***Burnley v City Official Match Thread***

[zuricity]

Their high line defense gets away with murder . Only poor finishing in recent games has saved them . Allison is a disaster . Dick Van is too slow . Foden and Stirling will have a field day against them .

However they will play eleven men behind the ball and pack the area- just like other teams do and will rely on the odd counter attack.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Watched the dippers game, I just don't understand why they are where they are, don't play constructive football, percentage football with fast balls into the penalty area. Reminds me of the Tommy Doherty rag team of the 70's, they had fast wingers got the ball in the box, causing confusion and getting fortunate bounce of the ball.
We should batter these twats with proper football

Should have beaten them in dipperland. Played them off the pitch first half. Only reason they got a point was because Salah vs best full back in the world was no contest. Salah is the one we always seem to struggle with but his form seems to have gone to shit. Even so, our left side needs to be Dias, Cancelo and Foden. We all know Cancelo can't defend. Laporte has a tendency to play a shit ball into midfield at least once a game which puts us under pressure and Sterling frequently loses the ball high up the pitch. Our left side is where its won or lost for me. If the players are available, no brain farts.

Foden has to play over there to cover. I can see mahrez playing right side. Unless we play sterling as a false 9 I don't see him starting against scouse regardless of his recent form. These fuckers rely on loose balls we all know this so expect us to set up to keep the ball and that means no Sterling fir me

What bothers me about mahrez is he never ever tackles hard or wins any headers .
He chickens out of any 50/50 and it pisses me off no end .

[brite blu sky]

What bothers me about mahrez is he never ever tackles hard or wins any headers .
He chickens out of any 50/50 and it pisses me off no end .

I coudn't agree more. Although one look at him and you just know that. I rekon he even judges the ball speed and makes a decision whether to head it or not - mostly not.
After 2 years of shouting at the telly, i have noticed that he has improved in both tracking back and his method of takling. A good example was the PSG game he did recover the ball a few times and got a bit stuck in - a bit.
If you look closely he tries to get to get his toe in and hope to knock the ball free. He will never go in hard thats for sure, but someone is helping him get better at his attempted tackling, i'm sure of that as he has got more effective this last season.

[Dimples]

The Dipper high line is their weak point. We can easily exploit that.
For example, using Foden's and Sterling's pace on the wings and Jack's ability to beat a player in the middle. Kev provides the bullets.
Bern/Ilkay, Kev and to a lesser extent Rodri, arrive in the box late to support the attacks.

Dipper's greatest asset is pace up front (combined with clinical finishing). Not to sure how we negate that pace.
They will target our center backs, long diagonal balls bypassing midfield, turn and chase, if it is Laporte and Ake....I am concerned.

Is this a valid concern?

[Harry Dowd scored]

The Dipper high line is their weak point. We can easily exploit that.
For example, using Foden's and Sterling's pace on the wings and Jack's ability to beat a player in the middle. Kev provides the bullets.
Bern/Ilkay, Kev and to a lesser extent Rodri, arrive in the box late to support the attacks.

Dipper's greatest asset is pace up front (combined with clinical finishing). Not to sure how we negate that pace.
They will target our center backs, long diagonal balls bypassing midfield, turn and chase, if it is Laporte and Ake....I am concerned.

Is this a valid concern?

They do tend to bypass midfield, getting the ball forward with percentage ball to both wings and channels, there midfield is shit, but the way they use the ball is effective, could play three CB'S for extra cover, but with Dias injured we are low on numbers in that department.
Providing we take our chances we should beat these, the ref is important if Robertson is allowed to kick fuck out of us like he does every time they play, it would be interesting if he got booked early in the game.

[branny]

The Dipper high line is their weak point. We can easily exploit that.
For example, using Foden's and Sterling's pace on the wings and Jack's ability to beat a player in the middle. Kev provides the bullets.
Bern/Ilkay, Kev and to a lesser extent Rodri, arrive in the box late to support the attacks.

Dipper's greatest asset is pace up front (combined with clinical finishing). Not to sure how we negate that pace.
They will target our center backs, long diagonal balls bypassing midfield, turn and chase, if it is Laporte and Ake....I am concerned.

Is this a valid concern?

They do tend to bypass midfield, getting the ball forward with percentage ball to both wings and channels, there midfield is shit, but the way they use the ball is effective, could play three CB'S for extra cover, but with Dias injured we are low on numbers in that department.
Providing we take our chances we should beat these, the ref is important if Robertson is allowed to kick fuck out of us like he does every time they play, it would be interesting if he got booked early in the game.

Last time it was Milner. Could have had three yellows and Klopp knew it. Hooked him after he got away with his 3rd misdemeanour.

[City64]

Shut plenty of deluded cunts in the media up this weekend without breaking sweat .
Manchester City the greatest team in the fucking planet .