Pre Match Thread: Chelsea vs City

[Chippy_boy]

Someone has put £500 on Frank first goal scorer after 'seeing his face in the moon'

10/1? What shit odds. He might not even play FFS. He might not play for more than 20 minutes. He might not score. And he might not score 1st.

I'd need 100/1 before putting any more on that.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Stop Hazard, stop Chelsea.

He takes them 30 yards upfield, he creates panic.

They won't have anyone else in the team who instills panic this weekend. They won't play through us.

We have to play smart, and pick our battles. Make our tackles as high up the pitch as possible, try and avoid yellow cards for the first half.

We will be tested by Ivanovic, Terry and Cahill at every set piece.

Hart has to punch anything and everything.

 

[J_Bow]

I don't think Cahill will play, looked terrible this season. He's also turned into a thug like Terry. Hopefully Zouma plays so Aguero can give him a real test.

 

[B3nStr0ng]

Hart has to punch anything and everything.

Or preferably catch! He has a tendency to punch when it would seem there is little pressure around him causing unnecessary pressure. Catching could set us up on the counter, hopefully!

I'm feeling confident!

 

[Marvin]

Chelsea's set pieces are always a threat. From direct free-kicks to corners. That's something that they are a lot better at than us.

I can't think of a team who are better at set pieces than Chelsea and largely down to Terry and Ivanovic plus great delivery from Oscar/Hazard

Confident we can take a point.

 

[chris85mcfc]

Chelsea's set pieces are always a threat. From direct free-kicks to corners. That's something that they are a lot better at than us.

I can't think of a team who are better at set pieces than Chelsea and largely down to Terry and Ivanovic plus great delivery from Oscar/Hazard

Confident we can take a point.

And i cant think of a team that gives away as many silly needless free kicks away as we do

Like Tolm said, we need to get our tackles in high up the pitch

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Chelsea's set pieces are always a threat. From direct free-kicks to corners. That's something that they are a lot better at than us.

I can't think of a team who are better at set pieces than Chelsea and largely down to Terry and Ivanovic plus great delivery from Oscar/Hazard

Confident we can take a point.

And i cant think of a team that gives away as many silly needless free kicks away as we do

Like Tolm said, we need to get our tackles in high up the pitch

Which also means Vinny doesn't have to try and be Captain fecking Fantastic with every challenge he makes.

He seems to be increasingly prone to panic, even when someone has given him the slip still 30 yards from goal. It's not like he isn't quick.

Trust his team-mates. I might go with Mangala because of his pace and it won't need two to pick up Drogba, freeing Kompany to step out with the ball into the midfield.

On the other hand, Demichelis is a better passer into midfield than both of them.

Last think I want to see is Komps jamming in Zaba on the touchline, 20 yards from our own goal, because the only direction that ball is then going is back to Hart and the big aimless kick upfield.

Exactly what Chelsea want.

 

[supercity88]

Chelsea's set pieces are always a threat. From direct free-kicks to corners. That's something that they are a lot better at than us.

I can't think of a team who are better at set pieces than Chelsea and largely down to Terry and Ivanovic plus great delivery from Oscar/Hazard

Confident we can take a point.

And i cant think of a team that gives away as many silly needless free kicks away as we do

Like Tolm said, we need to get our tackles in high up the pitch

That's spot on. Press really intensely up the pitch and don't allow the likes of Hazard to turn and run with the ball. Stand them up and trip them up if necessary, but never too close to the penalty area. I think we'll play this differently to how Chelsea will expect us to. We won't look to keep the ball and pass it slowly like we normally would. Without Yaya and Nasri we aren't the best team in possession. Instead we'll attack quickly and if we lose the ball try to win it back as soon as possible. If we can keep that up for 90 minutes - and we should be able to considering we have Milner, Aguero, Jovetic, Navas, Silva, Fernando, Fernandinho all fit for this - and we can win. Chelsea have played 120 minutes of intense football on Tuesday. They played a tough game with Bradford where they had to chase a result. They also played a tough game at Anfield. We've had a break in Abu Dhabi that should see us refreshed for this.

If we play with intensity we will win.

 

[BigOscar]

Demichelis last year, when he played in midfield, really struggled to stop them hoofing long balls to Hazard. He surprisingly couldn't stop him from bringing it down on his chest and then bringing others into play. I think that's one of the things we are going to have to stop, them getting any relief from long balls up the pitch. If we make sure we dominate them there, they are going to have to work the ball up the pitch, which they will struggle to do. Mangala and Kompany did a fantastic job of doing that in the first game, so I'd be tempted to start them again. Keep them pinned in, give them no respite, then take our chances for a change. Also, we need to drag Matic out of position so we can run at whoever they have at CB, as they are all absolutely awful at dealing with anyone running at them.

 

[uwe rosler 28]

Stop Hazard, stop Chelsea.

He takes them 30 yards upfield, he creates panic.

They won't have anyone else in the team who instills panic this weekend. They won't play through us.

We have to play smart, and pick our battles. Make our tackles as high up the pitch as possible, try and avoid yellow cards for the first half.

We will be tested by Ivanovic, Terry and Cahill at every set piece.

Hart has to punch anything and everything.

Very true silva and sergio will have the attention of 2or3 players every time they get the ball so we need to do the same to hazard! Get stuck into oscar early doors and he won't want to know! A moment of magic will win it for us or a set play for them!

 

[hgblue]

Would it be totally bonkers to go 4-4-2? Aguero would be SO much more of a handful if they had Dzeko to come them busy at the same time.

I know that could leave us exposed in midfield. but is it a risk worth taking?

