Kaizer Chiefs V City Pre-season Friendly

[51BLU]

Kaizer Chiefs FC

vs

Manchester City FC

Tuesday July 21th, 2009

Kickoff 7pm UK
2pm USA
Match will be streamed live on mcfc.co.uk

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2009/July/chiefs-game-streamed-live

[StuMCFC]

Barry and RSC are both expected to play today, but it doesn't look like Tevez or Adebayor will.

Should be fun, I'll be tuning in!

[51BLU]

I predict a riot ;)

http://live.mcfc.co.uk/

[51BLU]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3742873593_6cb35c813a_o.jpg

No RSC :confused:

[BuzzLives!]

Well, another lackluster performance. It just goes to show that City are very thin after the 4 or 5 quality players we fielded today. I thought Barry, Bridge, SWP, Ireland looked liked quality. Taylor is looking like a real liability. No cutting edge up front today, I'm afraid...We still have a ways to go...

[51BLU]

Thought it was a good workout.

Impressed by Ben Mee and Ryan McGivern tonight, both played very well

Zeb had a good game too.

[Golasso]

Thought the center back partnership worked well. Etuhu I thought was sooooooo poor. We do have a ways to go, especially since, as far as I know, Tevez, Robinho and Adebayor have yet to kick a ball in anger wearing the shirt. We only have three friendlies before the season starts, so they better hit the ground running.

[Primitive Ways]

I didn't watch the game. How was Caicedo's performance?

[51BLU]

We Actually have 4 games before we start the season!

The Kaizer Chiefs play Orlando Pirates on Thursday for the right to meet City again in the final on Saturday(not sure what time though :confused:). Then there are the following games back in the UK:

Sat 01 Aug 15:00 A Barnsley Pre-Season Friendly
Wed 05 Aug 19:45 A Rangers Pre-Season Friendly
Sat 08 Aug 15:00 H Celtic Pre-Season Friendly

But I do share your concern's that quite a number of potential 1st team players including new signings Tevez, Adebayor & RSC have not played yet. Although TBF In some of the cases it has not been possible. I would expect most will play some time on Saturday.

Regarding Caicedo, he only played the 1st 45 minutes. I don't think he did much, couple of decent passes but his ball control/first touch seemed to let him down.

[chinesefootballfan]

Honestly people, never take these friendlies seriously. The main purpose is to prepare for the season and evaluate players' fitness levels. I don't think players like Barry and Ireland went all out for this. Probably focusing on a good workout and staying out of injury. If you're the Kaizer Chiefs, then there's something to prove because you're playing a team from a much superior league.

I would hate to win this game 3-0 and have a key player injured. Plus, on top of all this, the security level in these countries are sub-par. I wouldn't want to piss off the fans with a dramatic victory and risk not being able to leave the stadium safely.

Remember, Real Madrid was embarrassed in its Asian tour losing to teams that you've never heard of, it still went on to make it to the Champions League. These games mean nothing.

[MVF]

Roma lost to Tottenham 6-0 last season in a friendly.
It means nothing.

Just a good workout for the lad's, the young trio of McGivern, Mee and Vidal looked good as did Barry, Sweep and Ireland.

[BuzzLives!]

You're probably right about avoiding injuries (look at whats happened with Sami Nasri and Martin Skrtel. Maybe Sparky's smarter than I give him credit for. I still think the squads thin with quality players..

[51BLU]

You're probably right about avoiding injuries (look at whats happened with Sami Nasri and Martin Skrtel. Maybe Sparky's smarter than I give him credit for. I still think the squads thin with quality players..

Ideally, I would like all City's prospective First team squad to get at least 2-3 games building up their match fitness levels before we kick off for real against Blackburn.

MH, I'm sure will try out different formations, seeing how players fit into these, there relative strengths/weaknesses and to see how the new signings will intergrate with the existing squad.

I'm curious as to your comment about the squad being weak with quality players? In my opinion, with the proviso that we are still looking to add a couple of quality defensive reinforcements the current squad on paper at least looks strong.

[BuzzLives!]

Ideally, I would like all City's prospective First team squad to get at least 2-3 games building up their match fitness levels before we kick off for real against Blackburn.

MH, I'm sure will try out different formations, seeing how players fit into these, there relative strengths/weaknesses and to see how the new signings will intergrate with the existing squad.

I'm curious as to your comment about the squad being weak with quality players? In my opinion, with the proviso that we are still looking to add a couple of quality defensive reinforcements the current squad on paper at least looks strong.


I just think that outside of the big signings (i.e. Robinho, RSC, Barry, Tevez Adebayor, and maybe SWP, Wayne Bridge, we're relying on journeymen like Garrido, Etuhu, Petrov, Bellamy, Benjani, Taylor etc. to carry the load. There's just no depth right now. That will change with time I suppose. I just dont want to get too hopeful about this season...

[51BLU]

I would say in addition to the players you mentioned and excluding exciting Academy prospects like Weiss, McGiven, Mee & Co. The following are capable of performing well for us next season, ensuring a top 6 finish and possibly with a slice of luck, good following wind breaking into the top 4, and or FA/Carling Cup win...

Given - Top Class Keeper, can't think of too many I would swap him for.
Dunne - Didn't have the best season last year but still capable and was superb for Ireland in their last world cup qualifier.
Richards - Quick & strong, still has lots to learn but potential for improvement.
Onuoha - Really impressed during 2nd half of last season.
Zabaleta - Would edge Richards for 1st choice right back & good cover for DM position.
de Jong - Solid and will be improve this season.
Petrov - My player of the year 07/08 but was hit by injury's last season.
Ireland - Superman!!!
Kompany - Quality DM or CB.
Bellamy - If he can stay injury free he will worry the best defences.
Bojinov - Hard to judge given his terrible luck with injuries, but the little I have seen looks sharp, powerfull and has great movement.

I'm a bit skeptical regarding Elano & Johnson but if they can get their heads right both are capable of producing match winning performances.

All in all, I think we do have quite a lot of depth to the squad, we just need to add a couple of defenders to give additional cover for CB & LB positions.