Now if we could only learn to close out games when we're on top – all 4 games this season have followed a pattern: dominate, play well, take the lead, look like we’re going to kill it off but lose a goal, bit of a panic as the opposition get their tail up, hold on for the victory. That's the Premier League conundrum for Pep to solve.

1 hour ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Manchester City to go ahead with plans to make the Etihad Stadium a 61,000 seater

Manchester City will press ahead with plans to expand the Etihad Stadium for a second time, according to a report in The Sun.

Plans to expand the North Stand, making the entire stadium three tiers, have long been mapped out, with the only question being when. But, with 98% of tickets sold on average for Premier League games, plus 41,000 season ticket holders and 10,000 on a waiting list, City chiefs believe the demand is there for a second expansion.

Once the development is complete, City’s Etihad Stadium will be able to seat around 61,000 fans, making it the second largest club stadium in Britain behind neighbours Manchester United.

The Sun quote a ‘source’ as saying:

“The club feel the time is right to extend the stadium even further to mark the Pep Guardiola era.

“Planning permission was sought to extend both ends of the stadium when the expansion scheme was first started.

“Talks are now on-going to find the best possible time for contractors to start moving in to begin the work.”

City regularly sell out Premier League games, although a large number of season ticket holders frequently not turning up has led to a perception that this isn’t the case. The Etihad Stadium expansion saw the average attendance jump around 7,000 to 54,041 last season, making it a big success. Only Manchester United and Arsenal had larger average attendances.

In the long-term, City’s owners have a plan to expand the Colin Bell (West) and East Stands to take the Etihad beyond Old Trafford’s 76,000 capacity, the report claims.

 

How much are the council paying towards the expansion of their ground?

16 minutes ago, smokie36 said:

 

How much are the council paying towards the expansion of their ground?

 

That's the sort of comment I'd expect from a RAG smokie. I had you in higher esteem than that

I always enjoy reading Michael Cox's zonal marking articles. This one: how craft and guile beat longball team ;-)

Pep Guardiola wins tactical battle with José Mourinho in Manchester derby

A blunder by José Mourinho enabled a fluid City to dominate the first half, with Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva being allowed far too much space by Manchester United

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/sep/11/pep-guardiola-jpse-mourinho-manchester-city-manchester-united-premoer-league

Premier league 2 (u23s league)
Etihad
City 1 v 1 Manu

1 hour ago, mrbojangles said:

 

That's the sort of comment I'd expect from a RAG smokie. I had you in higher esteem than that

 

If you place your chips in front of me with a bottles of ketchup you know what's gonna happen. 

15 minutes ago, smokie36 said:

 

If you place your chips in front of me with a bottles of ketchup you know what's gonna happen. 

 

I'm on a rice diet now

Don't beg for sympathy when you're top of the league...you'll just get pelted with rotten apples.

It's ok smokes. We'll buy helmets

Top of the Pops.

Pogba's M.I.A. display annilihated on social media

 

 

Work with any rags? Have fun with them by seeing how many times you can drop in to the conversation "why would you 1-2 do that" before they wise up?

UEFA has appointed Björn Kuipers (Netherlands) to officiate the Citizens' Champions League opener against Borussia Mönchengladbach, on Tuesday at Etihad Stadium. 

City kids are playing Monchoengladbach and are currently 2v0 up (on City twitter).

Haven't seen anything about KdBs hamstring and whether he's fit or not for tonight. Think Pep has to go again with the derby team plus Aguero (rotate the fullbacks) and give some of them a break at the weekend game.

Man City confirmed lineup WAS : Bravo, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Navas, Aguero
Subs: Caballero, Sagna, Gundogan, Nolito, Sane, Clichy, Iheanacho

Was up at 1.30am. Back in bed at 1.50am. Disappointing.

Watching the rerun of the derby it looked like Kolorov had his tooth knocked out at 94:20 jumping for a header at the back post with...yes Fellaini. Look like Fellaini's arm in Kolorov's face.

Impressive 2-0 for City at HT. Composed without Silva which is a great sign. New man Gundogan looks good. Stones and Otamendi solid. 2 goals for KUN but picked up a knock and may not see him in the second half.

Very solid performance from City. Professional and ruthless. Time to get excited I think. Talented and deep squad with Pep riding shotgun.

7 minutes ago, jellydog said:

Very solid performance from City. Professional and ruthless. Time to get excited I think. Talented and deep squad with Pep riding shotgun.

 

One of the best sides in Europe with a manager to match the expectation.

 

Big things for your team this season kiddo.

Disappointed not to see it. Didn't appear to be on truevisions live. Seen the goals...crisp passing to set chances up...hopefully truevisions might show it sometime.

Iheanacho has scored 16 goals in just 1351 minutes of action in all competitions for Manchester City - averaging a goal every 84.4 minutes.

Just rang Truevisions to ask when is the rerun. It's on 20.09. At 8am and 1pm. I'll be overseas aaarghh!!!

1 hour ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Disappointed not to see it. Didn't appear to be on truevisions live. Seen the goals...crisp passing to set chances up...hopefully truevisions might show it sometime.

 

It was on True Bein3 bb, shame you missed it, at least we don't have to read your waffle today   

 

Edited September 15, 20169 yr by alfieconn

Very happy with that performance. Not as much possession as I thought we would have but everytime we went forward we looked dangerous.

 

Bravo looked a lot better and more confident. He plays so high up the pitch I think Pep bought him as an attacking midfielder

 

Obviously Aguero get MoM but every single player was solid. Very good debut from Gundogan.

Only seen 15 minutes of highlights in which KdB seemed to be in just about everything we did. Also watched Pep's post match interview; he always looks ready to collapse with exhaustion after games and his voice is barely audible with non-stop coughing. Like me, he must kick every ball. 

Impressed by Monchoengladbach. Not only are they paying for their supporter's match tickets, but they had this letter printed and put on all the away seats last night - the letters were left on the seats in both English and German versions. Like it!



 



 



 

Edited September 15, 20169 yr by Bredbury Blue

Mourinho not special but Guardiola is says Manchester United great Keane

 

Jose Mourinho isn't the Special One - Pep Guardiola is.

 

That is Roy Keane's take on the opening rounds of the duel between Manchester's rival managers.

 

The Manchester United great says the Manchester City boss has put down an impressive marker with his winning start to life at the Etihad.

 

The Blues sit top of the Premier League after Guardiola put one over United boss Mourinho in the derby - and on Wednesday they opened their Champions League campaign with a dominant 4-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.

 

And Keane is impressed, saying: [Mourinho] reckons he’s the Special One, but I think this guy [Guardiola] is."

 

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-city-guardiola-mourinho-11889266