Bony and Aguero would be a yes from me. Dzeko and Aguero, with no Yaya and no Nasri would be suicidal imo. We need the two Ferns screening, Milner and Navas working their balls off out wide, and Silva trying to thread Aguero through at every opportunity. We also need Vinny to step up to the plate and remind us what a top player he is, and I've got a feeling he will.

 

[BillyShears]

Would it be totally bonkers to go 4-4-2? Aguero would be SO much more of a handful if they had Dzeko to come them busy at the same time.

I know that could leave us exposed in midfield. but is it a risk worth taking?

Bony and Aguero would be a yes from me. Dzeko and Aguero, with no Yaya and no Nasri would be suicidal imo. We need the two Ferns screening, Milner and Navas working their balls off out wide, and Silva trying to thread Aguero through at every opportunity. We also need Vinny to step up to the plate and remind us what a top player he is, and I've got a feeling he will.

It didn't work against Arsenal.

I can see Dzeko/Kun starting together - particularly now that Costa's out.

 

[Centurions]

Hazard, Di Maria and Sanchez are all players we should have been chasing.

Instead we seem to get that next tier down kind of player in Navas.

Can't we get people posting the same old shit banned?

His point is valid though

No it's not, it's total bollocks that has been answered time and again on here and only a clueless moron would keep repeating it.

We were in for Hazard but he cost way more than we were willing to pay (including his wages, and way more than Chelsea admit too). Di Maria was the same, and Sanchez wanted London.

 

[citymad]

Stop Hazard, stop Chelsea.

He takes them 30 yards upfield, he creates panic.

They won't have anyone else in the team who instills panic this weekend. They won't play through us.

We have to play smart, and pick our battles. Make our tackles as high up the pitch as possible, try and avoid yellow cards for the first half.

We will be tested by Ivanovic, Terry and Cahill at every set piece.

Hart has to punch anything and everything.

Very true silva and sergio will have the attention of 2or3 players every time they get the ball so we need to do the same to hazard! Get stuck into oscar early doors and he won't want to know! A moment of magic will win it for us or a set play for them!

Not sure its just about the brilliant Hazard, they have Oscar, Willian,Ramirez who can also create. Problem is Maureen will think stop Silva and City are toothless. Best we can hope for is a draw and that will depend on us defending like we've never defended before. We will always give away free kicks and there isn't a more dangerous team than Chelsea that can exploit them and make us pay. The key for us will be Silva if he can get some space then maybe we can create a couple of chances for Sergio.

 

[Bluemooner91]

So guys what's does everyone think our chances are on Saturday? My confidence is quite low at the moment but can actually win at Stamford bridge? I love pellers and our team and really hope we at least just put in a good performance. COME ON CITY!!!!!!

 

[IanBishopsHaircut]

So guys what's does everyone think our chances are on Saturday? My confidence is quite low at the moment but can actually win at Stamford bridge? I love pellers and our team and really hope we at least just put in a good performance. COME ON CITY!!!!!!

We are gonna smash the c*nts

 

[mancity1]

Would it be totally bonkers to go 4-4-2? Aguero would be SO much more of a handful if they had Dzeko to come them busy at the same time.

I know that could leave us exposed in midfield. but is it a risk worth taking?

Bony and Aguero would be a yes from me. Dzeko and Aguero, with no Yaya and no Nasri would be suicidal imo. We need the two Ferns screening, Milner and Navas working their balls off out wide, and Silva trying to thread Aguero through at every opportunity. We also need Vinny to step up to the plate and remind us what a top player he is, and I've got a feeling he will.

It didn't work against Arsenal.

I can see Dzeko/Kun starting together - particularly now that Costa's out.

Not sure why starting with Drogba or Remy will influence MP to start with 2 upfront.

Pretty sure Bony didn't play against Arsenal.

He will go with 2 upfront if he thinks that's our best avenue to win this game on Sunday it just remains a decision of which two.

Jovetic has more match time than Dzeko so it could be Dzeko is on the bench again being eased in as part of his program from not one but two separate calf injuries.

I would have a five man midfield personally.

 

[citymad]

So guys what's does everyone think our chances are on Saturday? My confidence is quite low at the moment but can actually win at Stamford bridge? I love pellers and our team and really hope we at least just put in a good performance. COME ON CITY!!!!!!

I think most of us deep down are worried about the state of our defending at the moment. Give away free kicks and corners and its curtains. If were going to get anything out of the game were going to have to play with intelligence and time our tackles to perfection. I'd be happy with a draw although I'm not sure that will be enough.

 

[BillyShears]

Not sure why starting with Drogba or Remy will influence MP to start with 2 upfront.

Because Chelsea will be less of a threat down the middle without Costa, much less. I also suspect that Mourinho, especially if Fabregas is out, will want to play on the break like Arsenal did even though they're at home. I think Pellegrini will go Dzeko/Kun and try and dominate the game and win it early.

I think it's standard practice on Bluemoon to always prefer the Silva + a striker route. I think it kids some into thinking we're more solid or pragmatic if we play that way. For me because we haven't scored in two matches I'd be going back to all out 442.

 

[mosssideblue]

Stop Hazard, stop Chelsea.

He takes them 30 yards upfield, he creates panic.

They won't have anyone else in the team who instills panic this weekend. They won't play through us.

We have to play smart, and pick our battles. Make our tackles as high up the pitch as possible, try and avoid yellow cards for the first half.

We will be tested by Ivanovic, Terry and Cahill at every set piece.

Hart has to punch anything and everything.

Does that include the ball :)