Man City (Away) - 11.11.12

DubPerryman

So, we all feel a little more cheerful after last night's result. There's nothing like a good performance to get the spirits up.

Though on Sunday it's back to business.

City away is not easy, but recently they haven't looked as formidable as last season. I think we're playing this away leg at the right time. We have a little bit of confidence following last night's result, while the egos up in the Etihad are looking at yet another early exit from the Champions League.

I think it's imperative that we play 4-5-1 and approach Sunday's match like the one away to United. Get amongst them early and unsettle them in fron of their own crowd, but keep a tight defensive unit.

I would beg AVB to start Adebayor up front on his own, but it's highly unlikely following Defoe's hat-trick.

I've knicked the below image from Paddy Power's Facebook page. Take from it what you will.... but I think it confirms my earlier confidence.

yiddo59

I'd bite your hand off for a draw now!

mickman

I think it will be something like 2-1 to city - we will probably play well but lose it late on to a tevez penalty or something

Team should be

Friedal ---walker --dawson -- verts---naughton ---lennon--bale--sandro--carroll---defoe--adebayour

Drop the donkey dempsey ! All in favour?

Leinstersqspur

We need Adebayor on the pitch and it will be hard to drop JD on last nights form. For me Adebayor can cover as much ground and put in as many tackles as Dempsey can so 4-4-1-1 is a good option. . I think alot will hinge on whether Sandro is available to patrol the midfield.

I hope AVB may have realised last night that adapting his system to suit the players is worthwhile when the players to suit the system are simply not available.. Tis a good time to play the 'delinquent mercenaries' (Dunphy)..

Mr. Guappa

Dempsey and Sigurdsson have been passengers so far this season so that leaves two options as I see it.

1 - Play Defoe and Adebayor, with Ade dropping slightly deeper.

2 - Play 3 genuine CM players, say Huddlestone, Sandro, Livermore or Carroll (whoever is fit basically).

I'd go for option 1.


Edit: Just noticed the date in the thread title so:

I think as defending champions and league leaders we should go to City and look to lay down a marker. A repeat of last seasons 3-0 win would do just fine. Hopefully Willian is fit after getting clobbered scoring his third against Barca on Wednesday, and Adebayor will be under pressure for his place from a fit again Leandro. COYS.

2nd Row Donkey

^^^^
Great to see HR and VDV back at the lane. Lets put that whole AVB thing behind us.

DubPerryman

Mr. Guappa wrote: »

Edit: Just noticed the date in the thread title so:

Whoops!

Can a mod amend my error? Thanks!

golfball37

Mr. Guappa wrote: »

Dempsey and Sigurdsson have been passengers so far this season so that leaves two options as I see it.

1 - Play Defoe and Adebayor, with Ade dropping slightly deeper.

2 - Play 3 genuine CM players, say Huddlestone, Sandro, Livermore or Carroll (whoever is fit basically).

I'd go for option 1.


Edit: Just noticed the date in the thread title so:

I think as defending champions and league leaders we should go to City and look to lay down a marker. A repeat of last seasons 3-0 win would do just fine. Hopefully Willian is fit after getting clobbered scoring his third against Barca on Wednesday, and Adebayor will be under pressure for his place from a fit again Leandro. COYS.

Falcao still not back from that knock so?
:P

golfball37

I'm an eternal pessimist but we're gonna win this one Sunday. Our season collapsed after being robbed by the gods there last season. Payback time.

We are much better suited to playing away from home and City do not like playing teams at home who try and keep the ball.

3-1 with Bale getting at least 1

Emoran

golfball37 wrote: »

I'm an eternal pessimist but . . .

3-1 with Bale getting at least 1

Your glass is so far past half full you've drowned yourself in a sea of optimisim

pancho84

Would prefer to see Vertoghen at left full until BAE is back, I think Naughton would struggle at city however would prefer to see Dawson and Caulker at center half but Gallas will more than likely start.

Cant see Carroll starting either even though I wouldn't mind seeing him get a game. Hope Sandro is fit, makes a big difference

tippspur

mickman wrote: »

I think it will be something like 2-1 to city - we will probably play well but lose it late on to a tevez penalty or something

Team should be

Friedal ---walker --dawson -- verts---naughton ---lennon--bale--sandro--carroll---defoe--adebayour

Drop the donkey dempsey ! All in favour?

If we play well and lose 2-1 I won't be to disappointed tbh,a draw would be great imo.

tippspur

golfball37 wrote: »

I'm an eternal pessimist but we're gonna win this one Sunday. Our season collapsed after being robbed by the gods there last season. Payback time.

