***Official Napoli vs City Thread***

[The Original Special One]

Yeah I know he does. To be honest. I'd be happy to see Kolarov come in to a degree as he's looked strong thus far but I'd be loathe to lose Micah from the starting line up as he really is in form and would cause any side problems at the moment

Micah is still suspect, defensively: it wasn't so obvious on Saturday, but it certainly was against QPR.
We might be ok with De Jong covering for Micah going AWOL, but not otherwise
Zaba is more conscientious a defender, although he's less potent, offensively.

For me Kolarov has to start ahead of Clichy, because he's far superior going forward, and there's not much between them, defensively

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Yeah I know he does. To be honest. I'd be happy to see Kolarov come in to a degree as he's looked strong thus far but I'd be loathe to lose Micah from the starting line up as he really is in form and would cause any side problems at the moment

Micah is still suspect, defensively: it wasn't so obvious on Saturday, but it certainly was against QPR.
We might be ok with De Jong covering for Micah going AWOL, but not otherwise
Zaba is more conscientious a defender, although he's less potent, offensively.

For me Kolarov has to start ahead of Clichy, because he's far superior going forward, and there's not much between them, defensively

I think we're lucky to have two very good left backs but as you say what Kolarov offers going forward is more important than what Clichy offers defensively.

[King Kev]

Why change the way we play when we have been winning and scoring so much??

We should carry on as we have been, fear nobody!

Because Europe is different, as proved by games against Napoli, Bayern and Villareal at home.

I think that proves my point. When we try to adopt the 'European style' we aren't as potent as when we play our normal game.

I still say we should stick to what we are good at and let them worry about us rather than the other way around.

[freshie]

Yeah I know he does. To be honest. I'd be happy to see Kolarov come in to a degree as he's looked strong thus far but I'd be loathe to lose Micah from the starting line up as he really is in form and would cause any side problems at the moment

Micah is still suspect, defensively: it wasn't so obvious on Saturday, but it certainly was against QPR.
We might be ok with De Jong covering for Micah going AWOL, but not otherwise
Zaba is more conscientious a defender, although he's less potent, offensively.

For me Kolarov has to start ahead of Clichy, because he's far superior going forward, and[highlight]there's not much between them, defensively[/highlight]

What utter bollocks that last part is. Have you watched either of them play this season? Clichy is a million times better defensively than Aleksander 'I like going forward but don't have the pace/can't be arsed to get back into position when the opposition counter attacks' Kolarov. As for Micah being suspect defensively, he showed that at Old Trafford didn't he?

[freshie]

Yeah I know he does. To be honest. I'd be happy to see Kolarov come in to a degree as he's looked strong thus far but I'd be loathe to lose Micah from the starting line up as he really is in form and would cause any side problems at the moment

Micah is still suspect, defensively: it wasn't so obvious on Saturday, but it certainly was against QPR.
We might be ok with De Jong covering for Micah going AWOL, but not otherwise
Zaba is more conscientious a defender, although he's less potent, offensively.

For me Kolarov has to start ahead of Clichy, because he's far superior going forward, and there's not much between them, defensively

I think we're lucky to have two very good left backs but [highlight]as you say what Kolarov offers going forward is more important than what Clichy offers defensively[/highlight].

Again more bullshit from the fingers of Bridge'srightfoot. Fullbacks should be able to defend first and foremost - anything they offer going forwards is a bonus

[Lee_R]

I think first and foremost we'll not want to lose tomorrow. Cant see us going all out but expect us to play with caution for the forst 20 minutes as to not conceed.. and then play the rest of the game try nicking one or two goals on the counter. 2-1 to City for me.

[Moonchesteri]

I have a feeling the game tomorrow will be extremely boring. But hopefully we'll come away with three points, and at least one.

[Original Dub]

Again more bullshit from the fingers of Bridge'srightfoot. Fullbacks should be able to defend first and foremost - anything they offer going forwards is a bonus

Its astounding. I don't think he's ever watched a game of football.

[MaineRoadMemories]

I think Napoli might try and play the percentages, go for a draw first and foremost but try and counter attack us again like they did in first leg. With them playing VillaReal and us playing Bayern a draw isn't the end of the world for Napoli but a loss is game over.

I hope its THE game where we announce ourselves as a Champions League team and play like we have in the premiership.

