City v Real Madrid - Live Thread

[blueboy]

First topic message reminder :

Don't really have to big this one up...our biggest game of the season so far.

A final awaits, but a performance tonight is a MUST.

Vinny hit the nail on the head - "We need every player to turn up for the game. If they can't get up for this game, then they shouldn't be in football"..."We hope the fans who turn up create a brilliant atmosphere...otherwise, why buy a ticket?"

I so wish I was there tonight. Feel very envious for those who will be.

From the presser, it seems to me Vinny will play. Is that a bad/good thing? Passion over fitness/form? It may make the difference.

Will he partner Otamendi or Manga? For me, I would have started with these two and left Vinny on the bench, however, I can see him going this way:

Hart
Sagna, Otamendi, Vinny, Clichy
Ferdy, Ferdy
Navas, KDB, Silva
Aguero.

[Guest]

Sitting back too much now, hope we are not happy for 0-0 too.

[Topdawg]

we've got to create more

[Topdawg]

think madrid have been lucky a couple of times not to get more yellows

[Topdawg]

feel a goal coming for them

[Topdawg]

all over the place. passing is poor and chasing back is weakening.

[Topdawg]

we've run out of ideas. hanging on now.

[Topdawg]

need some more legs

[TMG]

Sterling on

[Topdawg]

I'd take 0-0 now.

[Guest]

Just stop then scoring, better than nowt as its going now

[Guest]

Lol great minds

[Topdawg]

I'd have been tempted to bring Delph on

[Topdawg]

good save from joe

[Topdawg]

kev looks tired

[Topdawg]

come on, 10 to go. work harder.

[Topdawg]

great save from joe

[Topdawg]

aguero has looked poor tonight

[Topdawg]

he may have tried hard, but he's not at the races

[Topdawg]

has sterling touched the ball?

[Topdawg]

oh, so nearly!

[Topdawg]

what a fucking waste from sterling

[Topdawg]

that should be a red card for me. cheating so many times on so many levels.

[Topdawg]

can't complain with the result. the last hour they were well on top really.

[Guest]

All to play for, 1-1 will do now

[blueboy]

If we were given 0-0 before the game, I'd have taken it.

Thought KDB was poor tonight. Let's hope Silva is back and KDB put's in a far better performance.

The defence, keeper and DMF were excellent tonight.

All to play for away. We know they'll be more expansive next week, which may give us more attacking opportunities.

[TMG]

Happy with 0-0 in the end. We were fucked last 20
Away goal at RM should do it for us 

[Topdawg]

good game to stop them scoring. with ronny, they'll be a step or two above next week.

[skyblueoz]

Silva definitely out with  hamstring injury. shit

[blueboy]

I don't think Silva is the key man. We needed width tonight. However, we went down the cautious root and it got us a 0-0. Frankly, I think regardless of his injury, we'll need more of the same and some quicker wide players to defeat Real away - so it may be a blessing in disguise. 

They sat back for 60 mins of the game...and when Silva was on, he and KDB didn't really turn up tonight. I can see him playing Sterling and Navas out wide as their full backs are bobbins at defending. 

Kelechi looked lost when he came on and had no effect on the game - no fault of his, as Silva and KDB were ineffective as well.

Width will be the key next week along with another solid DFM/CB/FB effort like tonight.

0-0 is still a very good result. They were 4/11 to win tonight. Remember PSG? CTID.

[Topdawg]

Since coming back from injury, Sterling has been woeful. I'd be tempted to start with Itchy on the right to give us pace but a lot more composure too. It's a risk, but we need to take a risk to get a goal.

[shakencity]

Strange game imo, i thought City played within themselves without ever really wanting to go for it....we were very cautious in other words.

I though all our front line were quiet (including our subs)...so i'm hoping this changes as we are a bit more aggressive going forward next week.
The defence looked pretty solid but worryingly vulnerable from corners, good job Joe was doing his job well between the sticks.

Overall it wasn't a disaster last night, but it certainly makes thing a little more trickier in Madrid. I do think we'll score over there, the question is whether we can stop them scoring more.

[leopold]

It felt like neither side wanted to concede first.  Watching how the midfield played, it was like they were expecting to lose the ball and covering, rather than take a gamble on scoring a goal.

Still, I suppose the way we played it was best in the end. Honours even, no away goals against us and Madrid will have to come out and play at the Bernabeu, which should give us the chance to score one.  If we hold them to a 1-1 draw, we're off to the San Siro on away goals 

[Wensdi]

Think we were worse when Silva went off.  Big miss for me.  The two Fernies did well and so did Clichy.  YaYa will be back in a more offensive role - pity we don't have Nasri.  Pepe and co stifled Aguero - so MP needs to figure out a plan for the return leg.

[blueboy]

I thought for large parts of the game we were excellent. We pressed high, won tackles, were solid in MF. 

Our final ball and creativeness was poor, but how many times have we seen crappy PL teams hit us on the break in games like that, and score?

Overall, a 1-0 would have been incredible, but 0-0 puts us in a strong position. Real will have to be more expansive, because if they were to concede playing defensively, they'd be up against it - and our attacking players can't be as bad as they were last night. KDB just didn't turn up.

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