Next: Barcelona (Away) - Champions League

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I think as Ted said, it's weird how many people justified us playing cautiously at home yet seem to think we have the ability to go to the Nou Camp and blow them away by three goals.
We probably do, but we really just have to approach with no fear and give it everything.
If we do manage to get a couple of early goals and bring it back to 2-2 then I'll be interested to see how we approach it.

[The Original Special One]

I think as Ted said, it's weird how many people justified us playing cautiously at home yet seem to think we have the ability to go to the Nou Camp and blow them away by three goals.
We probably do, but we really just have to approach with no fear and give it everything.
If we do manage to get a couple of early goals and bring it back to 2-2 then I'll be interested to see how we approach it.

I think his best bet is just forget about protecting Clichy and just pick Kolarov. To be fair, he wasn't wrong with his first-leg selection because neither Fernandinho nor Nasri was fully match-fit and The Beast's shoulder hampered his effectiveness. And - of course - we didn't have Kun.

But adding Javi Garcia to the mix wouldn't be a more defensive strategy; it would just mean Fernandinho wouldn't be so hide-bound, and our two full backs could bomb forward securely; quite apart from Kun, Silva, and Samir doing what they do so well.
And of course Yaya would strike fear into the centre of the Barca defence.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I think as Ted said, it's weird how many people justified us playing cautiously at home yet seem to think we have the ability to go to the Nou Camp and blow them away by three goals.
We probably do, but we really just have to approach with no fear and give it everything.
If we do manage to get a couple of early goals and bring it back to 2-2 then I'll be interested to see how we approach it.

I think his best bet is just forget about protecting Clichy and just pick Kolarov. To be fair, he wasn't wrong with his first-leg selection because neither Fernandinho nor Nasri was fully match-fit and The Beast's shoulder hampered his effectiveness. And - of course - we didn't have Kun.

But adding Javi Garcia to the mix wouldn't be a more defensive strategy; it would just mean Fernandinho wouldn't be so hide-bound, and our two full backs could bomb forward securely; quite apart from Kun, Silva, and Samir doing what they do so well.
And of course Yaya would strike fear into the centre of the Barca defence.

Problem with the first leg is we played Barca's reputation rather than Barca.
They are nowhere near the all conquering side they used to be and we've played and beaten better sides this season.
When we got forward, they looked vulnerable even with a man advantage.
We can do it but not if we show the fear we did in the first leg.

[The Original Special One]

Problem with the first leg is we played Barca's reputation rather than Barca.
They are nowhere near the all conquering side they used to be and we've played and beaten better sides this season.
When we got forward, they looked vulnerable even with a man advantage.
We can do it but not if we show the fear we did in the first leg.

Spot on; and that's exactly like we did at home to Bayern. And it didn't help with Joe Hart's early blunder in that game causing us to retreat even more into our shell.
We go out and take the game to Barca and especially if we get an early goal they'll begin to doubt their immortality.

Of course, Mourinho's comments about them not being the force they were was self-serving mischief-making on his part but though they're not that bad, neither are they as good as at their peak, and we have the arsenal to beat them.

It won't do us any good if we leave with a scoreless draw.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Problem with the first leg is we played Barca's reputation rather than Barca.
They are nowhere near the all conquering side they used to be and we've played and beaten better sides this season.
When we got forward, they looked vulnerable even with a man advantage.
We can do it but not if we show the fear we did in the first leg.

Spot on; and that's exactly like we did at home to Bayern. And it didn't help with Joe Hart's early blunder in that game causing us to retreat even more into our shell.
We go out and take the game to Barca and especially if we get an early goal they'll begin to doubt their immortality.

Of course, Mourinho's comments about them not being the force they were was self-serving mischief-making on his part but though they're not that bad, neither are they as good as at their peak, and we have the arsenal to beat them.

It won't do us any good if we leave with a scoreless draw.

I didn't have a problem with the Bayern game. We played the best team in the world who were excellent that night. Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say that on the day the opposition were just too good.

Barca however were not. They passed the ball around without threatening at all. We were like deers in the headlight. Terrified of attacking, when we got the ball, on more than one occasion we aimlessly hoofed it up and we never do that normally. Barca were average. The performance reminded me of how we played in the goalless draw with United in the FA Cup winning season- full of fright and lack of ambition.
On the rare occasions we get forward their defence looked awful and we should have been looking to exploit it. I firmly believe had we not played with a handbreak on we would be going to the Nou Camp with a two goal lead or maybe even more.


We need to go all guns blazing in this game, they will crumble if we do.

[AG7]

Still gutted from yesterday's pathetic display ... in no mood to write up a full intro for the Next thread ... have just renamed the old 2nd Leg Buildup Thread ... can't merge or rename Beefy's thread also called Barcelona, so can any mods pls. merge the two. so we don;t have too many threads going on, thanks!
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UEFA Champions Legaue
Round of 16

Barcelona v Manchester City
L'Estadi Camp Nou, Barcelona

Wednesday 12 March 2014
Kickoff: 1945 GMT

Referee: Stéphane Lannoy (France)
Assistant 1: Frédéric Cano (France)
Assistant 2: Michael Annonier (France)
Additional Assistant 1: Ruddy Buquet (France)
Additional Assistant 2: Fredy Fautrel (France)
Fourth Official: Laurent Stien (France)
UEFA Referee Observer: Luciano Luci (Italy)

TV Coverage in UK: Sky Sports 1 HD (Sky 401) and Sky Sports 1 (Sky 407)
Coverage starts at 1900 GMT

----

Only thing I will say here as an intro to this game is the maths for this tie ... someone please make sure Pelligrini knows this:

0-1 (or 1-2, 2-3, 3-4)
Any one goal win for us ... come back with some pride having won at Camp Nou, but nothing else; Barca qualifies.

