***Official Napoli vs City Thread***

[Slim]

Bit strange Barry isn't playing, never thought about it till now.

[Beeks]

What is it with us and the first 20 minutes of games..

[carolina-blue]

Good 1st half no panic when we went 1 down Hostile place, good to hear the City lads singing . I thought their goal was a Yaya own goal Telly pundits saying their guy headed it ?

Come on CITY

[phips]

possibly Nasri for De Jong

I think NDJ has been good for us. I dont think much in midfield needs to change. just up top... =/

[Dameerto]

Nice to see Zola again - I read a comment recently that he's got offers (or interest from clubs) to come back into Prem management.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Bit strange Barry isn't playing, never thought about it till now.

Id take off de Jong who has been fucking shit...got skinned twice at the back and has not won a ball of note in midfield.

Barry on for second half.

[Slim]

I'd bring on Aguero for Dzeko at half time as he should give us more movement and a greater work rate up front and possibly Nasri for De Jong. Definitely should have started Clichy and Micah (if Micah is fit - think I read somewhere that he might be carrying a knock?)

If Mario is having a reaction then I would think Aguero for him would be the smart move.

Dzeko will still get into the right positions, even if he isn't playing well, so he is always a chance.

Zabs isn't playing particularly badly, but he just doesn't seem at the same level and certainly not at the level Micah is currently enjoying.

Kolarov is fine, after being exposed early he has a good handle on that right side of Napoli's forward and back.

[mr_nool]

Bit strange Barry isn't playing, never thought about it till now.

Maybe because of lack of pace? We need fast players in the centre to close down counters.

[PeterParker]

We need one more, if we will be level after the last match, the direct scores will make the difference, then the goal advantage and i think they will win easy at Vilarreal.

I am a little worried about the ref, i never heard of him and Uefa sent him to a crucial qualifing game. A little odd imho.
A little story: Napoli played Steaua last year in the Europa League groups. In Bucharest, Steaua had 3-0, then the ref sent a player from them out, Napoli made it 3-2 and then, in the 89 minute the ref didn't show how many injury minutes will be. Napoli scored the equaliser in the 98 minute. After the game the ref had to leave the country with the police protection and there were rumors about the Napoli mafia geting involved. The ref was polish and again, i"ve never heard of him before.
In the second leg, Steaua were the team qualified, but Napoli scored again in the 95 minute.

[bigblue]

We score the vast majority of our goals in the 2nd half and hopefully the trend will continue

[markuse]

Kolarov is fine, after being exposed early he has a good handle on that right side of Napoli's forward and back.

It looks like Mancini has told Kolarov to exploit the fact that Hamsik doesn't offer much cover to Maggio on that flank and we've been able to have plenty of 2 on 1s with him and Balo/Milner so far

[carl_feedthegoat]

Nigel De Jong is playing shit.

[Dameerto]

Kolarov is fine, after being exposed early he has a good handle on that right side of Napoli's forward and back.

It looks like Mancini has told Kolarov to exploit the fact that Hamsik doesn't offer much cover to Maggio on that flank and we've been able to have plenty of 2 on 1s with him and Balo/Milner so far

Yup, Kolarov is almost permanently parked in their half to try and pin their right side back and blunt their counters a bit

[bigblue]

Nigel De Jong is playing shit.

Think he's been more anonymous than shit

[Alioune DVToure]

Nigel De Jong is playing shit.

He is. He's let two dangerous and avoidable crosses come in. Let's hope he gets his head on for the second half.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Nigel De Jong is playing shit.

Think he's been more anonymous than shit

He hasn't won a ball mate...he is a worry.

[steveo_88]

I don't understand why we're letting in these shitty little flicky fucking set piece goals in the Chump's Lg when we have to defend against the same stuff every week. It's like we're not reacting. If not for that goal, that would have been a pretty decent Chump's Lg 1st half away performance by anyone's standards.

I hate Zonal Marking!

[bigblue]

Nigel De Jong is playing shit.

Think he's been more anonymous than shit

He hasn't won a ball mate...he is a worry.

when he came on for holland against germany he was immediately shit and cost them a goal. don't know how much that toe injury is still getting to him

also- Balo's whole chest and shoulders seems to be coated in vicks vapor rub

[Esky]

Nigel De Jong is playing shit.

Think he's been more anonymous than shit

He hasn't won a ball mate...he is a worry.

Needs to step up and mark Lavezzi out of the game.

[phips]

utter shite defending