Next : Arsenal Away

[Swales4ever]

Think of all the jellied eels you could get with £62.

definitely few, as Chinners advises... :-(
I have fond memory of my London based Blue ex-girlfriend, but even then, just before the Prem was founded [along with the football] London was more of a lake of rags.

[Beefymcfc]

City have returned about 900 tickets apparently according to a goon I know ...

Edit ..

Champions Man City return almost HALF of 2,000 tickets for Arsenal match after fans are asked to pay £62 By Joe Ridge
Manchester City have returned 900 unsold tickets of the 2,000 allocation for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates.
The champions were expected to sell out their away tickets but it appears travelling fans have been put off by the £62 Arsenal are charging each fan.
Arsenal were revealed to be the hosts of English football's most expensive day out by theBBC's Price of Football survey back in October. DSSC

Just listening to this on TS. They're saying that we baulked at the price and fans have decided to boycott the game.

Just had a United fan saying that we sold our cheap tickets because we can never fill the ground, even during the Derby game. City fan came on next and called him an absolute muppet, we've sold out every game and we'll see how full the Swamp will be for their replay, charging £45 per ticket.

Seems that the presenters agree with the sniggering in the background.

[Blue Stu]

Think of all the jellied eels you could get with £62.

definitely few, as Chinners advises... :-(
I have fond memory of my London based Blue ex-girlfriend, but even then, just before the Prem was founded [along with the football] London was more of a lake of rags.

The next thing you two will be telling me is northerners don't breed whippets. It's a sad day for stereotypes everywhere. I'll have to go to Scotland and drown my sorrows (they like a good drink up there).

[Chinners]

Think of all the jellied eels you could get with £62.

definitely few, as Chinners advises... :-(
I have fond memory of my London based Blue ex-girlfriend, but even then, just before the Prem was founded [along with the football] London was more of a lake of rags.

The next thing you two will be telling me is northerners don't breed whippets. It's a sad day for stereotypes everywhere. I'll have to go to Scotland and drown my sorrows (they like a good drink up there).

Ha ha .... everyone knows that northerners don't breed whippets, racing them however ....

[Blue Stu]

Think of all the jellied eels you could get with £62.

definitely few, as Chinners advises... :-(
I have fond memory of my London based Blue ex-girlfriend, but even then, just before the Prem was founded [along with the football] London was more of a lake of rags.

The next thing you two will be telling me is northerners don't breed whippets. It's a sad day for stereotypes everywhere. I'll have to go to Scotland and drown my sorrows (they like a good drink up there).

Ha ha .... everyone knows that northerners don't breed whippets, racing them however ....

I'm getting my ferrets and whippets mixed up, doh.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Think of all the jellied eels you could get with £62.

definitely few, as Chinners advises... :-(
I have fond memory of my London based Blue ex-girlfriend, but even then, just before the Prem was founded [along with the football] London was more of a lake of rags.

The next thing you two will be telling me is northerners don't breed whippets. It's a sad day for stereotypes everywhere. I'll have to go to Scotland and drown my sorrows (they like a good drink up there).

Ha ha .... everyone knows that northerners don't breed whippets, racing them however ....

I'm getting my ferrets and whippets mixed up, doh.

Theo Walcott's a whippet, Gray Neville's a ferret....

[Beefymcfc]

What about pigeons, I feel they need a mention.




*Dons flat-cap and goes to chippy for a portion of gravy. Northern boys luuuuuuvvvvvv gravy*

[carl_feedthegoat]

I hope Nasty plays.

Oh fuck off.

Dont be Nasty.

[simon12]

This please:

------------------Hart

Zabaleta------Kompany---Nasty/Lescott----Clichy

--------------Garcia---------Barry

Milner-----------Tevez-------------Silva

------------------Dzeko

I

[kinkylola]

This please:

------------------Hart

Zabaleta------Kompany---Nasty/Lescott----Clichy

--------------Garcia---------Barry

Milner-----------Tevez-------------Silva

------------------Dzeko

I

Balo instead of Dzeko, and that's my guess. If balo is shite, bring on dzeko, he 's best as a sub.

[the herd]

Oi oi lads gooner for life here just thought I would pop in and say hello. Are there many on here who are coming down for the match ?
Shame about the prices which I know are extortionate and we have to put up with them and most genuine Arsenal fans cannot afford to go.
Me myself have been going to watch them home and away for nearly fourty years and I haven't been to our stadium otherwise known as the bowl for three seasons.
There are thousands like me who have been priced out of watching our team play at home sowe go to away matches where you get real fans and real passion.
My first visit to Main Road was when Charlie darling of the north bank scored twice in the cup or as the song goes
" scored two goal at Man City
Led us on to victory
Scores the winner at Wembley
Charlie is our hero "
sorry about that but had to be done.
Anyway would like to have a bit banter as like you cannot stand the plastics across the road and have always got on well with the blue half .

