Real Madrid (H) - Tues 11th Feb, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

[The Stockport Iniesta]

In possession I’d expect Gvardiol to play high and wide

Ederson

Stones Dias Ake

Kovacic Nico

Bernardo Foden KDB Gvardiol

Haaland


Can’t see Pep starting Doku/Savio/Marmoush here, he’ll want to prioritise ball retention surely?

Personally I’d love Doku in there

Fuck slow ball retention. They have a problem, as we do, with the forward players putting in a shift defensively. Knock it about side to side and let them get back into position we have no chance over 2 legs.

Get it forward a bit quicker, the dippers beat them 2-0 but could have scored 5 doing that.

Fuck about with that side to side shit, and they'll kill us on the counter with their pace.

 

[SWP's back]

Probably right mate, and if so it’s gonna be a long evening

I don’t mind him as a double pivot with Nico tbh.

 

[nicko]

Eddie

Akanji
Stones
Dias
Gvardiol

Nico
Kova
KdB

Foden
Haaland
Grealish

 

[ROCKET80]

Eddie
Akanji Stones Dias Gvardiol
Bernardo Nico
Foden KDB Marmoush
Haaland

 

[Bluekiwi]

Not since Pearce have I been utterly convinced that we don't stand a chance. Scratch that, Hughes.

Oh, ye of little faith.
In my case I am taking ten times my recommended dosage of blood pressure pills, next door neighbour has promised to keep her cats indoors for a few hours and crossing everything conceivable part of my body for ...................... ............................................. (insert your own result).

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

Today’s the day. Come on City!!!
(The next 14 hours will feel like days)

 

[Paul1970]

Can see pep playing gundo and if he does we will lose midfield and potentially get hammered but if we use our speed we can beat them

 

[burning blue soul]

Plot twist

If he can move his legs like a ten-bob stripper he can play football. Get him on the pitch, Pep!

 

[Sebi]

Hoping to see

Ederson
Akanji-Stones-Dias-Gvardiol
Bernardo-Nico
Foden-KDB-Marmoush
Haaland

Kovacic will play for sure, he wasn‘t in the squad on saturday, because he was rested for Real.

 

[Fordyboy46]

Come on blue boys let's hit the fuckers hard.

Ederson

Stones Akanji Dias Gvardiol

Bernardo Nico Kovacic

Savinho Haaland Foden

Not enough creativity in that midfield, we need to try and blitz them again. Attack the best form of defence tonight

 

[Fordyboy46]

Ederson, Nunes, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gonzalez?, Savinho, Marmoush, Foden, Haaland

 

[Tolmie scores]

I've thought about all the possible ways this might go tactically and ultimately have come to the conclusion that we might be able to win the game this week, but are very likely to be knocked out once the game ends in Madrid. This one is up to the footballing gods. We've battered them and edged the tie every year we've played them in my opinion. But they've won the tie more often. So it's time for us to be outplayed and take the few chances we create whilst they squander several and we qualify.

The years we've lost to them by just a bit are the years where we have won 6 league titles in 7-8 years. We are so far off it we needed a turn around for this first team squad to squeak past the 'Os' at weekend. Real are probably not fretting despite their injuries

 

[bondsman]

Ederson, Nunes, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gonzalez?, Savinho, Marmoush, Foden, Haaland

I’d swap Akanji for Nunes and Silva for Marmoush. I’d have him come on but think we will need Bernardo’s work rate tonight. Could keep Marmoush and start Foden on bench in fairness for me.

 

[Tolmie scores]

I think 35 year old dinho was faster than Akanji is, thats my worry. He seems so slow in reacting to danger which could leave him very exposed against someone like Vinicius.

Miss Walker tonight

 

[Damocles]

This will be another Arsenal.

We're not going to lose, we're going to get mullered.

 

[Craig]

Eddie

Akanji
Stones
Dias
Gvardiol

Nico
Kova
KdB

Foden
Haaland
Grealish

Be a terrible approach to a home first leg that we need to win. No pace and no dribbler who can cross a ball it not the way to go here. Just retaining the ball won’t win us the game and we’d get countered to fuck.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

This will be another Arsenal.

We're not going to lose, we're going to get mullered.

You watching it? I mean why would you waste your time like that?

 

[Tolmie scores]

Just for shits & giggles, and context.

Our fixture list February 1999:

Millwall (H)
Bournemouth (A)
Macclesfield (H)
Chesterfield (A)

Home wins against Millwall & Macclesfield, with two plucky away draws at Bournemouth & Chesterfield, left us at the dizzying height of 6th in the 3rd Division.

26 years later, on the back of a domestic treble, the real treble, winning the Chimps League, the CWC, 100 points & 4-in-a-row, we're gutted about not making the Top 8 in the Chimps League and fretting about line-ups for a hum-dinger against Real Madrid.

A Real Madrid team who deem CITY as their most feared team in Europe.

So, enjoy boys and girls...because 26 years ago we were preparing for the mighty Macc coming to town.

Up the fucking Blues.

True boot only one season in div 3 in our whole history. Looking at the scores in our div 2 relegation year...that's humbling!

 

[Damocles]

You watching it? I mean why would you waste your time like that?

Because if I never went to a City game where I thought we'd get beaten then I would have skipped the first 20 years of support.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

Because if I never went to a City game where I thought we'd get beaten then I would have skipped the first 20 years of support.

Well I hope you get a bit more positive throughout the day and in the lead up to kick off. It’ll do you good if nothing else.

Something tells me the team will be right up for this. They have a few key players missing, the crowd will be immense. It has the makings for a really positive result on our part to take to Madrid.