After watching a few recent games of City, the best way I think to stop them scoring is having Nick Pope based on the 6 yard line as a starting position. The amount of tap ins from the 6 yard line they score is incredible, all these wonder balls from De Bruyne would be meet and drink to a confident keeper who comes out to the penalty spot. The defence will already be back in numbers when needed but Pope can make the big difference.
The more we leave them frustrated the more gaps they will leave at the back for us to expose.

Apparently Bournemouth tried to make it a stop-start game and break up play which almost worked.

Quickenthetempo wrote:After watching a few recent games of City, the best way I think to stop them scoring is having Nick Pope based on the 6 yard line as a starting position. The amount of tap ins from the 6 yard line they score is incredible, all these wonder balls from De Bruyne would be meet and drink to a confident keeper who comes out to the penalty spot. The defence will already be back in numbers when needed but Pope can make the big difference.
The more we leave them frustrated the more gaps they will leave at the back for us to expose.

Peter Schmichael said the same on MNF. He pointed out Butlands starting position to where he personally would of been.

We need to play at the top of our game and we need to frustrate the hell out of them. We can do that with the players at our disposal as well. I'm not saying we can keep them out for 90 minutes, but even if we can keep them our for half an hour it's gives us a footing in the game and a platform to work from. What we can't afford to do is concede early and allow them to get their tails up!!

Napoli obviously have better players than us, but we should play like they did. Exploit width when on the counter.

Quickenthetempo wrote:After watching a few recent games of City, the best way I think to stop them scoring is having Nick Pope based on the 6 yard line as a starting position. The amount of tap ins from the 6 yard line they score is incredible, all these wonder balls from De Bruyne would be meet and drink to a confident keeper who comes out to the penalty spot. The defence will already be back in numbers when needed but Pope can make the big difference.
The more we leave them frustrated the more gaps they will leave at the back for us to expose.

Imagine the uproar on here when Pope's lobbed for the 6th time.

Break into the canteen at their training ground tonight and spike their chicken and pasta with Amoebic Dysentery.

TheFamilyCat wrote:Imagine the uproar on here when Pope's lobbed for the 6th time.

Foshiznik wrote:Napoli obviously have better players than us

Wash your mouth out.

Last time we had 2 players on the goal line and from an impossible angle they still managed to score never mind giving them space. Best way to stop them come Saturday is not get dragged into the hype and just be Burnley.

TheFamilyCat wrote:Imagine the uproar on here when Pope's lobbed for the 6th time.

It would take some skill to lob Pope, he's gigantic.

I think our best chance is to have every man behind the ball and - basically 5-5-0, closing them down and giving them as little space as possible. We can score against anybody with a ball into the box via a set piece.

Quickenthetempo wrote:It would take some skill to lob Pope, he's gigantic.

Unfortunately, they're well blessed when it comes to skill.

I think we should just kick ******* lumps out of them.

Surprisingly wary of the game on Saturday:

http://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/threa ... ad.331064/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Spijed wrote:Surprisingly wary of the game on Saturday:

http://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/threa ... ad.331064/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Couldn't believe what i was reading on that site.

"we should have enough to win over the course of the game."

Understatement of the year?

Lets not get into a false sense of security here.
Burnley are a tough nut to crack. They have beaten Chelsea away, putting 3 past them, and have secured notable draws away at Spuds and Dipperpool.
We need to play our full strength team and get the job done.
A 3-1 solid home win would do me thats for sure.
If we are not at it....we could drop points against this resolute Burnley team!!!! [/i]

Their defence is outstanding. They have the top performers for blocks, clearances and headed clearances.

Certainly most fans on there giving us some respect and not taking the game as a easy.

I think he will bring Yaya and a few tougher players in against us. Guardiola has always moaned the physical nature of the English game and teams like us.

Kicking, fouling, blocking, diving, set pieces, long-ball. City 0 - Burnley 1

Kick f*ck out of them

We've got pope on our side, but they've got Jesus. Could be interesting.

Foshiznik wrote:Napoli obviously have better players than us.

Going on the head to head, its won one, drawn one.

Foshiznik wrote:Napoli obviously have better players than us, but we should play like they did. Exploit width when on the counter.

We never play with width.

WadingInDeeper wrote:We've got pope on our side, but they've got Jesus. Could be interesting.

That's why it's not on Sunday, they'll be chatting in church

FactualFrank wrote:Certainly most fans on there giving us some respect and not taking the game as a easy.

Good to read for a change. Always liked City fans.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:We never play with width.

JBG was nearly sat in the Bob Lord on Saturday when he crossed for the goal.

