We played there last year without a sting in our tail. We were overwhelmed in the last 30 minutes. This season we have shown that we can be creative, do the unexpected and score on the break. I would start last Saturday's team and keep Moore ready before Graham. The key is, we have to play at a tempo from the start of the first half not the second and be sharper in our passing. I don't think our key players have to play blinders they have to play to their potential. If Ki, Britton, Michu, Hernandez, Routledge, Vorm (to name a few) all play to their potential it will be a great game; we will be competitive and then anything can happen.
Howdy gents, been away for two weeks so haven't seen much. How has Hernandez's defensive abilities come on? If not much then I'd definitely be playing Dyer. I'd set out to play keep ball and hit on the counter. However, I can't see us getting anything from the game and fear a pasting is on the cards.
We have good ability there is no doubt about that, as mentioned previously though,its our defence which is going to dictate the scoreline IMO, if you remember last season we did hold on for a short while but that was because vorm had an absolute storming game,he will need to produce that form again for us to be in with a chance of getting anything . Could this be the game to announce our new team to the world ??? its going to be very intresting, our new players have plenty of big game experience and are the type that can probably go up a gear or two if needs be.
Same team as vs Wigan - that was a dress-rehearsal for the Citeh game (possibly Pablo for De Guz) Michu up top - proved a point; he will be far more a nuisance than DG or Moore - lescott may struggle with Michu's intelligent, unorthodox play Play more like the two middle quarters vs Wigan and we could win
Michu did show to header a ball from a corner thats for sure, his goal against reading was a strikers goal also so i got no problem with him playing up front, maybe this was Laudrups plan from the start?? he just needed to smoothly intergrate his players not make wholesale change from the start. JDG did ok in that position, i do think he will get better as the season goes on, maybe city will be his big chance.
Last season four of current players - Flores, Hernandez, deGuzman, Michu - were featuring in games against Barca, Real Madrid and the other top La Liga clubs and holding their own. Hernandez was playing in Europe for Valenica - one of the top La Liga clubs. We have some top players of our own - not as we'll lnown as the Man City players, but that's why we got them so cheap.
Agree yankee- These boys will have plenty of big game experience, the likes of Chico actually had a MOTM performance against Messi if i remember correctly, and its the first game we are playing where the opposition will be concerned about what they are going to do and not what we are going to do!! That in itself will be a big boost, all pressure off and a chance to perform on the big stage against the champions!!
So far this season I have really liked the look of us on the counter. We have created quite a few chances from this type of play and, had we put a few more away, we would be sitting just off the top places. Just as well, because the only way I see us scoring against Citeh is on the break when they are pushing up to score the goals they probably feel is their right. We are beautifully equipped to do that with the pace we have in our side. With that in mind, I might even be tempted to start with Pablo, Routs AND Dyer, a speedy threat that will keep Citeh on their toes from the off. I'd keep Dyer wide and give the other two licence either to stay wide or play inside as the situation demands. That said, I don't think Laudrup will do that. I imagine he'll want to keep one of them back to introduce a pacey threat later in the game. As for Michu, I'm torn. He's scoring goals so it makes sense for him to be the spearhead. On the other hand, he might be more effective arriving late into the box, as he's been doing, which makes him far more difficult to mark. Up front, he'll be right in the sights of Kompany & Co who have huge experience in handling central strikers. I really would be be tempted to have him deeper, playing off a striker such as Moore or Danny. That way, Citeh's defence will have to go looking for him, which will keep them honest. I would start with the more skilful Moore, who can hold the ball up better than Danny, to bring the others into the game then bring Danny on later in the game when his greater energy will undoubtedly be needed. I don't think we will win but this is a game where we CAN get a result of sorts, providing the lads start to unleash the talent they definitely possess. Just look at the individuals we have; Michu, Leon, Ki, Pablo, Routs, Dyer, even Moore if he decides to get up for it. THEY CAN PLAY, no question of that. All we need is for the defence to stay solid and not give any stupid goals away. The longer they do that, the better our chances of nicking one on the break as the pressure builds on Citeh to score. A huge task but it could happen particularly if we get the run of the ball.
The last three premier league games have all been similar for us in that the opposition have stood off us and allowed us to have the ball which is not how to play against City.We were very happy to escape with a point at anfield & stoke who were all over us in the middle of the park and both did enough to have beaten us with better finishing.Last week at west brom our 3 man midfield dominated their 5 which was tactically very naive and probably cost them the game. We arent defending well at all at the moment so attacking us from out wide could be your best tactic in what i expect to be a much closer game than last years opener.
Paul, I'm sure your manager will have noted that and worked on it. The harsh reality is that this is a game that's come too soon for us. We have half a new team who are still learning to bond with each other, as well as the rest of the side, plus they are ALL having to adapt to Michael Laudrup's way of doing things. If we could play you a few weeks down the line when we are more settled, I would be more optimistic. There's no doubt that we have a talented squad, admittedly a bit thin, but we are playing in fits and starts as individuals get to know each other's game. The fluency that comes with a settled team is still missing but we are getting there. Slowly, as you would expect. These things don't come together overnight. I expect Citeh to win but, if our lads get it together on the day, they do have the ability to spring a surprise. That said, I would be chuffed to bits with a draw, as I suspect so would most of our fans.
Ah, well there you go. I always assumed it was something to do with Arab owners from the Emirates/Etihad stadium type of thing.
We get called Citeh by a lot of Utd fans who don't understand the irony. Which they wouldn't of course as they aren't usually from Manchester
Citeh will rightly expect this game to be a 3 point banker! Having said that, I think it's possibly to get a draw, but some how I fear that we are not yet gelled enough as a team, to give them the game they deserve, so I will go with a 2-1 to Citeh, mind they have not been that good this season either!............
Keep the ball is the answer, Its as simple as that and hope for a break. to try and play football against them then we will be second best in every department. Keep the ball and go for glory and we can win this game.....try and mix it with them then they will beat us with ease......we are at home and should not think in terms of massive premiership champions and think its another premiership club that we CAN beat on our own turf. We as fans must play a big part during the game also.....we can win this just like we did last season... away to citeh then its a different story and we must play as if we are at home to give us any sort of chance. again its not impossible to get a result if we keep the ball....
I actually expect 3 points now that we can relax knowing we have those all important 3 points from Wigan to get us to 11.... and I'm totally serious --- another 1 - 0 win over the " Champs "
