Pre-Season Friendlies

[twosips]

Ha - dunno what I was thinking there. Think I wrote that bit at 2am. Gonna blame tiredness.

But yeah, Denayer's fantastic. I can actually see him being the go to man for a lot of positions in a back up role this year - I reckon they'll experiment with him a little, and I think he'll be comfortable anywhere. You get the impression he'll be incredibly consistent too. He's just a natural.

Very curious to see how they use Lopes this year. Clearly talented, and there was a bit of a Barkley like directness to his game yesterday as he drove through the middle. He was sporadic, but the whole team was in the second half I thought, but you could see what he brings to the table potentially.

[I Just Blue Myself]

Great to finally see a magnificent mane next to all those bald fucks.

[dazby]

It's got to go. Defender = bald.

[Dameerto]

Even Demi's barnet didn't last long at City.

[Ted Hughes]

Ha - dunno what I was thinking there. Think I wrote that bit at 2am. Gonna blame tiredness.

But yeah, Denayer's fantastic. I can actually see him being the go to man for a lot of positions in a back up role this year - I reckon they'll experiment with him a little, and I think he'll be comfortable anywhere. You get the impression he'll be incredibly consistent too. He's just a natural.

Very curious to see how they use Lopes this year. Clearly talented, and there was a bit of a Barkley like directness to his game yesterday as he drove through the middle. He was sporadic, but the whole team was in the second half I thought, but you could see what he brings to the table potentially.

I don't like reading too much into pre season stuff (as Mancini had Craig Bellamy running the show with a 433 one time, then fucked him off before the season started), but it seemed like the Count (who of course quietly claims to be the father of the Spanish style football revolution, rather than Pep etc) has something non standard up his sleeve.

We saw v Roma, sometimes Silva playing cf, Sterling swapping with Kelechi, then Silva dropping back, Zuculini going forward, Nasri playing deep mid, etc etc. Barker played cf in the previous game.

Lopes could crop up literally anywhere.

As I saw it in the Roma game, the Count's plan may be to switch positions so that when Silva for example drops deeper to receive the ball, someone like Zuculini (Delph, Fernandinho) leg it forward, & the attackers alternated not only their positions, but also sometimes swapped with the deeper mids, dropping back into their area. Lopes, if he gets his act together, is ideal for that kind of flexible job.

Just needs to run about, a lot. They all will imo.

I'm very excited about this; I think the Count is going to try & show people what he can do with his balance of players, rather than just bodging around with Mancini's. You can see where Pogba & DeBruyne would fit in, but you can also see where Jovetic would have done, perfectly.

You can also see quite a few of the academy kids being comfortable with that in the future, if it works.

[Bluedj]

Off all the players on the pitch throughout the game, there were three disappointments and those three disappointments were our first team fullbacks. Clichy, Korolov & Sagna. They maybe here for another season, but they will definately hold up progression for Maffio, Horsefield, Angelino

Denayer, brought a Calmness to the defence once he came on and i just don't see a future for Mangala if I'm being honest, if he stays he's fourth choice by a long shot

Zuccilini, is interestesting. i think he has had two very good performances so far and I would have him around the first team squad next season. based on last year and this years preason, i can't fathom why he was given the opportunnity in Spain. The lad covers the pitch well, gets good blocks in, always looks to make himself available for a pass, and is always looking to ghost onto a pass ala Lampard for goals. Thumbs up from me

Ronnie Lopez, looks exciting and I love his drive when he gets on the ball, he just needs to get involved more in the game

Garcia, this kid just keeps getting better and better. he's a clone of David Silvia.......Oh and anyone "Dick" saying we should sell Merlin, must be of their rock. DS is up there with Colin bell for me and if he stays for another 4-5 years i'll be a happy teady

As of "Ian", this kid has it all........superstar to be, great assit ro Raheem and and excellent composure for his goal. Well done Raheem, Fabulous statrt to your blue career

Well done to Joe on the penalties.........Still pants with his distrubution lol

Lastly, F@@k off all bent referees, that guy was a joke!

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Thanks for the final two parts of your summary.

I've been impatiently waiting for them (OK, it's only been a few days, I know) and they didn't disappoint.

Well done chum and thanks again.

[Ted Hughes]

Off all the players on the pitch throughout the game, there were three disappointments and those three disappointments were our first team fullbacks. Clichy, Korolov & Sagna. They maybe here for another season, but they will definately hold up progression for Maffio, Horsefield, Angelino

Denayer, brought a Calmness to the defence once he came on and i just don't see a future for Mangala if I'm being honest, if he stays he's fourth choice by a long shot

Zuccilini, is interestesting. i think he has had two very good performances so far and I would have him around the first team squad next season. based on last year and this years preason, i can't fathom why he was given the opportunnity in Spain. The lad covers the pitch well, gets good blocks in, always looks to make himself available for a pass, and is always looking to ghost onto a pass ala Lampard for goals. Thumbs up from me

Ronnie Lopez, looks exciting and I love his drive when he gets on the ball, he just needs to get involved more in the game

Garcia, this kid just keeps getting better and better. he's a clone of David Silvia.......Oh and anyone "Dick" saying we should sell Merlin, must be of their rock. DS is up there with Colin bell for me and if he stays for another 4-5 years i'll be a happy teady

As of "Ian", this kid has it all........superstar to be, great assit ro Raheem and and excellent composure for his goal. Well done Raheem, Fabulous statrt to your blue career

Well done to Joe on the penalties.........Still pants with his distrubution lol

Lastly, F@@k off all bent referees, that guy was a joke!

