Superkev's "Massive" Club vs God's Chosen [R]

City's recent form is dreadful, ours is superb, but this is the cup and the form book usually goes out the window.

The big decision is whether to bring the now-fit Ledley King in for Doherty at the back (who is playing really well) or for Brown or Anderton in the middle (which could be too defensive a move seeing as Brown is a little tiger).

Dalmat should be fit, he was ill with the flu or something in the Liverpool game, hence the subpar game and substitution. So the rest of the team should be unchanged.

 

Spurs will win.

Why?

I shall tell you, gather round....

Seaman retired, James cup-tied. Who does that leave? Arni Arason, an untried Icelandic (their number 1) keeper who Kev snapped up for short term relief (ooh err) and Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard. He has about as much confidence as a 12 yr old boy asking Britney Spears out on a date.

Spurs to win 1-2.

 

Actually, did you see the guy she married ... that 12 year old kid probably has a chance! Good analysis all around. I too fear Citeh, because it's so hard to beat a team twice, but we've really been robbing them all season, and this is likely the time for their revenge.

As for lineups, surprisingly, I'd probably go with Doherty, specifically because he has been doing fairly well. If Anelka is motivated (is it a full moon that night?) then Doherty will be overmatched, but I think that's a risk we should take because Doherty and Gardner are in a groove right now, and Ledley runs hot and cold. Likewise I'd start Brown, let him bounce around the field, and if you need to use Anderton, bring him on fresh against a tired Citeh team. If we're ahead, bring in King as an extra defender.

But whatever we do, let's use Davies and Dalmat to the fullest, and if one tires, bring on Ricketts.

-Digital

 

Britney's going to go the Mariah Carey route. In 5 yrs time her penthouse flat will be featured on Cribs, and she'll refuse to show her bedroom because it's too private and instead she'll show a kiddies bedroom with toys and stuff in - even though she doesn't have kids or a partner.

Anyway.....

I don't fear City. Anelka is a fantastic player, but he's just.. er.. one man.

 

Watching Gardner deal with Anelka will be fascinating. Gardener is in the best form of his career so far and looks stronger and more composed in every game, but Anelka is looking a lot livelier in the past couple of games.

Expected team:

Keller
-
Tarricco
Doherty
Gardner
Carr
-
Dalmat
Brown
Anderton
Davies
-
Keane
Postiga

 

We've brought a good load of supporters to the game - apparently Ricky Villa has flown over from Argentina especially for this and Ossie Ardiles has flown over from Japan

Man City have a very attacking lineup, we're almost unchanged but with King for Dalmat (!), Gardner is in despite suffering with 'flu over the past couple of days.

Keller
-
Taricco
Doherty
Gardner
Carr
-
Davies
Brown
King
Anderton
-
Keane
Postiga

Pleat is taking a gamble not playing Dalmat from the start, surely must be because of an injury.

 

Good lord, Doherty and Taricco are absolutely awful. Comical.

Midfield has no creativity, cannot believe Pleat has gone with Anderton on the wing and hasn't included either Ricketts or Dalmat. He's a d*ckhead.

 

Taricco has been a liability. Off for 2 key times, one resulted in a goal.

He's a right footed left back, and Jackson's on the bench. PLEASE bring him on for T'co and take Anderton off for Dalmat, switch Davies to right and Dalmat on the left.

It's obvious when you think about it.

 

Yep, painfully obvious to us - but not to that muppet in charge.

It's a real horror show, Man City look rock solid at the back compared to us. I suppose we have to credit Kevin Keegan for getting his boys motivated, well organised and playing in their natural positions. But Pleat and some of the players are making it so easy for them it's ridiculous.

Actually, I give Pleat credit for making the changes because he's done what you've said Danners! Thank god, as long it's 1-0 we're still in the game.

 

The two subs and switching Davies to the middle with Brown made a world of difference, at least for a while. We were really hanging on in the end and Pleat should have taken off Postiga for Zamora in the last 15 minutes, to give us more pace and aerial presence up front. He was poor as a manager today.

Some shocking misses by both teams in the second half, I was certain Macken would score or set one up when he was through. Postiga really should have scored with that free header earlier though, it was only 3 yards out...

Wright-Phillips is a tricky little player, changed the game back City's way when he came on and it really looked like they would win it. Dalmat looked off the pace.

Bring on the replay! Our unbeaten run continues, for now...

 

Yes, it was at their ground. I think if we play like we did in the first part of the 2nd half we'll beat them at the Lane.

Their young danish keeper was dodgy as anything.

 

4th Feb i thought i heard last night?

 

Agree on that with Ellegaard. City were much the better team first half and looked better with SWP second half, after your 20 minute patch. Should be a good return game.

