Next: Liverpool (Home)

[Wonderwall]

Well if Paul Merson says the bookies are making a mistake with the odds then who could possibly disagree :)

Though there is something about Paul Merson giving gambling advice that just doesn't feel quite right ...

he is probably more qualified to give advice on that rather than football!

[Beefymcfc]

Looking at our games against the Top 8 so far (I say Top 8 as this is the new Top 4) Liverpool and Chelsea are the only teams we've not faced at home: So far we've had:

8th - Rags - Won 4-1
7th - Spurs - Won 6-0
6th - Toon - Won 4-0
5th - Toffees - Won 3-1
4th - Chavs - Not played
2nd - Arsenal - Won 6-3

From our home games we've:

Picked up a maximum 15 points
Scored 23 goals
Conceded 5 goals

Now, let's look at Liverpool against the same teams away from home:

8th - Rags - Lost 1-0
7th - Spurs - Won 5-0
6th - Toon - Drew 2-2
5th - Toffees - Drew 3-3
4th - Chavs - Not played - Sun 29 Dec
2nd - Arsenal - Lost 2-0

From their away games they've

Picked up 5 points from a possible 15
Scored 10 goals
Conceded 8 goals

Now, I know this is all hypothetical but we're scoring an average of nearly 4 goals per game whilst they are scoring an average of 2 goals a game. We're also conceding 1 goal a game whereas they are conceding 1.6 goals per game. So, by simple maths I make the score to be in the range of 3-1, but as they say, football isn't played on paper and the fact that Liverpool still supposedly have a very good record against us does add some weight in their favour.

Looking at our previous experiences with the Dippers, they come out well on top with a thumping 81 victories to our 42 (44 draws) but what about the last 5 seasons where they've dropped a bit and we've gained. Well, it's a little more favourable with it being quite even in the league, home and away:

City Wins: 2
Draws: 6
Dipper Wins: 2

In fact, the last time we lost against Liverpool at home was way back when the Sheikh took over and Zab's got sent off when we were winning 2-1 and they ran-out with a scoreline that flattered them. It didn't help that Hughes sent out Gelson Fernandes to cover and they scored a few minutes later; God, that game hurt.

Since then though we've done very well and in the last 3 years we've won 2 games 3-0 and drew last season 2-2, which was much earlier in the season. These stats actually surprised me a little because the way we talk it's as if the Dippers very much have the upper hand when in reality it's not true. We even won one of those games after having Barry sent off, still going onto score after he'd gone.

One of the biggest things for me when it comes to the Dippers games is our crowd mentality, it's as if we're still stuck in the 80s and early 90s where they seemed to regularly come to ours and give us a footballing lesson. Since those days we've done quite well and although we didn't win too many games, we didn't lose them either.

As of late we've shown all the big clubs a new arse at the CoMS/Etihad and proved we can out-fight and out-think them. We're not the team of old and we should be going into this game with a real confidence. Some may look at Liverpool and say that they're playing very well and you'd probably be right, in certain games, but I'd be looking at ourselves and the form that we're in and contrast that with the way we are looking to be heading and would suggest nothing more than a home victory.

If our fans can get that into their pysche and not fall for the 'It's Liverpool, Let's Worry' and give the Dipper players all they can muster in terms of a hostile crowd then I'm absolutely certain we can turn those 2 wins and a draw into 3 wins in 4 and consign the spectre of 'Istreeee to where it should stay - In the past.

As you can probably tell, I'm more confident than ever going into this game now and even if they have more possession (which they have over the last couple of seasons) I'm sure we can handle the likes of Suarez and show them what it means to come to 'Fortress Etihad'.

Game On.

[Twobob]

Thanks Beefy - great read! When you see it before you it's frustrating that, if it where the other way around, the pundits and sports editors would be rolling it out. When its the Scouse they gloss over it.

I have no doubt that, at some stage they will roll out the stats which show in favour of the Scouse before this game.

Watching the 'game' last night, and how Maureen 'parked the bus' at the Arse had me wondering how Rogers would approach this. It has to be said that anyone coming to Eastlands after our recent string of results must be shitting it that they're going ti get dicked too!

That niggling worry must affect the tactics they'll employ - meaning they may end up stifling Suarez themselves.

When we welcome the chavs I would expect nothing more from Maureen to play for a point like last night but is Rogers of that ilk?

