Tudor
Vital Football Legend
Are you ready?
http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=565659
Tonight is probably the most important night in the history of Manchester City as they take on the mighty Real Madrid in the first leg of the semi-final of the Champions League.
A packed house, despite Madrid returning tickets will welcome the Blues on to the field as Manchester once again expects. The morning talk is all about Ronaldo with very little thought to the Mighty Atom, often a reported target for the Madrilenos. Most commentators don`t give City a prayer. I recall a semi-final like this in 2011.
True, Real are much more experienced at this level than City will probably ever be. True the likes of Ramos are well versed in the dark arts that will probably bamboozle the Turkish Referee who will be more intent in dishing out yellow cards to City players than the inevitable red to the cynical Madrid centre back who at some point tonight will perpetrate a dismissal event and get away with it.
We all know that if Fernandinho weighs in Ronaldo early the former Stretford Superstar will spend the rest of the evening on his backside slapping the turf, but we also know that the Turkish delight won`t be able to get in his pocket quickly enough.
I expect Pellegrini to go with Hart, Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala , Clichy, Fernandinho, Fernando, Navas, de Bruyne, Silva and Aguero, with an emphasis on keeping Real away from our goal and hitting them on a lightning break through de Bruyne and Aguero. And on one of those lightning breaks, Ramos will commit something naughty and get away with it.
Maybe he will select Kompany, but I hope not as this will result in the waste of an early replacement such is my lack of confidence in his injury situation.
There is no doubt that up top and through midfield City have to the potency to cause the Madrid defence issues. But they will have to be wary of the creativity of Modric, the pace of Bale and the general play of Red Ron.
Real can be beaten as they have demonstrated on occasions this season and without Benzema, I expect either Bale or Ronaldo to effectively play as a centre forward. I would play Mangala up against which ever it is and leave Otamendi as the loose man to sweep up. It is important that one or the other of the Fernandos reads and prevents the movement of Modric.
Equally though, Madrid will have to stop the rampant de Bruyne. Fresh from a weekend off, he too will be playing in probably his biggest ever match and will he have a point to prove, if none other than to the clown formerly known as Moaning Maureen who recklessly discarded him from Chelsea and has probably lived to regret that poor decision ever since.
The pace of Navas could be a key both in keeping the Madrid full backs pinned and also in covering and chasing when City are starved of the ball. If he can get in one or two of his new-found low curving crosses, the door could well be open to Aguero turning the cumbersome Ramos and finding some six yard box joy.
There could also be a late role for Lightning Jack Iheanacho, who for sure will not be afraid of taking on the World`s Team, especially Ramos and if he should get clear, he will have an eye for a goal.
As the Spanish appear and congregate around Manchester, there is a lot of excitement in town today and unlike the Rio Ferdinands of this world, the Pedmachine is exuding a quiet air of confidence about tonight`s match, especially if we can prevent them getting on the scoreboard early. I`m not sure City have what it takes to win the tie overall, but if we can get to the Bernabeu still in touch with the result, who knows what a one-off match with offer?
Read all about it tomorrow in The Ped into Europe Report!
Before I can sign off can I add my good wishes to the families of the victims of the Hillsborough Disaster? It seems to have taken forever for them to get justice. They have conducted themselves with dignity for what, 27 years? At long last the independent panel has given them the truth, given them a time when they receive closure for the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans who only went to a football match to support their team, but never came home. It still brings a tear to the Pedmachine`s eyes, but like the families, I, too, feel that we can maybe celebrate a final success this morning. It is a great sense of comfort to me that unlike the fans of a team just outside Manchester, City and Liverpool fans, generally get on well and maybe today the Blues can join their Liverpool colleagues in walking side by side and not alone.
http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=565659
Tonight is probably the most important night in the history of Manchester City as they take on the mighty Real Madrid in the first leg of the semi-final of the Champions League.
A packed house, despite Madrid returning tickets will welcome the Blues on to the field as Manchester once again expects. The morning talk is all about Ronaldo with very little thought to the Mighty Atom, often a reported target for the Madrilenos. Most commentators don`t give City a prayer. I recall a semi-final like this in 2011.
True, Real are much more experienced at this level than City will probably ever be. True the likes of Ramos are well versed in the dark arts that will probably bamboozle the Turkish Referee who will be more intent in dishing out yellow cards to City players than the inevitable red to the cynical Madrid centre back who at some point tonight will perpetrate a dismissal event and get away with it.
We all know that if Fernandinho weighs in Ronaldo early the former Stretford Superstar will spend the rest of the evening on his backside slapping the turf, but we also know that the Turkish delight won`t be able to get in his pocket quickly enough.
I expect Pellegrini to go with Hart, Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala , Clichy, Fernandinho, Fernando, Navas, de Bruyne, Silva and Aguero, with an emphasis on keeping Real away from our goal and hitting them on a lightning break through de Bruyne and Aguero. And on one of those lightning breaks, Ramos will commit something naughty and get away with it.
Maybe he will select Kompany, but I hope not as this will result in the waste of an early replacement such is my lack of confidence in his injury situation.
There is no doubt that up top and through midfield City have to the potency to cause the Madrid defence issues. But they will have to be wary of the creativity of Modric, the pace of Bale and the general play of Red Ron.
Real can be beaten as they have demonstrated on occasions this season and without Benzema, I expect either Bale or Ronaldo to effectively play as a centre forward. I would play Mangala up against which ever it is and leave Otamendi as the loose man to sweep up. It is important that one or the other of the Fernandos reads and prevents the movement of Modric.
Equally though, Madrid will have to stop the rampant de Bruyne. Fresh from a weekend off, he too will be playing in probably his biggest ever match and will he have a point to prove, if none other than to the clown formerly known as Moaning Maureen who recklessly discarded him from Chelsea and has probably lived to regret that poor decision ever since.
The pace of Navas could be a key both in keeping the Madrid full backs pinned and also in covering and chasing when City are starved of the ball. If he can get in one or two of his new-found low curving crosses, the door could well be open to Aguero turning the cumbersome Ramos and finding some six yard box joy.
There could also be a late role for Lightning Jack Iheanacho, who for sure will not be afraid of taking on the World`s Team, especially Ramos and if he should get clear, he will have an eye for a goal.
As the Spanish appear and congregate around Manchester, there is a lot of excitement in town today and unlike the Rio Ferdinands of this world, the Pedmachine is exuding a quiet air of confidence about tonight`s match, especially if we can prevent them getting on the scoreboard early. I`m not sure City have what it takes to win the tie overall, but if we can get to the Bernabeu still in touch with the result, who knows what a one-off match with offer?
Read all about it tomorrow in The Ped into Europe Report!
Before I can sign off can I add my good wishes to the families of the victims of the Hillsborough Disaster? It seems to have taken forever for them to get justice. They have conducted themselves with dignity for what, 27 years? At long last the independent panel has given them the truth, given them a time when they receive closure for the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans who only went to a football match to support their team, but never came home. It still brings a tear to the Pedmachine`s eyes, but like the families, I, too, feel that we can maybe celebrate a final success this morning. It is a great sense of comfort to me that unlike the fans of a team just outside Manchester, City and Liverpool fans, generally get on well and maybe today the Blues can join their Liverpool colleagues in walking side by side and not alone.
