Official Hamburg vs Manchester City FC Thread

[cheeseburger]

Report from press conference: (See <a class="postlink" href="http://www.hsv.de/index.php?id=25867" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.hsv.de/index.php?id=25867</a>)


Benjamin and Guerrero: Back!

Martin Jol had some good news to tell the gathered media, at the pre-match press conference at the HSH Norbank Arena in Hamburg on Wednesday (8.4.09). "Both Paolo Guerrero and Collin Benjamin are in the squad". A big relief for the 53 year old Dutchman who is without defenders Alex Silva and Jerome Boateng for the visit of Manchester City to the-above-named stadium for a UEFA Cup quarter final first leg tie. His Manchester City counterpart Mark Hughes turned up at the press conference 20 minutes early.

City lost 0-2 at Arsenal last time out. That result means that they currently occupy 10th place in the Premier League table, quite a way from the European places.Hughes told the packed press room: "It's important the club are in Europe next season, for our profile. We are probably fighting for seventh place, which I expect would be enough; but I'd rather qualify for the European stage as UEFA Cup holders." City have not been involved in a European quarter final for 30 years, HSV 19 years.

Hughes knows that Thursday's clash in Hamburg will be tough. After all, during his time at Tottenham, Jol beat City six times in six matches. That Arsenal defeat left City with an away record of only one win in 19 matches. Hughes knows: "Every one of our players needs to perform, we've done that at home this season but less so away. One of our best away performances this season was against Schalke, though, and I hope for more of the same." The former Manchester United legend admitted that he had consulted the former HSV duo of Vince Kompany and Nigel de Jong for the lowdown on Thursday's opponents.

Jol again: "When Robinho has the ball at his feet he's one of the best in the world. Then there's Shaun Wright-Phillips, Elano too, and Ireland is an excellent player. They're fast and though we may drop players back to cope, we don't tend to play too differently in Europe to the Bundesliga. So far it's worked very well."

 

[lostmyhouseski]

f%ck im nervous already..i just hope the boys go out and have a good go at it..ill be sitting on the couch at 2:45 am after a heavy night and just want them to give it their all, dont expect a win, but a hard fought draw will ease my hangover tomorrow!

 

[NathanC]

f%ck im nervous already..i just hope the boys go out and have a good go at it..ill be sitting on the couch at 2:45 am after a heavy night and just want them to give it their all, dont expect a win, but a hard fought draw will ease my hangover tomorrow!

Me too!

2.45am? You're in Mel aren't you?

 

[lostmyhouseski]

f%ck im nervous already..i just hope the boys go out and have a good go at it..ill be sitting on the couch at 2:45 am after a heavy night and just want them to give it their all, dont expect a win, but a hard fought draw will ease my hangover tomorrow!

Me too!

2.45am? You're in Mel aren't you?

nah mate im in perth here...or dullsville as it is affectionately known : )

 

[NathanC]

For some reason I thought you were in Melbourne...

Perth's not that bad!

 

[cheeseburger]

tonights match logo:

 

[Goater10]

Assuming Ireland has recovered from injury the team must be or should be this:

>>>>>>>>>>>Given

Richards - Dunne - Onouha - Garrido

SWP - Zabaleta - Elano - Ireland

>>>>>>>>>>Robinho

>>>>>>>>>>>> Bellamy

Ireland needs to play on the left as defensive cover for Garrido and Bellamy will need to hurry the full-backs to minimise attacks down the flanks where we could be vunerable.

 

[Freestyler]

Assuming Ireland has recovered from injury the team must be or should be this:

>>>>>>>>>>>Given

Richards - Dunne - Onouha - Garrido

SWP - Zabaleta - Elano - Ireland

>>>>>>>>>>Robinho

>>>>>>>>>>>> Bellamy

Ireland needs to play on the left as defensive cover for Garrido and Bellamy will need to hurry the full-backs to minimise attacks down the flanks where we could be vunerable.

Looks good to me, i just hope bridge is fit enough to play instead of garrido.

 

[lionheart]

Assuming Ireland has recovered from injury the team must be or should be this:

>>>>>>>>>>>Given

Richards - Dunne - Onouha - Garrido

SWP - Zabaleta - Elano - Ireland

>>>>>>>>>>Robinho

>>>>>>>>>>>> Bellamy

Ireland needs to play on the left as defensive cover for Garrido and Bellamy will need to hurry the full-backs to minimise attacks down the flanks where we could be vunerable.

Personally I don't think we can afford to play Robbie, Bellamy and Elano away from home. We need at least one big hold-up player.

 

[lionheart]

There seem to be very few predictions on this thread. Mine is 3-1 to Hamburg, leaving us with the chance of winning 2-0 in the second leg to go through. A last minute Elano penalty will do.