Next: CSKA Moscow (Away) - Champions League

[AG7]

CSKA Moskva v Manchester City
Arena Khimki, Moscow

Wednesday 23 October 2013
Kickoff: 6:00PM (5:00PM BST)


When the draw was made, it was clear it'll be between these two teams to decide the 2nd and 3rd position in the group with one going on in CL and other falling into the Europa League ... It's come to exactly that. The next two games against CSKA Moscow are huge for the club given how important CL campaign has been made out for us ... not necessarily by fans in their view (as we can clearly see on this forum itself, more favour PL over CL any day) but given Manager was changed citing poor CL performance two years in a row, and Pellegrini brought in citing his CL credentials ... well the next two games will make or break this then and given this next one is Away, its probably the most important game of the CL campaign this season; takes a little more importance after our last CL outing as well.

For me personally, even if we don't qualify out of the group this year, will be fine (as long as of course we come third, enter Europa League and then go on to win that one) ... I mean who would mind having one of those too ... so win Europa first and then the CL, would probably be better than what Chelsea did ... I mean being holders of Champions League (not having won it in the past, but being current champions) then completing in Europa was a little shameless even for them lot.

What would you lot want more in the end ... progress in CL but out at round of 16 or max QFs vs. lifting Europa League?

Oh, and what would your line-up be on Wednesday? I have a feeling Dzeko will start this one ...

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I really think progress in the CL is a must and will be very disappointed if we don't make it out the group this year., it's clear the Count rates it just as highly as the league and so he should.

From Saturday's team, I'd sub in Kolarov, Zabs and Kompany (if fit) and maybe Milner ahead of Nasri to give some extra steel in midfield.

[AG7]

Considering how Pellegrini started (and subbed) yesterday, and how he's picked teams in the past I think he's planning on playing Zaba, Kolarov, Demichelis (or Lescott), Dzeko, Milner and Nasri in the starting XI:

Adding to that I'll be very surprised if he paired Garcia and Nasti as CBs, or brought in Jovetic or Rodwell.

I think we'll see this lineup:

Hart
Zaba - Lescott (or Demichelis) - Nasti - Kolarov
Fernandinho - Yaya
Milner - Nasri - Aguero (or Silva)
Dzeko (or Negredo)

[nottsblue]

What would you lot want more in the end ... progress in CL but out at round of 16 or max QFs vs. lifting Europa League?

[/QUOTE]

[nottsblue]

What would you lot want more in the end ... progress in CL but out at round of 16 or max QFs vs. lifting Europa League?

[/QUOTE]

Oops.

Would actually go for secret option number 3. Win Prem league and get dumped out of Europe at last 16 whether its champs league or europa.

For me the domestic league is king & i'd rather we perform in that & do poorly in Europe rather than do a Chelsea & win the thing but finish 6th in Prem.

I'd even take the view of winning FA cup over getting to champs qtrs. A pot is a pot & we've not had many of them recently. 2 in my life & i've just turned 40. Winning trophies is what will help us overturn Chelsea rags dippers & bring in more sponsorship revenue etc.
More than that though it was a fuckin immense feeling to win the cups we did and that can never be taken away

[Breks]

Oops.

Would actually go for secret option number 3. Win Prem league and get dumped out of Europe at last 16 whether its champs league or europa.

For me the domestic league is king & i'd rather we perform in that & do poorly in Europe rather than do a Chelsea & win the thing but finish 6th in Prem.

I'd even take the view of winning FA cup over getting to champs qtrs. A pot is a pot & we've not had many of them recently. 2 in my life & i've just turned 40. Winning trophies is what will help us overturn Chelsea rags dippers & bring in more sponsorship revenue etc.
More than that though it was a fuckin immense feeling to win the cups we did and that can never be taken away[/QUOTE]

I agree with that. I'm not going to look back in years to come and say to my son "do you remember when we got to the last 16 of the champs league" but winning trophies is something thats stays with you. Winning trophies is a must for us now but so is getting out of the group stages, howeve not at the expense of winning trophies.

[Sideshow Bob]

CSKA Moskva v Manchester City
What would you lot want more in the end ... progress in CL but out at round of 16 or max QFs vs. lifting Europa League?

to improve our stature, we need a proper showing in CL. end of.

