City v Spurs - Live Thread

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 3:51 pm

Not long now. What will the starting line-up be?

Saw a video of Gabriel in training yesterday....didn't look like he gave much thought on settling in! He aggressively won the ball back off Kelechi, who looked a little shocked with the arm into his neck! Don't think this kid gives a shit for reputations....or the pressure. Get him started!

Will he, won't he? It'd be a kick up the arse for others if he starts.

Will Vinny start? He;s been back for a few weeks now, but not selected. Has Pep kept him just for this game?

Will we play a 4 or 3 at the back? 3 for me, would give us more bodies in the MF to be more aggressive like we were earlier on in the season.

Will Bravo keep his place or will Pep give him one more chance???

So many if's and but's in this game. A good performance is needed, result wise, a draw wouldn't be a bad result after what happened last weekend. A win, would silence some critics. A loss, leaves us with more work to do to catch the top 4 if the rags win.

Massive game for us today....and we can't surely, be as bad as we were last week?

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 3:53 pm

Stoke beating United 1-0. OG.

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:07 pm

with liverpool losing and, if utd. lose, a win gets us back securely into the top four which is all we can realistically hope for this season.

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:11 pm

I'm tempted to start with Jesus. He's unknown for everyone and may be the catalyst we need. Raheem, Aguero and Jesus up front, running hard is what I want.

3 at the back for me with those two kids working back as well. It's tough for them, but we want that midfield and we want to try and keep Rose and Walker quiet.

3-5-2 for me and I'd take the chance with Kompany.

Sagna, Kompany and Otamendi with protection from two in front (Fernando and Delph for me, but he'll pick Yaya), SIlva and KdB in front and then the dangermen of Aguero, Jesus and Sterling.

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:14 pm

Would rather have Stones, Vinny and Otamendi/Kolorov.

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:17 pm

Go with that then.

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:31 pm

Team News

Bravo
Zaba, Ota, Kolo, Clichy
TLMLF, Silva
Sterling, KDB, Sane
Agiero

by Guest Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:31 pm

CITY XI | Bravo, Zabaleta (C), Otamendi, Kolarov. Clichy, Yaya, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane. Sterling, Aguero

CITY SUBS | Caballero, Kompany, Fernando, Nolito, Delph, Stones, G. Jesus

Fucking coco the clown, bad mood already

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:32 pm

It's hard to keep quiet with that line up...

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:32 pm

Another Pep surprise.

Worry for me is Rose against Zaba.

Silva next to TLMLF I've been asking for, for ages, back to how we started the season....guess Sane is given a chance now fit.

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:33 pm

Look...let's see how it goes.

Keep the faith people. (he says with 1 hour to go!)

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:33 pm

I'm sure Rose won't skin Zabba. And Kolarov is one of our best CBs. Kane won't enjoy playing against him. Clichy will have Walker in his back pocket.

We don't need a DM at all since Yaya is like three men all rolled into one...

by Guest Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:33 pm

Team is ok bar the keeper, just gets me cross. Stubborn Stubborn Stubborn

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:35 pm

Stupid stupid stupid

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:36 pm

But let's face it....when the MF and the defence did their jobs early on in the season, nobody was moaning about him then.

Yes, he's not the best keeper, but he's the keeper and the fact that he SHOULDN'T be given 4 clear 1-on-1's by our defenders and MF's, says a lot about where the trouble lies.

by Guest Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:39 pm

This was peps chance at redemption but why play the clown when he weakens the team, seriously its not funny anymore

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:39 pm

Didn't we all berate Willy when he was given a chance over Hart? Then, he won us a LC final, and we all want him now as our No.1?

I'm not saying what we've seen from Bravo is great, but he's the keeper picked by Pep. If we win today and he has a good game, will anyone give him any credit, or has the line been drawn with him - no matter what he does?

by Guest Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:41 pm

Ok, but any of our other keepers would not have a 36% save % in the prem. Even flappihandski at Swansea was over 50%

by Guest Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:43 pm

I will be the first to give him credit if it's due, but I think it won't be anytime soon. Unless we score early can only see a loss today.

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:46 pm

It was a question BB, not an opinion (god forbid! Razz

)

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:47 pm

Willy isn't great but we want him because he's the best we have currently. By some distance too.

His positioning is woeful for these 1v1s and he's slow to come out and narrow the angle. He gives the attacker a massive target to aim at and they aren't failing.

I'm sorry, but Joe would have saved half the last 14 goals that went in regardless of the defence and midfield in front of him.

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:48 pm

that 50% saving ratio was just a figure of speech

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:49 pm

I'm sure the real figure is higher Razz

by Guest Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:51 pm

Shrek just equalised, grrr, hold on potters

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:52 pm

Topdawg wrote:Willy isn't great but we want him because he's the best we have currently. By some distance too.

His positioning is woeful for these 1v1s and he's slow to come out and narrow the angle. He gives the attacker a massive target to aim at and they aren't failing.

I'm sorry, but Joe would have saved half the last 14 goals that went in regardless of the defence and midfield in front of him.

I agree, but you forgot to mention the 4,5,6 absolute howlers Joe made last season. Guess that's all forgotten now? Very Happy

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:53 pm

See Rooney equalised! Bald-headed, fat granny shagging cock-womble - 94th minute!! Rolling Eyes

by Guest Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:55 pm

Joe won games though with his saves, Bravo cant even kick it well at the moment. He needed a spell on the bench nothing else would do after those performances, but pep just wont.

