The Ped Preview - Blues Back in the Hunt

Buzz Lightyear

Buzz Lightyear

Alert Team
Dare we still dream that the introduction of Pep Guardiola to the Etihad will include involvement in the Champions League?

A topsy-turvy final match at the famous Boleyn Ground saw West Ham United wave good bye to their home of more than a century by upsetting the pundits by avoiding defeat against a Stretford team with its sights firmly set upon capturing fourth spot in the Barclays Premier League, effectively eliminating City from Europe`s elite competition.

Before tonight`s match the outcome was very much in the hands of the team from just outside Manchester, but now it seems to have swung back in favour of the Blue Mooners as the Hammers blew them away with the bubbles, coming from behind to claim a 3-2 win.

Manuel Pellegrini now has a final chance to redeem his misdemeanours and questionable team selections and leave town with City where they were when he arrived. A draw is all that is needed to ensure that the Blues qualify but we have knocked on this door before haven`t we?

The paper talk was all about the Stretfords pipping Pep to the post and City playing on Thursday nights, indeed some of that feeling came off the Ped pages, but maybe now an air of confidence can return? A trip to Swansea is not one to behold just now as they have played some excellent football this last few weeks and easily disposed of Liverpool Reserves and a disillusioned West Ham. Their confidence will be high and they will attack high. But that might just give the space they need to do their work.

This is not a match to chicken out of a la Liverpool, Leicester, Spuds, Stretfords. This is one to win. This is the one where they start to rewrite some history books. Capital One Cup and Champions League qualification is a best case scenario for most teams and is indeed for City this year, but with that team, squad and money it is not good enough. Surely have the pride in their performance now to go out on Sunday and get this job done. There is something like £100million at stake here, plus the opportunity to line up alongside one or two more of the world`s top players.

No doubt the Stretfords will bemoan the state of their team bus and demand a replay, but they wouldn`t have if the scored had stayed at 1-2 would they? Maybe the Hammers would`ve had a case then. No doubt they`ll live off the back of that for another age.

We`ve got another nailbiter to come guys on Sunday. Let`s hope that it works out for City. I share Sagna and Pellegrini`s views that we deserve to be in the Champions League by virtue of getting to the semi-finals, but I also share the view that it has been the team that has let City down. They must not do it again this Sunday in the Land of our Fathers.

writer
Pedmachine VMC Reporter of the year

Read more: http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=566353#ixzz48IP46KT7
 
Great article Buzz. Im much more excited than the Madrid game.

At least we in Oz are now guaranteed to see City on the box as it is a game that really matters. Hopefully we wont have Martyn Tyler. His anti rag performance last night was a disgrace. (although I can empathise with him) When Martial scored his goals you would have thought Tyler's dog died. And he doesnt like us much either.

Time for one last hoorah from Yaya. The shop window will be open for a few other lads as well so I expect them to give it everything. Cant wait.
 
Great scene setter & doubt I will be able to do better with the MDT. Might have to plagiarise bits.....

Lots at stake as The Ped has outlined including player acquisition as well as sponsorship and endorsements which all add to the revenue stream needed to keep our toes out of the FFP waters & hopefully keep them receding into the distance in the rear view mirror.

Going to be a tense afternoon
 
I can see why Wenger likes competing for this trophy, exciting, isn't it?

The inevitable rumours that Swansea want Bony back have surfaced in the build up to this one, the suggestion is that City are willing to take the hit and let him go back for £18million, I suggest we have a quiet word and let them know they can have him back for nothing if they roll over.
 
We've had more chances than enough to tie up a top4 place.... still Not overly confident we'll get over the line. If we do it will be great. Not sure we deserve it at all but will take it all day long.
 
Bluedub - 11/5/2016 09:02

I can see why Wenger likes competing for this trophy, exciting, isn't it?

The inevitable rumours that Swansea want Bony back have surfaced in the build up to this one, the suggestion is that City are willing to take the hit and let him go back for £18million, I suggest we have a quiet word and let them know they can have him back for nothing if they roll over.
Click to expand...

......... and they can have him back before KO on Sunday, just to make sure that MP doesn't go all sentimental and pick him for his last game.
 
I said it about last night's game but Sunday's is the most important match of our season.

So much rides on it - mainly keeping Pep happy and giving him to opportunity to go shopping for half a dozen players at £25m a pop and all signed on 4 year contracts - i.e. they'll be here whilst Pep is and then get sold with a year left on their contracts.

On to Sunday in the land of our lagers...

 
I'm a bit pessimistic about this game but hopefully the players will play like they can do and we will set up for next year.
Swansea have had a couple of good results just gone and have now given their manager a new two year contract. He will be out to prove his worth methinks.
 
Don't even think £35 million will get you much now with the new tele deal. Relegation fodder know they are getting £95 million from the domestic deal alone and probably another £15 million from the sale of the overseas rights. That's before their other deals. Leicester (admittedly no longer relegation fodder) will be splashing the cash for top players. Teams like Burnley will see a £70 million outlay on 2 quality midfielders and, say, Dzeko upfront as an investment that will keep them up for another year or two. 3 seasons means £330 million and then 2 more years with parachute payments. Obviously the bigger teams will offer more and prices will escalate.

I could have imagined seeing even Bony going for nearly what we paid for him if he hadn't had such an appalling 18 months at the club. It speaks volumes of the kind of money floating around that it is even being suggested that mid - table Swansea would consider paying £18 million for a striker with such a poor strike rate in the past 18 months. I know they probably think they can turn him around into their striker of old but we all know deep down they don't know that. He might have earned his big bucks now and become disinterested in football for all they know and they've got a completely different manager now who might not know how to get the best out of him any more.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.