Spurs v City - CL QF I - Pre Match Thread

[birchwoodgingerste]

Perhaps I should've added a worry for me..

Aguero will play

 

[Marvin]

Have to disagree re Mendy. Spuds have to attack and try and get a decent result prior to the return leg. They are more than capable of giving our defenders a difficult game. IMO we need to forget (for this leg) our defenders ability to attack and simply ensure they put up a solid defensive performance - Mendy is a) too rusty and b) not great at defending.

I would be surprised if he is picked

Is Laporte a better left back than Mendy even with only 1 game under his belt? It's a difficult decision but there isn't an obvious answer.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Sit back and counter attack them...

Ederson
Walker
Stones
Laporte
Danilo
Fernandinho
Bernardo
Kev
Sterling
Aguero/Jesus
Sane

Wish we could. I don’t remember our last counter attack goal. Even when 4 on 2, we find a way to not score. I don’t think our counter attacking is refined enough for it to be the basis of our strategy against them. We need to be pressing high and forcing errors, particularly from Lloris, he always has a poor kick in him that goes straight to us.

 

[Marvin]

I also think Walker would not be at his best at their new ground as he'd probably try too hard and get sent off. No problem with Mendy as I always think he gives us more going forward than not. Wouldn't surprise me if Pep is a little cautious and plays three centre backs. Will be interesting, the good thing is Pep rarely if ever gets selection wrong. Just hope he doesn't pick Marhez based on work rate alone. We need a Bernardo type perpetual motion performance.

It's not clear what Walker's issue is. It may have been the stamp on his hamstring/back in which case he'll be in contention

 

[Manchester_lalala]

We need to be solid for this leg, grab a goal and go back to the etihad in the second leg and smash them. I’d take a one goal defeat, as long as we score. Can’t see them coping with us in the second leg.

 

[City Raider]

Ref is Bjorn Kuipers. From what I can see W1 D1 L1 with this guy.

 

[jimharri]

Perhaps I should've added a worry for me..

Fair point.

 

[vincent]

Have to disagree re Mendy. Spuds have to attack and try and get a decent result prior to the return leg. They are more than capable of giving our defenders a difficult game. IMO we need to forget (for this leg) our defenders ability to attack and simply ensure they put up a solid defensive performance - Mendy is a) too rusty and b) not great at defending.

I would be surprised if he is picked

Not sure they do have to attack. All things considered, I think they’ll be happy with it at 0-0 coming to the Etihad. Yes, we will be favourites but 0-0 is not a bad result for them.

 

[jimharri]

We need to be solid for this leg, grab a goal and go back to the etihad in the second leg and smash them. I’d take a one goal defeat, as long as we score. Can’t see them coping with us in the second leg.

An away goal is, if not a must, a priority. Any defeat is a shit sandwich (goes without saying), but a 2-1 defeat wouldn't be the worst result for us.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Not sure they do have to attack. All things considered, I think they’ll be happy with it at 0-0 coming to the Etihad. Yes, we will be favourites but 0-0 is not a bad result for them.

Absolutely this. It’s a common misconception that you have to be more attacking at home and more defensive away. That’s a very good way of being eliminated on away goals. We need to make sure that if away goals come into it, it’s in our favour. So it’s us that need to be making sure we score a goal or two.