Zuculini has looked very close to City's first team level each game he has played, including last pre season. We don't have a box to box cm player in the EDS atm. But if we sign DeBruyne & he takes Jovetic's squad place, then as it stands, there will only be the potential sale of Dzeko to open up another place. If we decide to continue persuing Pogba, after DeBruyne, then that place is for him to take.

That leaves Zuculini without a place if Pogba or A.N. Other signs. Kelechi also has no squad place for the Champions Lg & doesn't qualify on the 'B' list but would qualify for Prem games as U21 (as I understand it).

As it stands, it would appear Zucculini's future depends on us not signing Pogba.

[Nige]

I enjoyed both halves of the Roma game and agree with lots of the positives about style, pace, touch and movement.

My only beef comes with Nasri and YaYa. far too often deferring to following each other around, slowing everything down and being obsessive about passing to each other over 4 yards. Often the rest of the team are buzzing around at pace open for an expansive ball but those two ignore it.

Hopefully we will go 433 and if so I fail to see where Nasri's style and lack of mobility fit in.

Oh and as for the wall for the Roma goal, terrible.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Off all the players on the pitch throughout the game, there were three disappointments and those three disappointments were our first team fullbacks. Clichy, Korolov & Sagna. They maybe here for another season, but they will definately hold up progression for Maffio, Horsefield, Angelino

Denayer, brought a Calmness to the defence once he came on and i just don't see a future for Mangala if I'm being honest, if he stays he's fourth choice by a long shot

Zuccilini, is interestesting. i think he has had two very good performances so far and I would have him around the first team squad next season. based on last year and this years preason, i can't fathom why he was given the opportunnity in Spain. The lad covers the pitch well, gets good blocks in, always looks to make himself available for a pass, and is always looking to ghost onto a pass ala Lampard for goals. Thumbs up from me

Ronnie Lopez, looks exciting and I love his drive when he gets on the ball, he just needs to get involved more in the game

Garcia, this kid just keeps getting better and better. he's a clone of David Silvia.......Oh and anyone "Dick" saying we should sell Merlin, must be of their rock. DS is up there with Colin bell for me and if he stays for another 4-5 years i'll be a happy teady

As of "Ian", this kid has it all........superstar to be, great assit ro Raheem and and excellent composure for his goal. Well done Raheem, Fabulous statrt to your blue career

Well done to Joe on the penalties.........Still pants with his distrubution lol

Lastly, F@@k off all bent referees, that guy was a joke!

Zuculini has looked very close to City's first team level each game he has played, including last pre season. We don't have a box to box cm player in the EDS atm. But if we sign DeBruyne & he takes Jovetic's squad place, then as it stands, there will only be the potential sale of Dzeko to open up another place. If we decide to continue persuing Pogba, after DeBruyne, then that place is for him to take.

That leaves Zuculini without a place if Pogba or A.N. Other signs. Kelechi also has no squad place for the Champions Lg & doesn't qualify on the 'B' list but would qualify for Prem games as U21 (as I understand it).

As it stands, it would appear Zucculini's future depends on us not signing Pogba.

Mmmmm.....interesting.

If it all comes down to that then, in my opinion, I'd prefer us not to sign Pogba, fine player that he is.

[Wonderwall]

I enjoyed both halves of the Roma game and agree with lots of the positives about style, pace, touch and movement.

My only beef comes with Nasri and YaYa. far too often deferring to following each other around, slowing everything down and being obsessive about passing to each other over 4 yards. Often the rest of the team are buzzing around at pace open for an expansive ball but those two ignore it.

Hopefully we will go 433 and if so I fail to see where Nasri's style and lack of mobility fit in.

Oh and as for the wall for the Roma goal, terrible.

Dont you just love watching us dominate opponents playing sublime football, only for the crappy opposition who is playing piss poor to score on their 1 attack. Seems to happen all to often for me.

[Nige]

Fair point, I also shit myself every time the oppo gets a corner. Roma had about 4 free headers. The count needs to sort that quickly.

