24 Feb 2021 21:39:15
I have been watching City a lot trying to see how they could be stopped. / beaten. Seems to me not so many goals come from straight forward down the middle of the park attacks. They use the full width of the pitch even from goal kicks. maybe something we need to do more?

How would you set out to beat them?


1.) 25 Feb 2021
25 Feb 2021 01:27:18
I’d hire Villanelle to take out Dias, De Bruyne, Foden and Mahrez. Then I’d send my Petrie dish of a son into the camp to transmute his latest cold and finally I’d tell Pep there’s a boring person conference in Hawaii that runs until the season is over to get rid of him too.

{Ed077's Note - They've coped very well with any injuries that they have suffered this season , have Man City.

Figuring out how to score against them and cause their defense some issues will be a good starting place for any side thinking about beating Man Cut as they seem to concede very few goals.}


2.) 25 Feb 2021
25 Feb 2021 09:12:46
Ruben Dias has transformed their team. Added the leadership void left by Kompany.
He never stops talking and organizing for the entire game.

Imagine Aguero coming back at the end of the season. They are right up there.


3.) 25 Feb 2021
25 Feb 2021 10:14:07
I'd be tempted to risk keeping 2 players wide at all times, particularly on the side Cancelo plays.

Noting that Cancelo seems to drift inside and almost play in midfield, it does leave space for a wide forward to attack the defence.

Additionally given their high pressing I'd look to pay longer diagonal balls in behind the full backs rather than play out from the back.


4.) 25 Feb 2021
25 Feb 2021 11:00:00
That's part of what makes City so good defensively, their fullbacks tuck in and basically play along side the midfield giving them a narrow 4 man shield with 2 CB's behind. Lots of teams have got around them wide, but then crossing the ball in becomes a problem as they have a packed central defence by the time you've got the ball wide and looked to play it centrally. Unless you have someone like Duncan Ferguson in the box to win the majority of headers you'll struggle to score many that way.

It might be cynical but the best way to score against them might be to run at them and draw fouls, either on the edge of the box or ideally in the box. The only other way is really quick transitions with lots of one touch pass and move football. I don't think we have the players for that personally.


5.) 25 Feb 2021
25 Feb 2021 11:14:50
Diaz was my favourite back then and i wanted him . Ed002 told us that we wanted him and when we asked him who is the best option for the CB role he told us that Diaz is the one.
He is a very good player but their defencive form is not only Diaz to congratulate. I think the main reason is that their press works, the possesion is big and they give little to nothing at opponents. Defence don't have much pressure. Yesterday i think until 50-60 minute they didn't even gave Glandbax a single shoot and a single corner while the day before they gave 1 corner and one two shoots at Everton.


6.) 25 Feb 2021
25 Feb 2021 14:28:18
I think for us is to play to our strengths which mainly is counter attacking football. It could be a good game for Dan James to start on the right and Rashford on the left. I'd also be tempted to start Matic as he does a good job of dropping as a 3rd CB and has a much better range of passing than Fred although the trade off is losing Fred's energy. We need to play with plenty of width and hopefully we can pin cancello back and nullify his effectiveness higher up the pitch. In Cavani we have an excellent target man who will occupy there CBs and his movement will give them plenty to think about but ultimately its all about how the team perform on the day and implement the plan.


7.) 25 Feb 2021
25 Feb 2021 14:51:55
Cant argue with their quality and form, as for coping very well, they surly played the C.V. card smartly.

{Ed077's Note - bitter "fan" alert}