Quickenthetempo wrote:JBG was nearly sat in the Bob Lord on Saturday when he crossed for the goal.

He was but it was the exception rather than the rule. Hopefully we can start to do that more often. But typically we don't score many goals from those positions.

This season has been a little different - the goals at chelsea and everton show that too.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:He was but it was the exception rather than the rule. Hopefully we can start to do that more often. But typically we don't score many goals from those positions.

This season has been a little different - the goals at chelsea and everton show that too.

This year we have probably got down the wings more than any other team, but modern football is obsessed with not losing the ball and often a 5 yard pass back inside is favoured than a cross.
It's all in the stats.

I agree. Hope it continues.

I was looking forward to reading that Bluemoon thread but I saw the first post which said:
"Time for some rotation? Danilo, Gundogan, Toure, Bernardo Silva and Aguero all pushing for starts..."
and I sh*t myself.
Good job I'm not playing

Brilliant, wadingindeeper, very witty indeed lol

WadingInDeeper wrote:We've got pope on our side, but they've got Jesus. Could be interesting.

I'm looking forward to the press reports: "Jesus crossed, Pope saved."

UTC

Well thats my idea out the bloody window...

https://www.quora.com/If-a-soccer-team- ... it-illegal" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Put Wood to sit near Delph, or in the space just behind him & hit it up to him. Have Brady or Hendrick to rush up and join.

TheFamilyCat wrote:Imagine the uproar on here when Pope's lobbed for the 6th time.

You can't lob Pope. He's infallible.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Good to read for a change. Always liked City fans.

We obviously have very different experiences. Almost every City fan I have ever met has been an utter belmtard. Absolutely delusional. Even when they were dog do they thought they should be universe champions. A bit like Leeds, I suppose.

Had the displeasure of sitting amongst the City fans for our last visit. Never again. A thoroughly unpleasant lot.

Attack with 442 Woody and Barnes up front Brady and JBG on the wings.City have a brilliant attack but their Achilles is their cbs.
It won't be easy to get a win but at least it will be entertaining.Don't forget we put 3 past Napoli.Albeit a while back.

Foulthrow wrote:We obviously have very different experiences. Almost every City fan I have ever met has been an utter belmtard. Absolutely delusional. Even when they were dog do they thought they should be universe champions. A bit like Leeds, I suppose.

Had the displeasure of sitting amongst the City fans for our last visit. Never again. A thoroughly unpleasant lot.

Always depends on who you meet I suppose. All the city fans I know and work with are a a good bunch with no delusions of grandeur. Chelsea used to be the same but in the main these days dont seem to be. So no doubt they do have a lot of 'new' fans. Never had a bad experience of them though. Unlike United, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Woodleyclaret wrote:Attack with 442 Woody and Barnes up front Brady and JBG on the wings.City have a brilliant attack but their Achilles is their cbs.
It won't be easy to get a win but at least it will be entertaining.Don't forget we put 3 past Napoli.Albeit a while back.

We could go for a 433 in attack with Brady,Wood and Gudmundsson for extra pace. Of course when defending the wingers drop back and revert to a more defensive 451.

Try to hit em hard and hit them early... like we did Chelsea then have our normal game but with a bit more of an eye on strangling of their talent, making sure cover is ALWAYS in place. If we can get an early goal it would be a massive help as they don't have it in them to be patient and nor do their fans.

0...1

What’s interesting on that link is that we can collect the ball deep in our half, say with Cork, and all our big lads crowd around him in a huddle and simply walk the ball into their net. There is no such law as obstruction today - so why not do that?

When it comes to playing a game with sub 30% possession, there is no one better than Burnley.

I really expect we will make it a difficult game for them.

We need keep a clean sheet for as long as we can and frustrate their fans.

Work hard, keep our shape and hope for a bit of luck.

Belt fed heavy weapons would stop them.

Attack is the best form of defence. Same as first half v Chelsea. Same second half as v Palace.

mikeS wrote:Attack is the best form of defence. Same as first half v Chelsea. Same second half as v Palace.

What about the first half v derby at home in 13/14.

As for " attack being the best form of defence" (against high quality) People tend to forget we were attacking 10 men vs Chelsea .

Toughest game of the season by far and I can't see further than about 3-0 but if we can hold them off in the 1st half or even nick one we've a dogs chance I guess

Gunna have £100 on draw halftime /win fulltime for burnley. What's the odds?

The weather gods are smiling on us. Persisting down all match and a gale or better.
Start Ash Barnes and they'll be bricking it.