[Beefymcfc]

I think most top teams, apart from Chelsea, will still come to us with an arrogance that they can beat us on our turf and try to play their own game. This becomes favourable in some respects and allows us to then do our thing going forward. I'm actually amazed that some teams haven't shut-up shop against us when they're past the point of no return, but that's the arrogance coming out.

One thing I'm a bit wiery of is the ref. Lee Mason is not very favourable to us and if I'm not mistaken, wasn't it him who was taken off 2 of our games in the Championship year? Some may say I'm a little paranoid when it comes to the arbiters of our great game but some things just don't sit right with me.

Even so, we've not seen Mason this term and only had him once last term, the 3-1 loss against Spurs in April. Before that he hadn't ref'd us for over a year and it reminds me of one of those Taggart moments where he/they used to ensure that a ref didn't get a game and only came back with their tales between their legs to ensure they won. The latter part of that didn't happen though but I'm fairly certain the club had a word after some of the games the season prior.

The previous season, the title winning one, saw Mason officiate over 3 of our games and we didn't win any. We drew a game away at Brom and then lost 1-0 in the first leg of the LC semi before him overseeing a 1-0 loss away to Swansea. On each of those occassions I thought he was batting for the other side and the LC semi against the Dippers was where we seen Johnson take out Lescott on the wing with a 2 footed challenge, far worse than what Vinnie got sent off for the previous game against the Rags. It sort of confirmed my notion that it wasn't just about the 22 players on the pitch, it was more about how the ref's are told to officiate the match.

So, my scope will be keenly sighted on Lee Mason, just to see if any of the decisions, even marginal, actually have a baring on the game. He can be a game changer and for me, the only way that Liverpool can get the point(s).

[AG7]

I think most top teams, apart from Chelsea, will still come to us with an arrogance that they can beat us on our turf and try to play their own game. This becomes favourable in some respects and allows us to then do our thing going forward. I'm actually amazed that some teams haven't shut-up shop against us when they're past the point of no return, but that's the arrogance coming out. One thing I'm a bit wiery of is the ref. Lee Mason is not very favourable to us and if I'm not mistaken, wasn't it him who was taken off 2 of our games in the Championship year? Some may say I'm a little paranoid when it comes to the arbiters of our great game but some things just don't sit right with me. Even so, we've not seen Mason this term and only had him once last term, the 3-1 loss against Spurs in April. Before that he hadn't ref'd us for over a year and it reminds me of one of those Taggart moments where he/they used to ensure that a ref didn't get a game and only came back with their tales between their legs to ensure they won. The latter part of that didn't happen though but I'm fairly certain the club had a word after some of the games the season prior. The previous season, the title winning one, saw Mason officiate over 3 of our games and we didn't win any. We drew a game away at Brom and then lost 1-0 in the first leg of the LC semi before him overseeing a 1-0 loss away to Swansea. On each of those occassions I thought he was batting for the other side and the LC semi against the Dippers was where we seen Johnson take out Lescott on the wing with a 2 footed challenge, far worse than what Vinnie got sent off for the previous game against the Rags. It sort of confirmed my notion that it wasn't just about the 22 players on the pitch, it was more about how the ref's are told to officiate the match. So, my scope will be keenly sighted on Lee Mason, just to see if any of the decisions, even marginal, actually have a baring on the game. He can be a game changer and for me, the only way that Liverpool can get the point(s).

This is what's niggling me too ... not our injuries, not their (Suarez's) form ... but the fucking ref!

[Beefymcfc]

This is what's niggling me too ... not our injuries, not their (Suarez's) form ... but the fucking ref!

I'm thinking along the lines of that we'll win inspite of him, not because of him. Takes me back to the Norwich game in 2012 where we won 6-0. In that game I thought the ref tried to give the Canaries every advantage possible to get something out of it until he could do no more and finally gave up on giving them an advantage.

In that season against Liverpool in the LC, when Mason didn't even give a freekick for what was clearly a red, we were missing key players such as Kompany to suspension (cheating b'stards), Yaya to the ACoNs and Big Dave to injury. All those should be in with a shout of this game and should completely change the face of the game. Last season when we drew we had a half-arsed Mario upfront and Nigel de Jong, who was already on his way out to Milan, in the midfield. I'm pretty sure that the team put out on Boxing Day will be scrapping for every ball and will want to keep our winning/scoring record going.