[The Original Special One]

I think Napoli might try and play the percentages, go for a draw first and foremost but try and counter attack us again like they did in first leg. With them playing VillaReal and us playing Bayern a draw isn't the end of the world for Napoli but a loss is game over.

I hope its THE game where we announce ourselves as a Champions League team and play like we have in the premiership.

Just watched a recording of Bayern's home game with Dortmund, which the visitors deservedly won 1-0.
Bayern badly missed Schweinsteiger and they were rattled by Dortmund's intensely muscular, and oppressive defending.
So much so that Ribery hardly got a look in.
Or Gomes
I think we can do a similar number on them at the Etihad

[Bluedj]

Napoli play the counterattacking game home and away. We need to be smart with the ball and be careful not to overcommit.

This

I'd go on the causious here so;

hart

micah, vinny, jl, clichy

james, nige, gazbaz

yaya, silva

Balo

strong midfield
fast top three
atacking fullbacks if needed to deploy
attacking bench of subs

[Chopper]

We need to hit them early, they give up far more goals in the first half. One things for sure theyll sit back and hope for the counter. I hope Lescott doesn't fuck up. My gut says a draw but I'm hopeful. We can win this if we keep our heads. Napoli are a filthy side.

[hyper]

Sorry if mentioned elsewhere but is the Napoli game on Sky Sports or another channel? Nothing showing on our Fixtures tab (didn't realise how much I relied on it!).

[Nigels Tackle]

Sorry if mentioned elsewhere but is the Napoli game on Sky Sports or another channel? Nothing showing on our Fixtures tab (didn't realise how much I relied on it!).

on ss2 i think...

[john@staustell]

Sorry if mentioned elsewhere but is the Napoli game on Sky Sports or another channel? Nothing showing on our Fixtures tab (didn't realise how much I relied on it!).

SS2 I think mate. Thank fuck its not ITV again.

But KK will be delighted someone has used the fixtures tab!! :-)

[brite blu sky]

Should probably put this in the overconfident thread.. but basically we are in a process of realising how good City are. Look at it very simply, the best teams and teams that go on to win things create chances and take them while trying to stay solid and difficult to break down.
In the Prem it is becoming more and more obvious that City are a cut above the rest of the field on that basis and yet the teams put out by Bob are still way off their best.
The CL is different because virtually every team is the winning type.. and to add to that each of those teams has a different and successful formulae. On paper City in form should be able to outplay nearly all teams in europe and be on a par with the very best. The reality is that the players making up City's teams are just not used enough to how they themselves are as a team. What I mean by that is that they simply haven't had the experience of the challenges that very good and different oppositions set them.
They could have contained Napoli at Coms with a bit more saavy.. they need not have had a mini collapse at Bayern either as they proved by working their way back into the play in the second half.

So being bold and making the point, we are quite a bit better than Napoli and if we play with a bit more awareness and saavy we can beat them no doubt about it. I'm not convinced we have yet learn't that saavy though.

All this is also the reason basically why the Prem is ultimately more important than the CL. Don't misread that though it would be fantastic and of massive benefit to progress, not least because it is these games that the team actually, in real time, builds that saavy it needs. It is no slight on the team or Mancini for not being quite ready for that. Aguero, Nasri particularly still need a decent amount of time to learn how to knit with Silva and Milner and Yaya as well as others. It is the week in week out in the Prem where that will happen most. Come next season City will take the CL by storm, meanwhile they need to just keep on learning.

I do think we will beat Napoli tonight though and Bayern at Coms, but I'm just being optimistic. I won't be crying though if we make some stupid mistakes again and fluff it, one way or another the team needs to learn and I just accept it.

[dazby]

Napoli, Napoli, we're the famous Mancity and we're off to Napoli...

[Dameerto]

See Naples and try. It's all we ask.

[Sideshow Bob]

NEED to win this one. Loser gets thrown into the filthy Europa League with the Spuds and other swine.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

We need to hit them early, they give up far more goals in the first half. One things for sure theyll sit back and hope for the counter. I hope Lescott doesn't fuck up. My gut says a draw but I'm hopeful. We can win this if we keep our heads. Napoli are a filthy side.

Strange how you think about Lescott and I think the same about Hart,Micah,Vinnie,Clichy,Kolarov,Zaba,Nigel and anybody else who plays in any sort of defensive role.