Monaco (a) pre-match thread

[aguero93:20]

I'm watching the first game,they were straight on us playing out from the back,any chance we could do a bit less of that?

Nope.

 

[St.Pauli support]

Zab over Sagna, Ota over Stones, and Dihno over Clichy.
We have to control play. So all our best ball control players have to play

Wouldn't that mean Stones over Ota?

Left back will be key against Sidibe and Bernardo Silva.
Clichy has improved recently, and Dinho didn't do great in the 1st leg on LB.

Whoever will play LB, he will need some support.

I think City won't lose.

 

[kaz7]

I hope the ref does better this time,the last one was a useless fucker
I might go with nico and aleks,john v falcao again no thanks

 

[Danny_Johnson4]

I hope the ref does better this time,the last one was a useless fucker
I might go with nico and aleks,john v falcao again no thanks

Agree Stones cocked up, but he was hung out to dry by Otamendi in the first leg
That first leg was the single worst performance Otamendi has put in since he has been here, yep, that bad.

The penalty he gave away was an abomination to defending, he literally didnt even see the world class centre forward goal side of him for the 10 seconds prior to the cross in the build up
Not to mention he threw stones under the bus with Mbappe's goal.
Have to even laugh at the time he got stuck on his arse twice within 3 seconds of each other, yet about 30 yards apart, in the first half

Kolarov and Stones for me at CB. Kompany IF at all fit

 

[Dax777]

Wouldn't that mean Stones over Ota?

Nah. Ota is the best passing Center back at the club at present. He sees plays better when we are in possession carries the ball into space better and threads a better ball on the ground than any other defender. Might trail Kolarov in Long ball accuracy.

Stones is a good passer bit not as good. He is also more tentative, I.e. he has an idea of where people in front of him should be, but if they are not there, he holds on to the ball longer hoping the players ahead correct their error rather than him changing his plan. This makes things tigher and worse, and often he ends up going back to the keeper because of it. Ota's decision making on the ball is far superior to Stones.

Left back will be key against Sidibe and Bernardo Silva.
Clichy has improved recently, and Dinho didn't do great in the 1st leg on LB.

Whoever will play LB, he will need some support.

I think City won't lose.

I know Dihno is a much more proficient footballer than Clichy, and while Clichy has played well in the last few games, he is a net negative for possession and also a net negative on defense.

Sane will help whoever starts. Hoping its Dihno, as Sane is deadlier with a good passer and mover off the ball playing fullback behind him. Clichy is neither of those things. Hence why I wouldn't play him.

 

[kaz7]

Agree Stones cocked up, but he was hung out to dry by Otamendi in the first leg
That first leg was the single worst performance Otamendi has put in since he has been here, yep, that bad.

The penalty he gave away was an abomination to defending, he literally didnt even see the world class centre forward goal side of him for the 10 seconds prior to the cross in the build up
Not to mention he threw stones under the bus with Mbappe's goal.
Have to even laugh at the time he got stuck on his arse twice within 3 seconds of each other, yet about 30 yards apart, in the first half

Kolarov and Stones for me at CB. Kompany IF at all fit

The whole defending was really off,i think nico is not good with john,they don't seem to be on the same wave length at all,aleks has impressed as CB
Yaya played really well so should stay in,the attack picks itself if everyone is fit,RB and LB is up for grabs,i would put zabba one side and sagna the other,i can't wait for team news

 

[Dax777]

I hope the ref does better this time,the last one was a useless fucker
I might go with nico and aleks,john v falcao again no thanks

This guy is apparently known for being card happy.

Was the guy who gave us 5 yelows each vs Barca and Madrid. Although he did give 3 and a red to Madrid.

Point here is he likes his card. And that never favors English teams who play a gritier brand of football.

 

[cibaman]

I would be amazed if Pep didnt bring in at least a few fresh legs from Saturday so think that Sagna, Kolarov & Fernandhino are almost certain to start.

 

[Gundogan's Moustache]

The whole defending was really off,i think nico is not good with john,they don't seem to be on the same wave length at all,aleks has impressed as CB
Yaya played really well so should stay in,the attack picks itself if everyone is fit,RB and LB is up for grabs,i would put zabba one side and sagna the other,i can't wait for team news

Id say Otamendi is better with Stones but Stones is better with Kolarov if that makes sense

 

[kaz7]

Id say Otamendi is better with Stones but Stones is better with Kolarov if that makes sense

That makes perfect sense,john needs someone calm beside him,who would have thought that would be aleks

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

So any draw, or a Monaco win by a 1-goal margain, will see us go through. If we lose by two goals but we score more than three we go through, if we loe 5-3 we go to extra time. I think we should be getting through to the next round.... the trouble is that round will likely consist of this lineup:

Barcelona
Real Madrid
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund
Atletico Madrid
Juventus
Sevilla
Manchester City

We'll think about that if we get there I suppose, but... yikes.

That's why it's the Champions League. It certainly looks it at this point. Nothing but heavyweights. Honestly, my heart says I'd love us to win it, but my head says it's probably one year too early, maybe two. Once we've got a top-level full back (or two) and also another top-class centre back, hopefully this summer, I think we're definitely talking about us as being amongst the three or four favourites for the competition. Until then, I think it's one hell of a shout.
Don't write off Leicester, by the way. I've got a sneaking suspicion they're back in business. If they were to go through, could we be drawn against them at quarter-final stage?

 

[MarsLlama]

That's why it's the Champions League. It certainly looks it at this point. Nothing but heavyweights. Honestly, my heart says I'd love us to win it, but my head says it's probably one year too early, maybe two. Once we've got a top-level full back (or two) and also another top-class centre back, hopefully this summer, I think we're definitely talking about us as being amongst the three or four favourites for the competition. Until then, I think it's one hell of a shout.
Don't write off Leicester, by the way. I've got a sneaking suspicion they're back in business. If they were to go through, could we be drawn against them at quarter-final stage?

BBC Sport mentioned Real Madrid fans not wanting to play Barcelona in the QF's so unless they're wrong I think we can draw them, in which case I would like that very much.

Don't see Leicester going through though. Sevilla are the far better team and will get at least an away goal.

 

[Afrenchguy]

Have a nice game everyone, it was a pleasure to read y'all :)

Enjoy the game, let the best team go through :)

 

[remember arthur mann]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...mel-Falcao-hopes-fit-Manchester-City-tie.html

 

[RayCTID]

It wouldn't be a complete shock if Falcao does start.

 

[Tevez City]

________________________Willy__________________

Sagna__________Otamendi_____Stones________Clichy

KDB___________________Yaya______________Silva

Sterling_____________Sergio____________Sane

 

[aguero93:20]

Have a nice game everyone, it was a pleasure to read y'all :)

Enjoy the game, let the best team go through :)

Hope you lose.

 

[domalino]

Wouldn't that mean Stones over Ota?

Left back will be key against Sidibe and Bernardo Silva.
Clichy has improved recently, and Dinho didn't do great in the 1st leg on LB.

Whoever will play LB, he will need some support.

I think City won't lose.

Stones is above Otamendi in the pecking order now. If Kolarov was fit 2 weeks ago, Otamendi wouldn't have played.

 

[MadchesterCity]

lmao

It's a sad state of affairs that those two are our left back options.

As much as I detest AK, I can live with him playing in the middle, certainly not left back though as Monaco would rip him to pieces.

Fernandinho at left back

 

[Marvin]

Fernandinho at left back

Not after the 1st leg. That was a mistake which Guardiola sorted out. Monaco's pace is one of their biggest assets and possibly our biggest weakness at the back. I'm expecting Clichy to play left back.