Stoke - the tipping point

If you let skilfull players run at stokes defence,they'll give away foul after foul.They're very effective and physical but technically limited.Luckily,we've a number of players now who hit a good dead-ball.
 
I'm pretty confident. We have the game to cause them problems, and the perfect tools to counter their strength.

Confidence will be sky high and Mario will be back. We should go there and play our game, much like United did there a few weeks back.
 
anymore than 2sheiks said:
If you let skilfull players run at stokes defence,they'll give away foul after foul.They're very effective and physical but technically limited.Luckily,we've a number of players now who hit a good dead-ball.
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Agree - think it´s important that we try and win as many free kicks around the boss as poss - it could be the difference at the end with the likes of Kolarov and Balo
 
Chris in London said:
Skibum said:
My point is, if we can beat Chelsea away (we did last season) and Stoke away then we will fear nobody. Our only challenge remaining will be beating teams that park the bus.
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Agree with that. A win away at Stoke is I think a real statement - brilliant though we were yesterday we are always going to find it easier to play against footballing teams like Blackpool and Fulham than we are alehouse teams like Stoke. That said, anyone who out-muscles Chelsea can't be a bunch of pussies because they are a very muscular team.

We have beaten ourselves up about the last 2 home games, but Chelsea's defeat on Saturday should put it into some sort of perspective - Birmingham have now kept out City and Chelsea in sccessive games, which you have to give some credit to. United came with a gameplan to get a draw, which they did, but there aren't many places they will go to where their ambition is simply not to get beaten.

Slowly, but surely, it is coming together.
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Fully agree - we still battle agianst teams that park the bus and put 10 men behind the ball - but then again, so do Chelsea.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons our away form is so good - the home team HAs to at least try to play some football?

Birmingham survived something like 40 goal attempts by City and Chelsea in the last 2 games without conceding, and had 1 attempt at goal against Chelsea from which they scored.
Luck and great goalkeeping also had to play a part.

I would like to see Silva and AJ starting aginst Stoke playing high up - let Stoke hack them down in and around the penalty area.

We also need a strategy against De Lap's throws - ALL teams seem to struggle.

I also hate Tony Pubis - would love to see us put 3 or 4 past them.
 
Some of the same next week please as we need to start getting some sort of consistancy going.

Probably best were away again as we seem to be more positive on the road at the moment..........................
 
Fulham got a little close to us in the last twenty minutes, as a result, it became more of a test.

I would expect Stoke to take more of a leaf out of Wolves and Blackpool's approach.

We, in turn, should take a leaf out of both Spurs and Manure's book.

Spurs have gone there and simply attacked, in terms of relying on their own confidence to score more.

United have also been able to grind it out.

Balotelli can go one of two ways. He will be wound-up from minute one by Stoke, but he owes us a performance of no comebacks.

We must show complete confidence in our ability to score. Mancini, rather than going 'big' up against Stoke at the Britannia last year, now needs to have us hard and fast.

Don't be so focused on what Stoke can do. They do it effectively.

But we have more in our locker. Win this, I believe the title is very much on with January around the corner.

Our position will have a major effect on that window.
 
I think with Stoke we will need to hold back and defend, then loot goals on the counter attack.

Controlling the midfield will be key.

I predict 2 direct kicks being driven in by Kolarov.

City 5-2 Stoke
 
huge game and we havnt won there since they came up. the way we are set up we are built to handle the pressure from stoke and possibly nick one on the break. if we turn up we will win.
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
Fulham got a little close to us in the last twenty minutes, as a result, it became more of a test.

I would expect Stoke to take more of a leaf out of Wolves and Blackpool's approach.

We, in turn, should take a leaf out of both Spurs and Manure's book.

Spurs have gone there and simply attacked, in terms of relying on their own confidence to score more.

United have also been able to grind it out.

Balotelli can go one of two ways. He will be wound-up from minute one by Stoke, but he owes us a performance of no comebacks.

We must show complete confidence in our ability to score. Mancini, rather than going 'big' up against Stoke at the Britannia last year, now needs to have us hard and fast.

Don't be so focused on what Stoke can do. They do it effectively.

But we have more in our locker. Win this, I believe the title is very much on with January around the corner.

Our position will have a major effect on that window.
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I agree

Stoke's achilles heel is pace as they struggle to handle it.

Show strength in the middle with winning the battle and let Balo + Tevez use there pace in the channels.

Stoke away is in no way an easy task but if we can clear this hurdle with 3 points it will be a big boost for our title hopes.
 
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