[carl_feedthegoat]

Oi oi lads gooner for life here just thought I would pop in and say hello. Are there many on here who are coming down for the match ?
Shame about the prices which I know are extortionate and we have to put up with them and most genuine Arsenal fans cannot afford to go.
Me myself have been going to watch them home and away for nearly fourty years and I haven't been to our stadium otherwise known as the bowl for three seasons.
There are thousands like me who have been priced out of watching our team play at home sowe go to away matches where you get real fans and real passion.
My first visit to Main Road was when Charlie darling of the north bank scored twice in the cup or as the song goes
" scored two goal at Man City
Led us on to victory
Scores the winner at Wembley
Charlie is our hero "
sorry about that but had to be done.
Anyway would like to have a bit banter as like you cannot stand the plastics across the road and have always got on well with the blue half .

What makes me laugh about your club is the constant snipes about Man City and how we are "ruining" football etc - I could list a billion facts about how our owner has the fans concerns at heart and those words translate into actions...low prices being one of them.

Wenger should learn to shut his fuckign mouth when he goes on about us ruining football and he should stop wanking himself when we lose in Europe...the bitter bitter twisted cunt.

1-2 The City.

[london blue 2]

Oi oi lads gooner for life here just thought I would pop in and say hello. Are there many on here who are coming down for the match ?
Shame about the prices which I know are extortionate and we have to put up with them and most genuine Arsenal fans cannot afford to go.
Me myself have been going to watch them home and away for nearly fourty years and I haven't been to our stadium otherwise known as the bowl for three seasons.
There are thousands like me who have been priced out of watching our team play at home sowe go to away matches where you get real fans and real passion.
My first visit to Main Road was when Charlie darling of the north bank scored twice in the cup or as the song goes
" scored two goal at Man City
Led us on to victory
Scores the winner at Wembley
Charlie is our hero "
sorry about that but had to be done.
Anyway would like to have a bit banter as like you cannot stand the plastics across the road and have always got on well with the blue half .

What makes me laugh about your club is the constant snipes about Man City and how we are "ruining" football etc - I could list a billion facts about how our owner has the fans concerns at heart and those words translate into actions...low prices being one of them.

Wenger should learn to shut his fuckign mouth when he goes on about us ruining football and he should stop wanking himslef when we lose in Europe...the bitter bitter twisted cunt.

1-2 The City.

hahahaha

Welcome the Herd.

[Swales4ever]

hahahaha

Welcome the Herd.

welcome indeed, the Herd. looks like an almost rare, sound gooner and my experience of them lasts since early the 80s...

Carl makes very sensible points, though. It's not the first time that I find myself concerned about Carl on the path of becoming the next Sir Johh: plenty of wise macityfans.netters, but we only have ONE *****General.... just wondering.

[AG7]

ESPN | Tactics & Analysis
Will Man City take a negative approach (again) v Arsenal?
by Michael Cox

City have the perfect tools to defeat Arsenal - like David Silva - but will Roberto Mancini go negative again? Let's hope not.

Recent matches between the Premier League's big clubs have often been goalfests, but Manchester City's trips to Arsenal in recent seasons have been dreadfully dull. Roberto Mancini has always played remarkably defensive football, and his side haven't registered a goal in three attempts at the Emirates.

The 0-0 draw in April 2010 is a contender for the most underwhelming Premier League game of recent years: Arsenal's title challenge had collapsed dramatically and motivation had vanished, while City made no attempt to win the game. Mancini was content to play out a goalless draw, confident his side would defeat Tottenham to secure a Champions League place -- although that plan eventually backfired.

Mancini used a startlingly unambitious midfield three -- Nigel de Jong, Patrick Vieira and Gareth Barry -- and barely tested Arsenal's elderly centre back duo of Mikael Silvestre and Sol Campbell. “I am not used to games like this,” said a bemused Arsene Wenger. “We created very little chances. Man City did not create anything, were highly focused on defending and gave us no space … it was a locked game.”

Mancini utilised similar tactics the following campaign, with Carlos Tevez once again deployed as a lone striker. Yaya Toure initially motored forward to provide support, but Arsenal passed around City in midfield, hit the woodwork a couple of times, and Mancini reacted. At half-time, he told Toure to sit deeper alongside de Jong and Barry, closing out the game and playing for a 0-0.

Disgruntled at Mancini's negativity, Arsenal fans booed City off the pitch. “I prefer one point and this, rather than no points and applause,” the Italian said. But he admitted his strategy was defensive-minded. “I like to play better football than this.”

Then there was last season. City travelled to the Emirates seemingly needing a win to remain in the title hunt, but Mancini again chose caution. Arsenal dominated the game while Mancini constantly meddled with his midfield following Toure's injury -- his side were simply too reactive, and his substitutions were amazingly tame. Tevez only played five minutes, Edin Dzeko remained on the bench, and Aleksandar Kolarov replacing Samir Nasri was Mancini's attempt to add attacking thrust. Following Mikel Arteta's winner, City were eight points behind Manchester United with six games remaining.