1-1
An away draw at Barca, well, think what you want to think of it ... I personally would be disappointed, now only if we were still int he FA Cup, that away draw would be acceptable, but now, NO!

0-2
Would equal their score at ours and take the tie to extra time and/or pens. So the minimum target to start with I guess ...

0-3
Takes us through and dumps Barca out (ideal result).

1-3 (or 2-4, 3-5)
If we can't keep a clean sheet and they score, then all we need to score is two more. I know easier said than done ... but important to know we don't need three goals difference but only two will suffice ... a 0-3 win is only needed if they don't score ... so 3 goals minimum for us and then whatever they score, two over them will do.

1-0 (or any kind of loss)
A loss is a loss is a loss ... a loss here would mean we would have lost 4 out of our last 8 ( and a draw in there means only 3 wins in 8 ), just to put a perspective on where we stand ...

[Hutch's Shoulder]

Scoring could be a problem for us; last time a forward other than Jovetic scored was Spurs on 29th January.

[zuricity]

Now Pellegrini has really screwed it up. He's been chopping and changing the defense this last few weeks.

He's seen his favourite get himself sent off and now unavailable( thanks for small mercies).

The one thing you cannot do is constantly restructure the defense.

Even if he wants Zabs, Vince , Joleon and Kola ( and Joe) . Well he now has to. It would have been prudent to let Vinnie and Joleon partner each other yesterday. Bringing Demich on if necessary from his bench warming stint.

The same for Ferdi.

Now we must see a drastically changed team on Wednesday.
Only Samir,Yaya,Sergio and Edin, from Sunday.

He cannot start Navas ahead of Milner that would be crazy.Bring him on later and he can save us.

[gmercer1]

Milner has to start this match for me. As someone mentioned earlier he is the man for the big occassion and will not show Barca to much respect like some did in the first match.
Feel sorry for Milner because he is far too good a player to be a bit part player.

[roblues]

Milner has to start this match for me. As someone mentioned earlier he is the man for the big occassion and will not show Barca to much respect like some did in the first match.
Feel sorry for Milner because he is far too good a player to be a bit part player.

I fully agree with this, as long as there is not too much pressure on him to be a main creator (i.e. play him alongside Silva and Nasri, Fred and Yaya, with one up top, as suggested in another thread)

[AG7]

Ideally, this is what I'd like to see ...

Hart
Zaba - Komps - Lescott - Kola
Ferdy - Yaya
Milner - Nasri - Silva
Aguero

But I won't be surprised one bit if Navas is starting in place of Milner and Garcia is in defence instead of Lescott ...

[Beefymcfc]

Isn't it a little late to be imposing this punishment? I'm sure there was a similar thing a couple of seasons ago where the club claimed that due to the manager already prepping the game then it would be unfair to ban him at such a late stage. I think they won with the manager being banned for later rounds.

[nottsblue]

Ideally, this is what I'd like to see ...

Hart
Zaba - Komps - Lescott - Kola
Ferdy - Yaya
Milner - Nasri - Silva
Aguero

But I won't be surprised one bit if Navas is starting in place of Milner and Garcia is in defence instead of Lescott ...

Like the ideal line up and agree with likely line up. Think Garcia will get nod over Lescott. Shuddering thinking about that!

[sheblue]

Just remembered good old martin won't be playing. Thanks be to fuck.

[Moonchesteri]

Ideally, this is what I'd like to see ...

Hart
Zaba - Komps - Lescott - Kola
Ferdy - Yaya
Milner - Nasri - Silva
Aguero

But I won't be surprised one bit if Navas is starting in place of Milner and Garcia is in defence instead of Lescott ...

I would be very pleased with the lineup you suggested, but I think the actual team will include both Navas and Garcia, just as you put it

[Saul Goodman]

Fuck all to lose, go 3 at the back:


Hart
Zaba Kompany Kolarov
Garcia
Milner Yaya Fern Nasri
Silva
Aguero

[AG7]

Fuck all to lose, go 3 at the back:
Hart
Zaba Kompany Kolarov
Garcia
Milner Yaya Fern Nasri
Silva
Aguero

Wouldn't it be nice if Garcia sits back with Komps that allows both Zaba and Kola to bomb forward on the wings and gives us width as well ... the way you have put them, both Zaba and Kola will be tied down at the back and then Garcia will well remain where he is and what will all the rest above do so narrowly with no width?

[bayblue]

Ideally, this is what I'd like to see ... Hart Zaba - Komps - Lescott - Kola Ferdy - Yaya Milner - Nasri - Silva Aguero But I won't be surprised one bit if Navas is starting in place of Milner and Garcia is in defence instead of Lescott ...

Actually I wouldn't mind either of these two formations as both would give us more bodies in the middle of the pitch. My fear is we go in with classic 442 again and spend all our time watching them shift the ball right through us.
Personal preference would be
Hart
Zab, Komps, Lescott, Kola
Garcia Fernandinho
Silva Toure Nasri
Aguero

[Hutch's Shoulder]

Just remembered good old martin won't be playing. Thanks be to fuck.

He will sit in the stands with MP. Thrush discuss how much better we would have been if MD was playing :-)

[Saul Goodman]

Wouldn't it be nice if Garcia sits back with Komps that allows both Zaba and Kola to bomb forward on the wings and gives us width as well ... the way you have put them, both Zaba and Kola will be tied down at the back and then Garcia will well remain where he is and what will all the rest above do so narrowly with no width?

Says who? Kompany will be the man at the back with Garcia in front of him, the remaining 8 will all be forward but Zaba and Kolarov will have to do alot of tracking back


Or even play a 2-2-5-1