24 Feb 2015 20:21:44
Guys, if you're not already watching, switch on the City/Barca game.
Men against boys. City are a very good team, but Barca, and Messi in particular, are on a different level.
If nothing else, you can watch a team play possession football with an actual end product.
24 Feb 2015 20:47:48
we could proberly play like that with the right players.
24 Feb 2015 21:05:03
Any team could with the right players, mate :)
24 Feb 2015 21:52:56
That first half was frightening, how I would love us to be able to play like that. Fair play to City, surprised Barcelona laid off second half.
I bet Suarez is peeved not having the penalty!
I don't rate Alves and that reaction to being subbed will hopefully mean LVG stays clear as there were a lot of rumours.
24 Feb 2015 22:21:21
And who are these players? Di Maria who can't pass five yards? Rooney the general in midfield who can't pass 10 yards? Maybe Januzaj who won't lift his head to pass to a team mate? Or Felliani who has very little passing ability in general?
Or do you think Rojo could start it from the back instead of hoofing it forward when he gets the chance? Maybe RVP or Falcao could get involved and link up play or are they better just sitting up top waiting to miss a tap in? Maybe Blind and Carrick could just pass it sideways towards each other for the whole game to maintain possession?
Light years from Barca. Don't even bother comparing us.
24 Feb 2015 23:28:56
its clear to see the way we have been playing lvg wants us to become a team "LIKE" how barca were in the first half, there general play mimicked how we have tried to play this season. we just lacked the finesse and movement they were showing especially in midfield.
every time their keeper got the ball the 2 cbs would split to come for a short pass and the full backs would push up the line. again something we have been doing.
theres been plently of times juanmatasbeard that our cbs have tried bringing the ball out just how pique and Macherano were doing today. just they are not as composed.
plenty of simalarites, now i'm not trying to compare us to barca i'm just saying people are asking what kid of football is lvg trying to play, what direction are we trying to go in.
well from what i saw from the game something similar to the way barca were playing.
24 Feb 2015 23:58:08
Since we hardly have a player who would get in City's XI, the gulf between us and ever winning the Champions League again, let alone qualifying for it, is clearly apparent. It's going to take years. It's so much more than having great players.
I'd be interested to get comments on whether people think we should just appoint a younger manager with a modern vision, sell of the expensive misfits, thus reducing our salaries, and then allow him to build a team over 3-5 years.
25 Feb 2015 00:34:49
JuanMata, who are you arguing with here? I was pointing out how good Barca were in that first half. I didn't compare us to them, or even mention us.
25 Feb 2015 00:43:40
Beast, the first half was frightening the way they disected a top team like City - like Barca in their pomp a few years ago. The second half was more like the Barca of more recent times.
It showed what I've always believed - if you get in about European teams with their slower pace of play, and play like you would in the Premiership, you'll make it difficult for even the best of them.
I think we've tried to convince ourselves that we need to be more sophisticated when we play in Europe, which I think only plays into their hands.
I know it makes me sound like a dinosaur, but there you go.
25 Feb 2015 07:42:13
Stevie
The thing that struck me was Barca played with more pace than they have previously, they looked to break quickly as one said to the old endless passing they used to excel at. Messi was brilliant, popping up everywhere and even getting his foot in. Very impressive