[Green & Blue]

No Kompany, Rodwell or Demicelis in the squad gone to Russia.

[s1ty m]

No Kompany, Rodwell or Demicelis in the squad gone to Russia.

Hopefully saving Vinnie for Sunday, which is much bigger game.

[Nigels Tackle]

No Kompany, Rodwell or Demicelis in the squad gone to Russia.

pleased to hear this
3,200 miles in the air wouldn't do any of them any good

[nottsblue]

Though its away am confident of a win. CSKA have lost last 5 & not scored either. This season might actually see us get out of group stage & win league.

Go for jugular & play

Hart
Zabba Lescott Nasty Kola
Milner Fernandinho Silva Navas
Aguero Neggers

What no Yaya i hear you cry? Reckon Milner is better suited for this type of game with Fernandinho sitting back. Silva et all will then cause havoc in their defence & should score 2/3 fairly comfortably.

Lets show Europe who we are and what we are about rather than worrying ourselves about opposition like we did with Bayern

[Herb]

Though its away am confident of a win. CSKA have lost last 5 & not scored either. This season might actually see us get out of group stage & win league.

Go for jugular & play

Hart
Zabba Lescott Nasty Kola
Milner Fernandinho Silva Navas
Aguero Neggers

What no Yaya i hear you cry? Reckon Milner is better suited for this type of game with Fernandinho sitting back. Silva et all will then cause havoc in their defence & should score 2/3 fairly comfortably.

Lets show Europe who we are and what we are about rather than worrying ourselves about opposition like we did with Bayern

I'd have Yaya starting but I'm no expert so I can't argue with your line-up and I'm not really arsed just so long as we muller them.
One small point to make is that CSKA might have lost their last 5 domestic games but they won last time out in the CL when they beat plzen 3-2 (so they can pop them in sometimes). That was a 'home' game but perhaps more like an 'away' because they played in St Petersburg rather than Moscow for some reason or other - does anyone know what the reason was??

[mirks]

I'd have Yaya starting but I'm no expert so I can't argue with your line-up and I'm not really arsed just so long as we muller them. One small point to make is that CSKA might have lost their last 5 domestic games but they won last time out in the CL when they beat plzen 3-2 (so they can pop them in sometimes). That was a 'home' game but perhaps more like an 'away' because they played in St Petersburg rather than Moscow for some reason or other - does anyone know what the reason was??

The pitch was/is? in shit condition...

[Herb]

I'd have Yaya starting but I'm no expert so I can't argue with your line-up and I'm not really arsed just so long as we muller them. One small point to make is that CSKA might have lost their last 5 domestic games but they won last time out in the CL when they beat plzen 3-2 (so they can pop them in sometimes). That was a 'home' game but perhaps more like an 'away' because they played in St Petersburg rather than Moscow for some reason or other - does anyone know what the reason was??

The pitch was/is? in shit condition...

Cheers Mirks, if the pitch is churned up then I can see the point in putting an energetic little tractor like Milner on.

[AG7]

[tweet]392308251653468161[/tweet]

[tweet]392309298157457410[/tweet]

And for those who like text ...

Ovidiu Hațegan of Romania is referee for CSKA Moscow vs. City. A fussy one - 69 yellow cards and 4 red cards in just 11 matches this season.

Hațegan has already taken charge of one Champions League game this season, handing out 7 yellow cards in Sociedad vs. Shakhtar.

[MilnersJaw]

pleased to hear this
3,200 miles in the air wouldn't do any of them any good

Definitely not jack. I hear flying causes his ear drums to burst.

[Beefymcfc]

Looking at those Twitter stats we're definately due a couple of sending offs.

#DirtyBastards

[Stan]

I'm going to be over in GB on Wednesday; does anyone know of a good pub in Leeds centro where I could watch this match?

Ta

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Drop our top scorer and for my money best player?

Up there with boyata starting v arsenal that would be.

[AG7]

What's with the pitch ... all reports pointing to a crap as bad as Hong Kong (well not THAT bad, but still bad) and then this ref ... not too good pre-game signs ... how many yellows convert to sitting out the next game on group stages? Is it three? Any of our players on two already?

Oh and we better not have any injuries ... Chelsea's next and that is our main rival to the title this season, that much is pretty clear already.

And a side note: Howard fucking Webb is in charge of that fixture.