[Bluedj]

Off all the players on the pitch throughout the game, there were three disappointments and those three disappointments were our first team fullbacks. Clichy, Korolov & Sagna. They maybe here for another season, but they will definately hold up progression for Maffio, Horsefield, Angelino

Denayer, brought a Calmness to the defence once he came on and i just don't see a future for Mangala if I'm being honest, if he stays he's fourth choice by a long shot

Zuccilini, is interestesting. i think he has had two very good performances so far and I would have him around the first team squad next season. based on last year and this years preason, i can't fathom why he was given the opportunnity in Spain. The lad covers the pitch well, gets good blocks in, always looks to make himself available for a pass, and is always looking to ghost onto a pass ala Lampard for goals. Thumbs up from me

Ronnie Lopez, looks exciting and I love his drive when he gets on the ball, he just needs to get involved more in the game

Garcia, this kid just keeps getting better and better. he's a clone of David Silvia.......Oh and anyone "Dick" saying we should sell Merlin, must be of their rock. DS is up there with Colin bell for me and if he stays for another 4-5 years i'll be a happy teady

As of "Ian", this kid has it all........superstar to be, great assit ro Raheem and and excellent composure for his goal. Well done Raheem, Fabulous statrt to your blue career

Well done to Joe on the penalties.........Still pants with his distrubution lol

Lastly, F@@k off all bent referees, that guy was a joke!

Zuculini has looked very close to City's first team level each game he has played, including last pre season. We don't have a box to box cm player in the EDS atm. But if we sign DeBruyne & he takes Jovetic's squad place, then as it stands, there will only be the potential sale of Dzeko to open up another place. If we decide to continue persuing Pogba, after DeBruyne, then that place is for him to take.

That leaves Zuculini without a place if Pogba or A.N. Other signs. Kelechi also has no squad place for the Champions Lg & doesn't qualify on the 'B' list but would qualify for Prem games as U21 (as I understand it).

As it stands, it would appear Zucculini's future depends on us not signing Pogba.

That's put a bummer on that Ted mate, as I really want us to sign Pogba, however, if we don't then "Hopefully" it opens the door for this young lad

I watched the Rome game again in full and it was great, as I was more taken to watching the young lads performances. Both Zuculin's and Ian's work rate off the ball was immense, especially their defensive duties. I saw Ian about three times wining the ball back in the left back position. The second viewing really impressed me.

[Bluedj]

Fair point, I also shit myself every time the oppo gets a corner. Roma had about 4 free headers. The count needs to sort that quickly.

My biggest gripe with City moment, f@@king set pieces at both ends and giving away stupid free kicks in dangerous positions.

Can't remember who stated in another thread a while back. Why can't we just bring in a coach who specialises in set plays. Do this and we'll piss the league.

Manuel, are you listening as I have spoken?........... Take note!

[phips]

id like to see Denayer play a lot more vs Real since Vinnie has left. Let him play 80 minutes or so.

[Dameerto]

Off all the players on the pitch throughout the game, there were three disappointments and those three disappointments were our first team fullbacks. Clichy, Korolov & Sagna. They maybe here for another season, but they will definately hold up progression for Maffio, Horsefield, Angelino

Denayer, brought a Calmness to the defence once he came on and i just don't see a future for Mangala if I'm being honest, if he stays he's fourth choice by a long shot

Zuccilini, is interestesting. i think he has had two very good performances so far and I would have him around the first team squad next season. based on last year and this years preason, i can't fathom why he was given the opportunnity in Spain. The lad covers the pitch well, gets good blocks in, always looks to make himself available for a pass, and is always looking to ghost onto a pass ala Lampard for goals. Thumbs up from me

Ronnie Lopez, looks exciting and I love his drive when he gets on the ball, he just needs to get involved more in the game

Garcia, this kid just keeps getting better and better. he's a clone of David Silvia.......Oh and anyone "Dick" saying we should sell Merlin, must be of their rock. DS is up there with Colin bell for me and if he stays for another 4-5 years i'll be a happy teady

As of "Ian", this kid has it all........superstar to be, great assit ro Raheem and and excellent composure for his goal. Well done Raheem, Fabulous statrt to your blue career

Well done to Joe on the penalties.........Still pants with his distrubution lol

Lastly, F@@k off all bent referees, that guy was a joke!

Zuculini has looked very close to City's first team level each game he has played, including last pre season. We don't have a box to box cm player in the EDS atm. But if we sign DeBruyne & he takes Jovetic's squad place, then as it stands, there will only be the potential sale of Dzeko to open up another place. If we decide to continue persuing Pogba, after DeBruyne, then that place is for him to take.

That leaves Zuculini without a place if Pogba or A.N. Other signs. Kelechi also has no squad place for the Champions Lg & doesn't qualify on the 'B' list but would qualify for Prem games as U21 (as I understand it).

As it stands, it would appear Zucculini's future depends on us not signing Pogba.

As I remember Zuculini cost us absolute peanuts - I still think we bought him as an investment to sell for a profit - but he's been first team standard in the games I've watched him play.

[Tony P]

When are the Argies joining up?

[Dubciteh]

Looking forward to todays game should be good.

Are they home after the match today?

[lets all have a disco]

Looking forward to todays game should be good.

Are they home after the match today?

NOPE.

Mon 27 July 2015 14:00 BST A Vietnam national team Friendly

Sat 01 August 2015 17:00 BST A VfB Stuttgart Friendly

[bigblue]

the game vs Vietnam should be a cracker.... hahaha actually if I know anything about Vietnam it will be one of the biggest jokes you've ever seen. Wonderful country but similar to China 15 years ago