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For us. I know we have to beat Villarreal first, but the bayern Napoli game could be just as important to us. Can't figure out which result is best. I know if we win our last 3 games it won't matter, but I would like the final game at home to Bayern for it to be in our own hands.

Draw.

It really depends on whether we want to win the group or be happy with second. A win for Bayern tomorrow will see them win the group imo, draw or Napoli win will open the group but perhaps make it tougher to qualify. I think our game v Napoli will be the decider.

All our games are deciders.

Imo, if we produce the form we are producing in the Prem, we win all 3 games & win the group on goal difference. If we play like we have been doing so far in the Chumps Lg though, we lose all 3.

A draw between Bayern & Napoli gives us a slight safety net but really, if we want this, we have to grab it. Usually the struggling side gets a result somewhere. Villareal almost got it last week. We have to make sure we do the job there 1st & foremost & just maybe, Vllareal will nick a point elsewhere.

Draw or failing that a Bayern win

bayern win for me, gives them 10 pts, we win were on 7pts napoli 5pts villa real 0pts.
also bayern will be thinking guaranteed 3pts v villa real, last match,
so bayern will be finishing on 13pts, at least and with napoli v city last match they will
definitely through. they might even rest some players v us when we play them.

I suppose a draw between Napoli v bayern leaves the group wide open, while a bayern win makes it a bit more straight forward , city v Napoli probably the decider.

Bayern win so that they need nothing when they come to our place. We need to get in front of Napoli sooner rather than later so that it's in our hands.

On a slight tangent, does anybody else get the feeling that we're going to play absolutely crap again tomorrow night?

Beeks wrote:Draw or failing that a Bayern win

This.

The main aim is that we exite the 4th game in this group with a lead on Napoli. That way, a draw in Naples and a win v Bayern would see us through.

If Bayern have the group clinched before the final game, I cant see them fielding their full-strength team for a dead rubber, in front of what would hopefully be a loud and hostile COMS crowd.

Alioune DVToure wrote:On a slight tangent, does anybody else get the feeling that we're going to play absolutely crap again tomorrow night?

Yes. I don't know what it is with us and European competition, we just don't seem very good at it. Even in the Europa League, a competition which last year we should have gone far in, we never really turned in any decent performances, especially away from home. The time before that was barely any better to be honest. I have no idea what causes it to be honest, but we just never seem to get it right in Europe.

Alioune DVToure wrote:On a slight tangent, does anybody else get the feeling that we're going to play absolutely crap again tomorrow night?

No, I think we have been suffering from nerves, thus fucking up our usual slick, passing game, being hesitant & missing chances. I think the last min goal & the rag destruction will have cured it & we're going to look the biz & tear them a new dirtbox.

Ted Hughes wrote:

Alioune DVToure wrote:On a slight tangent, does anybody else get the feeling that we're going to play absolutely crap again tomorrow night?

No, I think we have been suffering from nerves, thus fucking up our usual slick, passing game, being hesitant & missing chances. I think the last min goal & the rag destruction will have cured it & we're going to look the biz & tear them a new dirtbox.

I am hopeful that of the two possible scenarios outlined here, Ted's is proven to be correct.

Alioune DVToure wrote:On a slight tangent, does anybody else get the feeling that we're going to play absolutely crap again tomorrow night?

Unfortunately, yes. Subconscious or not, I get the impression the players are going all out for domestic honours and are either finding the CL significantly harder going, or they just don't believe they can make significant progress in Europe this year and are playing within themselves as a consequence. There's definitely a spark missing on CL nights. Unfortunately, their performances so far have me feeling pessimistic every time we play in the competition.

I don't think so, we have been riding high on easy results the week prior to the Champions League game, I think this week we had a harder game without as much euphoria and I am hoping that bodes well for everyone to turn up and get a result.

I have the feeling that they will draw again, regardless of what is coming up in games for each of them, this is a bit of a decider as it stands so I'm expecting a really tense affair with both Bayern and Napoli going for caution.

As for City I just think that we haven't gotten the balance right mentally. Maybe a bit nervous but also a bit out of sync as a team, as though the players are of two minds in terms of caution or attack. It is well safe to say that things haven't gone as expected and I can imagine that has effected the players as well. That said I think the result against VR may have helped. I think we will play better this time and gain a bit more certainty. Still early days for the team though and all in all they are showing their collective inexperience through uncharacteristic indisciplined play.
I'm pleased that this game is VR though..if it were one of the other two I'd be concerned that we never get going. As it stands we have the chance to get that little bit of momentum going.

Bayern win for me. Can't see us winning the group and Napoli are our biggest threat to finishing 2nd, so obviously I want them to lose tomorrow night.
We need at least a point tomorrow and probably all 3.

A win and 2 draws should be enough for us to go through.

Mark Garrett wrote:Bayern win for me. Can't see us winning the group and Napoli are our biggest threat to finishing 2nd, so obviously I want them to get lose tomorrow night.
We need at least a point tomorrow and probably all 3.

A win and 2 draws should be enough for us to go through.

I might be wrong, but I think your projection only works if our win comes against Napoli. If we draw with them and they beat Villareal, we'll need to beat Bayern as well.

Basically, we need to stay in touch with them tomorrow night and then beat them when we play them. That's the only way we'll qualify. If they lose at Bayern, then a point for us tomorrow will be good. We'd then need to beat them in the follow-up game in case we're tied on 8, 9 or 11 points after the sixth round of games.

As long as a poor result against Villarreal doesn't affect our domestic results and performances, I won't be hugely fed up. I just hate the spectre of the Europa League. I do NOT want to see City wasting energy in that awful, overblown competition.

Alioune DVToure wrote:

Mark Garrett wrote:Bayern win for me. Can't see us winning the group and Napoli are our biggest threat to finishing 2nd, so obviously I want them to get lose tomorrow night.
We need at least a point tomorrow and probably all 3.

A win and 2 draws should be enough for us to go through.

I might be wrong, but I think your projection only works if our win comes against Napoli. If we draw with them and they beat Villareal, we'll need to beat Bayern as well.

Basically, we need to stay in touch with them tomorrow night and then beat them when we play them. That's the only way we'll qualify. If they lose at Bayern, then a point for us tomorrow will be good. We'd then need to beat them in the follow-up game in case we're tied on 8, 9 or 11 points after the sixth round of games.

I haven't worked out all the permutations and you may well be right but I just looked at it and think 9-10 pts in total should be enough at the end of the group stage for us to qualify. If it isn't then we count ourselves a touch unfortunate. I think we will beat Villareal tomorrow, I can't see us winning in Naples - best I think we'll get is a point. Then Bayern at Eastlands - with our home record I would fancy us against anyone. Exciting end to the group in prospect certainly though!