In summary: that's three games played, zero goals scored, and just four shots on target. This is Mancini's bogey fixture.

Granted, there are some caveats: the City side of 2009-10 was incomparable to the star-studded squad of today, and although unsuccessful in hindsight, settling for what effectively became a Champions League playoff against Spurs was not a ludicrous strategy. The following season, City at least started with attacking intentions before adjusting their tactics when they became overrun. Mancini has also suffered from injury problems -- David Silva has yet to play a part in the fixture, for example, and City did record a win at the Emirates in last season's league cup. Although, considering Arsenal were playing a mixture of reserves and youngsters, a late counter-attacking winner from substitute Sergio Aguero was hardly indicative of a positive approach.

Sunday's match becomes an opportunity to assess Mancini's attacking ambition. The frustrating aspect of his previous strategy is not the reactive approach in itself -- counterattacking is the optimal approach for many sides travelling to the Emirates -- but the fact is, it's not City's style. They are ball hoarders, boasting the highest average possession in the league this season, yet Mancini has been happy to disregard his side's identity, overadjusting against a side beneath his own in the league table.

Another reactive performance this weekend would be inappropriate. Mancini only needs to assess the performance of the last victors at the Emirates, Swansea City, to learn that possession football can triumph. Michael Laudrup's players were applauded off the pitch by the Arsenal fans, and although Mancini's disregard for the preferences of opposition supporters is understandable, there's a lesson in there -- Swansea stayed true to their identity, played in their usual fashion and deservedly won the game.

Mancini is handicapped by the absence of both Nasri through suspension and Toure, who is at the Africa Cup of Nations. Nasri is not a significant loss -- his sheepish displays at his former club suggest he lacks the mentality to prove the boo boys wrong, but Toure's driving midfield runs are irreplaceable. Mancini is almost certain to select James Milner in place of Nasri, and Javi Garcia in Toure's central midfield role. Milner will track Kieran Gibbs, while Garcia will sit in front of the defence. Already, it's not looking positive.

But City possess attacking weapons to hurt Arsenal, and Mancini must commit players forward. Wenger's side are still unconvincing between the lines of defence and midfield this season -- the early compactness that appeared so effective in the ruthless 2-0 win away at Anfield is less obvious at home, and although Arteta guarantees some tough tackles, in a positional sense he's not a natural holding player.

That's the zone where City can stretch Arsenal. The relationship between Tevez and Aguero is superb -- Tevez currently occupies a deeper role for City, positioning himself between the lines and dragging opposition defenders towards the play. Aguero, meanwhile, has tremendous acceleration and darts into space in beyond the opposition back four. The last time City faced Arsenal in the pre-Mancini era, Mark Hughes' dressing room flip-pad was leaked after the game -- City's game plan was to pull Thomas Vermaelen out of position, then attack the space in behind him. A similar approach might prosper on Sunday, although much depends on Aguero's fitness.

Then there's Silva, who will make his first appearance at the Emirates, but scored the winner against Arsenal at the Etihad in 2010-11. He's the catalyst for City's intricate passing in the final third, a playmaker who will drift inside, create overloads in central positions, and attempt to slide the ball through the defence. City have the perfect tools to defeat Arsenal through their regular game plan this weekend, so why would Mancini want to be negative?

[Chinners]

According to the website we sold out of tickets, not returned them ... hmm

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Tickets-and- ... y-sold-out

[Goaters 103]

Arsenal, either at Highbury or The Emirates, is a graveyard place for us. Going in there without two of our five crown jewel players - Ya Ya, Aguero - means I just cannot see us winning this game at all. Possibly we could draw it, more likely we will lose there again and go down in a meek and mild fashion like we seem to do there all too often.

Hope Im wrong, but I just dont see a win coming here at all.

[Nigels Tackle]

game will get called off... dusting of snow forecast this weekend in london

[Goaters 103]

game will get called off... dusting of snow forecast this weekend in london

A postponement would be most welcome - reschedule the game for March when they are out of the CL and take them on with Ya Ya and Aguero.

[the herd]

I wont go there and post a reply ffing and jeffing which would be easy to do especially with the type of response against Wenger, i thought that was the repose of the scum accross the road from you ?
Dont you think that there are a lot of Arsenal fans out there who cringe seeing our manager in his three quater length quilt coat spurting out the same excuses when we lose ?
The AKB brigade 9 (Arsene knows best) are a dwindling band and as much as i love what he done in his first 7 years i along with thousands of others are totally pissed of with it.But unlike the chavs from west london we dont hound out managers we have more class than that. this does not mean we are prepared to put up with the crap we have been seeing.