Pre Match EPL Man City (H) - February 8th 16:30

[Hansern]

@dee Start a City match thread?

 

[dee]

Well volunteered @Hansern !

 

[Hansern]

Haha, well now we have to win..

 

[Momo]

I think we probably win this. It’s not like we are against a low block. If we start as we did against Newcastle I see them being 3-0 up at half time as they are so much better than Newcastle up top.

Ali
Slobs
Konate
VVD
Kerkez
Gravy
Mac
Wirtz
Salah
Tekkers
Gakpoo

 

[tombrown]

Nailed on win as tombrown will be in the main stand

 

[Beamrider]

Yeah, first half is crucial here. City tend to shit the bed in the second so we need to be at least level at half time.

 

[dee]

I think we probably win this. It’s not like we are against a low block. If we start as we did against Newcastle I see them being 3-0 up at half time as they are so much better than Newcastle up top.

Ali
Slobs
Konate
VVD
Kerkez
Gravy
Mac
Salah
Tekkers
Gakpoo

I think you are short a player 🤓

 

[dee]

Side auto picks itself really

 

[Momo]

I think you are short a player 🤓

I forgot about the lost little boy.

 

[binomial]

Copy and paste any XI from the last 32 league/CL games, maybe Robbo for Kerkez and/or maybe Jones for Mac/Cody and that's your lot. Fun times.

 

[Buddha]

Is Gomez deffo still out for this?

 

[tomasjj]

Is Gomez deffo still out for this?

Bench likely

 

[Hansern]

If he can come in and solidify our defence at the end that would be great. IF, we are in the lead.

 

[Hansern]

Joshua Abe training with the first team this week as well. Could we see an appearance against Brighton in the FA cup?

 

[Brizzle]

Ederson

Nunes
Guehi
Dias
O Reilly

Rodri
Silva
Reijnders

Cherki
Haaland
Doku

BLUUUUEEEEE MOOOOOOOOON

 

[Modo]

Joshua Abe training with the first team this week as well. Could we see an appearance against Brighton in the FA cup?

Is he going to do us like Pogba did Man U?
Looks like it.

 

[Momo]

Ederson

Nunes
Guehi
Dias
O Reilly

Rodri
Silva
Reijnders

Cherki
Haaland
Doku

BLUUUUEEEEE MOOOOOOOOON

I have the power to wield the ban stick.

 

[Brizzle]

I have the power to wield the ban stick.

Wtf i definitely wrote a Liverpool XI. I think I’ve been hacked.

 

[Frogfish]

@dee Start a City match thread?

Oops. After I started Newcastle I forgot the honour stays with me. Now you've pinched it so if anything untoward happens you're the one that's going to be in the doghouse and you'll have saved my bacon!

 

[Momo]

Fuck’s sake Froggy. This is on you.

 

[LarryHagman]

I think we probably win this. It’s not like we are against a low block.

The old "low block" mantra is out of control.
Some of the teams we level "low block" at don't even do it. They just get men behind the ball when the other team is in possession.
It's called 'football'.

 

[Momo]

I hate the term too. But it’s a sign of the times. It’s playing deep on the counter.

 

[Frogfish]

The old "low block" mantra is out of control.
Some of the teams we level "low block" at don't even do it. They just get men behind the ball when the other team is in possession.
It's called 'football'.

Not exactly. Low block is referring to how deep they drop. And many teams now drop right to the edge of their penalty area, happy to play the game entirely in their half or more specifically most of it in one quarter, compressing the pitch leaves less room for individual skill to make a difference. This isn't just getting men behind the ball. Even fewer now do a high press since that's committing players to an area they can be played through.

As Momo said it's now standard fare for many PL teams. Relying on long balls, fast breaks and set pieces. It's a valid tactic that works even though not easy on the eye and relies on advanced athletic ability, constantly dashing from one end of the pitch to the other. The contrast to when we play in Europe is stark. And displeasing.