v Barca at home

[gavin]

Caballero, Zabaleta (C), Stones, Otamendi, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne, Aguero

CITY SUBS | Gunn, Nolito, Navas, Clichy, Kompany, Iheanacho, Fernando

No arsing about there.

[KunDB]

I like that starting eleven, lets hope we get our overdue lucky breaks tonight to back up a hard working performance.

C'mon City

[KunDB]

Sucker punch and bad defending. 

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Fucking lethal on the break this Barca side 

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Tricky stuff - this playing out from the back! 

[KunDB]

1 1

Just thinking shoot sterling shooting no no don't square the ball ffs

[KunDB]

That goal has helped us find our mojo

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Let's face it - we were somewhat outclassed for much of that half, Barca's movement and passing are so good, but - hey! We're back in it.

Need a bit of self believe and take the game to them.

[gavin]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehah

[Rowley Birkin QC]

This ref is doing my head in

[Gareth]

Brilliant! And a draw in the other game doesn't hurt...

[Swiss]

Let's face it - we were somewhat outclassed for much of that half, Barca's movement and passing are so good, but - hey! We're back in it.

Need a bit of self believe and take the game to them.

Yes, for parts Barce were great in that first half and we were gifting passes to them.

Would have made our job easier had the ref given us that pen and booked Digne!

[KunDB]

A joy to watch our confidence is restored onwards and upwards now.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

How good was that second half!!? 

A little self belief and away you go! Barca were fantastic in that first half but we pressed and fought back, and demonstrated why the score line back in Spain flattered them so much. Not as far apart as they might sometimes appear these sides.

Some great performances for City. Zabaleta rolled back the years - vintage stuff from him.

[goat]

spose id have taken 3-1 if i was offered it before kick off


not bad at all that, otamendi is still shite  tho

[Swiss]

Fuck YEah!!!!

We should could have scored more, we could have scored mooooore, you're BArcelona and we could have scored more!



For Ota it's his decision making; At times he's awesome, then he'll go and slide in and miss the ball, or run into about 3 opposition players and lose it in a dangerous position.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Ah Goat, Otamendi was OK. It was Fernandinho who bothered me in that first half (and I've always been his biggest fan) - too slow and caught on the ball too often.

I'm starting to speculate on whether Caballero should be our first choice keeper...

[goat]

dont trust him kenny, as  the stat monkey says hes likely to be on his arse at some point

[Swiss]

If he can stay on his arse then he could be a top draw defender

[Ludo]

Absolutely fantastic display in the second half, our pressing was outstanding  and if we'd won 5-1 it wouldn't have flattered us.

I did wince a bit when I saw Zabs on the team sheet but he was superb; as Rowley said 'rolling back the years. Gundogan finally showing us what we bought him for as well.

[zacc]

Fantabulous City, despite the ref, managing to win with 3 goals.
managed to out barca, Barcelona!!!   Gotta love Zabba's passion & rapport with the supporters

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Yes the ref did demonstrate why Barca's opponents often think they are playing 11.5 men.

Bottled the penalty and booked Sterling. Messi is a protected species. Suarez is allowed to cheat. Take the Kolarov yellow card for example. I counted at least three similar (and worse) pushes / shoves on our players (no attempt to play the ball, professional fouls) which apparently did not warrant a yellow, but the ref couldn't wait to book our player.

[gavin]

I knew we could beat them after the first game but have to confess I lost confidence in the first half when they looked like they were going to tear us apart at will at times. But it was us that looked like we could do that to them in the second half. Great performance. Well done the lads. One of the last mental battles in the Chumps has been surmounted.

The ref was shite but sod him now.

[KunDB]

Unanimous agreement then absolutely superb and momentous performance by the team after we got back on terms and the ref was absolutely woefully bias in his decision-making.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

And to think... we only had 38% of the possession! 

[clevblue]

Wouldn't have missed that for the world, first 30 minutes it looked like Barca held the reins, then City took over with a vengeance and we looked like the world beaters! Now we DEFINITELY are in with a chance thanks to Pep's influence on every single player. That's the difference, isn't it? Each individual player has changed because of Pep, no other reason is possible. Fantastic manager. Till we lose again. Oops

[lee]

stones was good

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Yes - Stones back to his early season form. He was a bit unlucky with the incident that led to them hitting the crossbar. I keep forgetting he's only 22. Still learning his trade for a defender. Going to be a big star.

[KunDB]

stones was good

Yes Lee, fabulous pass through for Suarez, not sure how they wasted the golden chance he created. lol

[lee]

Yes - Stones back to his early season form. He was a bit unlucky with the incident that led to them hitting the crossbar. I keep forgetting he's only 22. Still learning his trade for a defender. Going to be a big star.

spot on ken..im waiting for zabba to say he's shit and then brilliant in the space of 30 seconds

[Lekos]

 

[KunDB]

Stones was shit, lets face it

[KunDB]

and brilliant last night

[KunDB]

four seconds outside 30secs, ah shit Lee will have to wait a bit longer haha