Build up to Chelsea

[brite blu sky]

Right you lot.. like it or not it is time to put the punchbag away. A lot of people are going to see this game now as the flip side the the weeks coin.. and the main reason we got binned in the CC. Truth is thats correct, but thats that and anymore squeeking about it will achieve nothing to be brutally honest.
One minor positive is that the result at the Hawthornes has absolutely no bearing on City for Sat.
Another positive is that Chelsea suffered two players out injured. Kalou and Benayoun.
They also had a tough game of it, Anelka putting in 90 mins. They host Marseille in the CL on Tuesday eve.

There is one thing i think we know for sure.. this is going to be one hell of a mighty battle that City are equipped for just as much as Chelsea. Despite our need for gametime i think we hold some key advantages, not least being that this is the first real test of Chelsea in the league but yet City will be going into it as slight underdogs due to Chelsea's start to the season. We have a bit of history after last seasons escapades to spice it up even further. Another thing in our favour imo is that we know their team and we did a good job of keeping Drogba, Lampard and Malouda under control last time, as well as winding Terry up. They on the other hand have to contend with not knowing our current set up so well. Yaya mainly, but possibly Boateng, Silva and even Balotelli.

Whatever the weather City are going to be up for this in no uncertain terms.. the prize is threefold.. closing the gap in points on them to just 4.. slapping a big sticker on their foreheads saying "City have got our number" and showing the rest of the league the way to do it while pricking up the ears of the football world.

it is all about upping the ante and this is the big big chance to do that, it is going to be a fight and if we can start to edge them you know full well they will start to get mardy as they always do when it doesn't go their way. Coms is going be electric and so it fuclin should, this is the biggest game of the season so far and it is a massive chance to make a statement and get stuck right into a title challenge.

I know a lot of you are going to say that this is presuming a lot and getting ahead of things.. but the truth is this is the way it is and there is no point at all shying away from it and pretending it isnt what it is.

CMON CITY WE CAN DO THIS!!!

[sandman]

Great post.

I still think this game will be a massive challenge due to the injury list and one we will probably not win, but Mancini has given the squad their very best chance, I am geared up for it already, I hope the players are too!!

CTID

[ruralblue]

Just need Dejong to powerhouse his way through Drogba and Malouda and we will be fine.

I do think we will show up for this and show them that it's not all plain sailing. I also have a gut feeling we will get 3 points and prove they might not walk each game by four or six goals.

[Chewbacca]

im having a tenner bet that City will win 4 - 0 ill tell you what the odds are for that on sat morning when ive placed it .

[sandman]

I hope that DeJong doesnt do anything too rash, he conceeds a lot of free kicks, and we all know with diving drogba Chelsea are dangerous from these.

I think if he parks Yaya infront of the defence and keeps Richards (if fit) back in position we should fancy a draw or maybe stolen winner.

[brite blu sky]

Great post.

I still think this game will be a massive challenge due to the injury list and one we will probably not win, but Mancini has given the squad their very best chance, I am geared up for it already, I hope the players are too!!

CTID

Obviously it is only in my own little imagination.. but i have had the sense that the City players since the start of last season are seeing the games against the established elite as the real tests of their ambition, determination and mettle. It is only natural i suppose but we have put some glorious performances in against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and the swamp dwellers.

One difference this season is that most of them might not be coming to coms expecting to win anymore.. which then doesn't quiet play into our hands as much. But the battling performances im sure will be no different..

[Kladze]

Right you lot.. like it or not it is time to put the punchbag away. A lot of people are going to see this game now as the flip side the the weeks coin.. and the main reason we got binned in the CC. Truth is thats correct, but thats that and anymore squeeking about it will achieve nothing to be brutally honest.
One minor positive is that the result at the Hawthornes has absolutely no bearing on City for Sat.
Another positive is that Chelsea suffered two players out injured. Kalou and Benayoun.
They also had a tough game of it, Anelka putting in 90 mins. They host Marseille in the CL on Tuesday eve.

There is one thing i think we know for sure.. this is going to be one hell of a mighty battle that City are equipped for just as much as Chelsea. Despite our need for gametime i think we hold some key advantages, not least being that this is the first real test of Chelsea in the league but yet City will be going into it as slight underdogs due to Chelsea's start to the season. We have a bit of history after last seasons escapades to spice it up even further. Another thing in our favour imo is that we know their team and we did a good job of keeping Drogba, Lampard and Malouda under control last time, as well as winding Terry up. They on the other hand have to contend with not knowing our current set up so well. Yaya mainly, but possibly Boateng, Silva and even Balotelli.

Whatever the weather City are going to be up for this in no uncertain terms.. the prize is threefold.. closing the gap in points on them to just 4.. slapping a big sticker on their foreheads saying "City have got our number" and showing the rest of the league the way to do it while pricking up the ears of the football world.

it is all about upping the ante and this is the big big chance to do that, it is going to be a fight and if we can start to edge them you know full well they will start to get mardy as they always do when it doesn't go their way. Coms is going be electric and so it fuclin should, this is the biggest game of the season so far and it is a massive chance to make a statement and get stuck right into a title challenge.

I know a lot of you are going to say that this is presuming a lot and getting ahead of things.. but the truth is this is the way it is and there is no point at all shying away from it and pretending it isnt what it is.

CMON CITY WE CAN DO THIS!!!

This is presuming a lot and getting ahead of things imho.

[Blue Since 76]

Great post.

I still think this game will be a massive challenge due to the injury list and one we will probably not win, but Mancini has given the squad their very best chance, I am geared up for it already, I hope the players are too!!

CTID

Obviously it is only in my own little imagination.. but i have had the sense that the City players since the start of last season are seeing the games against the established elite as the real tests of their ambition, determination and mettle. It is only natural i suppose but we have put some glorious performances in against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and the swamp dwellers.

One difference this season is that most of them might not be coming to coms expecting to win anymore.. which then doesn't quiet play into our hands as much. But the battling performances im sure will be no different..

Not sure about that. What were the results against the rags last season? Chelsea was the impressive one and it would be nice to repeat it

[Beefymcfc]

I see excuses already! Are we on the brink of a Hughes moment?

[MaineRoadMemories]

Can't shake the feeling we will playing far too cautiously and try and stop Chelsea playing rather than concentrate on playing ourselves.

Chelsea will score a goal in each half in a tough encounter for them but ultimately their keeper won't be tested as we only record 2 shots on target.

(Now I've typed that it won't happen :-D)

[Beeks]

Malouda out...Benayoun out and most importantly Fat Frank out

We can have these

[ThisIsOurCity]

City to win 3 - 0, can't justify it, just had a feeling all week :)

[SORTED]

I think we'll outplay 'em, outfight 'em and run out 2-0 victors. The future's still blue boys and girls, still blue!

[Pretty Boy Lee]

For me these are the kind of games Mancinis "hardworking" midfield was built for. I think without Frank piling into the box late, De Jong, Komps and Toure have the tools to keep them at bay.

It's a matter of whether a side also playing Yaya, Barry and Milner has enough flair in the last two spots to hit back at them.

[ruralblue]

Is Malouda out as well??
I so fucking hope so, he's been on fire so far this season.

[lukemb]

Is Malouda out as well??
I so fucking hope so, he's been on fire so far this season.

I don't think he is, pretty sure its Benayoun, Lampard and Kalou that are missing out