Our form in Europe.

[mcfc-mark]

Sundays game has proved we can be absolutely devastating at our best, so there's no better time than now to really kick it in the champs league. We've looked average so far but I've got a feeling that's about to change starting on Tuesday in Villarreal.... let's smash them like we did the rags!!

 

[Brendan110_0]

Sundays game has proved we can be absolutely devastating at our best, so there's no better time than now to really kick it in the champs league. We've looked average so far but I've got a feeling that's about to change starting on Tuesday in Villarreal.... let's smash them like we did the rags!!

I agree, we eased off the pressure with our first CL win, they'll be crapping it! Just like playing Stoke really, got the narrow win, now we know how to play them it should be a clear few goals this time.

 

[Mental_blue]

The key to our play seems to be scoring first. We've scored first in all our Prem games and apart from Fulham gone on to win. In all our CL games we've conceded the first goal and then struggled. Score first and score early on Tuesday and we could rattle a few in.

 

[dctid]

Sundays game has proved we can be absolutely devastating at our best, so there's no better time than now to really kick it in the champs league. We've looked average so far but I've got a feeling that's about to change starting on Tuesday in Villarreal.... let's smash them like we did the rags!!

i dont think we have learned how to play CL football yet - the quality of the teams is so good one mistake and you can concede a goal - it like watching a game of chess

might be wrong but from memory it took the rags a few years to get past the group stage - hopefully we are in pot 2 next year so things may be a little easier

 

[taconinja]

We've been missing a major component in the CL...

Balotelli

Watch the difference when he plays.

 

[Plain Speaking]

Balo has not played in the CL for us yet. On current form surely he and Aguero will start with Dzeko coming off the bench.

Much of team sport is confidence. It was only after 20 minutes of the derby that we settled.

The more success we achieve the more self belief and confidence the team will have. If we believe and perform to our capabilities we could win all the last 3 matches and still top the group.

 

[Shaelumstash]

We have been too cautious going forward in the CL, that has been the biggest difference. In the Prem we have bamboozled teams with the movement and fluidity of our front 4, they are so difficult to mark.

Whereas in Europe we are so wary of counter attacks that our creative players have been told to play to a more rigid shape. Watch Silva and Nasri in the prem, the drift inside, swap wings, find space, they are impossible to track. In Europe Nasri stays rigid left, Silva / Johnson stay rigid right.

This allows them to get back in to defensive shape better and make us more difficult to break down, but the flip side is that we are nowhere near as dangerous going forward. I think we were shocked by the speed at which Napoli counter attacked and that was has made us cautious.

 

[blink922]

We've been missing a major component in the CL...

Balotelli

Watch the difference when he plays.

I've been sayin this over and over. Balo thrives on these games, he'll be huge for us.


Anyone think we should try the same team from Sunday v. Villarreal? I think we 100% need Jimmy in there.

 

[cleavers]

i dont think we have learned how to play CL football yet

I don't understand why we've played any different, lets just get at them, and get it won, our attack is one of the best in europe, and so is our midfield, and our defence.

 

[persvenality cult]

We have been too cautious going forward in the CL, that has been the biggest difference. In the Prem we have bamboozled teams with the movement and fluidity of our front 4, they are so difficult to mark.

Whereas in Europe we are so wary of counter attacks that our creative players have been told to play to a more rigid shape. Watch Silva and Nasri in the prem, the drift inside, swap wings, find space, they are impossible to track. In Europe Nasri stays rigid left, Silva / Johnson stay rigid right.

This allows them to get back in to defensive shape better and make us more difficult to break down, but the flip side is that we are nowhere near as dangerous going forward. I think we were shocked by the speed at which Napoli counter attacked and that was has made us cautious.

I think it's 50/50 coaching and down to the players. You can tell them to go to three at the back at every safe opportunity, push the dline up the half way, but it usually only takes one CB to listen to the voices in the back of his head, unwittingly refuse to push out and the rest have to fall in line.

The other simple truth is that, unlike the vast majority of the premiership, teams in the CL are not surprised and undone by the first bit of lateral movement or triangle they see. They don't lose their shape so easily and they tend to see the switch coming much earlier. Don't discount the 'big scalp' factor either. We saw this time after time after the take over. Any half decent opponent raised their game, eager to claim a 'big name'. It took several years to establish dominance. Once you reach a certain threshold then they give up more easily. And good seeding makes a huge difference.

With so many players so early in their CL career, it will take time. We could push, play fast and loose like Spurs did, but that's not going to teach us much. The idea is to practise the basics of the system that we will be using in future years. From that perspective, any progress is a bonus. Although I think we ought to be progressing from the group, it's such a stinker that you'd have to say doing so was a decent first year accomplishment in itself. Anything beyond depends on the draw. Unlike Inter last year, Bayern are far more than just a big name, they are a giant in stunning form. And Napoli are probably this year's Spurs... except they have much more technical ability.