Match thread v Real Madrid

[Nineteenx]

At least we should easily qualify for r16 now

I'm actually a little frustrated, mixed emotions delighted we've won but what the fuck? we have we suddenly decided to turn up again? where was this when we've thrown the league defense pretty much away already????

Baffling, and annoying.

Could've turned up last month like and actually look arsed

Good win but we'd have qualified to knockouts eitherway city 3pts more important we can't afford to drop points now thanks to the perfect performances last month for some unknown reason, fuck sake.

It’s not baffling Slot fucked with the program going 4231 and persisted with it when it wasn’t working through arrogance

Back to 433 for 2 games 2 great wins a great performance tonight

It’s all on Arne if we fall short in the league now, never should have changed it, should have built on last season

[Kev0909]

Yeah I guess it's not just that, players body Language, work rate, attitude all seem better and not playing half-arsed.... I don't get it bradley is acting like a footballer again that can actually pass 5 yards, salah doesn't look like he's a non-league player anymore, etc etc.

Nothing to do with new players.....

As I posted before 19x

wasn't just about tactics, players was shocking and looked like they couldn't be arsed.

Would love to know what was going on behind the scenes anyway..... onwards and upwards, probably best bet is champions league this season if i'm being honest but we'll see starting against city.

Can see arsenal dropping pts next 3 games but we have to win every game

[Gurthers]

I really hope he never plays Wirtz in the midfield three again. Let him try to make left forward his own. Good link up and interactive with Hugo (and hopefully Isak).

[Steveo]

He can play well with a tricky and technically gifted player like Hugo. It could be the answer

[Nineteenx]

As I posted before 19x

wasn't just about tactics, players was shocking and looked like they couldn't be arsed.

Would love to know what was going on behind the scenes anyway..... onwards and upwards, probably best bet is champions league this season if i'm being honest but we'll see starting against city.

Can see arsenal dropping pts next 3 games but we have to win every game

Players lacking belief in what the manager was asking them to do Kev

[jimmyliver]

I really hope he never plays Wirtz in the midfield three again. Let him try to make left forward his own. Good link up and interactive with Hugo (and hopefully Isak).

Completely agree , if your not going to play a winger in the proper mould like a Diaz or Salah , then play him there all the time, his link up play was brilliant today

[Nineteenx]

Also lacking cohesion & understanding through too many new players thrown in at once

[Kev0909]

Best line-up tonight, Isak will rotate with ekiteke when he's back

but that's the line-up right there, play kerkez in the "weaker" games.

People seem to forget isak was one of the best strikers last season and when he's firing he'll be amazing for us, he will do eventually...

maybe a big ask for the league, but no reason we can't win the champions league, are first x11 is as good as anyones, can see it happening if isak and wirtz form a partnership too, and no more injury's at the back and sign someone in jan perhaps

[Steveo]

Also lacking cohesion & understanding through too many new players thrown in at once

I say this is the biggest reason. It was just too many changes. Would affect any side

[Steveo]

Best line-up tonight, Isak will rotate with ekiteke when he's back

but that's the line-up right there, play kerkez in the "weaker" games.

People seem to forget isak was one of the best strikers last season and when he's firing he'll be amazing for us, he will do eventually...

maybe a big ask for the league, but no reason we can't win the champions league, are first x11 is as good as anyones, can see it happening if isak and wirtz form a partnership too, and no more injury's at the back and sign someone in jan perhaps

He needs to earn his way in over Hugo. Drop Hugo again for him and suffer the same fate.

Hugo starts form me - has looked a better player to my eye. More threat. Isak might score more goals but Hugo might be in the side that wins more games

[Creator Supremes]

Take a display like tonight on the road to Manchester this weekend and then Arsenal in early January and things get interesting.
City will show more attacking threat this weekend, like Real did tonight and Villa last up did. IN comparison to our opponents in the losing run recently. Facing Nuno at West Ham who's caused us problems in recent times and Forest with Dyche could be tricky after the international break as they'll attemp to low block for 90+ minutes.
Get through those with 6 points and our xmss schedule looks half decent up until Arsenal away on Thursday January 8th.
Could also prove a bonus being out of the League Cup. Arsenal look to have a heavier festive schedule.

[Kev0909]

He needs to earn his way in over Hugo. Drop Hugo again for him and suffer the same fate.

Hugo starts form me - has looked a better player to my eye. More threat. Isak might score more goals but Hugo might be in the side that wins more games

You've only seen him play 10-11 times, calm down it's a long season

Isak is a proven prem scorer unless 50 goals in 90 apps or so is not good enough?.... just because it's not worked out yet it's funny people are not remembering how good he actually is.

if you think the 135m man ain't starting in the long-run dream on.

A fit firing isak, scores one or 2 tonight btw.

if we win the champs league big part of it will be because of isak&Wirtz, there I said it- Remember this when we do win it

[sydenham red]

I have been asking where he was all season. The guy reminded many of us of a young Gerrard. And then looked utter gash mostly this season - then tonight.

Booom - what a performance

Better from everyone, when konate wins the ball and dribbles and jinks forward with it you know something has changed. Maybe he just reminding alonso to get that signing on fee sorted lol. But Bradley wow, I think there's a n all action midfielder in there too, if Frimpong can get fit then Bradley an option to take pressure off 1 of the midfielders

[Steveo]

You've only seen him play 10-11 times, calm down it's a long season

Isak is a proven prem scorer.... just because it's not worked out yet it's funny people are not remembering how good he actually is.

if you think the 135m man ain't starting in the long-run dream on.

I know what I have seen. Hugo is starting over Isak for now. Or Slot will suffer the same fate. He has better feet man - open your eyes. Isak is a good finisher but he is a better finisher than Bobby too.

[CCTV]

As I posted before 19x

wasn't just about tactics, players was shocking and looked like they couldn't be arsed.

Would love to know what was going on behind the scenes anyway..... onwards and upwards, probably best bet is champions league this season if i'm being honest but we'll see starting against city.

Can see arsenal dropping pts next 3 games but we have to win every game

To my eye, we looked like we were still conditioning to peak in the later parts of the season. Then it went to shit.
Salah has started performing, MacA too.
Robbo reinstated and Kerkez benched.
Still playing a 4231 imo. Average positions tend to support that but the midfield 3 is stronger with Sobozla in it. Again MacA turning up, and having Grav back also helps.

Massive game v cituae on Sunday, ahead of the last international break of the year. Loads of games to play after that international break.