Melbourne vs City

Caballero, Maffeo, Kompany (C), Humphreys, Clichy, Fernando, Toure, Barker, Navas, Nasri, Garcia

Subs: Wright, Horsfield, Plummer, Zuculini, Ntcham, Celina, Fofana, Evans, Glendon, Pozo, Unal

Barker and Navas starting. This is Brandon's chance to show he's better.

It's only pre season but Kompany hasn't shone so far. One pass that just evaded interception by the striker and some poor control, he loses the ball and....fouls the opposition player in a dangerous position. Nasri looks less fat than he did in the last match when he looked tubby and Big Willy made a massive clanger that he was lucky to get away with.

Garcia looking good. Very good.

We can't do a Denis Suarez with this lad Garcia.

Yaya's put in a few lung bursting runs. Great 1-2 with Nasri who should have scored. It's just a matter of time now.

Nasri should have scored...nice football though.

Great break from Melbourne and Moore misses an open goal.

TLMLF megged! Then they miss an open net....caught on the break.

Never seen TLMLF run at players so much!

Bury the hatchet for this season bluey. He hasn't said anything really bad over the summer and he's putting some effort in here!

Nasri shooting from distance again.

We'll see....if he goes through to Dec without him or his agent saying a word, I'll think about it.

However....as much as I dislike him, I think if he's fit, he could have another big season.

It might help if we had a striker on the pitch

Navas should have scored there.

Navas really is shit.

blueboy wrote:We'll see....if he goes through to Dec without him or his agent saying a word, I'll think about it.

However....as much as I dislike him, I think if he's fit, he could have another big season.

I think so too. If only we had a top class DM then that'd help us out immensely and he might inch forwards and play in a better role.

what a ball from Maffeo.

Navas has had plenty of good touches but he hasn't made anything of them.

Is this MP's new masterplan? No striker?

Great save Willy.

Topdawg wrote:Navas has had plenty of good touches but he hasn't made anything of them.

But that was him last season....I mean he's been in space on or in the edge of the box about 5 times.....he's had 3 shots, one on target and 2 crosses to on-one.....he had one player to beat in the box, but he just won't try to beat anyone. Sterling would run straight at the player and commit them.

Entertaining 1st half. Barker has been a big disappointment for me.

I think we may find with Sterling is that he'll be much more direct in those situations and he'll lose the ball a bit but, by taking the risk, he'll also get past the man and score or get a pen. Navas just takes the risk free, keep the ball option.

Nearly Brandon!! oooooh.

Trademark effort from Barker. Shame it wasn't on target.

And again...Navas could keep running into the box by another 8 yrds, but decides to just shoot from a difficult angle.

Nasri looks sharp.

Zucco about to come on with Pozo

Good opportunity for Navas and....he wastes it

FFS...when Navas has all the time in the world, he still can't get a cross in.

I like that left winger of theirs. Tricky.

Novillo looks better than some we have...

I think what we have to look at is the fact for 65 mins, we've played without a striker...Pozo on now, but he's not a Kelechi, Bony or Aguero.

Now, Navas, watch what Barker does with the ball....and Nasri, wtf was he thinking?

Problem we have now, is just like last season. When TLMLF drops deep and sits, it allows their MF to press our players easier.

Suddenly, they have a clear bank of 2 x 4's keeping the pressure on.

What a finish by Nasri!!! wow.

Sammy scores!

Fofana!!!! come on...

1st half, Yaya was sometimes pressing their defence. That's where I'd rather he was, playing with Silva just behind Aguero.

That's what I mean....as soon as they took Fernando off, he went back to sitting in front of Kompany...and he just allows their MF to press an extra 10 yrds forward. When he's further up field, it means their MF have to sit deeper and we press them.

Good workout. Nasri and Yaya look like they could mean business this season. Navas continues to frustrate. If you or I had his pace, we'd be the bees knees.

Yeah, he is definitely frustrating as his pace his excellent and he gets into great positions 10-15 times a game, but end ball is awful.

Also, agree, Nasri looked very sharp today and finished his goal brilliantly. TLMLF looked great in the first half, but sort of tailed off when Fernando went off. Great to see more of the kids. Would like to see more of Fofana playing alongside TLMLF and see a little more of Manu and Maffeo.

Barker looks dangerous and with more game time, he could easily push for a senior place this season.

Reading Stu Brennan, he's not too sure about Barker. For me, sometimes he looks lost, not sure what to do and sometimes tries to hard. I think, when he gets it right, he'll have a decent chance. I'd be tempted to see if he could get a loan out at a decent championship club or a lower level Pl team where he will get enough time in the pitch so he can improve.

Humphries seemed to do all right for me. 16yo and seemed composed enough. Manu did 4 or 5 nice bits of work in the first half, more than enough to show he's definitely going to be good.

Good to see Yaya and Nasri playing well. Playing like today, I'd want Nasri in my 1st team.

Good to see Yaya and Nasri playing well. Playing like today, I'd want Nasri in my 1st team.
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Agree, that's why with Delph and possibly De Bruyne, it will create competition for places on that side of the pitch which is a must to ensure the players are at the top of their game.

Love the way the commentator says "he must score"....just as the ball lands to him on his chest on the edge of the area!!!!