We are much better suited to playing away from home and City do not like playing teams at home who try and keep the ball.
e right
3-1 with Bale getting at least 1

3-1 to us !! good man,I hope you're right :cool:

Hatch99

I'd take a draw now with the number of fellas missing.

Leinstersqspur

Sandro is in contention, says he training hard since last weekend to be fit for the game. I think we'll struggle to contain Yaya Toure without him.

everdead.ie

Friedel,
Walker, Gallas, Caulker, Vertonghen,
Sandro, Huddlestone,
Lennon, Bale, Dempsey
Adebayor

subs:Lloris, Naughton, Dawson, Livermore, Carroll, Sigurdsson and Defoe

Still no Lloris but hope he gets his chance soon.

SuprSi

Weird. I'm all for getting Ade on the pitch, but it seems harsh dropping Defoe after him scoring a hat-trick on Thursday night. More disappointed to see Dempsey there but Siggy isn't any better anyway. At least Sandro is there.

T-b0n3

I'm delighted Sandro made it back for this game, we certainly need him.

Also really happy Ade is playing. He holds up the ball and actually brings other players into the game unlike Defoe, which we will really need today.

I think Ade & Demp will work well together.

Anway, looking forward to this one. COYS!!!!

PogMoThoin

He's right to play Ade in this match, remember this is his debut against his old club. Looking forward to see if he brings out the best in Dempsey

pancho84

This a game Dempsey really needs to step up the mark and Huddlestone as well for that matter

mickman

COYS

SuprSi

Good that Nasri is out - he always does well against us.

Sugarlumps

pancho84 wrote: »

This a game Dempsey really needs to step up the mark and Huddlestone as well for that matter

I think Dempsey will come good.

Leinstersqspur

Nervous much! COYS!

mickman

looks like we are going to be eaten alive :-)

Leinstersqspur

mickman wrote: »

looks like we are going to be eaten alive :-)

With Aguero, Silva, Tevez and Toure in their side we're probably foolish to expect anything less.... Vital we don't concede early!

SuprSi

Woohoo!! Get in Caulker!

gar

Powerful header. Tough to stop that!

SuprSi

Brilliant free kick by Thudd and a great header.

mickman

what a ball from huddlestone

so whats the deal, win all our away games and lose all our home ones ? :-)

Leinstersqspur

Get in Caulker you beauuuuuuuuty!

SuprSi

Should've been a peno there

SuprSi

Great play from Ade - that's what he can do that Defoe can't. Unlucky from Huddlestone

gar

Thudd nearly got a haircut

Leinstersqspur

That should have been the second, brilliant from Ade.

mickman

great from ade again. total dive to get zabaleta a yellow but very intelligent play from ade

gar

Dangerous by thudd

Sugarlumps

Sandro has been immense.

SuprSi

Sugarlumps wrote: »

Sandro has been immense.

Agreed. The amount of little but hugely important tackles he makes thoughout the game is so important.

mickman

get dempsey off this pitch!!!!

a shocking pass from him and city damn near levelled.

the man cannot even make a pass

Sugarlumps

I'd whip Dempsey off, don't think he's completed a pass.

SuprSi

Have to agree about Dempsey. He's unfortunate because so much of our game is about pace yet he doesn't have enough, and ends up slowing things down.

Sugarlumps

City look rattled and easily royaled, very techy. Possible sending off perhaps.

gar

City are getting a bit ratty.
I could see them getting a red.

KingdomYid

Sugarlumps wrote: »

I'd whip Dempsey off, don't think he's completed a pass.

Dempsey off and Defoe on, we can attack this lot.

gar

Sugarlumps wrote: »

City look rattled and easily royaled, very techy. Possible sending off perhaps.

Snap

tippspur

The ref is coming under a lot of pressure from the City players,so far he has done well not to give in to their constant moaning.

mickman

tippspur wrote: »

The ref is coming under a lot of pressure from the City players,so far he has done well not to give in to their constant moaning.

yeah but they should have had two penos :-)

get defoe or siggy on and take dempsey off, he is in the way

flyswatter

Have we been playing as cynically as everyone is saying on the soccer forum? I'm not watching the match today unfortunately.

Sugarlumps

KingdomYid wrote: »

Dempsey off and Defoe on, we can attack this lot.

Seems the logical choice?

Leinstersqspur

Can see red cards coming here, hopefully the ref ain't afraid to show it when it's due like Balotellis stamp on Parker last season.

Dempsey ain't up to much, doesn't contribute to the midfield at all. Can't see him bringing Defoe on though.

We are very very lucky to be 1-0 up still, they've been all over us!