Champions League 2017-18

[TheChosenOne]

It's a big ask for City but not an impossible task.

Looking forward to tonight and hoping for a miracle 4-0 win for City

 

[jurgen]

I thought this was interesting in regards to Guardiola's record in away Champions League games. Not the greatest record for someone thats got to 5 semi finals and won it twice. It does show that the game tonight isn't definitely over.

http://www.football365.com/news/can-we-stop-being-so-weird-when-it-comes-to-pep-guardiola

As Matt Stead pointed out in last week’s Champions League Winners and Losers: ‘His record from 23 away Champions League knockout ties reads: P23 W5 D10 L8 F27 A31’. So with those stats in mind, with more losses than wins, losing away to Liverpool was hardly the shock of the century. But because both big fans and big critics of Guardiola alike have managed to build him up into some sort of superhuman indefatigable management robot, when he makes mistakes or things don’t work out, it seems to be treated like a crime against the very concept of his existence.

Football365 are very weird about Pep (and quite weird generally these days). Somehow he’s being defended in the above despite a pretty poor away record given the teams he’s managed. As if getting drubbed by Pool in the first leg is somehow ok because his record is average away from home anyway. Strange.

 

[ardiles]

It's a big ask for City but not an impossible task.

Looking forward to tonight and hoping for a miracle 4-0 win for City

Agree but I'd prefer a 3-0 scoreline (for City) during regulation time and the winning goal in extra time.
Need the City players to play a bit longer and maybe have some muscle strains or other minor injuries so that
they can join Fernandinho in the stands when we play them at Wembley.

 

[tommo84]

Football365 are very weird about Pep (and quite weird generally these days). Somehow he’s being defended in the above despite a pretty poor away record given the teams he’s managed. As if getting drubbed by Pool in the first leg is somehow ok because his record is average away from home anyway. Strange.

You're right - Football 365 do have a weird protective attitude to Guardiola. Personally I think its completely valid to criticise the guy for making a tactical change which, not only had a negative impact on their performance last week, but hasn't worked on other occasions he's tried it. That criticism becomes even more valid when you think just how much some sections of the media have praised Guardiola this season, whilst trying to gloss over the undeniable impact that City's huge spending has had (both before and since Pep's appointment), and seemingly ignoring altogether how far off the pace City were in his first season in charge (when he still had a ridiculously talented squad).

Meanwhile the Football on BT Sport twitter account has become increasingly unabashed in its support of Liverpool. Along with every other tweet being about Klopp, their tweet promoting tonight's game reads, "Liverpool's quest to conquer Europe continues, but the job is far from complete yet...". Given their opposition are, not only also English, but the champions elect of England, its odd that their tweet reads as though its from Liverpool's perspective. It doesn't even name-check Man City.

Don't really care who wins tonight but I just hope that Liverpool don't win the whole thing. Their fans (which seemingly includes about 75% of all TV and radio personalities) would be unbearable.

 

[jurgen]

You're right - Football 365 do have a weird protective attitude to Guardiola. Personally I think its completely valid to criticise the guy for making a tactical change which, not only had a negative impact on their performance last week, but hasn't worked on other occasions he's tried it. That criticism becomes even more valid when you think just how much some sections of the media have praised Guardiola this season, whilst trying to gloss over the undeniable impact that City's huge spending has had (both before and since Pep's appointment), and seemingly ignoring altogether how far off the pace City were in his first season in charge (when he still had a ridiculously talented squad).

Meanwhile the Football on BT Sport twitter account has become increasingly unabashed in its support of Liverpool. Along with every other tweet being about Klopp, their tweet promoting tonight's game reads, "Liverpool's quest to conquer Europe continues, but the job is far from complete yet...". Given their opposition are, not only also English, but the champions elect of England, its odd that their tweet reads as though its from Liverpool's perspective. It doesn't even name-check Man City.

Don't really care who wins tonight but I just hope that Liverpool don't win the whole thing. Their fans (which seemingly includes about 75% of all TV and radio personalities) would be unbearable.

Strange.. at the risk of opening up a wider conversation not for here it makes you wonder, given this country’s turn to looking backwards, whether Liverpool and their ‘istory represent a more comforting time when the brits were gloriously defeating all comers from Europe..

Or more likely it’s just because City don’t actually have that many fans still especially by comparison. Although why so many glory hunting nutters support Liverpool these days is also strange..

 

[VegasII]

While I want to City to win bigly, I think Liverpool will win 2-0 on tonight.

 

[Metalhead]

While I want to City to win bigly, I think Liverpool will win 2-0 on tonight.

I'll go 1-1 just to have a bit of variety.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

It would be great if Liverpool took the lead and then went on to ship 6 goals.

 

[thecook]

Can see City dominating but falling short. 2-0 for me

 

[cider spurs]

Nice early goal for City would set this match up a treat.

 

[yiddopaul]

Extra time would be nice after a bruising contest!

 

[TEESSIDE1]

That Man C line up is mental, they’re either going to destroy Liverpool or get destroyed.

 

[John48]

I'm hoping for a long & difficult game involving extra time & Pen's & then may the best team win.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

That Man C line up is mental, they’re either going to destroy Liverpool or get destroyed.

I think it is madness, too. I see no hope for City here.

 

[talkshowhost86]

What on earth formation are City playing?

 

[jonathanhotspur]

I think Fernandinho will be playing at left back. City look far too open in the middle of the park.

 

[cider spurs]

Can we also have a controversial goal or two scored by City so the Scousers have a new topic to rant about tomorrow.

We woz robbed...A scouser getting robbed, ooohhhh the irony.

 

[Armstrong_11]

For Liverpool.... They need to play like one of the bottom sides and break up and break the game into sections... 15mins block and aim to keep it tight at the back. 0-0 HT, or even 1-0 would be a confidence boast. And if they Nick on one the break then it's more or less over.

City will have to just go for it. Try to get an early goal before Liverpool gets settle.... And see if they can get into HT 2-0 and it's game on.

I am hoping for some drama... I hope the story of the match isn't quite over yet.

 

[spursfan77]

What on earth formation are City playing?

Weird to play no full back against Salah. Why he doesn’t play Danilo at left back like we did with Aurier (right footer at left back) it worked a treat.

 

[spursfan77]

Can we also have a controversial goal or two scored by City so the Scousers have a new topic to rant about tomorrow.

We woz robbed...A scouser getting robbed, ooohhhh the irony.

That would be awesome but if anything it might be the other way round. Apparently the ref and Guardiola have previous.