Man City (A) - Sat 25th Nov 2023 (12:30pm)

[Trumo]

Work-rate. Incisiveness. Nous.

 

I don't ask for much.

 

This is how it's gonna be. Build from the ground up.

 

Early kick-off after an international break, with one of Professional Game Manchester Officials Limited in charge. We've seen this one many times now. The game is live on Sky as they have first dibs on the fixture, but the kick-off is in TNT Sports' TV slot on police advice. The games at Anfield always kick off later and police advice doesn't come into it. Maybe because all the City fans are stuck in traffic, which is something that only affects them. Early kick-offs are usually not conducive to a good game, and certainly not after the players have been returning from representing their countries in places like South America. And certainly not at the Etihad.

 

Much has been made of a supposed injury crisis at City, with the likes of Ederson and Haaland not being part of their national team squads in the last round of fixtures. Haaland actually did miss this game last year through injury, not that it hampered them as they ran riot in the second half to cruise to a 4-1 win. Players like Rodri, Silva and Foden have become crucial to the way they play, and those 3 never seem to be unavailable. Furthermore, when games against them see us playing a more energetic yet haphazard attacking style and knocking City off their stride, we tend to do well. If we allow them to gain control, and if the refs decide they quite fancy an all-expenses-paid jaunt to the Middle East, we struggle to live with them. It's been like that for us at the Etihad for the most part since Jurgen took charge of us. He got a great win in his early weeks at Liverpool, but it's been one of our least favourite places to visit even when we were the best team in the world. I will not be surprised in the least when I see their bald oddball manager has a full selection available to him either.

 

Forus, no Robbo, Thiago or Baj still, but we should have the likes of Ibou, Joe, Curtis and Grav available again. Hopefully our South American contingent return unscathed. It's all about club football again until the next international break in March, so all the players have no excuse not to have their heads in the game. More so than I usually request, concentration, motivation, attitude and application must be tip top from the word go right to the end. Let's try for the 3 points please and see where the land lies. Get it done!

[Fowlers God]

Alisson

Kostas

VVD

Konate

Trent

 

Mac

Gravenberch

Szo you know the rest

 

Diaz

Nunez

Mo

 

I think either team wins by a clear margin. 

 

Imagine going top and knowing theres fuck all anyone else can do to oust us this weekend. 

[Reckoner]

We will fucking win.

[Reckoner]

Kavanagh is the ref. His brother is apparently a Man City ST holder. Cool.

[Pete]

I want to see an apoplectic Pep at the end of this. Remonstrating with everyone about how he's been cheated out of 3 points.  That vein on his forehead throbbing intensely as the Mr Nice guy facade falls in front of a TV audience of millions. 

Hope we kick the shit out of them, Cheating no mark cunts

[Anubis]

Get it won. Don't care how. Just get it won.

[Creator Supreme]

Abu Dhabi City 15 (Vigo the Carpathian with all 15)

L 1 (Walker o.g.)

[Red74]

Just dont shit ourselves (on & off the pitch) like we do every year up there from the minute we go behind.

 

A poor Chelsea team showed what can be done if you go at them.

[3 Stacks]

We'll be lucky to not lose by 2 or more.

[Elite]

Kind of glad I'm working so can't watch it. 

[bizzle10]

I’m joining the bed wetting union on this one I’ll be amazed if we win there an early kick off away after an international week a Darwin red card is certain too 

[Razoray]

1 hour ago, Reckoner said:

Kavanagh is the ref. His brother is apparently a Man City ST holder. Cool.

Oh FFS

[Scott_M]

1 hour ago, Reckoner said:

Kavanagh is the ref. His brother is apparently a Man City ST holder. Cool.

Maybe he’s relationship with his brother is like Rhodri to Ryan Giggs?

[Scott_M]

 

1 hour ago, Red74 said:

Just dont shit ourselves (on & off the pitch) like we do every year up there from the minute we go behind.

 

A poor Chelsea team showed what can be done if you go at them.

Don’t agree with the first paragraph, that’s untrue. Last season yes, other seasons, no. 
 

I do agree with the second paragraph. 
 

IMO, well set up similar to how we did last season, sit deeper and look to be dangerous on the counter attack, which was working for the first 45 mins. 
 

I’d love to see us start Diaz and Nunez and really fucking attack them. Make our pace up front really give them something to think about. 
 

Alternatively, I’m not against us dropping a forward (likely Diaz), playing an extra midfielder and moving a Szoboszlai further forward. 
 

Most likely, Mo, Gakpo and Jota start in a 4-3-3 and we look to make changes later in the game. 
 

I just hope we give a good account of ourselves. Last season was utterly dismal in the second half and we were lucky they stopped at 4. If we go down, go down swinging and pushing them to their limits, let them know they’ve been in a game. 
 

 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

I'm going to miss this one, because I'll be traveling back from holiday in Italy.  Here's hoping for something great that I'll regret missing. 

 

Just get these beat, Reds.

[Creator Supreme]

35 minutes ago, Scott_M said:

If we go down, go down swinging

I hope we literally do this and swing right at baldy bollocks.

[Rushies tash]

Stick Darwin on the half way line and keep twatting it up to him all game. Job done.

[Section_31]

Two goals for slobslag.

[ZonkoVille77]

We're fuckin shite.

[Aventus]

Needs saying again

 

Fucking stupid timing for this fixture. 

 

Would have liked to have seen both teams play each other while we're both on our respective rolls and full of momentum, late kick-off under the lights, could have been a great match. 

 

Instead we get first game back after the internationals at fucking noon when both squads are jetlagged. 

 

Pricks. 

[manwiththestick]

1 hour ago, Aventus said:

Needs saying again

 

Fucking stupid timing for this fixture. 

 

Would have liked to have seen both teams play each other while we're both on our respective rolls and full of momentum, late kick-off under the lights, could have been a great match. 

 

Instead we get first game back after the internationals at fucking noon when both squads are jetlagged. 

 

Pricks. 

Courtesy of Manchester police.

 

If I was proper para I would say they were probably given encouragement from City to change it.

[Lee909]

5 minutes ago, manwiththestick said:

Courtesy of Manchester police.

 

If I was proper para I would say they were probably given encouragement from City to change it.

 

City squad won't have many jet lag issues. Half of them have pulled out injured. Only Alvarez is in South America

[Freddo]

Let’s get these cunts beat eh reds. Let’s go at them and get them on the back foot. Cunts 

[sir roger]

Kavanagh has been one of the better refs in our games for a few seasons now.

[an tha]

Terrible time (not just time of day) for this fixture.