Napoli (H) - Thu 18th Sept, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction?

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wolviedinho said:
City were scrabbling defensively a lot of that second half
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TinFoilHat said:
Are we wearing the third kit at home again?
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Our third kit last season was the maroon strip.

The kit we wore against Inter last year was a limited edition City x Noel Gallagher as part of a collection for Oasis getting back together.

Why we wore it for a game - a home game at that when it was like a peachy-yellow colour - I’ll never know.
 
If the game was played in isolation, we should play a side similar to the Derby side but the Arsenal game is on Sunday and we can't keep playing the same players. I don't know whether Pep will want to play Rodri 3 times in 8 games for example.

----------Donnarumma
Khusanov-Dias-Gvardiol-O'Reilly
------------Gonzalez
--------Reijnders---Foden
--Savinho---Haaland---Bobb

I hope Stones is fit but he probably won't be so the defence will likely be unchanged. I would start with Savinho and Bobb, and rest Doku, and Rodri. I think Doku is a key attacking player but I wouldn't want to play him every game.
 
ninjamonkey said:
I'd go full rotation with Arsenal in mind. Last season showed how little is needed to get through and how impossible it is to predict likely opponents anyway. That arsenal game is far more important at this stage and with them getting a 2 day rest advantage, resting some of our players should be the response.

Donnarumma
Nunes
Dias
Ake
O'Reilly
Nico
Lewis
Reijnders
Savinho
Bobb
Haaland
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Not sure we should start the campaign getting pumped at home which is what will happen with that side. Gonzalez would be overrun in that midfield.
 
.db. said:
Our third kit last season was the maroon strip.

The kit we wore against Inter last year was a limited edition City x Noel Gallagher as part of a collection for Oasis getting back together.

Why we wore it for a game - a home game at that when it was like a peachy-yellow colour - I’ll never know.
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Only one reason we wore it at home - publicity.

Just didn’t look or feel right. But the club won’t care as it probably boosted sales of what was a pretty shite shirt.
 
bondsman said:
Not sure we should start the campaign getting pumped at home which is what will happen with that side. Gonzalez would be overrun in that midfield.
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Not sure we would get pumped, they are a good side, they aren't a great side but if we lost then so be it, last season showed its not a big deal.

Pep keeps saying how all the squad will be needed with the number of games yet we only see it when players are injured, we have to start using the squad proactively to try and prevent injuries.

People seem to recognise that it's a squad game now but then they are always wanting the best available 11 for every game. We lose against arsenal and any faint hopes of a title challenge are over already, that has to be prioritised.
 
ninjamonkey said:
Not sure we would get pumped, they are a good side, they aren't a great side but if we lost then so be it, last season showed its not a big deal.

Pep keeps saying how all the squad will be needed with the number of games yet we only see it when players are injured, we have to start using the squad proactively to try and prevent injuries.

People seem to recognise that it's a squad game now but then they are always wanting the best available 11 for every game. We lose against arsenal and any faint hopes of a title challenge are over already, that has to be prioritised.
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Think we have more chance of winning any cup comp than the league but I concede we can still win CL losing tomorrow. I would like us to win against a decent side though which we haven’t done yet this season. Winning is a habit. You’re right about the need for a squad of course I just don’t think ours is any good. We used to have depth in every position now beyond our strongest 11 which is rarely fit we are relying on players that wouldn’t have got near our squads in the last 10 years.
 
Fancy this lad gets a start tomorrow (from OS)
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bondsman said:
Think we have more chance of winning any cup comp than the league but I concede we can still win CL losing tomorrow. I would like us to win against a decent side though which we haven’t done yet this season. Winning is a habit. You’re right about the need for a squad of course I just don’t think ours is any good. We used to have depth in every position now beyond our strongest 11 which is rarely fit we are relying on players that wouldn’t have got near our squads in the last 10 years.
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for example?
 
ninjamonkey said:
Not sure we would get pumped, they are a good side, they aren't a great side but if we lost then so be it, last season showed its not a big deal.

Pep keeps saying how all the squad will be needed with the number of games yet we only see it when players are injured, we have to start using the squad proactively to try and prevent injuries.

People seem to recognise that it's a squad game now but then they are always wanting the best available 11 for every game. We lose against arsenal and any faint hopes of a title challenge are over already, that has to be prioritised.
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Last year showed us that if we play games with the attitude that losing doesn't matter, we'll come unstuck and get dumped out earlier. Your comparison is bizarre. Last season we drew at home to an Italian team on the first matchday and ultimately finished outside of the top 16. LOSING at home in the corresponding fixture this season would be a nightmare.
 
Hope we see more of this counter-attacking style we've adapted so far this season, makes Haaland even more of a threat and Reijnders' energy helps. Plus pace on the wings. Might even see Savinho step up too.

I reckon that's why we made such an overhaul with the goalkeeper situation, if we're letting teams pen us in with a view to counter-attack them then we need a keeper who is reliable at saving shots.
 
bondsman said:
Think we have more chance of winning any cup comp than the league but I concede we can still win CL losing tomorrow. I would like us to win against a decent side though which we haven’t done yet this season. Winning is a habit. You’re right about the need for a squad of course I just don’t think ours is any good. We used to have depth in every position now beyond our strongest 11 which is rarely fit we are relying on players that wouldn’t have got near our squads in the last 10 years.
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On balance, I agree. Can see both arguments but in this case, take it one game at a time. Win on Thursday then see how we are.
 
Just go as strong as possible for each game as it comes. Can't afford to fuck around with these games as last season showed us
 
skillman said:
Hope we see more of this counter-attacking style we've adapted so far this season, makes Haaland even more of a threat and Reijnders' energy helps. Plus pace on the wings. Might even see Savinho step up too.

I reckon that's why we made such an overhaul with the goalkeeper situation, if we're letting teams pen us in with a view to counter-attack them then we need a keeper who is reliable at saving shots.
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I am not sure we adopted this CA style, this team is just not capable of or effective of dominating games, so it was forced upon us.

I think we are seeing some improvements in our pressing game, so turnovers result in counterattacks.
 
Full strength for this first game and hope we get off to a flyer, not ideal with Arsenal on Sunday but hey ho. Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O,Reilly, Rodri, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Haaland
 
bondsman said:
Think we have more chance of winning any cup comp than the league but I concede we can still win CL losing tomorrow. I would like us to win against a decent side though which we haven’t done yet this season. Winning is a habit. You’re right about the need for a squad of course I just don’t think ours is any good. We used to have depth in every position now beyond our strongest 11 which is rarely fit we are relying on players that wouldn’t have got near our squads in the last 10 years.
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Agree we stand a better chance of winning a cup although I'd say we stand no chance of winning this one. Also agree i dont think the squad is good enough to compete but to be completely out of the equation before October would be a diaaster, we have to at least give ourselves the best shot of getting a result at the emirates and for me that requires some sacrifices with team selection tomorrow.

Pep fully focusing on the next game in terms of selection and not looking beyond that is the reason why we flogged not fully fit defenders last season and ended up with longer injuries that spiraled and destroyed our season.

There are too many games now to simply look at the next fixture. The dippers and arsenal rotate more and will take risks with their lineups more with games ahead in mind and I dont think its a surprise they have suffered less with injuries.

I dont actually expect this to happen, it's just my wish. I fully anticipate pep to go as strong as possible in all CL games this season and we'll simply have to hope it doesnt bite us in the arse come Sunday.
 
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