Real Madrid (H) - Tue 17th March, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

[lasereyes]

City after couple tough games…

I think we will win but it won’t be enough overall.

The current squad level is not champions league winning material.

I said months ago before we closed the gap on Arsenal that we won’t win anything. stand by that now. It’s not our season. You can’t have the amount of problems we have/had and win.

Glad the league is done. Get this game done aswell and we can start to properly evaluate the season and players.

So many not good enough.

I would try to move on 10 min. If possible. All you can do is start again and try to improve the squad. Keeping mediocre players will only keep the club down.

I think if we win and dominate the game, it will restore some confidence for the cup final

 

[Welsh]

Donna

Nunes Khus Dias Ait Nouri

Nico Rodri

Cherki Phil Doku

Haaland

Come on Pep, change it up a little. We need our technical players starting, three strikers playing who have limited technical ability will never work. We need Cherki, Phil and Doku playing close to each other, that’s the only chance we have of coming back here. Push Nunes and Ait Nouri right up from the off.

If there’s any game Phils going to play himself into form, this is the one.

This would be my team.

This ‘transitional’ approach with Marmoush and Semenyo hasn’t worked at all, and the last couple of games Guehi has looked out of his depth.

Time to get back to highly technical players and trying to suffocate teams. If Nico G can’t get in now then sell him in the summer.

 

[Betterdeedthan red]

This could be the time to try something different against Madrid, like dropping Haaland and trying a false 9 instead. We have many attacking players who can interchange in game as a false 9 to spin Rudiger and co.’s heads, constantly rotating positions, dragging their centre backs out of shape, and creating spaces for runners from deep to exploit, rather than wasting a player slot and letting Rudiger eat Haaland alive all game like in the past.

Or pass to haaland ?

 

[dadnlad]

try having a shot you never know it might catch on

 

[Tier2Blue]

There is always one really mad game in the CL knock outs. We have been on the wrong side of a couple of them - maybe it’s our time?

 

[Middedon]

If Stones is fit I'd start him.

He's the only defender that we have that can break the lines with passes and carry the ball in the midfield area.

Funnily enough he could end up being the most dangerous on the ball, the rest of our lads just pass it backwards and sideways other than Cherki...

I agree. And he’s good on set pieces/in the air. I think we’ve missed both of these things without Stones and Josko.

 

[Lavinda Past]

try having a shot you never know it might catch on

 

[mosssideblue]

Play a weak team so we can at least try on Sunday.

Yeah, let’s really motivate the team by getting mullered just before a final.

 

[Ban-jani]

Donna

Nunes Khus Dias Ait Nouri

Nico Rodri

Cherki Phil Doku

Haaland

Come on Pep, change it up a little. We need our technical players starting, three strikers playing who have limited technical ability will never work. We need Cherki, Phil and Doku playing close to each other, that’s the only chance we have of coming back here. Push Nunes and Ait Nouri right up from the off.

If there’s any game Phils going to play himself into form, this is the one.

Swap Marmoush for Haaland and that’s mine too.

Donna

Nunes Khus Dias Ait Nouri

Nico Rodri

Cherki Phil Doku

Marmoush

 

[SWPISHOME]

I agree. And he’s good on set pieces/in the air. I think we’ve missed both of these things without Stones and Josko.

Agree.

We miss Josko massively.

 

[blue_danube]

Madrid are way to savvy to throw a 3 goal lead away in the champions league.

But let's see, get an early goal and you never know.

Problem is I can't see them not scoring either.

 

[Newman Noggs]

Going to cost me around £200 and write off a couple of days to get to this one. All I ask is for us to make decent effort and give the crowd something to go at.

 

[dadnlad]

Madrid are way to savvy to throw a 3 goal lead away in the champions league.

But let's see, get an early goal and you never know.

Problem is I can't see them not scoring either.

i cant see ball being in play for long either

 

[jimharri]

Who cares!!!

You clearly do, seeing as you posted on here.

 

[jimharri]

Yeah and we'll score from 5 corners.

But miss a penalty. Some things never change!

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

Kick off time 20:00 GMT.

We're not playing like a team that is going to lay a glove on them tbh.

I'll still walk to the stadium on Tuesday night believing but we need a miracle.

Just want an early goal to give us some belief.

Cherki has to start.

------------------Donnarumma
Nunes--Khusanov--Stones--Ait Nouri
----------------Rodri------Gonzalez
Cherki----------Bernardo-------------Doku
---------------------Foden

Take your pick of the players going forward, they've all been shite.

I actually don't mind something like this!! But Guehi/Dias I'd say will start

I've been crying out to see Nico/Rodri together, and give Bernie a rest and put NOR in his place

 

[Blue and true]

If Stones is fit I'd start him.

He's the only defender that we have that can break the lines with passes and carry the ball in the midfield area.

Funnily enough he could end up being the most dangerous on the ball, the rest of our lads just pass it backwards and sideways other than Cherki...

Khusa is turning into that player. Did it on numerous occasions last night. In a season of consistent dreariness I think he's been immense.

 

[Blue and true]

Think it's done, but it would be nice if we can win the game and restore a little pride.

 

[Digsy's Dinner]

Donnarumma
Nunes Stones Guehi Ait-Nouri
Semenyo Silva Rodri Doku
Haaland Marmoush

 

[TShed]

Bring Haaland on in second half to rest Marmoush ready for Sunday