We're now at 58 continuous home games where we've scored and I'm sure that's just the first thing that will be pushed across in the dressing room, nevermind the thought of beating another top of the league contender.

[Tesl]

Some may say I'm a little paranoid

More than a little mate.

[Beefymcfc]

Some may say I'm a little paranoid

More than a little mate.

*Looks left and right with increasing irritation*

;-)

[AG7]

See if you can play this game ...

YOU are Brandon Rogers ... your Liverpool side is to go to Etihad on Thursday and two days later on Sunday to Stamford Bridge ... which is more winnable and how do you setup the side. Given Stevie G is out and so is Sturidge, how do you keep things fresh? Do you play a weakened side against City knowing you're going to get thrashed anyway and try and win against Chelsea?

Where is CuteMancs? Perhaps we can find some answers in their forums ... surely they all (incl. team and mgmt) not just thinking about the City game but have one eye on their Chelsea fixture too ...

[MilnersJaw]

If I were Brendon I would say fuck it and find the nearest transsexual brothel and blow my beans knowing I'm going to get my wrickley arse handed to be at city.

[Twobob]

I agree totally about the ref's, beefy, there was a site that focused on officials and how they 'interacted' with clubs and managers but it closed, it was a lot of paranoia but some of the facts held up. It's telling that Mark Halsey's book give a brief insight into this world and the social aspect of keeping themselves in 'good books' in order to keep refereeing at the top level and in prestigious games or clubs.

Some of the key facts they had where how few of the officials actually ref'd or where 4th officials at the swamp - cant recall the exact details but it was a small percentage and the same refs were constantly used either at a ref or as 4th official, others didn't get a look in - in particular refs that made contrevercial decisions that cost the rags dearly where never seen there again.

Freakily, they started really hitting against ties with refs, teams sponsored by gambling companies, managers who had ties with gambling companies (and also ended up managing clubs with gambling companies as sponsors and agents tied into it all with players) - it wasn't long after this that they stopped posting. At first it seemed like pie in the sky bollox to me - but after some of these betting allegations maybe there are more behind som of this...

[dazby]

Some top bombing in this thread. Well done to all.

[phips]

really worried about this one....

Liverpool arent as great as their standing shows but Suarez is playing out of his mind. i think their defense can be exposed, just like ours.
i see someone winning 4-2 or 5-4 or something like that.

[ashton287]

If we play 5 in midfield I think we win. Maybe Suarez will grab 1 but their midfield is absolute garbage and this is a game we can dominate.

If we play dzeko and negredo I will be worried. 4 in midfield might give them more chances than they need.

[Breks]

They're the epitome of a 1 man team. If we keep suarez quiet we will win.

[london blue 2]

If we play 5 in midfield I think we win. Maybe Suarez will grab 1 but their midfield is absolute garbage and this is a game we can dominate.

I think this could be key. Someone mentioned earlier, Suarez will take some stopping but if we can dominate the middle then he might not see enough of the ball to make a difference.

[Beefymcfc]

This is another big show on the world stage and one where we want to show the world stage we are the real deal. The lads will be looking forward to this and the emphasis will be to win in an entertaining manner. Whether they score a goal or 4, we will be going out there to score 4 or 8, its just the way it is nowadays.

Roll on Boxing Day, Come On You Blues!!!

Crazy Predictor:

Mighty Blues 7 v 1 Dippers

[Pretty Boy Lee]

I'm not quite ready for the arse smacking at the etihad to end yet. 5+ please you blues!

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

This is another big show on the world stage and one where we want to show the world stage we are the real deal. The lads will be looking forward to this and the emphasis will be to win in an entertaining manner. Whether they score a goal or 4, we will be going out there to score 4 or 8, its just the way it is nowadays.

Roll on Boxing Day, Come On You Blues!!!

Crazy Predictor:

Mighty Blues 7 v 1 Dippers

You think they'll get one?

[everyonehatesus]

I have recently lost my younger brother and at the age of 31 left a son behind who is only 8. My dad (khi's grandad) got intouch with the club to see if he could book something through them to make this trip extra special as its the first time going there without his Dad, well the club have been fantastic and sorted out a tour of the ground and meeting Moonchester along with having a lunch there too. Dad was looking to pay for this but the club insisted on them treating both and its all on them them, what ever happens it will be a great day for the little lad but a win would be the icing on the cake.