The mancityfans.net football forum

The view from the Away End




So its finally time for the big boy game, and I cant wait. I wish I could be with you all on Tuesday night, but alas I will be watching from Surbiton. Here are the thoughts of one Barca thread, and I have to say they are fairly well balanced. At the end of the day, nothing matters, but a win. We should be high on confidence after Saturday, and I expect a full strength squad available.

COME ON CITY !

Team Selection

Valdes

Alves pique masch alba

Busquets

Xavi. Iniesta

Sanchez. Messi. Neymar.

My Favourite

Not many days left now...im alittle nervous already. Anyone know if Aguero is definatley out for the first game or if he is day to day?

And the rest….

I am predicting 1-1, it would be very good result for us, I am guessing that both teams would be very cautious as neither Barca nor City wants to go out in first round of playoffs.

Official: 23 players called up for the game against Man City on Tuesday, only Dos Santos (injured) and Cuenca not included

Man City really struggle against technical sides who play with lots of bodies in midfield. They basically play a 4-4-2/4-2-2-2 and leaves them vulnerable in midfield due to Yaya's defensive frailties. Fernandinho and Yaya were played off the park against Bayern Munich and their triangles. If Barceloan do the same, you'll tire him out. Iniesta should keep looking to get into the hole, in behind Yaya and Fernandinho where he can really do damage.

I expect City to score a few goal but both teams have average defences, so I except Barcelona to outscore them by two goals overall. Kompany, as good as he is, doesn't come up a player like Messi very often. He had to foul Hazard a lot yesterday, and Messi is even better.

Messi, Ineista, Busquets and Alves are the key to winning. If they play well, you'll stop City and do damage where it counts. Left back is weakness for them defensively (good attacking), which Alves can exploit.

They are a very dangerous and physical team. It´s gonna be a extreme difficult match.

really tight game to guess, if our players play like today i Think we will win, but who will play though...tough call.

Rewatching the City - Chelsea game. Looks like they let the grass grow in the Etihad.

One thing I have noticed the last few Man City games is Kompany loves to lunge in high up the pitch and he gets caught out a lot.


Demichellis starting would be great for us, we can beat that team

Busquets and Xavi are both a must. And looking at how Iniesta performs lately play him aswell. Cesc on the other hand brings that directness and is an assisting machine. Tata should choose wisely.

Aguero and Fernandinho wont play.

we lose, simple as that

So after an impressive win streak Man City are suddenly average for two games

City will give lot of space and the through balls of Cesc to Messi will prove to be vital in the game

I have never said it with less irony than now: City will destroy us. Yes, we're winning games. But man we look awful. I'm scared as shit for the City games and I can't see it going well. We're going to need to do a whole lot better than this in order to win. A whole freaking lot.

if they have all their players fit i think they will win

The Man City defense in open play is as bad as ours


No Aguero is a serious blow for Man C for the Etihad game. But even without Aguero, their offense flows marvelously, especially at home.

The worst I could see happening is Man C scoring 4 in the Manchester game. Barca has a very fine defense this year, but I don't think any team can stop Man C from scoring.

At Manchester: 2-4.
At Barca: 4-1.

There is no attack like Barca's in the Premier League, they just don't see ball control and passing that good. City is not ready for this level of challenge.

The can play whatever lineup they want, but if we play our best and Messi is on fire, they'll have nothing to say.

I think it will be pretty even. It depends who decides to turn up on the night

Thanks CM! Was that from an international forum?

Would be interesting to hear what the locals are saying as well.

Given that they are all conquering in Spain and have done extremely well in Europe over last deacade and have Messi in their side they aren't very confident are they! By rights they should thrash us. Just shows now what our standing in Europe is

Where ever they come from they are mucho polito than those Chelski chav rent boys !

CuteMancs wrote:
Man City really struggle against technical sides who play with lots of bodies in midfield. They basically play a 4-4-2/4-2-2-2 and leaves them vulnerable in midfield due to Yaya's defensive frailties. Fernandinho and Yaya were played off the park against Bayern Munich and their triangles. If Barceloan do the same, you'll tire him out. Iniesta should keep looking to get into the hole, in behind Yaya and Fernandinho where he can really do damage.


Rewatching the City - Chelsea game. Looks like they let the grass grow in the Etihad.

These two comments struck me the most. First post is imo a good assessment of our weaknesses and something I'm scared of going into this game

And what's the 2nd post about?

Moonchesteri wrote: These two comments struck me the most. First post is imo a good assessment of our weaknesses and something I'm scared of going into this game And what's the 2nd post about?

My interpretation of letting the grass grow is that they think we have let the grass on the pitch grow to make it harder for their short passing game. Sounds like someone being too clever though, unless he had been monitoring the length of the grass every week on the TV!

Hutch's Shoulder wrote: My interpretation of letting the grass grow is that they think we have let the grass on the pitch grow to make it harder for their short passing game. Sounds like someone being too clever though, unless he had been monitoring the length of the grass every week on the TV!

Funny enough someone in the match day thread (on this very forum) mentioned during the play that have they forgotten to cut the grass at Etihad or is this pink FA cup ball heavier or something ...

Hutch's Shoulder wrote:
My interpretation of letting the grass grow is that they think we have let the grass on the pitch grow to make it harder for their short passing game. Sounds like someone being too clever though, unless he had been monitoring the length of the grass every week on the TV!

Something that Stoke did last season. If i remember correctly.

Letting the grass grow would spoil our own passing game.

I noted the grass looked long. Not sure if it is deliberate but it looked very long.

s1ty m wrote:I noted the grass looked long. Not sure if it is deliberate but it looked very long.

Hopefully the ground staff are using a rotavator on it today. I don't want a blade of grass on it tomorrow night. Let's just play them over one leg when all our players are back.

Thanks for the comments, I should have clarified that the quotes here are from a barcaforum.com, which is in English. I am not sure where the members are from, but I think it gives some idea of what they are thinking. I will do some hunting around for more diversity for the second round.

Not sure if the grass is longer or its the colour of the FA Cup ball (which I hate), but play does look a bit slower.

If they play 3 upfront they are getting smashed. City 3-1 Hope they do not score.

Just had a quick scan here:

http://www.blaugranas.com/manchester_ci ... 3728-2.htm

Equal combination of confidence and trepidation. One general opinion is if Alexis plays they will be playing with 10 men!

Thanks CM.