Manchester City v Rags pre match thread

[nottsblue]

I remember a time not so long ago I ached for us to win come derby day. It was the highlight of the season to win and the few wins we had in the 80s and 90s were treasured.

Now, it really is just another important game just like against the other top 4, but on which the bearing of the season isn’t measured. It is a complete turnaround in fortunes

Obviously we want to win and win handsomely, just because. But if we don’t win, we are still going to win the PL and probably another pot or maybe two so in the grand scheme of things we will be fucking the prom queen in May whilst the rags are stood in the corner crying

[PeterParker]

They've won 4 out of 6 previous games at our home.
I can't remember one of those 4 when they were the better team.

That's the issue and that is why we have to be extra-careful.

[BlueinBosnia]

If we win tomorrow, and Leeds fail to win at West Ham on Monday, we're guaranteed a top-half finish by my reckoning...

[aaron bond]

It's a derby. Form doesn't mean much. It's why we managed plenty of good results in the 00s despite being a much weaker side.

But...they are long overdue a hammering. We are superior than them in so many ways.

Lets embarrass them like we did Liverpool.

[branny]

Score 1st game over!

After recent history I'd rather us score 2nd and 3rd as well.

[Harry Dowd scored]

I do not like it when everyone is so confident we will beat these twats, I have seen it all before in football, we have a poor record under Pep with these, I will be delighted with any win, they are such stuffy bastards, and the officials might just fuck us over.

[sheblue]

I think the 'confidence' on this thread is a little tounge in cheek.
Come 430 tomorrow I will be anxious and a bit worried that things could go wrong. I always am especially for derbies.
A lot of others are the same.

[johnny crossan]

Anybody spot Mendy on here?

Watch on youtube.com

[john68]

I do not like it when everyone is so confident we will beat these twats, I have seen it all before in football, we have a poor record under Pep with these, I will be delighted with any win, they are such stuffy bastards, and the officials might just fuck us over.

Come on Harry, time to come from behind your sofa...this may be the rags but it most certainly isn't the rags of years ago.
And.....neither is it the City of only a few months ago.

Can anyone tell me when they last witnessed a team so together as a unit, so confident in their talent as individuals and as a team unit, so trusting in the strategy they've been told to use that they do it without question and without anyone breaking ranks, which keeps that unit working week after week like a well oiled and well drilled machine?
Can anyone tell me the last time they witnessed a City team so focussed on the single game and the immediate challenge in front of them?
And when was the last time we saw a City side so proffessional in its approach to what it is they are aiming for?

This is a new City breed, This is the new City breed that has good opposing teams frightened to play against us. That has good opposing players left chasing shadows and has had good opposing coaches wondering what the fuck they can do to stop City.

This City team is far better than the sum of its parts and the rags will know that.

We have had much succeess over the last few seasons, it's about time we accepted that this latest breed of City is probably the best breed of City there has ever been.

For those of you who think tomorrow is a derby, forget it. It's just another game against opposition that just happens to be near neighbours. Just another team that City have to put back in their place. And that place isa million miles behind us.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

I honestly cannot remember a derby with so little riding on it from my end.

Don’t take that the wrong way, I hate losing to the filth, but unlike when we were miles ahead a few years ago this won’t wrap it up. If we win, lose or draw it’s still a massive gap with a bit of work left to do.

Still id rather batter them and lose any other game to come than slip up on this one.

[zuricity]

There can't be a more deserving opponent to receive a pounding to keep those wins coming in . It's all about the win , maintaining the run , that's all . Not at all about the rags.

[Paul68]

For some reason this one is missing off the lists
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... -1-1180996
This was THE game that turned me blue. I'd been taken by my old man - Leeds and my brother - rag. And as he was a bit older than me I was by fear a rag fan.
Not after this I wasn't!
Could not believe how good city were. AND got to see Frannie Lee and Colin Bell and George Heslop (great player George) score...... there was no way I was not blue after that experience
Happy days.

[everyonehatesus]

I want them to be fucking torn a new arseholes, I don't get those saying there's not much in it now. I want them crushed to keep them down, to make every decent player they approach to the A good think.about where they might be going, to keep their fans down hearted, to keep their brand a mess and to give the fucking media nothing absolutely nothing positive to say about them.

[steelsnail]

I want them to be fucking torn a new arseholes, I don't get those saying there's not much in it now. I want them crushed to keep them down, to make every decent player they approach to the A good think.about where they might be going, to keep their fans down hearted, to keep their brand a mess and to give the fucking media nothing absolutely nothing positive to say about them.

This ^^ all day long .

[patrickblue]

I want them to be fucking torn a new arseholes, I don't get those saying there's not much in it now. I want them crushed to keep them down, to make every decent player they approach to the A good think.about where they might be going, to keep their fans down hearted, to keep their brand a mess and to give the fucking media nothing absolutely nothing positive to say about them.

This ^^ all day long .

Bang on. To be honest, to me, this is the one that matters most. Total humiliation is too good for them.

[john68]

For some reason this one is missing off the lists
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... -1-1180996
This was THE game that turned me blue. I'd been taken by my old man - Leeds and my brother - rag. And as he was a bit older than me I was by fear a rag fan. :D
Not after this I wasn't!
Could not believe how good city were. AND got to see Frannie Lee and Colin Bell and George Heslop (great player George) score...... there was no way I was not blue after that experience
Happy days.

We share fond memories of that game Paul.
Importantly, though we were too busy celebrating I have always considered it to be the night that, that great City team not only overtook the rags but it was the night we, them and the rest of the football World knew it.
For the 1st time in my City lifetime I could look a rag in the eye and say "We are better than you" and they knew it was true. For them, it was the 1st time for many years that they understood they were now behind us.

Similarly, I consider the Etihad derby in 2012 whemn Kompany scored, that was the night that we knew we had not just caught up with them but were better than them and like 1968, they knew it too.

[s1ty m]

A lot of wine flowed that night. City were brilliant and utterly dominated a very good Rag side. I think they had no shots on goal.

[brite blu sky]

I do not like it when everyone is so confident we will beat these twats, I have seen it all before in football, we have a poor record under Pep with these, I will be delighted with any win, they are such stuffy bastards, and the officials might just fuck us over.

Officials will be looking to help them, i take that as a fact. If we are complacent in any way we will give them more opportunities than they deserve.

So the danger is we are over confident and complacent. While a lot of fans are sounding this way, i dont think the team will be.
We let Wolves score the other day due to complacency, so we have had a timely reminder and Dias will be there pointing that out.

I'm confident the team will be super professsional and approach this a super big game.

after that it is a derby so expect something oddball to happen.

[ruralblue]

Hasn't bothered me all week it being that lot today. This morning that old typical City thought as kicked in along with the nervy shits.

No overthinking Pep and let the lads scalp the fuckers.

[john68]

Hasn't bothered me all week it being that lot today. This morning that old typical City thought as kicked in along with the nervy shits.

No overthinking Pep and let the lads scalp the fuckers.

That is understandable Rural, It's Spring and your focus has obviously been on getting the veg into the ground, measuring your marrow, checking the colour of the carrotts and ensuring the daffs, tulips and crocus are all shiny and polished....and then measuring your marrow again just to make sure it's fit for purpose.

Hope you are well pal