CSKA Moscow v. Man City k.o. 17.00 (SS2)

Darkglasses

City XI - Hart, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Javi Garcia, Nastasic, Yaya Toure, Navas, Fernandinho, Silva, Negredo, Aguero

Subs: Richards, Lescott, Nasri, Dzeko, Clichy, Costel, Jovetic

CSKA XI - Akinfeev, Nababkin, Schennikov, Milanov, Berezoutski, Ignashevitch, Tosic, Wernbloom, Doumbia, Honda, Zuber

Subs: Chepchugov, Vasin, Berezoutski, González, Musa, Rahimic, Vitinho

Garcia still preferred to Joleon at centre half, and Kolarov chosen ahead of Clichy for a bit more width. For me there are still question marks over Garcia's suitability at CH, I think if we concede at all he'll be involved somehow. Jova still not getting much game time, but as always I'm looking forward to seeing Aguero and Negredo do their thing. Savage partnership at the moment.

Big big game for us, and fortunately CSKA are in absolutely brutal form, losing 5 of their last 7.

My prediction - 3.0 to City.

Darkglasses

Carra wasn't too impressed with Mark Gonzalez

klose

Darkglasses wrote: »

Carra wasn't too impressed with Mark Gonzalez

One of the many dud rafa signings, quick as fcuk though iirc

Darkglasses

klose wrote: »

One of the many dud rafa signings, quick as fcuk though iirc

You have to be pretty bad not to break into that CSKA team. That really is a weak XI whatever way you look at it.

The real challenge will probably be the conditions. Very cold and awful pitch.

RasTa

*hears Nail Quinn talking, immediately switch to Fox sports. Nail Quinn also on this arghhhhhhhhhhhhh

GavRedKing

Pitch is horrific

Darkglasses

Early substitution, one Berezutski for the other. No sign of injury.

GavRedKing

Aguero should do better there.

GavRedKing

City fans, will it be Nastasic/Garcia CB on Sunday?

Darkglasses

Third mistake now by Garcia. So unimpressed with him. Nastasic makes vital touch away.

Darkglasses

GavRedKing wrote: »

City fans, will it be Nastasic/Garcia CB on Sunday?

Going by this performance so far probably not. Certainly hope not. Lescott deserves a run, and also Dimichelis is approaching fitness (but it'll probably be too soon).

klose

The junior gaa pich around the corner of me house is better then the one here

GavRedKing

Darkglasses wrote: »

Going by this performance so far probably not. Certainly hope not. Lescott deserves a run, and also Dimichelis is approaching fitness (but it'll probably be too soon).

Its one of the only areas of weakness ye have when Kompany is out.

Nastasic is a classy CB though, has huge potential.

Darkglasses

GavRedKing wrote: »

Its one of the only areas of weakness ye have when Kompany is out.

Nastasic is a classy CB though, has huge potential.

I'm mad about Nastasic, unbelievable that he was pretty much a straight swap for that donkey Savic. Now all we have to do is clone him!

Darkglasses

JAVI! For god's sake!

Mars Bar

Tosic scores!

GavRedKing

Of all the guys to score aswell.

Johner

Not sure what Hart was doing out there as well.

mike65

Tošić scores

Darkglasses

Javi is an absolute twonk.

Mars Bar

Aguero says NO.

GavRedKing

Great response.

Cant listen to Niall Quinn no more TBH.

Darkglasses

AGUEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Thank **** for that. Lescott on at HT please.

Oat23

'Sign of a great team'

No, Niall. Great teams don't put themselves in a situation like Man City did, against a weak side.

Darkglasses

Weak by the CSKA defender. All that sand probably didn't help either.

Darkglasses

Oat23 wrote: »

'Sign of a great team'

No, Niall. Great teams don't put themselves in a situation like Man City did, against a weak side.

What, ever?

Johner

Boo-urns.

GavRedKing

City have turned it around well.

Darkglasses

*clears throat*

AAAAGGGGUEEERROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Sick, sick ball by Negredo. Both so talented.

klose

Poor marking, keeper flapped at it a bit. Isint akinfeev highly rated?

niallo27

I noticed when city scored their 2nd. The noise level didn't change. The Moscow fans were chanting and singing as normal. Are they even watching the game.

GavRedKing

klose wrote: »

Poor marking, keeper flapped at it a bit. Isint akinfeev highly rated?

I think at times hes been more highly rated then what he actually is.

Hes made a decent save at his side from the free kick just there though.

city still look vulnerable at the back and they may offer up more chances so 2-1 isnt a great lead at the moment.

Darkglasses

klose wrote: »

Poor marking, keeper flapped at it a bit. Isint akinfeev highly rated?

I'd heard good things about him yeah, and he has 64 Russia caps so he's no mug. Nobody in the CSKA team has any form at the moment though.

He has a fair whack of individual awards too (from Wikipedia)

Individual[edit]
2012 – 2013 Russian Premier League Player of the Year
Baltic and Commonwealth of Independent States Footballer of the Year ("Star") by Sport-Express (2006)
The best young football player of Russian Premier League (2005)
List of 33 best football player of the Russian Championship: # 1 (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012/13); # 2 (2011/2012); # 3 (2004).
The best Russian goalkeeper according to Russian Football Union (2008, 2009, 2010)
The best young goalkeeper of Europe (2008)
member of Lev Yashin club
Russian CSKA Prize "Golden Horseshoe": one golden horseshoe (2010) and four silver horseshoe (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)
Order of Friendship (2006)
Lev Yashin Prize "Goalkeeper of the year" (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010)

klose

GavRedKing wrote: »

I think at times hes been more highly rated then what he actually is.

Hes made a decent save at his side from the free kick just there though.

city still look vulnerable at the back and they may offer up more chances so 2-1 isnt a great lead at the moment.

Im surprised garcia is getting so many games at cb with kompany out surely lescott isn't that bad these days i mean he was first choice the season they won it no?

Darkglasses

Need to keep attacking, and Javi needs a serious kick up the backside as usual. But still, don't care how we win this one, as long we do win it.

Darkglasses

NEGREEEDDNO.

Lovely bit of build up play though.

GavRedKing

I assume the official behind the goal made that call, a right call none the less.

GavRedKing

Darkglasses wrote: »

NEGREEEDDNO.

Lovely bit of build up play though.

It didnt count :pac:

GavRedKing

Booked for diving??

me89

Garcia has been shocking tonight.

Mars Bar

GavRedKing wrote: »

It didnt count :pac:

Hence the "NO" at the end I guess!

Darkglasses

GavRedKing wrote: »

It didnt count :pac:

Hence Negredno

Two questionable decisions there by the ref. Think if he was a bit braver they might not have gone our way.

GavRedKing

Darkglasses wrote: »

Hence Negredno

Two questionable decisions there by the ref. Think if he was a bit braver they might not have gone our way.

I'm going blind......

Darkglasses

Not really getting numbers forward, might be just trying to keep what we have.

Darkglasses

Goal is coming.

Dzeko too.

Dempsey

That would have been a fantastic goal!

Johner

Bit harsh, Toure went down for the header.

GavRedKing

City get lucky there I reckon, great strike.

GavRedKing

Monkey chants at Toure, no wonder he was annoyed about 15mins ago, stay classy Russia.

Enjoy the WC too.

Johner

Well done Russia. :rolleyes:

Darkglasses

Racism from the CSKA fans. Think we got a feeling of that earlier yeah.