***city v barca official match thread***

[Ted Hughes]

It's 50/50 whether Lescott is a better bet than Demichelis imo as this is a game of tricky dwarves rather than physical confrontation.

I suppose we will quickly find out whether Demi is in his element, or in over his head. I worry about that offside thing we do when he plays; it seems to be asking for trouble with the way Barca play the little passes for runners & overlapping fullbacks. But tackling tricky midgets is not really Lescott's speciality, so it's swings & roundabouts.

One thing I noticed Bayern did in possession, which we don't do much; they kept making seemingly pointless long passes from one side to the other when it didn't seem to be the most dangerous ball. They would be attacking one area, lots of numbers there, looking really dangerous & we would be on our limit keeping them out & suddenly, they would ping the ball right over to the other side, to a bloke in a not particularly dangerous position, well away from our box & we would just move over & form up defending that, no problem, almost with a sigh of relief as the pressure on our box had gone.

They kept doing it every so often & I couldn't figure it out as there was no danger at all from it. Each time we would just move over & form up again no problem & the pressure was gone, it seemed to actually help us. Then suddenly they'd do it again & you'd be like "er Clichy, get over there a bit sharper lad" then next time "Micah, come on hurry up", then next time "CLICHY FFS!"

We were so busy trying to stop them sliding passes through one area that we just got that little bit tired moving accross & a seemingly easy to deal with, nothing ball out wide, which we cope with every game, suddenly became a nightmare because we didn't get accross quite quick enough it was the mental fatigue of concentration on the tricky stuff; we missed the obvious.

It's something I'd like to see us do v the bus parkers when we are struggling, & I'll be interested to see if Barca use it v us tonight or whether it's more of a older Bayern thing than a Pep thing. So simple but so effective.

[sheblue]

game of the decade.
dont be fooled by all this media talk of free flowing attacking football. barca will park the bus, lol, well maybe, maybe not.
come on mr p, only one bite at this cherry, 5 in the middle please.
MD to cut his hair before kick off so it wont be in his eyes!!!

[Moonchesteri]

I know this is huge we're playing Barca, the best player in the world is coming to Etihad etc but I don't get all the "game of the decade / biggest match in recent years" comments. it is just a round of 16 game so isn't it? If you asked me whether I would rather win today or in the cup final in 12 days time the answer is pretty clear to me.
not trying to play down the importance of the game or anything but all that talk does surprise me somewhat

Anyway, let's show the world we're big boys now so come on you blues!!

[Blue Since 76]

I know this is huge we're playing Barca, the best player in the world is coming to Etihad etc but I don't get all the "game of the decade / biggest match in recent years" comments. it is just a round of 16 game so isn't it? If you asked me whether I would rather win today or in the cup final in 12 days time the answer is pretty clear to me.
not trying to play down the importance of the game or anything but all that talk does surprise me somewhat

Anyway, let's show the world we're big boys now so come on you blues!!

It's not the biggest or most important, but I have got that same sick feeling as before a derby or cup final.

[Moonchesteri]

I know this is huge we're playing Barca, the best player in the world is coming to Etihad etc but I don't get all the "game of the decade / biggest match in recent years" comments. it is just a round of 16 game so isn't it? If you asked me whether I would rather win today or in the cup final in 12 days time the answer is pretty clear to me.
not trying to play down the importance of the game or anything but all that talk does surprise me somewhat

Anyway, let's show the world we're big boys now so come on you blues!!

It's not the biggest or most important, but I have got that same sick feeling as before a derby or cup final.

yep buzzing as well already! and if those are just OTT comments from other excited lads then I get it but not otherwise

[AG7]

[tweet]435744579837763585[/tweet]

@IanCheeseman: Welcome to Manchester Sheik Mansour, I believe the #mcfc owner will be at the game tonight.

[Ted Hughes]

I'll have to get in there early & pay homage.

I wonder if there are any plastic thingys on the seats, we have to hold in the air tonight, so it looks good on tv for Platini & Co ?

It should just say 'cheese'.

[Hazy2]

I'll have to get in there early & pay homage.

