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Team v City 2nd leg

dondo

Well-Known Member
Jan 4, 2006
8,603
14,091
Pep getting a bit ahead of himself saying “we will be in semis”.
Hope our boys here this interview before the match and ram it back down his throat
 

arunspurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
8,807
35,543
4-2-3-1 worked in CL game mostly because, City didn't commit many in attack . With Fernandinho doubtful, De Bruyne will play IMO.
Also expecting Sane or Bernando Silva to play ahead of Mahrez.

My XI :

Lloris
Trippier, Toby, Sanchez, Jan, Rose
Sissoko, Winks, Eriksen
Lucas, Son
 

Giovanni

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
2,587
3,614
Jeez we have our work cut out here! Will be completely different match and i feel we will be hanging on from the first minute.
I want to believe. Hope poch and the boys can pull it off.
 

Woodyy

Well-Known Member
Jan 3, 2016
1,402
3,391
I think it helps that they put out a full strength team against Palace on Sunday, hopefully Fernandinho is out as well but I doubt he will be.
 

Pistols At Dawn

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2019
2,119
4,531
What I want and what we get are two very different things, as Poch is one stubborn wanker. But if I ran the zoo (depending on fitness):

Gazza
Aurier - Sanchez - Toby - Vert
Sissoko - Winks (Wanyama) - Rose
Eriksen - Son
Lucas
 

Guntz

Loves a good meme/gif
Aug 15, 2011
7,271
54,780
What I want and what we get are two very different things, as Poch is one stubborn wanker. But if I ran the zoo (depending on fitness):

Gazza
Aurier - Sanchez - Toby - Vert
Sissoko - Winks (Wanyama) - Rose
Eriksen - Son
Lucas

Why would you drop Lloris after him arguably making the most important save of our season?
 

JonnySpurs

SC Veteran
Jun 4, 2004
5,345
12,398
Keeping City at bay in the first 20 mins will be crucial. Their fanbase is still quite small in terms of an actual hardcore element and there will be plenty of plastic, glory hunters there to try and take advantage of a glory night in the CL. They'll quickly go quiet if they don't score early on.

It's gonna take one helluva defensive effort and the longer we keep them out, the more they will push on and leave themselves vulnerable to the counter.

We can expect them to go full on attack mode with Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Sane all coming back in. Due to the numbers they will have in attack I think we go 3 at the back because retaining possession will not be much of an option IMO. I expect Dele and Winks to play after probably being held out of the Huddersfield game on purpose as much as being "injured".

One thing I did consider was if we could play Dele as a false 9 with Lucas and Son running off him, not dissimilar to what Liverpool do with Mane and Salah off Firmino. Dele's link play is excellent and he has a real eye for a pass, particularly with Sonny making bursting runs in behind the defence e.g. how he set Son away for his goal vs Arsenal in the cup, amongst others. I think he could really do a job in there and could drop into midfield when we don't have the ball. It won't happen but tactically Poch needs to be very thoughtful about this. Look at how LFC did City last year and adjust our team accordingly.

I know Poch likes to say we'll play our way and win the game but that's a little bit naive IMO. Sometimes you need to gameplan for your opponent and apply specific tactics. He seemed to do that away to Dortmund and it worked so fingers crossed he can mastermind our way through this one.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,391
Lloris

Sissoko** Toby Verts Rose

Wanyama Winks

Eriksen

Moura Son Dele


**Sissoko should be able to handle Sane


Wouldn't do that. FBs have to be very disciplined and the whole back line have to work as a unit. One mistake from an inexperienced player at FB and the offside 'trap' is sprung and they're straight in. It's much more than a question of who can handle Sane. Last time Poch did something similar, Son gave away a penalty v Chelsea. Apart from that, Sissoko will be crucial in CM.
 

stuspurs

Active Member
Aug 26, 2008
125
53
I wouldn't play Sanchez in a game with VAR as he holds and pushes too much for my liking.
 

Monkey boy

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2011
6,381
17,040
I’m surprisingly relaxed about this for some reason. Probably because I’m expecting a beat down and an exit but will of course be delighted if we somehow progress. I’m pretty certain that City will score at least one and in all likelihood probably 2 or 3 so it makes it essential that we score. We do have the players to do it so let’s do it. Just such a shame that Kane is missing and that we sold Dembele for peanuts.
 

Zoidy

Active Member
Jul 23, 2015
45
162
My only thoughts regarding Llorente are that a) he has played well with Lucas, b) he started a game against Real Madrid and was brilliant (albeit alongside Kane) and c) most importantly in my mind, without Kane (and possibly Dele) we are lacking height at set pieces, Llorente's height defensively could be important.

Agree that 3 at the back allows Sane and Sterling the 1 v 1's they crave. Would quickly become a back 5. This needs to be a counter attacking master stroke.
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
Slightly related question that doesn't need a new post.
IF we squeeze through, do we know what way round the home and away legs of the semi are, or is that yet to be decided?
I know it's Juventus or Ajax for the winner of our fixture.
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
What I want and what we get are two very different things, as Poch is one stubborn wanker. But if I ran the zoo (depending on fitness):

Gazza
Aurier - Sanchez - Toby - Vert
Sissoko - Winks (Wanyama) - Rose
Eriksen - Son
Lucas

Lloris has won us far more points than he's lost us. If you drop him for letting the odd goal in, you need to drop any of our forward players for missing an easy chance at the other end. We should have scored 5 against Southampton in the first half. Some of the misses were worse than the odd mistake by Lloris.
Sissoko scores against Liverpool in a one on with the keeper and we win that rather than go on to lose.
It's happened all season. The keeper is as much a part of the team as the other 10. His mistakes and highlights balance out as much as theirs and no keeper, with out highline, is immune to the odd one.
 

mark87

Well-Known Member
Nov 29, 2004
36,032
114,065
On the coach back from the Huddersfield game I overheard a couple of people say that they were in a box with Alli and he said he'll be fit for tomorrow.
 

CoopsieDeadpool

Well-Known Member
Jun 8, 2012
18,257
70,419
One thing I did consider was if we could play Dele as a false 9 with Lucas and Son running off him, not dissimilar to what Liverpool do with Mane and Salah off Firmino. Dele's link play is excellent and he has a real eye for a pass, particularly with Sonny making bursting runs in behind the defence e.g. how he set Son away for his goal vs Arsenal in the cup, amongst others. I think he could really do a job in there and could drop into midfield when we don't have the ball. It won't happen but tactically Poch needs to be very thoughtful about this. Look at how LFC did City last year and adjust our team accordingly.
.


Why the heck would you play our best attacking midfielder out of position when we've got a perfectly good/fit number 9 to call upon?

And why would you want to put a fairly easy to wind up player, in among CB's that will know about his potential short fuse & simply use dark arts to get under his skin and get him booked, sent off or make him disappear into his shell?

The number 9 that we do have at our disposal has also previously played excellently against the current CL holders, links up very well with Son & Moura, and is more than capable of the link play that you suggest Alli should play.

In fact, his hold-up play & little flicks to those supporting him are pretty bloody good aspects of his game.

Get him up top, then get the likes of Son, Moura & Alli running/feeding off him. Llorente will not be bullied or manipulated by the excellent, experienced CB's that City have at their disposal.
 

JAYSTAR

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2012
3,316
3,800
Lloris
Trippier Toby Verts Rose
Sissoko Wanyama
Alli
Lucas Son Eriksen​
 
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