I predict a 3-1 loss

Mate have a pint. :)))

 

[City Raider]

Most Liverpool fans I know, know their football and are reasoned in their judgements but this seems to have been replaced, on here at least, by misguided entitlement the moment they have a team worth a mention again.

Life has a habit of kicking you where it hurts when you think you have it sussed.

 

[ifiwasarichfan]

Re: Liverpool Thread 2013/14 (continued)

Let's try escape the troll fest...

Man for man - Liverpool Vs Man City. My pick of the two teams to create an ultimate 11, with some reasoning and my own formation.

Mignolet / Hart- Both capable of huge errors, Hart wins it for me on experience.
Johnson / Zableta - Both quite equal for me, Zableta offers more in defence so gets the nod
Skrtel / Kompany - Skrtel gets bullied and Kompany is an all round better defender
Sakho / Demichellis(or any other CB) - Sakho is quality. He'll be on a par with Kompany in the next 2 years
Flanagan / Clichy/Kolarov - Experience wins out, don't really know enough about your two. Flanno is all heart though...
Gerrard / Fernandinho - Would take Gerrard over Ferndandinho, basically because he's Gerrard, his range of passing is far superior and in the style LFC play he's integral. Fernandinho has come good after a wobbly start, against any of our other midfielders he would have won out.
Henderson / Toure - Candidate for player of the year against someone who should be a candidate for young player of the year.
Coutinho / Silva - Struggled for form this year, still trying to work out his best position. He's not a 10 or a wide player. Silva, after having a bit of a shit season last year, is back on song. Pure Quality
Sterling / Navas - Contentious one this, I'd much rather have Sterling. Seems far more dangerous cutting inside than Navas. Much more of a goal threat and can play in the middle or out wide.
Sturridge / Dzeko - Studge is far more dynamic than Dzeko, playing across the front with ease. Better goal scoring record.
Suarez / Aguero - Another contentious one, purely on form I'd go with Luis. Think they're fairly equal in reality however for this game, I'd rather have the player in form than the one returning from injury.


This is why this game is pretty much win/win for us. If we lose, we shouldn't and won't be down hearted - playing a team who have been built with medals & championships in mind and assembled at a much greater cost (transfer and salary). You can argue that all you like but ultimately money spent = pressure to win things and that's what City have got. Citys team, on paper, should win easily...

If we win this game we're a step closer to the title.So win / win - personally think we're going to win it. Anfield will be a full on cauldron, the atmosphere will be fantastic and I know a lot of you have been taking the piss but the JFT96 campaign will bring additional passion for both the players and the fans to win this one. Gerrard, in particular (who lost a cousin at Hillsborough) always plays a blinder on these occasions. The fact it's a win/win means there's little pressure on us and we'll play with freedom. Plus...usually when we have a struggle away, our return home game see's us scoring lots of goals.

Pellegrini will probably follow a Chelsea model, soak up the pressure in the first 20 keep it tight and try win the midfield battle whilst using Silva to orchestrate. I think Toure might be the weak link for you here though, he's a world class player however he can be a lazy bastard at times and with our runners from midfield he's going to need to do his share of tracking and defending. Defensively we're weak however Dzeko doesn't scare me and I can't see Ageuro starting - after rushing him back the last time I think the manager and the player will both want a slow re-introduction. Sakho will be given the job of snuffing out Silva before he gets a chance to get his head up, between him & Gerrard they should be able to keep him quiet.

Hope that's not the case - would love you to come and play a high line on the front foot...

Can I be the first to offer an Olive Branch to Scouse Jimi ?

Much, much earlier in this thread I posted something like this in a reply to one of his posts:

"The top 4 is gone for Liverpool; not as in the foreseeable future, but gone as in your lifetime" - now from my sums - just one win in the last 5 games and a draw for Arsenal means I have some Humble Pie to eat.

On his assessment of the two sides however; I have rarely seen such a load of tripe posted on Bluemoon. Suarez is the only player of their's who would get in our team at this moment in time. Sakho may possibly be a slight upgrade on our choices of partner for Kompany and that's it. We will buy better in the Summer.

Mignolet is barely above average against most Prem keepers.
Johnson is much better than Bluemoon says but he is no Zabaleta.

Henderson, Flanagan, Sterling are all excellent prospects but just wouldn't get game time.

Sturridge; I rate him highly but not as much as our quartet of forwards.

Stevie Overrated ? - If Hughes had got him here just after the takeover then I am certain that Mr P would have shipped him out to Goodison in Gareth Barry's Taxi.

Lucas, Allen, Coutinho, Skirtel, Agger, Kolo and the rest nowhere near the standard we require or indeed have getting splinters in their arse on the City bench.

On Sunday; if we play anywhere, anywhere near our true ability and the Referee doesn't have a shocker then we walk away with the points.

Now can everyone stop saying how good they are, how many penalties they are going to get and a point would be a good result. You are all making me nervous.