I wonder if there are any plastic thingys on the seats, we have to hold in the air tonight, so it looks good on tv for Platini & Co ?

It should just say 'cheese'.

STICK FFP UP YOUR ARSE, How about that Ted.

[Hazy2]

When we are winning 3-0 a chorus of One Lionel Messi might swing the deal, also no booing of him FFS.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

No doubt the Spanish National team Manager will be watching with interest, possibly still formulating his own plans for the World Cup.

On that basis, I would hope that our own little collection of Iberian entertainers will be playing out of their skins tonight, if selected, to ensure they impress and have a good chance, not only of being on the plane to Rio, but actually featuring in the Spanish starting eleven.

A really good time for Negredo, especially, to show the watching world what a great player he is.

[Ted Hughes]

I'll have to get in there early & pay homage.

I wonder if there are any plastic thingys on the seats, we have to hold in the air tonight, so it looks good on tv for Platini & Co ?

It should just say 'cheese'.

STICK FFP UP YOUR ARSE, How about that Ted.

That would be more like it.

I think it ruined the atmosphere last time they did it. Instead of cheering the team out onto the pitch, everybody was stood holding up cards & the team came out to an eerie murmur.

[Wonderwall]

I'll have to get in there early & pay homage.

I wonder if there are any plastic thingys on the seats, we have to hold in the air tonight, so it looks good on tv for Platini & Co ?

It should just say 'cheese'.

STICK FFP UP YOUR ARSE, How about that Ted.

That would be more like it.

I think it ruined the atmosphere last time they did it. Instead of cheering the team out onto the pitch, everybody was stood holding up cards & the team came out to an eerie murmur.

Paper aeroplanes all round?

[Blue Since 76]

I'll have to get in there early & pay homage.

I wonder if there are any plastic thingys on the seats, we have to hold in the air tonight, so it looks good on tv for Platini & Co ?

It should just say 'cheese'.

They're definitely doing one, as there was a competition recently for it. Hopefully it says 'Messi - Ronaldo is currently balls deep in your missus'.

[dikdok]

I won't say my wife's fat... but when she goes to the football match she sits next to everyone.


Tickled me that. Getting a bit too earnest on here.....

Anyway, lucky underpants on, I'm out of the door and away.


Watched the Bayern victory last night. Hadn't realised that we played in the Allianz with Garcia, Demichellis and Lescot!! No Yaya, No Aguero, No Kompany.

And won. Keep the faith. CTI.

[dick dastardley]

starting to get nervous but a confident nervousness as in i think we will bring our A game to the table tonight and show the world that we are here and ready to do business!!

[CTID Hants]

This should get your juices flowing if they aren't already

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA8JVdt ... ata_player

[Dubciteh]

The most exciting game for me since we got to the champs league, really looking forward to it.

My team would be:

Hart
Zaba-Vinny-Lescott-Clichy
navas-Yaya-Fernandinho/Garcia-Mliner
Silva
Negredo.


I dont think we can play silva wide left, dani alves have a field day, milners the man for that job. I think we will win the midfield battle with that team and negredo bashing them up front, dzeko a bit soft for this type of game. I also expect Demi to start but not the end of the world.

[City64]

It's no good , I am going to have to sneak off from work and neck 6 pints of Stella on the way to the match ;-)

[Slim]

I think it we play Garcia, we can free up Yaya to play alongside Silva, however if I had a choice, I would pack that midfield with Garcia, Fred and Yaya and push them wide, not sure Messi is going to win getting on the end of many crosses.

[Blue Since 76]

The most exciting game for me since we got to the champs league, really looking forward to it.

My team would be:

Hart
Zaba-Vinny-Lescott-Clichy
navas-Yaya-Fernandinho/Garcia-Mliner
Silva
Negredo.

I dont think we can play silva wide left, dani alves have a field day, milners the man for that job. I think we will win the midfield battle with that team and negredo bashing them up front, dzeko a bit soft for this type of game. I also expect Demi to start but not the end of the world.

If we play Milner, we'll get thrown out - he's suspended.

Mind you, I've just said the team I'd play at work and someone pointed out I'd named 12 players.