OK... we have Norwich first... but I'm looking at Chelsea for a moment because it is the next "top-of-table-clash" to come. How the game is played could depend on results between here and then, but I think, stylistically, we're looking at as different a games as it could possibly be. City was always going to play in a manner that suited us. They play football. They attack, they play an honest positive game. All season long, this is the type of team we have fared best against. They play to win. Despite the fact that Chelsea are behind us in the league- they play a more anti-football game than City. I think Jose will be paitient- despite needing the points more than us, he is going to play not to lose rather than to win. Jose will be content with a draw now that City has dropped points... hoping that we and City slip up elsewhere. I fully expect Jose to park the proverbial bus, nee, maybe even plant a few shrubberies around the goal. Chelsea are going to hope to frustrate us into giving away silly free-kicks. I suspect their players will do the usual Jose technique of going out with Teflon on the bottom of their boots- especially around our penalty area. This isn't going to be the honest, clean game against City. This is going to be more the Stoke 12/13 vintage football that would make Pulis proud. This is not the type of game we play best at- the players need to keep their heads, don't let Chelsea provoke them into rash actions. Now, I skipped Norwich. Norwich is fighting for survival- they need points. It wouldn't surprise me to see Norwich face the firing squad and attack.
Jose will come with a plan for sure. I hope Rodgers channels his inner Rafa and gets the better of him. What is all that about the pupil surpassing the master and all that? Aren;t you Japanese you can help me with that Hoke.
i hear you but i would rather we worried about norwich first, as if we lose, the chelsea game will be a bit deflated unless Sunderland can do us a favour. know what to expect from them but we had similar against west ham etc so we know we can cope with that style, better quality of players admittedly, but they can make mistakes just like kompany did, if we can go into that game from beating norwich will make a huge difference to the atmos and confidence of the players. have faith, any update on sturidge yet?
Jose with a plan? Feck off! His 'plan' or 'tactical brilliance' amounts to putting 10 players behind the ball, fouling and then lumping it upfield and diving. It just happens to be quite effective against any team that tries to play real football. Fat Sam has more tactical genius than Mourinho and even that's chalked down on his forehead.
Norwich is not going to be easy either.They are fighting for survival.Remember they drew with Man City this season.One game at a time.
I honestly don't know what I want from City's games between now and the time we play Chelsea: If City haven't dropped any points then subconsciously the Chelsea players may prioritize the CL (assuming they haven't thumped atletico in the 1st leg) which would give us a mental edge. On the other hand if City have dropped points then a draw would suit us. but before that I hope the players are ready for a scrap against Norwich
I actually admire your audacity to accuse other teams of diving when you have a player like Suarez in your ranks.
I find it hilarious that sheep like fans such as yourself suffer from such a myopic view of diving that it apparently didn't exist before Suarez, or outside of Suarez. The same type of fan that then perversely states that he deserves to be treated differently from others because of past misdemanours when he's kicked from pillar to post and attempts to stay on his feet...which was most of this season. But then you probably don't know that because you were told he dives by some fellow sheep or you read it in a paper rather than actually watch our games. Logically you can't insist on players abiding by the rules but justify when referees ignore others in some kind of "even the score".
Chelseas plan will be to win. At all costs, no survivors. This being Chelsea theres every chance the ****s will do it. Either way, the PL winners will be ****s. #****s
lol, you have the worst divers in the EPL lol, maybe the rest of us don't suffer from 'wenger vision', he was falling over everwhere on Sunday, he should've been booked for simulation. But you're right, diving has been around ages, Gerrard has been falling over in penalty boxes for well over a decade now.
Yeah... Suarez dives sometimes. I think he is accused of it more than he actually does it. He blatantly went to ground against City on more than one occasion. I wish he didn't. There is much more to Suarez's game than diving though- its a very minor attribute compared to everything else he does for us- and I highly doubt it's a prescribed tactic by Rodgers considering none of our other players are nearly as bad at diving... it's all down to Suarez himself. Contrast that to Mourinho. Jose's teams have always been filled with divers. It's a prescribed tactic and plays a strong part in how Mourinho formulates his game. Suarez may dive against Chelsea, and I won't condone it. However, not that it excuses things, it will be all down to him alone. Contrary to that- you can bet Jose will be winking and telling all his players to get into the box and try and draw tackles so they can fall over. It's how Jose has always set things up. Jose bases his tactics around how best to fleece the refs.
i think we can all agree the floppers like bale and janusaj get booked. think about that... if you guys think you are better than refs at spotting it... go you....
it will make a nice change from the biggest ****s usually wining it the incredibes made a good point, maybe could be better if city dont drop points as then chelsea may prioritize the cl, makes no dif to us as we still need to win all remaining games to get that title for me, i know everyone says twists and turns, but nah lol. norwich was unlucky at the weekend, so i don't know to be honest, but knowing you it is some attempt at reverse psychology so we lose, and if we win you can say told you so.
He's conservative by default, and then opens up by degrees as the game progresses and if the result is not in their favour. He knows there are more gaps to exploit in the later stages of a game. I'm wary of Chelsea's second halves - that's when they do most damage. We should manage our energies smartly on that one, as we almost blundered on that aspect with City.