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:01 pm

And we can do what about it?

We have two options:

1. Accept that Pep picks who he picks

2. Moan about who Pep picks

I've been as bad as anyone on here over TLMLF....but it's pointless. Personally, as good as he was in his first couple of games back, for me, he makes us slow and ponderous in MF and keeps the ball far too long, making sideways passes....but hey, as much as I want to moan about it, Pep will pick who he picks and we won't see anything different this season - but come next summer, I expect us to have a seriously different looking team.

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:01 pm

Yes, you've forgotten how many unbelievable saves Joe made. I struggle to remember ANY great/worldy saves from Bravo.

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:02 pm

Yes, our team will be much different but why keep picking those underperforming players again and again?

That's what is really pissing so many of us off.

by Nijinsky Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:02 pm

Good wekend so far dippers lost west ham (the wifes team) won, rags dropped 2 points.

Just need a city win to complete the day.

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:03 pm

Topdawg wrote:Yes, you've forgotten how many unbelievable saves Joe made. I struggle to remember ANY great/worldy saves from Bravo.

I haven't forgotten, I wanted Joe to stay, remember.

We just have this "yeah, well so and so wouldn't have done that" attitude.

Trawl back over last seasons posts, and there a untold posts about Hart and his performances, good and bad.

by Nijinsky Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:06 pm

The big compaint about hart wasnt about his shot stopping it was his ball distribution, how many times did he kick it out of play around the half way line.

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:07 pm

Yes, but there aren't untold posts regarding Bravo, good and bad. It's pretty much all bad.

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:08 pm

Kicking the ball out for an opposition throw in didn't result in goals. Bad positioning is resulting in goals.

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:08 pm

Well, we're off to the mother in law's. I don;t know what's worse...

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:09 pm

Look all.....just before anyone get's upset. This isn't personal. I'm just having an opinion - and I don't think I'm right or wrong. Just trying to give an objective view on things.

I'm with you on Bravo....but when a keeper is exposed 1 on 1 as many times as our defence and MF have allowed him to be, his stats aren't going to be great.

Joe wouldn't have saved 50% of those goals IMO. So we're pushing the blame onto Bravo and losing sight on the amount of chances our BIG players have missed at 0-0, or when leading in games. Goals change games and tactics - and IF we would have taken 25% of the chances we had in the last 10 games, most of those we wouldn't have been drawn or lost.

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:14 pm

Let's look at the likes of TLMLF, KDB, Aguero, Silva...their goal contribution to shot stats are awful. Sterling could do better, but at least he's improved his goal/assist ratio compared to the so-called BIG players at City on the BIG money.

If these guys would be doing their job effectively, chances are, we wouldn't be talking about Bravo.

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:14 pm

I've mithered a bit about the forwards. I've said Aguero is too greedy and isn't clinical enough. I've said Sterling doesn't score as many goals as his good opportunities offer him. You've said KdB isn't performing at the levels he should BUT, if we don't let the goal in, we don't lose and we'll get a goal most games and end up winning. Chelsea were happy enough winning 1-0 during their great run and I think they let in all of 2 goals in about 12 games.

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:17 pm

Topdawg wrote:I've mithered a bit about the forwards. I've said Aguero is too greedy and isn't clinical enough. I've said Sterling doesn't score as many goals as his good opportunities offer him. You've said KdB isn't performing at the levels he should BUT, if we don't let the goal in, we don't lose and we'll get a goal most games and end up winning. Chelsea were happy enough winning 1-0 during their great run and I think they let in all of 2 goals in about 12 games.

All I'll say is this. Look at Chelsea's defensive MF and Defenders and compare them to City's. Chelsea don't win games because of Courtois....they win it because they take their chances then defend from the front, backwards, properly.

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:17 pm

We've stopped pressing the way we did earlier this season. It starts with Aguero.

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:18 pm

Or, a simple way would be to compare Courtios' shots against, compared to Bravo's.

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:19 pm

Topdawg wrote:We've stopped pressing the way we did earlier this season. It starts with Aguero.

I've never said anything different, other than, its not just Aguero, its KDB, TLMLF, Silva etc etc...

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:24 pm

Anyway - 3-1 City!! affraid

by Guest Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:28 pm

Yep come on the boys, shit keeper or not.

by blueboy Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:30 pm

by skyblueoz Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:32 pm

lets not beat about the bush here? Bravo is crap!!!! joe is a far better keeper always was always will be. If pep cant see it so be it as already said we cant do stuff all about it but we can have an opinion. & just for the record I do believe joe would have saved most of those let in mainly because only 2 were down to his left.

In all seriousness as much as joe made a few mistakes, over a period of six years you could probably count them on 2 hands. I could count how many worldies joe has pulled out also. Coupled with how many times joe saved us in games we should have lost.

I know Joe is now History but (A) it doesn't make it right & (B) Willy is currently the better keeper. Yes pep knows far more than I ever will but he is also Human & Humans have been known to make mistakes.

I would stay up to watch but I have already made up my mind that we are going to get a beating so I really cannot summon up the enthusiasm to stay up till 3.30 am to watch it.

PRAY TO GOD I AM WRONG IN THE MORNING>>>>>> NIGHT ALL

by Guest Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:37 pm

Raheem just fucking shoot

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:39 pm

How is zabba doing?

by **Topdawg** Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:39 pm

Just hope we are still in this at HT when I might be able to get home and watch.

by Sponsored content

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31