City blew it, as usual. Play really well, but can't get the end product. That's why City are just above the relegation zone.

 

Nice result. Win is always favorable, particularly with the fixture congestion, etc., but bringing Citeh back to the Lane again is always welcome. See what happens when you field a decent midfield?

BTW, sounds as if Keller had another great game. Despite the smokescreen and diversion of Spurs seeking another keeper, Keller has been putting together a very good season. With Richards out, Ledley not in central defense, the ill Gardner had to be paired with the slow-of-foot converted target forward Doherty ahead of Keller ... and an attacking midfielder--Brown--playing Dmid. Yet, we held Citeh to only 1 goal in the City of Manchester Stadium. Nicely done!

I'm more than a little worried that Keane seems to be our only offensive spark of late, and that we didn't generate more offense considering Citeh's less than stellar defense and questionable keeper situation. But still, this is a good result, albeit not a great one.

What more evidence do we really need that Konchesky should be acquired to be our left back? I mean ... really, when Jackson is an improvement over Taricco at left back, doesn't that tell the board something?

I'd love to see us add Milner. His spark would be quite helpful either up top or wide left.

On a related note, it appears Bobby Convey--star of the U-20 World Cup--will be running DC United's midfield from central attacking midfield this upcoming 2004 MLS season (begins early April). So, the earliest he'd move abroad would likely be next summer (2004) or January of 2005. It appears both Convey and Spurs still have a mutual appreciation for one another.

-Digital

 

Digital,
I hope you are from Manchester, otherwise please refrain from using the term Citeh, you plastic supporter.
I don't go round calling United fans Rags. Stick to one EPL team, eh?

 

Nope, not from Manchester. Sorry if you don't like my characterization, perhaps you will find sympathy here:

https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=285

It's the Citeh forum, and I assume they would agree with you.

Its tough to take someone seriously asking you not to insult when they ask it in such a way as to work two insults into the plea. As for being a "plastic supporter" well call me what you will, but it sure seems that Citeh has been courting non-English supporters for quite some time, and shock, horror, they've actually made some profit from courting supporters from outside of England.

So if I'm breaking some law by supporting a Premiership team--or three--from outside of England, then I'm sure you're club will gladly support a move to eliminate any broadcast of Premiership games outside of England ... and of course gladly accept the much reduced TV revenues it brings. At that point, perhaps people would refer to the Scottish Premiership as THE Premiership. Oh yeah, and stop playing games outside of England, it's really working against your premise that only English people should be supporting English clubs.

As for me, I support whom I want to support from where I want to support. I'm sure you want no advice from me, so I will not give any, but I will say that I find my life a little easier when I realize that the internet is freedom of expression, for good and bad, and that it is silly for me to take internet banter too seriously. I hope you find a place that shares your views so that you can feel less stressed when interfering into other teams' forums.

-Digital

 

Digital,
Just try that with most fans from England, and you will get the same response.

 

I hope you find a place that shares your views so that you can feel less stressed when interfering into other teams' forums.

-Digital

-------I only signed on here to get the views of rival fans, and see you calling City, Citeh.

But if that reflects your general attitude, so be it.

 

Had you simply asked not to call your team by a particular name, I would probably have refrained from doing so, at least for a while. But in your message you insisted on preaching the morality of not using insults, then laced that sermon with calling me a "plastic supporter" and the intentional slight of "stick to one EPL team, eh?" Then, you try to act self-righteous with the "Rags" comment. Did you really expect this as a civil comment? It sure came accross as two insults against me personally and another backhanded comment about Manchester United.

You will probably find that here in the USA, we follow slightly different ettiquite than you may be used to seeing. For instance. I support DC United of MLS, and our rivals are the New York/New Jersey Metros. DC supporters often refer to NY/NJ as the "Scum" by in large something we've borrowed from English rivalries. Likewise, NY/NJ supporters refer to DC as the "Scum." If a NY/NJ supporter went to the DC board and said that, he'd be flamed mercilessly. If he said it on the NY/NJ board, then it would be accepted. My point was that on the Spurs board, it was unrealistic to preach morality about references to Manchester City. Despite that, I would likely have complied had you taken a nicer tone.

As we say in America ... "when in Rome, do as the Romans do." Hopefully you haven't been turned off too much. But, expect this type of attitude on all BigSoccer.com team-specific boards. Partisanship is inherant on those boards.

-Digital

 

Well, Digital,
I was using the term 'Rags' to emphasise my point. Most people who use 'Citeh' are from Manchester and it really grates when others use this 'hilarious' term.
I only stumble across this as I was looking for a view of the game from a Spurs perspective.
Cheers.